Speech by Ralph Alvarez

Speech Type: Father of the bride/groom
Speech Creator: Ralph Alvarez
Speech Date: 20/09/2015 19:51:51

Hello.

Well, here we are!

For those of you that I haven't met yet, I'm the proud father of this stunning and beautiful bride and in case Ryan hasn't quite figured it out yet, as of a few hours ago, I'm his brand-new father-in-law — Ryan, don't worry dude .… We're gonna be just fine! First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for coming tonight. I know that some of you have come a long way to get here. Some of our family and friends are here from LA, Phoenix and Las Vegas while some families have come here all the way from Germany. So again, thank you all for being here today.

I should mention, I was threatened by Cindy to keep this speech short so I'll try my best.

I started thinking about this speech a long time ago and starting writing down what I was going say only few months ago. Since early May, I would spend about 10 mins every morning at my desk in front of a blank Word document thinking about the words that I was going to say today. I'll have to admit that a few times I did get a little emotional as I was writing down my thoughts. In fact, on occasion, some of the guys would walk into my office and ask what was wrong. I told them that I was fine and just had something in my eye!! So hopefully I don't break down too much as I go thru these words …

Cindy, from the day you were born and became “Daddy's first little girl”, I knew this day would come. I knew that someday I would have to walk you down the aisle and that I would be standing here in front of you, your husband and all these people giving this speech. I can't say that I was looking forward to this day but here we are — this is just one of those things in life that dads must go thru.

As a parent, you never quite know if you're doing a good job in raising your kids. Along the way you try to teach them respect, values, a good sense of judgment, responsibility and a good work ethic. All you can do is hope that in the end that it all works out as you expected. So standing here babe and looking at you, you can't imagine how proud me and your mom are on the type of woman that have become and on how much we look forward to seeing what you and Ryan can accomplish as you both start your new life together.

Right about now, you're probably wondering what else am I going to say … you're asking yourself, is he going to embarrass me in front of all these people…?! Is he going to embarrass himself? What if he says this or what if he says that.… well, Babe, just relax, I won't be doing any of that:

1. I won't talk about the time when you were 4 years old and we were on a family houseboat trip in Lake Havasu and I pretended to be drowning and you tried to swim over and save me. I recall seeing that “daddy needs help” look in your face as you tried to reach out and save me. In the end, I ended up having to save you instead. That's one moment that I'll never forget. 2. I won't talk about that one Christmas when you were 6 years old and had just finished opening up something like your 6th or 7th Christmas gift and afterwards looked up at me and your mother and asked “is that it?” — (this is on video in case anyone wants to see it.) 3. I won't talk about the time when you were around 8 years old and took our large German-shepherd-size dog Cocoa out for a walk and somehow ended up getting dragged down the street on your elbows and knees. I remember you standing in the kitchen crying and all scarred up and me asking you “Mija, how come you just didn't let go of the leash?” to which you said “I don't know!” 4. I won't talk about the time you were around 12 years old and having a bad day when I asked you to wash the dishes to which you started doing so with that “I hate washing dishes” face — which btw, you still have today. I remember asking you “what's wrong babe” to which you replied “i don't know, my life sucks” then I asked “Why?” and you said “because you're in it!!” 5. And finally, I won't tell everyone on how you insisted to Ryan that if and when he ever proposed to you that me and your mom be present and I won't even mention how beautiful you looked in your wedding dress today and how walking you down the aisle in front of family and friends will be a moment that I'll cherish for the rest of my life.

And Ryan, I won't be talking about you either:

1. I won't mention the first time I met you and how for some reason you removed all the audio and video from my TV, cable box and DVD player. I never knew why you did that but I can only guess that you did it because you were trying to impress my daughter with your awesome technical abilities. For a while there, I couldn't recall your first name and simply referred to you as “the cable guy”. Btw, there's another story were we referred to Ryan as the “the flying pizza guy ” —- but I'll let Cindy and Ryan tell you about that one later. 2. I won't talk about how many times I walked downstairs at 1am in the morning and saw you dead asleep on my couch and recalled asking Cindy and Vicky “hey, doesn't this guy have a place to live? And if he does, isn't he ever gonna go home ?!?!” 3. I won't talk about how quickly my extended family accepted you as one of our own. On how quickly everyone starting saying things like “I really like Ryan” and “Wow, I think that Cindy and Ryan are perfect for each other” while at the same time others were saying things like “hmm, I don't get it!!”. 4. I won't mention the moment when I first realized that that you were “the one” that was going to marry my daughter and how that moment occurred when I saw you and my dad playing cards alone at a family event and you were trying to talk to him using really bad Spanish and my dad was trying to talk to you with his really bad English! .… I wish I could have captured that moment on video. 5. I won't talk about how when you planned your proposal to Cindy that you had me carry a 30 lb backpack filled with champagne and water bottles 8-miles uphill to the top of Mammoth Lakes. I won't mention either on how I had to carry those same empty bottles another 8-miles down the hill. I remember being exhausted after the hike and asking Cindy “Why couldn't of Ryan of just proposed to you at the front doorstep like a normal guy?” 6. And finally Ryan, I won't mention how you're the new man in my Cindy's life that she'll turn to for advice, love, and protection and how you're going to be a great husband to our daughter and an awesome father to your kids and to our grandchildren.

Also Ryan, at this point, I'm supposed to welcome you into our family. Well I'm not going to do that because you've already been a member of our family for a long time now. But what I will do is provide you with a little advice: Remember: Cindy will always be right, everything will be your fault and you will never win an argument with her. So whenever you think you're wrong, admit it. Whenever you think you're right.… Well, don't say anything and just walk away!!.

One more thing, I'd like to thank Ryan's parents “Claire and Rudy” for allowing us to include Ryan into our family and for accepting Cindy into theirs. …Thank you!

As to wrap this up, I'd like to propose a toast to our daughter and new son-in law. Would you please stand and join me in a toast to the bride and groom.

Cindy, Ryan. I'll keep this short. Everyone here would like to wish you both: – A great time tonight. – Lots of hopes and dreams for tomorrow. – And love, joy and happiness forever.

We love you both!!