Speech by John C

Speech Type: Father of the bride/groom
Speech Creator: John C
Speech Date: Nov 2001
Good Evening ladies and gentlemen, friends and family.

I'd like to welcome everyone and especially Michael's parents, Barry and Lorrie as well as the grandparents of the bride and groom, Alison's grandmothers Irene and Elizabeth, and Michael's grandmother Eileen and grandfather Don.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank, especially, Louise for being a wonderful mother and the guiding influence in the upbringing of Alison. Louise and I would also like to thank Marilyn, my current wife, who for the past 20 years has been a special additional parent, friend and guide for Alison as she matured into the wonderful woman that she has become.

My name is John C. Some of you know me too well, while others might be meeting me for the first time. For those who don't know me, I can be found in today's program on the back page in an obscure reference squeezed between my son Ryan C. and his mom, Marilyn …where it says “the father of the bride.” That's me.

I'd like to welcome Michael to our family, and extend to Barry and his family the invitation to join with our clan in this celebration of love and family connections. I've prepared this little ORG CHART … [pulling out a HUGE computer printout] … or family tree, just to get everyone connected. I'm very pleased that Michael James F. has been added to our family in a very important place, right next to my daughter Alison.

Alison is my ONLY daughter. She was a PERFECT daughter … well, she IS a perfect daughter. But what I mean is that, as a child, she was SO PERFECT a daughter we determined NEVER to have another daughter. From then on it was to be only boys. (As you can see, we're STILL trying to get the boys right!)

As a child, Alison was a precocious child. I recall that she was reading newspapers by the age of three … and disagreeing with leading journalists by the time she was four. She started school in French Immersion in Ottawa and completed her education at Concordia University in Montreal … and now considers herself qualified to express her strong opinions on every subject in both official languages of Canada.

OK, I take full responsibility for her strong-mindedness. She takes after her father, in many ways. Well, no, I share responsibility with Louise. Let's give CREDIT where due.

Growing up, Alison was like a little mother to her younger brothers David and Andrew and … by the time Ryan was born, Alison at 12 years old, was quite an accomplished little mother and a great help to Marilyn, with little Ryan. [Now a 6’5” teenager!] More than these three boys would like to admit, they are who they are, largely due to the love and care and attention of their sister Alison. I know she is very special to David, Andrew and Ryan.

So what's that got to do with today? … Alison knows how to handle men. Michael, you've got to understand … she's got EXPERIENCE with younger men.You won't be able to get away with anything. Don't even think about it.

Alison is 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 that Michael has achieved in winning her love.

I asked Alison what she looked for in a husband and she said, “Someone who'll cater to my every desire, and treat me like a Queen.”

I asked Michael what he saw in Alison that convinced him she was the perfect woman for him … and he said, “Someone who knows what is best for me.”

Alison & Michael are obviously well matched. And we all know they'll continue to make each other very happy in the years ahead.

But marriage isn't easy. Many of us know that everyone faces ups and downs in a life commitment. There is no secret to a happy marriage. You'll have to work at it, like the rest of us.

In thirty years of marriage to two of the loveliest women I've ever had the good fortune to begin to understand, I've learned a few things …

There is no challenge in a marriage that cannot be overcome with the following three word sentences:

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

I'd like to propose at toast to the Bride and Groom, so if everyone would raise their glasses, please:

When their children find true love, parents find true joy. Alison & Michael, here's to your love and our joy. From this day forward.

I'd like to thank everyone who's traveled from far away, from Montreal and Halifax.

Best wishes to the Bride and Groom come from as far away as England. I'd like to present to Alison and Michael an email card from Alison's third cousin, Jon M. in Manchester, who by coincidence was just married earlier today in England. At Jon's wedding to his new bride Samantha, a card of best wishes from Alison & Michael was read, as well.