Speech by Antonio

Speech Type: Father of the bride/groom
Speech Creator: Antonio
Speech Date: 24/12/2015 08:16:33

Good afternoon everyone. And thank you Thom for the introduction.

It is my good fortune to begin the speeches this afternoon. So, I would like to start by extending a warm welcome to you all on behalf of myself and my partner Eva, Francesca's mother Pauline and her husband Nick, and Paul's parents Gerry and Ursula.

I am looking for audience participation! By all means if you want to heckle please feel free, [PAUSE…] but the best way that I could think of involving you was to have more than one toast. So would you please ensure you glasses are charged?

All of us on this table would like to say a big thank you to all the Family and friends who have taken the time and effort to join us on this very special occasion. We know that many of you have made long journeys to be here today and we hope you have a wonderful afternoon and evening.

We should also say a big thank you to Francesca and Paul who have organised their wedding. They've had very definite ideas on how they wanted it to be. My daughter has always been a creative thinker. [PAUSE…] I suspect that many of the ideas for this wedding may have been hers and that Paul has been persuaded to go along with them? [LOOK TOWARDS PAUL] If so, Paul, all I can say to you is “Welcome to married life! You've learnt a valuable lesson. Your wife is always right!” [PAUSE…]

Our first toast! Please stand, raise your glasses and join me in a toast thanking us all for making the effort today and for the weekend! Let's give ourselves a big pat on the back! [DRINK…] Thank you!

This is the first time I've had the honour and privilege of walking a daughter down the aisle. I am blessed to have not one but three truly beautiful daughters, all of whom I am incredibly proud of.

The ceremony has been wonderful and emotional for me. Francesca has been an independent woman since before her Birmingham University days. But today marks her commitment to Paul and the beginning of their own family.

This wedding is a time for joy and fun, with family and friends gathered to wish the happy couple the very best as they start their new life together. [LOOK TOWARDS FRANCESCA & PAUL] It is a time, too, when we reflect on how you have both grown up, and those people who have watched after you and helped nurture you.

Francesca was born when her great grandparents were with us, and she was the only grandchild on both sides of the family for many years. She received a huge amount of love and attention; befitting a little Princess! We have many memories: my poor mum cooking several different meals in order to tempt her to eat; a trip to Lapland to see Father Christmas with her grandparents. [LOOK TOWARDS FRANCESCA] Francesca, do you remember Leo the Lion at Great Grandmother Doris’? Hiding a packet of Jelly Tots for you to discover whenever you went to see her and Great Grandad Glynn?

All people that would have loved to be here to share in your happiness today. Sadly, that is not possible for everyone. I would particularly like mention Francesca's Grandmother Patricia, and Paul's Grandparents Gerry and Bridie, and Cecilia and Patrick.

So would you please all stand, raise your glasses and join me in a toast? To our loved ones, with us in spirit today! [DRINK…] Thank you!

It is customary to talk a little about the bride and groom. Well I am going to talk a little bit about Francesca and let Christopher (also known as Trousers…) talk about Paul.

Pauline and I are immensely proud of Francesca and pleased to see her looking so radiant and happy. Over the years we've had the privilege of watching Francesca grow from our gorgeous baby daughter into the beautiful woman we see before us today.

Now you may have noticed that Francesca is very chatty? She started talking at 9 months and has never stopped! In fact we thought she had swallowed a dictionary as a baby. One of her first phrases was, ‘I need it!’ [LOOK TOWARDS PAUL] This is probably a phrase that Paul is now very familiar with? [PAUSE…]

She has always been good at making friends and keeping them. Many of her old school friends like Rosh, Hayley, Debs, Lara, Christine, Soph, Vicky and Becky are here today. Apologies if I have missed your name off the roll-call! [PAUSE…] I remember for example an early family camping holiday in Northern Portugal where Francesca would be happily playing at the centre of a group of kids who spoke no English at all. One of the many lovely things about Fran is that she is open and interested in talking to everyone regardless of background or culture.

She loves music and dancing. Her fairy godmother will tell you that she was dancing before she could walk. [LOOK TOWARDS CAROLINE] Caroline? Dexy's Midnight Runners? Francesca has always enjoyed dressing up and fancy dress parties. Judging from her Facebook pictures so does Paul. [PAUSE…]

Food is a passion. But not just any food!

When she was tiny she used to take a chair into the kitchen and stand on it to open the fridge. We would find bite marks in the cheese the following morning! She always brings cheese home from London for Christmas and regularly stinks out the entire train. Hopefully this gives you some explanation for their choice of wedding cake. [PAUSE…]

She is also partial to a sausage… something shared with Paul [PAUSE…]. On a trip to Glasgow by train when she was about 2 Pauline and Francesca went into the dining car for breakfast. She ate her own sausages and Pauline's, then reached across and helped herself to a sausage from the business woman who was sharing their table! [PAUSE…]

Francesca adores animals. We had cats; Milly, Molly, Mandy and Scabby but she has particularly loved horses and dogs… and now Bears it would seem. [PAUSE…]

Her first love was named Whizz and she was completely devoted to him. Every spare moment was spent grooming and exercising him! And together they won many rosettes for show jumping. I remember early starts every Sunday morning getting her down to the stable yard. Dad's taxi!

We didn't let Francesca have a dog until she was at secondary school: Louis the Beagle. Before then she was always trying to entice other peoples! Even the 2 two Rottweilers from next door when we lived in Bushey. Somethings do not change and she's still volunteering to look after a friend's pooch whenever the opportunity presents itself. Most recently a three legged French Boxer called Leni with a fetish for wheeled luggage [PAUSE…]

Francesca there is so much more I could say about you: Your love of travel, your excellent negotiating skills honed on getting your own way with your parents and grandparents, your card playing especially when there's money involved. But I am now standing between everyone and the next course so must stop.

You look absolutely incredible today. And in Paul you have married a man that I know will love you as much as you love him. We are proud to call Paul our son in law and I know you will make a wonderful married couple.

It is now my honour to propose a toast to you both. I know that everyone here will want to join me in raising a glass to wish you a long, happy and healthy future together.

So could I please ask you all to stand and raise your glasses… to the Bride and Groom!