Speech by Peter Kaplan

Speech Type: Best man
Speech Creator: Peter Kaplan
Speech Date: mar 2004
“I'm not Steve” and no Steve is not giving his own best man speech. If I had a nickel for every time people called me by the wrong name I'd be one wealthy guy. For those of you on Maria's side of the family, my name is Peter and I am Steve's twin brother. We've used each other's identities in the past, but I'm not going to go there this evening. I am extremely happy for he and Maria and I'd like to start by thanking everyone on behalf of the bride and groom for being here and able to share in their wedding day and I'd like to thank Steve and Maria for sharing their wedding day with all of us.

Steve and I recently went to the Yankee/Orioles game at Camden Yards in Baltimore and Steve asked how my speech was coming along and had graciously helped to give me ideas. I reminded him that he began his best man speech at my wedding stating that he would not roast me or say anything negative or bad about me during his speech because he didn't want me to “roast” him back at his wedding. Now that it's my turn to give the best man speech at Steve's wedding there really isn't anything from stopping me from telling a few good Steven stories. However, most of the good stories that I could tell about Steve unfortunately incriminate me as well and I don't feel like getting myself into trouble.

I am honored to be Steve's best man. I have been thinking about this speech for the last several months and have found it extremely difficult to write. How do you sum up 32 years of sharing in someone's life in a few minute speech? I couldn't find the words. Our relationship is more than being best friends and more than just being brothers.

When we were babies we used to have our own language and we called each other “dia”. Steve was potty trained first and I used to say “horray for dia” Apparently, it took a while for me to show any interest in that. Well, now that dia is getting married I'd like to again say “horray for dia”.

Being Steve's twin has been a wonderful life experience and I wouldn't give it up for anything.

I remember the first time Steve met Maria's family and the first time he met Maria's cousins Natalie and Mia. Steve was very excited and he said he had so much fun with them. As he was telling me about the weekend he was smiling and grinning and he just seemed incredibly happy. It was then, that I knew how much Maria really meant to him as he knew how much Maria's family means to her. It was written all over his face.

What can I say about Maria? I am also honored to be the first to officially welcome you into our family. For those of you who don't know, Maria and I worked together at the American Library Association a few years back. Maria was a summer legal intern working on copyright issues. Through her time at the ALA we became friends. Maria is smart and beautiful and I thought that Steve could use a hand with his dating life so one day I invited Maria and Steve both out to join Pat and I for happy hour.

I didn't tell either one that I was trying to set them up as I didn't want to put any pressure on them. Well, because I didn't tell them what I was doing, Maria invited a law school friend of hers to join us. So needless to say there was no love connection made that day. Fast forward several months and Steve and Maria met again at another outing that I invited them both to. It is here that there seemed to be a connection that was made. Steve asked me for her email address, instead of her phone number, and asked her out electronically. My brother, the romantic. The rest as they say is history and I am also honored to finally call Maria my sister-in-law.

Pat and I talked the day that we got married about how important the day was to both of us and how that was the happiest day of our life. As the last two years have gone by since we have been married our perspective changed a little. Our relationship continues to grow and so has our family. When we have a particularly good day, we now say that this is the best or happiest day of our life…so far. Well, that is what I want to convey to Steve and Maria that you have so many wonderful things to look forward to as you go on your life's journey together. I'd like to toast Steve and Maria and to this being the happiest day of their lives….so far.