Speech by Mark Nation

Speech Type: Best man
Speech Creator: Mark Nation
Speech Date: 30/05/2014 20:55:11

Thank you Barry for your kind words….

Distinguished guests, family, friends, on behalf of my beautiful wife Claire (doesn't she look amazing) smashing daughter and bridesmaid Lilly and myself, I would like to thank you all for coming here today.

For those of you that know me well, I am normally quite confident at speeches and presentations, but today has been the best day and the most surreal day of my life.

I am overwhelmed, knowing that I am now finally married to the love of my life.

I would first like to thank both parents, my new in-laws for welcoming me into the family as sincerely as you have, and allowing me to marry your amazing daughter.

You have been there for Claire, Lilly & I through thick and thin and supported us all of the way. It's great to now be an official recruit of The Eden Army. Without all of your hard work the wedding of our dreams would not have been the success it has and will continue to be.

Thank you for doing such a spot on job in raising a beautiful, quick witted and slightly chatty daughter (I wonder who she's got that from?). We can see so much of this in the way Lilly is turning out to be such a well mannered little girl, and long may it continue.

Of course, thank you for letting me have Claire's hand in marriage Barry, in fact if I remember correctly, the actions you gave at my 1st BBQ at Claire's house when asked if I could be the 1 for Claire was like you'd scored the winning goal in a World Cup Final?

I remember the day I asked Barry for Claire's hand in marriage as it was Charlotte and Patricks wedding day. A day I will not forget for 2 reasons

1. You said yes which was very nerve wracking and amazing.

And…

2. This (Hold Up Lilly's comforter)…  Now Claire and I never really fight, we bicker a bit but the only thing we ever really fall out over is the location of it (as Lilly can't sleep without it) when misplaced.

On this particular day the comforter went missing, which led to pointing of fingers and lots of “well I haven't seen it! You had it last” I ended up doing 4 laps of the Royal Berkshire hotel grounds until Barry produced it from his pocket… saying that he'd found it hidden under a plant pot when it was in his pocket the entire time.

Sue… sorry “Treacle” is a superstar, we began calling each other treacle when she answered Claire's mobile in the car and I mistakenly began my conversation with a chat up line… stuck from then on.

I remember promising Sue that I would make an honest woman of her daughter (it's taken 4 years), it's unlike me to take my time but it's been well worth the wait!

I would also like to thank both sets of my parents for their help and support over the years. You should be proud that you raised an intelligent, witty, dashing, handsome son, but enough about my brother, so many thanks for being here today to support myself, Claire & Lilly.

Will you raise a glass to both sets of parents…To the parents.

I also want to thank my brother Ollie my best man, for keeping me sane (and sober) last night and all this morning, re-assuring me that Claire would actually turn up at the church today, and arranging such a successful Stag do at Reading Beer Festival that was like herding a gaggle of cats to begin with and ended up a very memorable Beery giggle with lots of Clothes Pegs (thanks Jay!).

I'd like to say a personal thanks to The Hens for looking after Claire in Manchester, the nude portrait shots looked very entertaining, and the Fancy Dress was excellent. The morning after picture from Hazel was a classic!

We also want to thank Adam, Richard & Jay our Ushers who made sure we had no gate-crashers today and looked after you all so admirably.

So please raise your glasses for The Boys…The Boys

Huge thanks to Heather for the fab reading during the service such brilliant and thoughtful words, and Uncle Terry for doing such an amazing job playing the organ at the church & making us sing our hearts out. Rev. Mark-Aaron taking our service was fantastic, words, memories and getusres that we will take with us forever.

Also we'd like to thank the Elvetham hotel venue staff and Andrew our MC & Kacey our Wedding Coordinator for looking after us so well and putting up with my endless emails.

Thanks to the entertainment supplied by Tony Liotti and The Singing Waiters.… &.… They'll be on for an encore afterwards in the bar. Hope you liked the surprise?

Thanks to Robert our Toastmaster for keeping us on track and what a voice! And to June who has made us a stunning wedding cake with such intricate detail we really don't want to cut it!

Thanks to Mel our wedding Photographer who took such a great Engagement shoot here and if you haven't signed the picture mount in the lobby; pop your messages on there as we'd like to keep this as a cherished memory of the day.

There has been help from so many people that I may have not mentioned everyone so I sincerely apologise if that is the case.

If I could ask you all to please put your hands together to say a very warm thank you for all of their help.

Finally, now it's over to the most important person here today, the star of the show, my beautiful new wife Claire.  It sounds great finally been able to say that, my wife Claire, What can I say that I haven't said to most of you about her anyway? We are a perfect match for each other, she is great at giving orders, and I'm great at following them… sometimes

I've learnt in a very short space of time, that

–         Whenever she's right, and I'm wrong, admit it,

–         Whenever she's wrong and I'm right, just keep quiet, she has one hell of an arm punch (that's your fault too Treacle). 

–         And I have also learnt that when it comes to the joint account… what's mine is hers and what's hers is… hers…

But seriously, not only today, but the whole last 7 years have been so surreal, and how fantastic my life has been since we have been together.  There is a saying that you don't marry someone you can live with; you marry someone you can't live without.  I think that sums us up well. 

Watching Claire walk up that aisle today made me realise just how lucky I am, I looked at myself, and realized it was definitely me getting the best part of this deal.  You always bring the best out of me, you understand me like no-one else and you are always fighting my corner.

We first met each other nearly 11 years ago; at a funeral (great place to start!) and I am very proud to say she has been the best friend I have ever had. I would like to think I have been a good friend to her as well. A trip to visit her when working in Morocco started an amazing journey, we have a fantastic family life with a wonderful and very entertaining little girl. I wouldn't swap any of it for the world.

Claire I am still continually learning from your many great qualities:

–        You make such an effort for your friends and family

–        You're as honest as the day is long

–        I don't think I've ever met someone with so many close friends that all think so highly of them

–        You are very intelligent and capable even if you don't always believe it

–        You are absolutely gorgeous

–        And what's more you make me extremely happy

I am really looking forward to the rest of my life next to this amazing lady, thank you Claire; I love you in so many ways, and for so many reasons. 

So I would like you to all join me in a toast to my best friend, and beautiful wife, Claire…… To Claire

So, that's enough from me, it now gives me great pleasure (I think) to hand over to my best man, Ollie.  For those of you that know Ollie, I really am sorry, and for those that don't know Ollie, he actually lives in a parallel universe which may cause him to invent fanciful stories, particularly about myself and Claire.  He really does believe these stories to be true and I thank you in advance for humouring him. 

So with great nervousness, I would like to hand you over to our best man and wonderful Brother (for now anyway), Ollie.