I'm asking here because it seems the bride giving a speech is a little more popular with us Canadians than with our American friends...
I'm working on my speech for my wedding, and it occured to me, when I get to the part where I thank and say a few words for the parents... I really don't have much to say to my dad. I'm very close to my mother, stepfather and my fiances parents... we see and talk to both of these sets of parents at least weekly. However MY father and I only talk a couple of times a year (Christmas and if something else is going on). We've never been close, and trying to be close to him always ends up hurting more, so I've just accepted the distance and went on with things...
When it comes to the wedding speech I feel like everything I say will either sound made up, or rude... I can just picture it "Mom and stepdad, thanks for all of your love and support over the years blah-blah-blah... in-laws you're all so wonderful blah-blah-blah, Dad and step-mom, thanks for showing up."
Do I thank the other parents and not mention him? That seems even worse...
Anyone else in a simular situation?
For the record, he's not walking me down the isle, fiance and I are walking together. We're also skipping the father/daughter mother/son dances.
Re: Speech - thanking parents, but not close with father...
I am in this EXACT SAME situation....My parents have been divorced since I was two and I've never really been close to my father because he never really took an interest in my life. I recently had to stay in the hospital for 3 weeks (nothing major but still). He came the day my mom called him to let him know. That was the last I saw of him. I've been out for 2 weeks now and he still hasn't called to see how everything was doing. He also didn't show up to my engagement party because he had laryngitis. Anyway. I totally get where you're coming from.
I was thinking of saying something along the lines of being politically correct and being as vague as possible: ''Dad thank you for being here and for everything you have done for me throughout my life.'' I don't have anything more to say to him. One sentence take it or leave it.
PS: I'm also skipping the father/daughter dance and I actually decided to walk down the aisle with my mom and stepdad after the eng party fiasco.