Speech by Maurice Brown

Speech Type: Father of the bride/groom
Speech Creator: Maurice Brown
Speech Date: nov 2002
FATHER OF THE BRIDE SPEECH 24TH NOVEMBER 2002

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, 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, ALL THE RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OF BOTH FAMILIES TO JOANNE'S AND DARREN'S WEDDING RECEPTION AND IN SUCH AN ASSORTMENT OF TARTAN THAT IT FEELS LIKE A TIN OF SHORTBREAD.
MAKING THE FATHER OF THE BRIDE SPEECH, I FEEL A BIT LIKE A SHEIK WALKING INTO HIS HAREM FOR THE FIRST TIME. I KNOW WHAT I'VE GOT TO DO, I JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START.
IN A RECENT SURVEY OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE FEAR MOST, STANDING UP AND SPEAKING IN PUBLIC WAS THE FIRST ON THE LIST, WAY AHEAD OF SPIDERS, HEIGHTS AND DYING! NO WONDER THEN, THAT TO SOME WHO ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE A SPEECH AT A WEDDING, THE PROSPECT CAN BE VERY DAUNTING. I WAS TOLD TO KEEP IT BRIEF AND TO THE POINT, AND TO REMEMBER THE BEST SPEECH ENDS BEFORE EVERYONE WISHES THAT IT HAD! AND ALSO TO REMEMBER THAT TOO MANY SPEECHES WHICH ARE TOO LONG INFLICTS UNNECESSARY PUNISHMENT ON THE GUESTS!

THE LAST TIME I MADE A SPEECH WAS AT MY OWN WEDDING NEARLY THIRTY YEARS. IF YOU CONSIDER THE PENALTY FOR MURDER THAT'S MORE THAN TWO LIFE SENTENCES.

LET ME TURN MY ATTENTION TO JOANNE WHO WAS BORN IN 1977, THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT

THE US SPACE SHUTTLE PROTOTYPE ‘ENTERPRISE’ FLEW FOR THE FIRST TIME ELVIS DIED AGED 42
THE LAST CASE OF SMALLPOX IN THE WILD OCCURS IN SOMALIA
RED RUM WON THE GRAND NATIONAL FOR 3RD TIME
STREET PARTIES IN THE UK FOR THE QUEENS SILVER JUBILEE
STAR WARS BREAKS ALL BOX OFFICE RECORDS

AND FOR DARREN 1973

VAT IS INTRODUCED TO BRITAIN
FIRST BLACK NEWSCASTER IN BRITAIN – TREVOR MCDONALD
DRIVING IS BANNED ON SUNDAYS IN HOLLAND TO SAVE PETROL RESERVES
THE LONGEST SOLAR ECLIPSE IS VISIBLE FROM THE SAHARA DESERT
THERE ARE ONLY 950 WINDMILLS LEFT IN HOLLAND!
THE DISPOSABLE LIGHTER IS INVENTED
PAM AND I WERE MARRIED

TODAY HAS BEEN A VERY SPECIAL DAY AND ONE THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET..… I THINK YOU WILL ALL AGREE THAT DARREN AND ESPECIALLY JOANNE HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB OF PLANNING THEIR WEDDING, RIGHT DOWN TO THE VERY LAST DETAIL. WHEN I FIRST HEARD THAT JOANNE WANTED HER WEDDING IN A PALACIAL HALL, I WASN'T SURE WHAT TO EXPECT. BUT TODAY HAS SO FAR EXCEEDED ANYTHING I COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED.

APPARENTLY JOANNE, THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT I REMINISCE BUT DON'T WORRY THAT IS NOT MY INTENTION. I CAN HONESTLY SAY I AM PROUD OF HER AND HER ACHIEVEMENTS AND IF SHE HAS A PROBLEM IT IS BEING TOO MUCH LIKE ME. SHE POSSESSES A LARGE DEGREE OF TOLERANCE AND A SENSE OF HUMOUR, ALL IMPORTANT INGREDIENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE.

I HAVE ONLY BEEN IN THE COUNTRY FOR 10 DAYS SO MY KNOWLEDGE OF DARREN IS LIMITED BUT I TRUST IN MY DAUGHTERS DECISION, AND WITHOUT HESITATION OFFICIALLY WELCOME DARREN INTO THE FAMILY. HE MUST BE A GREAT FELLOW – JUST LOOK AT THE GIRL HE HAS CHOSEN.

OF COURSE, MARRIAGE IS NOT ONLY ABOUT FINDING THE PERFECT PARTNER, BUT ALSO ABOUT BEING ONE. I BELIEVE THAT MARRIAGE WILL TEACH DARREN, LOYALTY, SELF-RESTRAINT, AND CONTROL. IT WILL DEVELOP IN HIM A SENSE OF FAIR PLAY ..… AND MANY OTHER QUALITIES…..WHICH HE WOULDN'T NEED IF HE HAD STAYED SINGLE!

SO I THINK IT ONLY REMAINS FOR ME TO GIVE THE HAPPY COUPLE THE CUSTOMARY FATHERLY ADVICE FOR THE FUTURE. IT IS A SHORT PIECE OF SOMEWHAT CLICHE ADVICE WHICH, IF YOU COULD FOLLOW IT, SEEMS TO OFFER THE SECRET TO A HAPPY MARRIED LIFE. IT IS SIMPLY – "LIVE EVERY DAY AS IF IT WAS YOUR LAST AND EVERY NIGHT AS IT WAS YOUR FIRST"

SO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FAMILY AND FRIENDS IT NOW GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO PROPOSE A TOAST TO THE HAPPY COUPLE:

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.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE BE UPSTANDING, AND RAISE YOUR GLASSES

TO JOANNE AND DARREN
THE BRIDE AND GROOM