Father of the Bride Gift Ideas

Your dad is about to walk you down the aisle, and he will probably not say half of what he feels. A good father of the bride gift gives him something to hold on to while he does it. These ideas suit dads who cry at commercials and dads who have never cried in public. Our top pick is a song about the two of you, played while you get ready or saved for your father-daughter dance.

Hear a song from Songbond

This one was made for another family. Yours would carry his name and your stories.

12 father of the bride gift ideas

1. A song about you and your dad ($39.90). Share the bedtime routine, the parking lot where he taught you to drive and the nickname he still uses, and Songbond turns it into an original song. Play it for him before the ceremony, or use it for the father-daughter dance so the whole room hears your story.
2. A tie patch with a childhood photo. A small fabric patch sewn inside his tie, printed with a picture of the two of you when you were small. He sees it every time he straightens his tie. Usually $15 to $35.
3. Engraved cufflinks. Keep the engraving short: the wedding date, or the name he called you as a girl. Usually $40 to $120.
4. A memory pin for someone missing. If his own parent or your grandparent is gone, a small photo pin inside his jacket keeps them on the walk with you. Usually $15 to $35.
5. A private dance lesson for the two of you. Book it a few weeks before the wedding. Plenty of dads dread the dance, and an hour of practice turns it into a memory instead of a worry. Usually $60 to $150.
6. Two photos of his hand holding yours. One from when you were a toddler gripping his finger, one taken on the wedding day. Buy a double frame now and fill the second slot later. Usually $30 to $70.
7. A flask or a pair of whiskey glasses. For the quiet drink he will want with the groom after the speeches. Engrave the date on the base. Usually $30 to $80.
8. A golf round or fishing day with the groom. Book it for after the honeymoon. It gives your dad and your new husband a day to get to know each other on his ground. Usually $80 to $300.
9. Socks with a hidden message. Printed on the soles with a line from you that only he will see as he sits down. A light touch for a heavy day. Usually $15 to $30.
10. A photo book of the two of you. First bike, school plays, the recital he filmed from the back row. One page for each stage of your life. Usually $40 to $90.
11. A watercolor of the family home. A painting or line drawing of the family home where he raised you, framed for his study. Usually $50 to $150.
12. An engraved compass. For the dad who taught you how to find your way, with a short line inside the lid. Usually $30 to $70.

How to choose for your dad

Look at how he handles feelings in public. Some dads want something to wear on the day so a piece of you walks with them. Others would rather open something quietly the week after, when no one is watching. If the groom wants to give him something too, the golf day or the glasses work well coming from both of you.

• If he is the quiet type: the tie patch, the cufflinks or the compass.
• If he loves a story: the photo book, the house drawing or the song.
• If he would rather do than keep: the dance lesson or the day out with the groom.

What to put in a father of the bride song

The songs that land best are built on small things only the two of you know. Words like loving and proud could describe almost any father. What makes a song his is the nickname he gave you at three, the empty parking lot where you first drove, the thing he said every single time you left the house. Write down five details like that before you order. If you plan to dance to it, tell us the mood you want: slow and tender, or light enough to get the room smiling.

Make a song for your dad

Create a father of the bride song. Tell us about him and it is ready within 24 hours. If the wedding is this weekend, express delivery gets it to you in about an hour.

Also in the Journal: songs for the father of the bride and father-daughter dance songs.