Speech by Chris White

Speech Type: Father of the bride/groom
Speech Creator: Chris White
Speech Date: Apr 2002

Shaun has told me I have 30 Minutes in which to propose this toast.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my very pleasant duty to welcome you here this evening to this special occasion of celebrating the marriage of Catherine (now known as Cat) and Shaun. I'm sure that you will all agree on how radiant and gorgeous Cat is. However, Shaun is not too bad himself.
I know that some of you have travelled quite a distance to be with us here tonight, from both overseas and interstate. We really thank you and welcome you here tonight and hope that you really do enjoy yourselves accordingly.
We are all very sad that Cat's Grandfather Jack is not here with us tonight – we all miss him, but I'm sure he is “watching down on us and is very proud and happy for her”.
When Cat and Shaun stood at the Altar earlier today and she spoke those magic words “I DO”, I had cause to reflect that it's one of the few times in her life she's agreed to do something without question. Don't get me wrong, Cat was wonderful and obedient as a child – with a bit of prompting.
As a child she was full of life, effervescence, fun and joy and was just so bubbly and who made friends with everyone. During her teen years, both at school and at University, she had a wonderful time, being the first person to gain the distinction of getting both her Matriculation and a Batchelor of Science with no study at all. However she worked hard for her Honours Degree, and we congratulate her for it.
Then her Thespian Knight in Shining Armour in the form of Shaun came along. I didn't doubt Cat's choice at all, as Victor Hugo once said “Men have sight, women have insight.”
Now Shaun is a very good actor, but with a somewhat “PUCKISH” sense of humour – at first we thought him a little shy, retiring and rather reluctant to talk with us, but we were victims of his talents. Beware! If you make the mistake of talking to Shaun about himself or his exploits, have a friend ready to come and rescue you at a signal, otherwise you will find several hours gone, without you ever having to say a word. You will find him a real wordsmith, witty with a quick dry sense of humour.
The only time I have ever found Shaun at a loss for words and without his sense of humour, suffering from severe stage fright – or should I say performance terror – was on a Sunday Morning some time ago. (Why do these questions for my daughters’ hands always get asked of me on Sunday Mornings?).
I was sitting in bed, reading the paper and quietly minding my own business, when I heard voices from downstairs. The next thing I saw was Shaun ascending the stairs at a 60o tilt backwards, white knuckles gripping the rails, with Cat pushing him hard from behind.
He approached the end of the bed trembling and gripped it, (I could feel it shaking and hear the metal rattling), and so by this time (not surprisingly) I had become quite interested in proceedings.
He finally blurted out that he and Cat wanted to get married, and did they have my permission. I simply said “Do you love her?” and he said “Yes” and then I said “Does she love you?” to which he replied “Yes”, and because I instantly recalled Benjamin Disraeli's comments on love: “We are all born for love. It is the principle of existence and its only end”. I said “You have my blessing for this”. Shaun then collapsed, figuratively speaking.
As you are both adults, I do not feel it my place to give advice, but as a father I now entrust Cat to you, Shaun, safe in the knowledge that she is with a man who both loves and respects her just as much as she loves and respects you.
I am deeply grateful to you Shaun, as the man who has given my little girl such joy, happiness, life and love, which she now radiates. A writer called Janos Arany once said: “In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities.” That is my wish for you both.
A marriage is a joining of two individuals. Although Cat and Shaun's lives are now symbolically one, it's important for each of you to realise that your partner is his or her own person.
As you come to understand and appreciate your differences, you will grow in trust, respect and love – and then as you truly appreciate how much of this you have in common; your love will deepen even more. I can say this because I know that neither of you subscribe to the theory that “A wedding is like a funeral – There is the Service and then everyone cries . . . because your life is over”.
That was the piece of advice I said I was not going to give, but I did it anyway because this is my speech.
I am sure everyone here will agree what a beautiful Bride Cat is, and the sight of them coming together as such a lovely couple makes the hard work and planing that has gone into this day worthwhile, particularly that which Cat and Shaun themselves have done, as well as Wendy and Helen.
As I say this, I see that that my daughter has grown up, left home and is now married. When I look back over the years, I realise how little time you really do have with your children. A philosopher once said: “Treasure the love you receive above all. It will survive long after your gold and good health have gone.”
Catherine, your Mother and I wish you and Shaun all the happiness and prosperity in the world, and I am glad to welcome Shaun and his family into our family.
Just in case you may have noticed that I have been referring to the happy couple all night as Cat and Shaun rather than Shaun and Cat , at a rehearsal of this speech the other day I made the classical spoonerism of referring to them as “Shat and Caun” – but not tonight!
In conclusion, I hope that none of you will go home thinking the words of Groucho Marks: “I've had a wonderful time, but this wasn't it”.

And so I would now ask you to raise your glasses and join me in a toast to the future health and happiness of the union of Catherine and Shaun . .