Speech by Ian Taylor

Speech Type: Father of the bride/groom
Speech Creator: Ian Taylor
Speech Date: May 2002
Welcome, everyone.

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Ian, and I'm Nicola's Dad.

I believe, that as father of the bride, it is my dubious privilege to make the first speech – so, here's one I prepared earlier!!

On behalf of Linda and myself, Hugh and Mary, I would like to start by saying what a pleasure it is to welcome, on this very happy occasion Nicola's Granny and Grandad, Cathie and Henry; together with all relatives and friends of both families.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank especially, Linda, for not only being a tolerant wife but more importantly an outstanding mother and the guiding influence in the upbringing of Nicola, culminating in today's celebrations.

To Rev. Xxxxxxx, (who unfortunately had to leave) our thanks for officiating at the ceremony, and to his “boss” for keeping the weather at bay.

Before I ask you to join me in a toast to the bride and groom, I'd like to bore you with a few words. I will try to keep them short, as I know that both James and Scott are really looking forward to standing here before you and making their speeches!!

9 months ago Nicola phoned and asked me what I was doing on Saturday, 23 March. As she knows that I ALWAYS golf on a Saturday, I thought she had taken up the game at long last and wanted to join me at Balmore Golf Club!! You must therefore realise that I'm here under duress as I had to give up my usual Saturday round of golf in order to be here today – but I wouldn't have missed it for the world!! Talking of golf, I wonder if you've heard the story about the golfer who mis-hit a ball and as it bumbled along the fairway eventually reaching the green, his partner turned to him and said “that's what I'd call a Xxxxx Xxxxxxx shot – runs like hell but not very pretty”. I would like to describe the same shot in another way – “As a son-in-law shot – it turned out much better than we could ever have hoped for!!”

Linda and I are very proud, to see Nicola, looking so radiant, on this her wedding day, now married to James. During the time we've known James, we've come to realise how special he is to her and she is to him and Linda and I welcome James into our family.

For those of you who don't know, Nicola is our ONLY daughter. She was a PERFECT daughter … well, she IS a perfect daughter. What I'm really trying to say is that, as a child, she was SO PERFECT a daughter we vowed NEVER to have another.

Nicola's very choosy when it comes to men … she has taken her time to find the love of her life … and it's no small feat what James has achieved, in winning her love.

A few months ago I asked Nicola what she was looking for in a marriage, and she said, "Love, happiness and companionship". Later, I asked James the same question, and after a little hesitation he eventually said, "I'd really like a new pool table!"

Apparently it's traditional for the bride's father to offer some worldly thoughts and advice about marriage. During the last twenty seven years, I've learned a few things about it, so here goes .…

To Nicola, the definition of a perfect wife is one who helps her husband with the dishes .…

And to James, remember, man is incomplete until he finds a wife – then he's finished!

James, never go to sleep with an unfinished argument hanging over you. Be a man! Stay awake and fight to the bitter end! You're going to lose anyway, so you might as well get it over and done with!

Proper Advice? Well, just keep four things in mind .…

The first is love, closely followed by friendship, then tolerance, and then communication. Easy to say – but they can be quite hard to carry out.

You must both realise that marriage isn't easy, but it's not impossible. Many of us know that everyone faces ups and downs in a life commitment. There is no secret to a happy marriage. You'll both have to work at it, like many of us.

There is no challenge in a marriage that cannot be overcome by the following three, three-word sentences.

These are:

I was wrong!
You were right!
I love you!

Nicola and James,

Here's to the past for all that you've learned

Here's to the present for all that you share

And here's to the future for all that you can look forward to together.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please be upstanding, and raise your glasses to Nicola and James .…

The Bride and Groom.

Thank you.