Following the wedding, or in some cases in current wedding practice, the evening before the wedding, you as father of the bride will host the wedding reception. This is an opportunity for friends and family to call on the bride and groom and their families to offer congratulations and best wishes. The reception is also an opportunity to offer gifts to the new couple as they begin a new life and a new household together.
Again, some tips for the reception from experienced fathers of the bride.
The Reception Is Yours. As a lay religious leader several years ago, I used to counsel with brides and grooms who wanted permission to marry in the church. I told them that the wedding belonged to them, but the reception belonged to their parents. Help your daughter understand that and you, your daughter and your mother will have a better experience.
Relax and Enjoy. Usually the mother of the bride has been very involved in the planning of the wedding reception and she tends to be a little stressed about every detail. Be sympathetic, but enjoy the reception. You can visit with friends as they attend, and you may well meet many new people who are friends of the groom and his family.
Stay Sober. If you are serving alcohol at the reception, you need to refrain or at least drink very moderately. You are the host and your behavior should always be acceptable, regardless.
Make the Dance Positive but Memorable. One very popular tradition at weddings is for the bride and groom, and then the bride and her father to dance. If you can dance well, then this is not a problem. But if you are not used to social dancing, this can be a pretty awkward moment. So take some time ahead to time to practice a few easy dance steps. Work with your DJ or orchestra to keep each dance to a couple of minutes -- a six-minute dance to "Butterfly Kisses" will be uncomfortable for your daughter and you and your guests. And make sure your photographer gets some shots from this event.
The Aftermath
Once the wedding and all the festivities are over and your daughter and new son-in-law have gone off to start a new life together, the reality of it all sets in. A father of the bride's next challenge is to work to become a great father-in-law to his daughter's new husband and to adapt to his new role in his daughter's life.
But a wedding can be a great and memorable experience for a father if he finds his way through a challenging time and makes the wedding process and outcome a positive.
More Help for the Father of the Bride
