Father of the Bride

The Father of the Bride by Edward Streeter is Stanley Banks, an ordinary suburban father who, to his shock, learns that his eldest daughter is going to be a bride. Not certain exactly what his role is to be in this, he is soon to begin to find out that often fathers are an after thought, important only for their wallets. His wife changes into a sergeant-major directing all aspects of the event and things like champagne, caterers and invitations suddenly play an important role in his life. To make matters worse, his daughter, his beloved kitten, is transferring her primary allegiance to another man.

With tongue-in-cheek humor and clever illustrations the book leads Stanley to his daughter's Wedding Day. Written in a timeless, show more heart-warming manner the story is familiar to anyone who has parented daughters who marry. Having gone through it twice, I often found myself grinning ruefully and remembering how as parents we swung back and forth through the panic of the unexpected and the magic of finding everything falling into place perfectly.

It’s no surprise that this book has been made into successful Hollywood films twice (with one having a sequel) as this ceremony is a milestone of parenthood. Although somewhat dated, the important elements of hosting a wedding come across vividly. The author delivers a clever, amusing story with fun illustrations by Gluyas Williams. show less

Poor Mr. Banks! His jacket is too tight, he can’t get a cocktail, and he’s footing the bill...He’s the father of the bride.
Stanley Banks is just your ordinary suburban dad. He’s the kind of guy who believes that weddings are simple affairs in which two people get married. But when daddy’s little girl announces her engagement to Buckley, Mr. Banks feels like his life has been turned upside down.
The dress that will be worn for one day is how much? Why would anyone spend that much for flowers? And however befuddled Mr. Banks becomes, no one pays the least amount of attention to him. He must host cocktail parties with the in-laws to be, initiate financial planning talks with Buckley, and moderate family conferences on who will be show more invited to the reception. But poor Mr. Banks! All he sees are the bills, and no one talks to him about losing his little girl!
Father of the Bride is a timeless, heartwarming, and hysterically funny tale that appeals directly to the lighter side of life, and any man with a child about to get married can appreciate Mr. Banks’s situation and the troubles that befall him. show less

"Father of the Bride" is a classic comedic tale set in the late 1940's, detailing the trials and tribulations of an irritated yet loving father who must see to the details of his beloved daughter's wedding.

While I loved both movie versions of "Father of the Bride," I enjoyed the book so much more. The characterizations of Stanley Banks, the central character, and his daughter Kay were hysterical, as were the descriptions of typical post-WWII era middle class society, where social niceties quickly become cumbersome. It's just a delightful story that makes me smile whenever I think of it.

Movie: Father of the Bride with Spencer Tracy