Speech by Bob Gooch

Speech Type: Father of the bride/groom
Speech Creator: Bob Gooch
Speech Date: MAR 2003
Firstly I would like to apologise for myself if I stutter or mumble or even trip over my tongue, because speechmaking is not something I would normally look forward to, but today is a happy exception. As Father of the Bride, it is my privilege to make the first speech and, I would like to start by saying what a real pleasure it is to welcome on this very happy occasion the relatives and friends of both Trina and Kelsey. I would also like to remember those who, for some reason or another, could not be here with us today.

Gillian and I are very proud to see Trina, looking so beautiful and, after nearly nine years, finally married to Kelsey. Now its at this point in time that the Father of the bride says something along the lines of.… we are not really losing a Daughter but gaining a son .… well in our case we really are gaining a son and not losing a daughter as they are going to be living with us.

During the time we have known Kelsey, we have come to realize how special he is to Trina. Anyone can see that they are made for each other. Kelsey is really likeable and easy going, and we are really fortunate that Trina has made a match with her Mr. Right, because he is everything that a daughters parents could wish for, and he is a real soulmate for Aaron. In fact if this were an arranged marriage I do not think we could have chosen better ourselves, and we are very happy to welcome him formally into our family, providing he keeps his hands off my piece of cheesecake.

Of course, marriage is not only about finding the perfect partner, but also about being one. I believe that marriage will teach them, loyalty, self-restraint, and control. It will develop in them a sense of fair play and many other qualities which they wouldn't need had they stayed single!
Funny thing marriage though, Did you know they carried out a survey recently to establish whether married men live longer than bachelors do? Apparently, there's absolutely no difference it just seems longer when you're married!

Seriously though, as someone who has been happily married for 29 years, and speaking therefore from great experience, I would like to warn this freshman here about what he'll be up against.
I didn't think it wise to say anything before he'd gone through the wedding ceremony just in case he changed his mind. But there's something you'll have to learn to live with Kelsey, because no man has yet found a remedy for it and that is the female mind! It can be summed up by this one simple instance.

A woman bought her husband two ties for his birthday, a red one and a blue one.
He was undecided which one to wear at his party that evening, but appeared in the red one.
As soon as his wife saw him, she said, "Oh! you're wearing the red tie. Don't you like the blue one?"

There's no way you can win however, forewarned is forearmed, and according to Charlton Heston, the key to a long and happy marriage Kelsey, is to remember this little sentence, "I am sorry darling I was wrong."

Another piece of advice I would like to pass on is this. Valentine cards understandably stress burning love, and the priests and parsons stress fidelity. But old married couples like us know that the secrets of a well worked at marriage, are persistence and patience, tolerance and forbearance, stoicism, tenacity, stamina, forgiveness and, failing that .… Erm ……… Oh yes! a defective memory. It also helps, of course, if the husband is always prepared to take the blame, as is only right and just. Gillian insisted that I made this last point!

But to be serious for a moment, I know that we suggested that you should have had your wedding on a beach in the Hawaiian Islands, but in a way we are glad you didn't, because this has been a wonderful wedding day, and it's not over yet! It is only right that we should toast the Bride and Groom, but we should also toast everyone here. You have come to help us celebrate this special occasion, of those we love, and who love each other. And by our presence, we show the happy couple friendship and love, and bring even greater joy to them.

Now I think it is time that I shut up and sat down before I have trouble with my throat .… Gillian has threatened to cut it!
But before I do I would like to end my pleasant duty and propose a toast to the happy couple. (pick-up wineglass)
Ladies & Gentlemen, please be upstanding and charge your glasses.

Here's to the past, for all that you've learned.
Here's to the present, for all that you share.
Here's to the future, for all that you look forward to together.
To Trina and Kelsey.