Who should give the welcome speech?

Re: Who should give the welcome speech?

• AddieCake member

  

  July 2013

  
  

  kauffmbk said:

  Good morning ladies! I have a dilemma! I don't know if I should ask my father (FOB) or the groom's father to give the welcome speech at our reception. I know that traditionally the bride's father gives the speech, but is that because he is the bride's father or because he is the host? My fiance's family paid for our wedding because my dad wasn't in the position to do so. Groom's father wouldn't prefer to give the speech, but he would do it if we asked him to do. I don't know if my dad is expecting to or not because I don't want to ask him until I know what to do.

  
  

  What would you recommend? Would it be weird for both to say something if they wanted to? 

  
  

  Thank you!!

  You shouldn't ask anyone to give a speech or toast. Speeches and toasts are something people offer to make, not something you should dole out to anyone. 

  
  

  
  

  What did you think would happen if you walked up to a group of internet strangers and told them to get shoehorned by their lady doc?~StageManager14

  

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• manateehugger member

  

  July 2013

  I don't know what a "welcome speech" really is. I've seen parents of the either the groom or the bride say a short "thanks for coming" during dinner. More often though, I see the couple doing the thank you speech themselves.

  And ditto Addie - don't force or ask anyone to give a speech if they don't want to.

  

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• kauffmbk member

  

  July 2013

  PDKH: That's what I was referring to - a short thanks and glad to have you speech - nothing fancy. Have you ever been to a wedding where someone doesn't welcome the guests? I actually have not been to a wedding where the couple is the first to speak. 

  
  

  AddieL73: Nobody is going to offer to welcome everyone - this is definitely a moment when you ask if they want to do it - no one is forcing anyone to do it though. 

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• manateehugger member

  

  July 2013

  Right, usually it's the couple or parents who make the brief thank you right before or right after the toasts. I'm saying you guys could make the thank you yourselves and say something like "We'd also like to thank our parents for supporting us and making today happen."
  
  Either way, you should do table visits or a recieving line to thank guests individually.

  

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• kauffmbk member

  

  July 2013

  Absolutely! We actually only have 40 guests so I hope to spend a great amount of time with everyone. I just asked my dad to say something short and sweet in the beginning and he was happy to do it. I think we'll also say a brief thank you after the speeches. Thanks for the advice!

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