Speech by Shaun Smith

Speech Type: Father of the bride/groom
Speech Creator: Shaun Smith
Speech Date: 14/05/2013 11:23:04

Good afternoon, everyone! 

Welcome to you all, family and friends, who have come from near or far to share in Sarah and Paul's wonderful day.

It is my privilege to make the first speech, as I am representing the father of the bride.

Little did I know when I met Jane and her family in the year 2000, that I would be standing here now…….

For those of you who don't know me, I am Shaun, Sarah's stepfather, and I stand here an honoured man.  Honoured that Sarah asked me to do this wonderful thing for her, and ‘give her away’.

It is lovely to see so many of you here.  There are faces I recognise and those I don't, but I know you are all delighted to be here, for the occasion of Sarah and Paul's wedding.

It's been a while coming!

Today is a day for celebration, but I would like us all just to take a moment, to think of those who can't be with us………….. 

It is enough for me to say, that I know how proud Sarah's father Steve would be today.

In 2004, Sarah moved to Exeter with her friend and chief bridesmaid, Elaine. 

“They'll be back in six months”, I reassured Jane as the car, packed to the gunnels, zipped off down the road.  But I was wrong. 

Sarah; you have achieved so much in making your life in Devon, sometimes through times of adversity.  Through hard work and determination you have arrived at a great place in your work, home and social life.

And of course, you make a beautiful bride today!

Now Sarah, this is the time that every bride fears…..what is he going to talk about….is he going to tell about the time when…??!!

It's not my place or my intention to embarrass you like that. 

Instead, I'm going to say, “Thank you for giving me this privilege today”   

Sarah is a wonderful daughter, stepdaughter and stepsister, niece, aunty and friend. She has provided all of us with much joy and laughter over the years, especially in her occasional blonde moments. 

In Sarah's world, everything cooks at 200 degrees, and when you are driving, as long as you keep turning left, you will invariably reach your destination.

Seriously though, in everything she tackles, Sarah always gives 110%…..and when she's talking …eating..… Or running a marathon, its 120%!

Jane and I remember well, when Paul first began to feature in Sarah's conversations, a year or so after she had moved to Devon.  All we were told is,

‘He's tall, likes surfing and he knows a lot about trees’. 

When we eventually met him we were on our best behaviour, under Sarah's instruction. 

Evidently we didn't frighten him off with the interrogation, as he is here today.  And we have come to know Paul better, as a very patient man, who is the perfect foil for Sarah's temperament. 

His unswerving support of Sarah has been obvious from the start, and it really must be love, as he has allowed himself to be dragged off to London on more than one occasion, when he would far rather be surfing.

I think this quote sums Paul up rather well……………….

“Woman like silent men, they think they are listening”.

Little did we know that the preamble leading up to Sarah and Paul's engagement six years after they met, would be nothing compared to the organisation of the wedding.

Sarah is a superb organiser, and to her credit she's been brilliant in organising today.

Sarah's enthusiasm for lists and spread sheets means that she knows today's timetable very well. 

The daily countdown to today has been a popular APP on her phone.

And if attending wedding fairs was an Olympic event, I suspect Sarah would have scored silver, at the very least!

The mother/daughter pre-wedding deliberations led to some very long telephone calls, I think the record was an hour and eight minutes! But the stress levels were minimal, which was a relief to me at least.

Sarah and Paul, and their attendants, have given a great deal of thought to all the finer details to provide a fantastic day for all of us.

Last year we welcomed Sam to the family, when he married Linda, and we extend the same warm welcome to Paul, as he joins the ranks of the ‘in-laws’.

A few words of advice may be timely here. 

The actor Richard Burton once said that…………………….

 ‘A woman accepts a man for what he is and then spends the rest of her life trying to change him.’…

So, perhaps we can all take one last look at Paul as we know him, because Sarah's remodelling work starts first thing in the morning!

Also, married couples know, that the secret of a successful marriage is patience, tolerance and forgiveness – failing that a bad memory seems to be quite useful.

Except of course when birthdays and anniversaries are involved.… I think you should write them down, Paul!

And now..… We have reached the point where all that remains for me to say is,

“Please would you all stand to raise your glasses in a toast to the new Mr and Mrs Butcher, Sarah and Paul”…………………….‘Sarah and Paul’