Father of the groom delivers one of greatest wedding toasts — brings entire crowd to their feet

Weddings are incomplete without guests delivering speeches for the newlywed couple. But the most precious moment is when the parents of the couple step forward to share heartfelt words for their children. Anthony DiFonzo, an event videographer who goes by @thatsamorefilms on Instagram, captured one such wholesome moment from a couple's wedding and shared it on the platform. "This toast from the Father of the Groom will have you laughing and crying simultaneously," DiFonzo wrote in the caption of his video.

"Once upon a time, there was a father and then one day he found that his wife was going to have another little baby," the groom's father began, holding a mic. "So I prayed, 'Lord, if it's your will, make him a little boy.' And he did. I was the first person to hold you in my arms and as I looked at you, I said, 'Lord, make him like his mother.'" As the father spoke, his son and new bride looked at him with vibrant smiles. The father continued, sharing more details about his son, describing him as a young boy who was obedient, giving, sensitive, funny and generous. 

"But then I realized that I was getting left out. So I said, 'Lord, make him like me.' And he did. He became great-looking," the groom's father joked, pausing to catch the wedding guests' reaction as everyone erupted into laughter. According to the father, his son also inherited other qualities, like becoming athletic, but with all the positives, he also became opinionated. "He was hard-headed, so I said, 'Lord, enough of that.' I said, 'Make him like you.' And he did," the dad added.

"He got the desire to care about people, work with people, help people, but something was still missing," the father continued, reading from a sheet of paper where he had written his speech. The father then recalled asking God to make his son happy, and that prayer was answered when he met his current wife, Franny. He mentioned the look his son gets on his face when he looks at the love of his life. "Michelle and I are grateful for that," the father concluded. "Just wanted you both to know how hard God and I have worked to make this happen."

The comment section was filled with delight over the speech, with some even calling it the best speech by a father at his child’s wedding. @wordsmith234 wondered, "How did I grin, smile, laugh, cry and laugh in so short a time as it took to watch this?" @bobbiehouston commented, "Great speech. Nothing is more wonderful than beautiful wedding speeches." @olu.wase wrote, "Beautiful statement! Parents have their responsibilities and they must ensure they don't fail at it. God will always do his own part because he doesn't fail." @ruseden0108 added, "After years of first seeing wedding speeches, this is by far the best speech from a loving father, in my opinion. Always brings happy tears."

You can follow Anthony DiFonzo (@thatsamorefilms) on Instagram for more videos on weddings and other events.