Article supplied by Guest Blogger, Becky Hayes 

Traditionally the Father of the Bride is the paternal gentleman who has raised his little girl and watched her blossom into a beautiful young woman, ready to make her own way in the world with the new man in her life.

For many fathers, this is an emotional time when they have to face letting their little girl go for good and hand over her care to her chosen fiance, but he needs to remember that his role and responsibilities run much deeper than just writing an endless stream of cheques. Prior to the wedding, the father of the bride should spend some time with his daughter and future son in law to discuss their wishes for the wedding and to work out how each part will be funded. In some cases this will mean keeping the happy couple in check and on track for an agreed budget, or offering to pay for certain things the couple would like included.

On the big day itself, the father of the bride traditionally collects the bride from her overnight accommodation in the wedding car and travels to the venue with her. In the best wedding day tradition he walks the bride up the aisle to `give her away` to her new husband to be.
Following the ceremony and photographs, the father of the bride usually travels with the bride`s mother to the reception venue. As the guests arrive for the sit down meal or buffet the father of the bride will stand alongside the Bride in the receiving line to welcome the guests and thank them for coming. One of the most nerve wracking moments for any father of the bride will be making the first speech of the evening. Whilst parts of the speech should be kept light hearted and fun this is also the time for him to say all those things to his little girl which he has never found the time to before.

Some Dads will be well experienced in making presentations to large groups of people, but for those who are less comfortable with the experience there is no shame in taking cue cards or bullet points on a sheet of paper to keep on track and add confidence. After dinner the bride and groom will take to the floor for the first dance but shortly after the father and mother of the bride will be invited, along with the father and mother of the groom to take to the floor with the happy couple. Fathers with two left feet needn`t worry about this element, as by now the guests will be a few glasses of bubbly down and all eyes will be on the bride and groom anyhow. Later in the evening it is nice for the father of the bride to share a dance with his daughter, maybe to a meaningful song they have chosen together.

Aside of the formalities, the father of the bride can do a great deal to help in the run up to the wedding, whether it is phoning suppliers to haggle over quotes, filling favour boxes or ensuring the coffee machine lease hire company has the correct directions to the venue so the bride can relax and enjoy her special day.

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