Speech by Alan Draper

Speech Type: Father of the bride/groom
Speech Creator: Alan Draper
Speech Date: Jun 2008
Father of the Bride Speech

On behalf of my wife, Jean, looking resplendent in her fascinator, Graeme's parents, Chris and Paul, and the happy couple Joanne and Graeme, can I say what a pleasure it is to welcome the friends and relatives of both families to share this very special day.
Some of you have travelled considerable distances to be here including: London and the South East, Cambridgeshire, West Devon, East and West Midlands, Lancashire, Northumberland etc. but the first prize must go to Rachael with Argentina. However, you are all here because you have played some part in the lives of Joanne and Graeme over the years, not least by being here to celebrate this happy occasion today.
There are also a number of people who I wish could have been here, but I'm sure they are keeping an eye on proceedings from afar, and have put in a good word for the weather.
When Joanne and Graeme asked me to say a few words, they said that I should stress their many qualities. Well, I could tell you about the Stresses in the beams of the barn roof, or the importance of Quality and the principles of Right First Time to the Honda Production System – but to say something about the ones you love is much more difficult, and stressful!
However, I've taken my blood pressure tablets and there is at least one Doctor with us, so here goes…..…
Historically the 20th June, besides being the summer solstice, has always been a very special day ……
In 1837, 18-year old Victoria acceded to the throne on the death of William IV.
In 1819, the SS Savannah, the first steam-powered vessel, crossed the Atlantic albeit under sail for most of the way because of a fuel shortage nothing hanges!
In 1756, the British garrison was imprisoned in the Black Hole of Calcutta more recently referred to as the function room of the Masons Arms, Headington Quarry
Finally, around 300 years ago according to the brochure, building work started on the current phase of Friars Court I am reliably informed by the builders that it could be finished early next week.
But today is even more special because this is the day our only daughter was married.
Joanne arrived late and in a bit of a rush nothing changes at 8.55 on the 21st December 1974, I blinked, and here I am proposing the toast on her Wedding Day. .… Where has all the time gone?
Such a lot has happened in the meantime, but as I look at our beautiful daughter today, perhaps we didn't do such a bad job as parents.
The tradition of the father giving away his daughter belongs to the days of betrothals and arranged marriages. Daughters were their father””s “property”, and it was the right of the father to hand over the responsibility for his daughter to the groom.
However, in our case, the moving-on process began many years before. Despite her petite, shy and rather girlish appearance, Joanne has a surprising inner strength and resilience, and, perhaps because of family circumstances, is a self-sufficient and independent spirit.
I am sure Margaret and Frank remember looking after her when she was small, while Jean and I had a few days away – a UN peacekeeping force was on standby when we got back!
At school, she had an annoying tendency of waiting until the last minute before asking for help with homework etc., and only then, about things she knew I knew nothing about – such as Russian translations!
In 1993, she went up to Exeter University. After a journey of around 170 miles we unpacked the car and expected at the very least a cuppa or a walk round campus. However, she dismissed us with a cheery wave, ‘See you at Christmas’, and had disappeared with a new found friend by the time we'd turned the car round.
After Uni, she went off to South America for 6 months from where all communication with the outside world ceased until we got a call asking us to pick her up at Heathrow. Between times, we read about every natural disaster in South America – earthquakes, massive flooding, landslips etc, together with a few man-made ones including an armed up-rising in Peru, plane and bus crashes etc. ‘What was all the fuss about’ was her response when she got back!
She now knew where her career was heading, joined Oxfam and moved to Oxford, where eventually, with the help of Dick who should have been on Grand Designs, and later Graeme, bought into 150 Campbell Avenue. Here, she's developed hidden talents for decorating, cooking, gardening, and wedding planning. It's only a pity they were hidden when she lived at home.
However, despite her independence, Joanne is also a very sensitive and loyal person as I am sure her many friends will testify.
A few Sundays ago, wandering round a garden near Bridgnorth, we bumped into the parents of one of Joanne's friends – they hoped everything was going well with the wedding preparations and told us that – ‘Joanne was always a very special girl who deserves the very best’. I spent the next few minutes pretending I had hay fever, and that I was choking on the lemon drizzle cake or something!
Over the years, Joanne has given us so much pride and pleasure in all her achievements, but the proudest moment of my life was walking through the garden with my beautiful and talented daughter on my arm – thank you Jo.
Now, what can I say about Graeme, what can you say about Graeme! What you can say about Graeme is that to be in his company for a short time is to think you have known him all your life. He is such a friendly, easy going, happy-go-lucky young man, the life and soul of any party, and a pleasure to be with.
However, he does have one or two minor faults sorry Chris:
He didn't seem to realise that before the wedding you were supposed to let the prospective father-in-law win occasionally at ten-pin bowling , golf, the Wii machine, etc.
In the early days I was also worried about his sense of direction. One evening he came up to Wolverhampton to meet Joanne's cousin Patricia and family, over from Texas. He phoned to say he would be late but was on his way. When Joanne rang him later, he said he was making good time and had just passed a sign for Lichfield. Due his love of speed and doubtful sense of direction, he had overshot Wolverhampton by around 20 miles! We had to talk him in like air-traffic control.
However, things have improved – he's got a Sat. Nav.!

Incidentally, I've noticed that Graeme is a bit of a gadget freak – Sat. Nav., mobile phone i-pod etc. If its small, takes control and gives out non-stop information 24 hours a day, he's got to have it. I can see now what attracted him to Joanne.
However, the best accolade I can afford Graeme is to say that Anthony, who is an impeccable judge of people, thinks that Graeme is a cross between his best mate, his big brother and the Pied Piper, so he must be OK.
Graeme, we are delighted to welcome you into our little family. We have found you to be a kind and considerate man who deserves a good wife. Thank goodness, you married Joanne before you found one!
I'm not going to give you lots of twee advice from united .com, but just some words of warning from the Bishop of Oxford: “Statistically speaking, the person sitting next to you at this moment is the one most likely to murder you!”
Finally, I would ask you all to join me in this toast:-
Here's to the past, for all you've learned.
Here's to the present for all that you share.
Here's to the future for all your plans together.
And here's to Love, Laughter and Happy Ever After.
I give you the toast – The Bride and Groom – Mr. &amp Mrs. Hope – Joanne and Graeme.