Wedding advice for the father of the bride

Seeing their child get married can be a proud and happy day for a father, but it can also be stressful, particularly when it is their daughter’s wedding.

There is the issue of seeing daddy’s little girl all grown up and beginning to make a family of her own and then there are all the father of the bride duties – walking her down the aisle, making a speech and getting the check book out to pay for it all at the end.

To help dads negotiate the wedding minefield the Kren Reno has come up with parenting advice for fathers apprehensive about the big day.

Firstly, it suggests making a money plan. The couple may be paying for the wedding themselves, but if not, fathers should decide how much they are willing to contribute and stick to it.

The publication notes that men may be tempted to take a backseat when it comes to wedding planning and leave the girls to sort out dresses and flower arrangements, but says the bride and groom will need all the help they can get in organizing the day, so it is all hands on deck.

When it comes to the speech – the bit many dads dread most – it recommends keeping it short and sweet. "Rather than rambling, it’s always best to stick to the basics. Thank everyone for being there, say how happy and proud you’re feeling at that moment, and raise your glass to the bride and groom."

Dads may be interested to know that on average, US couples spend between $1,366 and $43,098 on their wedding, excluding honeymoon and engagement ring, so they may want to start saving now in the interests of good father and daughter relations!