Speech by George Cullen

Speech Type: Father of the bride/groom
Speech Creator: George Cullen
Speech Date: 17/02/2012 14:37:18

WELCOME

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. ON BEHALF OF MY WIFE ANN, ANDREWS PARENTS JUNE AND NICK, CAN I SAY HOW DELIGHTED WE ARE TO WELCOME FRIENDS AND RELATIVES, OF BOTH FAMILIES, TO CELEBRATE THE MARRIAGE OF LAURA AND ANDREW.

MOST OF YOU HAVE TRAVELLED QUITE A DISTANCE TO BE HERE TODAY. ESPECIALLY ANDREWS AUNT LIZ AND UNCLE JOHN FROM TASMANIA, HIS FRIEND JASON AND PARTNER KELLY FROM AMERICA AND OF COURSE ENGLAND,WALES AND SCOTLAND.

ONCE AGAIN THANKYOU FOR COMING AND WE HOPE YOU'LL ENJOY THE REST OF THE EVENING.

PROUD

I MUST SAY HOW PROUD I AM TO BE STANDING HERE TODAY AS THE FATHER OF THE BRIDE AS SHE IS LOOKING ABSOLUTELY STUNNING.

BIRTH

I REMEMBER THE DAY LAURA WAS BORN. ANN WAS COMPLAINING OF PAINS IN HER STOMACH, I TOLD HER IT WAS PROBABLY INDIGESTION AND WENT TO WORK.

I RECEIVED A TELEPHONE CALL LATER THAT MORNING FROM MY MOTHER TO TELL ME ANN HAD GIVEN BIRTH TO A BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRL.

SHE WASN'T WRONG.

MEMORIES

ONE OF THE MEMORIES I HAVE WHEN LAURA WAS YOUNGER AND IT WAS PROBABLY BECAUSE SHE COULD GET ME TO DO ANYTHING SHE WANTED – SHE WOULD SAY TO ME “DAD LETS PLAY AT HORSES”.

SO THERE I WAS CRAWLING ROUND THE FLOOR ON MY HANDS AND KNEES WITH A TIE IN MY MOUTH FOR REINS. JUST AS WELL I DIDN'T HAVE FALSE TEETH.

LAURA ON MY BACK KICKING HER HEELS INTO MY RIBS AND SLAPPING ME WITH HER HAND SHOUTING “GIDDYUP HORSE”. I WAS JUST GLAD YOU DIDN'T HAVE SPURS ON AND A WHIP IN YOUR HAND. IT COULD HAVE BEEN QUITE PAINFUL. ANYWAY ONE WOMAN IN THE HOUSE WITH A WHIP IS QUITE ENOUGH.

YOU WOULD ALSO SAY TO ME “DAD, MAKE A NOISE LIKE A HORSE” – SO I THOUGHT IS THAT FROM THE FRONT OR THE BACK END OF THE HORSE. AS IT TURNED OUT IT WAS THE NOISE OF THE HORSES HOOFS YOU WANTED TO HEAR.

THIS WAS A REGULAR EVERYDAY OCCURANCE UNTIL YOU EVENTUALLY DECIDED TO GO FOR RIDING LESSONS, AND BOY WAS I GLAD BECAUSE AT 18 YOU WERE GETTING FAR TOO HEAVY TO BE SITTING ON MY BACK.

ANYWAY I REMEMBER YOU RETURNING FROM YOUR FIRST RIDING LESSON, YOUR EYES WERE PUFFED UP, PRACTICALLY CLOSED – YOUR NOSE WAS RUNNING AND YOU WERE COUGHING AND SPLUTTERING – YOU WERE ALLERGIC TO HORSES. SO MUCH FOR ALL MY YEARS OF INHOUSE TRAINING AND YOUR RIDING CAREER.

PROUD

ANN AND I ARE VERY PROUD OF LAURA. SHE'S INTELLIGENT, AMBITIOUS, WELL LIKED AND FULL OF CONFIDENCE AND WE'RE DELIGHTED SHE'S MARRYING ANDREW.

HE'S EVERYTHING WE WOULD HAVE WISHED FOR IN A SON IN LAW, HARD WORKING, TALENTED, FUNNY AND KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS FROM LIFE.

I REMEMBER HE WAS WORKING AT OBAN AND TRAVELLED DOWN TO VISIT US, WHICH IS A 5 HOUR RETURN JOURNEY, JUST TO ASK OUR PERMISSION TO MARRY LAURA. WE WERE SURPRISED AT FIRST BUT HAD NO HESITATION IN SAYING YES.

I ALSO DID THE TRADITIONAL BIT AND ASKED FOR ANN'S HAND IN MARRIAGE. IT'S BEEN IN MY POCKET EVER SINCE.

ADVICE

TRADITIONALLY I SHOULD OFFER ADVICE ON MARRIAGE. YOU'VE BEEN TOGETHER NOW FOR 8 YEARS, YOU COULD SAY YOU'VE SERVED YOUR APPRENTICESHIP AND YOU KNOW EACH OTHERS LIKES AND DISLIKES.

WHAT I WILL SAY IS – MARRIAGE IS A 50/50 PARTNERSHIP. PUT EACH OTHER FIRST. SO I WISH YOU FUN AND EXCITEMENT FOR TODAY, HOPES AND DREAMS FOR TOMORROW, AND LOVE AND HAPPINESS FOR EVER.

I WISH YOU BOTH A LONG AND HAPPY MARRIAGE.

TOAST

JUST BEFORE I FINISH CAN I SAY HOW PLEASED ANN AND I ARE TO HAVE MET ANDREWS PARENTS JUNE AND NICK AND FAMILY.

AND ON THAT NOTE MY LAST TASK FOR THIS EVENING IS TO PROPOSE A TOAST TO THE MOST IPORTANT COUPLE TODAY. SO IF YOU'LL BE UPSTANDING.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

LAURA AND ANDREW.