Speech by Paul Sweeney

Speech Type: Father of the bride/groom
Speech Creator: Paul Sweeney
Speech Date: Sep2007
For the sake of my shins
and your bladders,
I'll endeavour to keep this as brief as possible folks!

&quotOn behalf of my wife and I&quot,

first and foremost,
I'd like to thank both fathers
for their kind words and good wishes.

I personally would like to take this opportunity to thank the Daye family for their warmth and for welcoming me so openly.

Kenny, don't think of today as losing a daughter.
Think of it as
re-gaining a telephone and three wardrobes!

————————————–

A big thank you to all our family and friends for sharing this very special day with us, and also for all the lovely cards and gifts we've received.

It really is changed days
from my sister Theresa
and brother in-law Davy's Wedding.
Where they became the proud owners of 16 toasters

and about 24 coffee makers!

Now, that's what I call a lifetime guarantee!

So, it's for that very reason
we'd like to thank everyone
for helping us out with the wedding list.
I just hope it wasn't too presumptuous.
It really has given us a tremendous start!

————————————–

A massive, massive thank you
to Gillian's parents, Kenny and Joyce,
for making today possible,
and for giving Gillian and I these enduring, special memories, that will last throughout our days.

Looking around me,
I now understand why
you couldn't put the central heating on last winter!

I'd also like to give my mum and dad
a million thanks,
for all their unconditional support.
Emotional and financial!

In particular the latter!

Gillian and I would now like to present both mums with a token of our appreciation.

————————————–

The biggest ”thank you” today,
from me,
undoubtedly goes to my bride.

She is my life, wife, best friend,
and knows me better than anyone.

Sorry Gary! BEST MAN

I think you'll all agree,
she looks absolutely beautiful today,

and exceptionally elegant, I might add, in her gorgeous bridal dress.

I'm very, very fortunate and proud
to be married to her,

and of course, I can at long last say
our kitchen is colour-coded.
As the &quotdishwasher&quot now matches the fridge!

Gillian and I actually met on New Years Eve, 2003, and there's been fireworks pretty much ever since!

When we first started dating,
I knew I had made a profound and lasting impression on the future Mrs. Sweeney, because within a couple of weeks, she had fled the country for eight months!

Gillian worked in Colchester and Durham during this time, and we both commuted up and down every other weekend.

Doing this for two thirds of a year,
really made us appreciate the little time we initially had together.

During 2005 and 2006,
Gillian and I travelled the world
for nine months together.
I think I speak for both of us when I say, spending 6437 uninterrupted hours in the company of your partner, would test the mettle of any relationship!

During that time we were away,
we got to know each other
on a level I never thought conceivable.
I remember thinking before we left home, &quotIf we get through this, we'll get through anything.&quot
Gillian, I stand here on the day of our wedding and I just know we'll share every minute God blesses us with.

————————————–

The Best Man.

I had hoped John Smeaton
could have made here today
to be my best man!

But, unfortunately, Smeato's on-set filming his new movie.

So, I'll have to make do with Gary.

Let me say a few words about Gary,
for those who don't know him.

I've known Gary since we were about 9 or 10 years old.
We came through Primary and Secondary School together and have been good friends ever since.
If any of you know him personally,
then you'll know exactly why he's sitting here next to me.

I'm delighted to have Gary here today
as my Best Man.

————————————–

Many thanks to our Ushers,
Michael, Davy and Kenny.
I felt they brought a certain
nightclub doorman respectability
to the whole occasion.

They must have had Bouncer training
after my stag night three weeks ago.
When the three of them bizarrely
disappeared off to the Hamilton Palace together! LOCAL NIGHTCLUB

In all seriousness, they've been exceptional today, and we couldn't have done it without them.

————————————–

Who thinks The Bridesmaids are looking fantastic today?

Girls, thanks for helping Gillian
to get to the Church on time,
as punctuality isn't exactly her forte!

Gillian and I would like to thank each of you for everything you've done, in preparation for our big day.
You really have done an outstanding job.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
if you can be upstanding.

Please raise your glasses
and join me in a toast to Karolyn, Jackie and Emma, &quotThe Bridesmaids!&quot

Oh, and before I forget.
Gillian asked me to congratulate Karolyn on winning the arm-wrestling competition to be Chief Bridesmaid!

So, well done for that!

————————————–

Apparently, we've got a brilliant band on tonight everybody!

We're starting off the proceedings with some swing music!
So I want to see all you swinging couple's up there from the start!

You know who you are!

Seriously though,
let's make it a night to remember,
as I'm sure you will.

————————————–

Anyway,
I could bore you all night
with the same tired old wedding jokes,
but instead,
I'm going to leave that to my best man!

Gary, who by the way, happens to be
a habitual liar and exaggerator!

will be lowering the tone further
in a brief moment!

All there is left for me to say is,
family and friends, again,
thank you.