The Father of the Bride

Traditionally, the bride's father has two roles - to give his daughter away, and to pay for the reception afterwards. However, with the total cost of the average British wedding fast approaching the average annual salary, many couples do not expect the bride's father to cover every expense, often contributing or paying fully themselves.

If for any reason her father is unable to attend the wedding, the bride's eldest brother, uncle or male guardian usually takes his place, although there is no reason why the bride's mother cannot give her away.

The bride's father dresses in morning dress or lounge suit, matching the rest of the men in the wedding party, and wears a buttonhole similar to that worn by the bridegroom and the best man.

He escorts his daughter from his home to the ceremony, arriving at the venue for the ceremony with the bride after everyone else has gathered inside. With his daughter on his right arm, he leads her down the aisle or towards an agreed place - depending on whether the ceremony is taking place in a church or in a building registered for civil marriages.

If the wedding is taking place in a church, he may take his daughter's hand and give it to the clergyman in a gesture of giving her away. This is not a part of the civil ceremony and is optional within church ceremonies. After the service, he escorts the bridegroom's mother into the vestry with the newly-weds, to see the final act of the marriage - the signing of the register, and then accompanies her in the recessional (leaving the church after the wedding).

After the ceremony and any photo calls have been completed, he and his wife will go to the reception venue, where as host and hostess, they will welcome their guests.

Finally, during the reception, the bride's father will be called on to make the first speech of the evening, and propose a toast to the Bride and Bridegroom.

Financially, he is responsible for paying for:

• press announcements, invitations, stationery, photographs and video
• the wedding dress
• his own and the bride's mothers outfits for the day
• transport to the ceremony for himself and the bride, the bride's mother and bridesmaids, and from the ceremony to the reception for himself and the bride's mother
• flowers at the ceremony and reception
• the reception
• the wedding cake
• insurance
• a wedding present for his daughter and her new husband

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