It’s time to pay tribute to your amazing daughter on her big day. But if there’s one thing we all know about dads, it’s that they can’t resist the urge to crack out the odd joke.
And why not! We at Speechy love a funny speech. In fact, we actively encourage them.
But there are pitfalls. Not all jokes were created equal. So we’re here to help you choose the right ones and deliver them like a pro. Dads, read on.
Let’s be honest… dads get a bad rep when it comes to humour. The term ‘dad jokes’ didn’t just come from nowhere. Dads earned that title.
They earned it through years of bad puns and recycled jokes, causing daughters across the country to groan in dismay.
Sweet and innocent most of the time. But on their wedding day? Avoid at all cost!
Just because you’ve heard the same joke at every wedding you’ve been to, doesn’t mean you have to recycle it for this one. In fact, it’s much better if you don’t.
So steer clear of Google in the run-up to the wedding and avoid anything too vulgar. It’s your daughter’s wedding! No one wants to hear innuendo from the dad.
We at Speechy think the best humour comes from real, actual events that happened between you and your daughter. Really getting your daughter’s character will lead to big laughs from all the other guests. And who is in a better position to do this than the man who’s known her all her life?
So have a good sit down and really think about all her funny stories, anecdotes and characteristics you can. If you need help from your wife, that’s fine. It’s not cheating.
The more you think, the more you’ll remember how your daughter used to cry when Noel Edmunds came on the telly. Or how she managed to reverse into your garage on her first driving lesson.
Think about the little things too. Her favourite band. Her biggest phobia. Her favourite flavour of Pringle. All of it will come in use. Even if just suggesting food for the buffet.
Also, don’t forget to have a think about the first time you met her husband, as you’ll need to talk about him too! Was he wearing something ridiculous? Did he call you ‘sir’? Anything funny, pop it in!
By the time you’ve finished writing up all the stories, you’re probably going to have enough to publish six biographies and the first draft of a biopic.
But as a speech is only seven or eight minutes long, you’re going to struggle to fit that all in.
So get ruthless! Go through the jokes and the stories and only choose the very best. If any are overly complicated or too lengthy, you’ll have plenty of alternatives, so opt for these instead.
Keep the speech flowing, moving from one gag to the next in the blink of an eye. Even if this means the speech only hits five minutes if it’s five minutes of gold, which is better than seven minutes of silver.
Finally, be careful about adding too many in-jokes, if any. If no one else in the audience is going to understand what you’re talking about, they’ll just feel a bit alienated. So opt for the crowd-pleasers and make sure you explain anything which may need to be explained.
I know we gave dads a bit of a rough ride at the top, but in reality, if anyone has the guts to tell a joke in front of their daughter and her friends, it’s them. They’ve been doing it ALL their lives.
I know there are now fifty to a hundred other people in the audience, but don’t let that put you off. Sure, you’re bound to be nervous. Everyone is. However, there are some tips you can follow to make sure all goes to plan.
Firstly, make sure you take your time. Slow your delivery more than you normally would. Especially at the beginning.
By the time you get your first laugh, you’ll ease up and the crowd will be wrapped around your little finger. From here, it’s all about eye contact and performing to your audience. Don’t just read the speech off a sheet of paper. This is your five minute set at the Apollo! So make the most of it.
Follow the above from conception to delivery and you’ll make your daughter’s special day all the more special. Because it’s time dads reclaimed the term ‘dad joke’. They deserve it.
