Speech by Stewart Burnell

Speech Type: Father of the bride/groom
Speech Creator: Stewart Burnell
Speech Date: Oct2007
Good afternoon everyone.

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Stewart, and I am the very proud father of this beautiful young lady sat here.

Being father of the bride, it is my privilege to make the first speech of the day, and I wish someone would tell my stomach this is a privilege, because this is the third time in the last hour, I've got up off a warm seat with a piece of paper in my hand.

I would like to start by welcoming you all here today, and thank you for coming and helping Nicola and Mark to celebrate thier big day together.
I would especially like to welcome Malcolm and Tina and all of their family, who have today jioned our family.

I would also like to thank my wife Sandra, for all the hard work she has done in the last few months, not to mention the enormous amount of stress suffered – trying to find a hat to wear.

Those of you who know me know I am definately not a public speaker, and I am told that someone is actually running a book on how long I'll be stood here.

Well who ever it is, put me down for 45 minutes 10 seconds.

That was a joke by the way. I could tell by the look of horror on some peoples faces they were thinking – Oh my god, he's gonna be up there for 3/4 of an hour.

Oh I've just got to tell you, when I arrived here today, someone came up to me and they said that they say tears in my eyes, and they did'nt think that I was that emotional. Well I mean be fair – even the cakes in tears.
But no. The real reason I had tears in my eyes was. When I arrived here today, and saw Nicola and Mark together, something very emotional did happen to me – The manager collared me, and I had write out a cheque for this lot!

It's traditional for me to tell you a story about Nicola when she was little and growing up. Out of all the hundreds of storys I could have told you, there was one when she was 11 years old. It was a Saturday afternoon and we went to a summer fete in Nailsea. One of the things they were doing was holding a competition to find out who the carnival princess would be, and Sandra and I thuoght it would be a good idea if Nicola went in for it. But Nicola did'nt want to go in for it, and she screamed and shouted and cried and protested. But after about 5 minutes we talked her into it, and of course, she won it.

Well after they put that cloak and crown on her, did she change her tune then. She was walking around that fete pleased as punch, and even when we got home, she did'nt want to take that cloak and crown off. And a couple of weeks later, she took part in the carnival procession, and it was a very proud moment for us.

Then she grew up, and Mark came along. I'll never forget the day Nicola first introduced Mark to me. I took an instant dislike to him.

He had everything that I did'nt have – Youth – Good looks – Black hair.
But I think you'll find he's got quite a bit of grey now though.
And he's only 26.

At least I did'nt go grey till I was 45!

And when it comes to Nicola, I know Mark spares no expense. Take the engagement ring for example. I know it must have cost him a lot of money because only just the other day I saw that very ring on television – I think the program was called – QVC.

But no, seriously. I think Nicola and Mark make a fatastic couple.
Mark is a credit to Malcolm and Tina.

Over the years Sandra and I have come to know and love Mark like one of our own, and we know we can entrust him with Nicola's care without any fears or worries.

And we know that he is Mr Right!

I cannot begin to tell you how delighted I am to see Nicola looking so beautiful and happy as she starts this new chapter in her life with Mark, and I could not have wished for a better daughter than Nicola has been all of these years.

I'm very proud of what they have achieved together, buying their own house through a lot of hard work and determination, and I would like to wish them many, many years of happiness together.

I don't feel the need to offer them any advice, because they are so well suited to each other. But mainly because, they've never listoned to me before anyway.

They always say, may all your troubles be little ones, and I think they ought to hurry up and get on with it now they are married.

Well I thank you for your patients listoning to my ramblings and it just leaves me to say, would you all please be upstanding for the toast.

To the health and happiness of the bride and groom.

Nicola and Mark.