Speech by Rob Mackay

Speech Type: Father of the bride/groom
Speech Creator: Rob Mackay
Speech Date: 27/07/2014 15:12:54

Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Rob and I'm Kirsty's Dad.

Firstly I would like to welcome you all and thank you for being here to make Kirsty and Craig's day more special and I hope you have a great evening.

This is the first time I've ever done this so I asked for some advice and I was told a good wedding speech should only last for the same time it takes to make love, so thank you very much.  

Sit down…………………

Stand again

Actually the advice was, stand up, speak up, and quickly shut up, so I will try not to keep you too long. 

I know there are those in our thoughts who can't be here today, people who have watched you both grow and would have loved to be here to share your happiness. I believe they are here in spirit and I know they would be as proud of you both as we all are.

So I would like to make the first toast today “To Absent Friends”

I did have a proper speech,….… from the internet…… but when it started to describe the bride I didn't recognise her…..How could anyone know or understand Kirsty, we are still trying……

If you know Kirsty at all, you will know her as, lively, enthusiastic and sometimes unconventional, Proof of this is the fact that she and Craig have organised the whole wedding themselves,.… from the venue to table decorations, which I think deserves a round of applause……………………..

Kirsty was born on 24th November which is a bit of a coincidence as my own birthday is 24th February………….yes nine months before………..so now everyone knows what I got for my birthday in 1981……………

When Margaret  asked what I wanted, she must have miss heard me when I said “just give me socks,……………

Kirsty as a child she was a chatty wee girl, at primary school when given a chance to tell the class of her news she would start and…… well………just not stop……………we used to dread going to parents nights……………..

One thing about having to write a speech is it means you look back on all the happy memories, family holidays, first day at school and teaching you to ride a bike,….

This last one sort of sums up what it's like being a father of daughters for the last 30 years,…… knowing when to steady the bike……… being around when they fall..… and knowing when to let them wobble off on their own, all the time running after them constantly out of breath……….

Well you certainly took my breath away when I saw you in that dress and you are about to wobble off on life's greatest adventure 

She looks gorgeous doesn't she…… but it doesn't seem all that very long ago that she was crawling around the house on her knees, throwing her little tantrums and wetting herself………..… just a typical teenager really…………….

but the time has flown  and  she's a perfect young lady who we are proud to call our daughter and I'm sure Craig will be proud to call his wife.

I don't really have any embarrassing stories about Craig …….so I'm looking forward to hearing them from Stewart. 

All I know is as soon as we met Craig we knew he was right for Kirsty 

And after living with three women in the house it was a change to have some  decent conversation about cars etc………..

I remember before he proposed  Craig called me to ask for Kirsty's hand, a very old fashioned idea these days but as he said at the time, he wanted to do it right,  and that shows what he is like, a fine young man of whom Joanne and Glen can be very proud and we congratulate you both for raising such a wonderful son.

Now..… …..Fornication…………………check paper ……FOR  AN OCASSION ………………….such as this………………….it is customary to offer some advice.

Remember that marriage is a partnership look no further than Margaret and I.  

I wear the trousers and Margaret tells me which ones to put on………..

Remember that marriage is like a deck of cards……….in the beginning all you need is 2 hearts and a diamond a few years later there will be times when you could really make use of a club and a spade……………..(you need to think about that one)

Seriously ……with all the pressures of modern life it is easy to forget what is really important.

I would urge you to make time for each other and make time for your marriage, it is bigger than both of you and at the end of the day it is the only thing that matters.

And so a toast.

Here's to your past – for all that it taught you

Here's to your present – for all that you share

And here's to your future – for all that you  look forward to together

Ladies & gentlemen,

Please raise your glasses.

To…Kirsty and Craig, Bride and Groom