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Guests and etiquette · Speeches and toasts

What is a famous line from father of the bride?

Answered by the UK Wedding Websites editorial team · Updated 2026-10-12 · For parents

Short answer

A famous line from the film Father of the Bride is: "I used to think about having a daughter... I just didn't think it would be this hard."

This line comes from the 1991 film starring Steve Martin, where the father struggles to let go of his daughter as she prepares to marry. It captures the bittersweet feeling many parents have on the wedding day: pride, love, and a touch of sadness that their child is starting a new chapter. In the film, the father delivers it with a mix of humour and genuine emotion, which is why it resonates with so many people. If you want to reference a famous line in your own speech, you could adapt it to fit your relationship. For example, you might say, "I always thought having a daughter would be wonderful, and it is. I just didn't realise how quickly the time would fly." This keeps the spirit of the original while sounding personal. Another well-known line from the same film is "I'm not losing a daughter, I'm gaining a son-in-law," though that one is often said with irony. Use these as inspiration, but always add your own words so the sentiment feels genuine to your family.

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