Speech by Alan J

Speech Type: Groom
Speech Creator: Alan J
Speech Date: 22/08/2013 21:51:55

Thank you Jim for your kind words and of course the Dowry!

On behalf of my wife and I, oh how I have been waiting to say that! We would like to thank you for all for coming and sharing our special day with us. I know that many of you have travelled from far and wide to be here today and it is great to see so many friends and family in one place, I can honestly say it would not have been the same without you and we have been overwhelmed with everyone's generosity

For those of you that know me well, I am normally quite confident at speeches and presentations, but today has been the best day and the most surreal day of my life. I am overwhelmed, knowing that I am now finally married to the love of my life. And as if standing in front of you all today and speaking isn't bad enough, I've still got to stand up and dance in front of you all later on.  If there weren't kids present, this is the bit I would be swearing at.

Today is a very historic day. On this day in 1938 Terry Wogan was born and Martin sheen in 1940. And on this day in the year 2013, you wonderful people attended this wedding reception and heard the finest wedding speech of your entire lifetime, and my best man Brian will be making it very shortly

**On a serious note; Unfortunately, it's not been possible to have everyone we love here with us today, but we know they're here with us in spirit and they're not only in our thoughts today, but more importantly they're with us in our hearts. So, with them in mind, would you please all stand, raise your glasses, and join me in a toast to absent & Lost family & friends.

On behalf of my wife and I, we would now like to thank both sets of parents as we wouldn't be where we are today if it wasn't for them. If we can become half the parents they are to us then I'm sure we won't go far wrong.

I would like to say a BIG thank you to both Jim and Denise for all their love and support, you have made me feel like a part of the family from day one and I have never had the chance to say thank you properly – so thank you. Thank you also for raising a beautiful, intelligent and sometimes stubborn daughter and – of course for letting me have her hand in marriage. I can tell you both that her happiness is so important to me and I promise to do you both proud. ( Flowers for Denise)

I can't let this opportunity go by without thanking my Mum and Dad also, for their love and support over the years, and for welcoming Katie into the Jaszewski family.  You've always been there when I've needed you. You've got me through thick and thin. I feel extremely lucky to have such wonderful parents. You have both taught me so much and have always encouraged me to make the most of every opportunity I have had. It must be very hard to come to terms that you raised such a perfect son. I probably don't say this enough – I Love you both so much and Thank you. ( Mum Flowers)

**Ladies and gentlemen please be upstanding, I would like to propose a toast.  To our Mums & Dads

There is an unwritten rule of wedding etiquette that states that nobody should look more handsome than the groom and I'd like to thank our ushers Kenneth and Brian for sticking to that rule to the letter.  Thanks for all your help and support, not just today

*Apart from my wife, there are three other beautiful ladies here today.  Lucy, Lorna and Rhianon I'm sure everyone will agree that you all look stunning today. Thank-you for your help and for being there for my new wife. I know how much support you have all given Katie up to and including this day  and for organising, not one but two amazing Hen Dos by all accounts. So please join me in a toast to the bridesmaids.

*Jenny & Derek we would like to thank you for the beautiful cake and your hospitality over the years.

*My beautiful sister Heather and the Lovely Zoe for your readings

*To Fraser for agreeing to Marry Us and continuing on to the meal.

Finally, I would like to thank my wife – I think I'm going to enjoy getting used to saying that – for agreeing to marry me and for making me the happiest man in the world.  I think you'll agree that she looks absolutely gorgeous today and when she walked up the aisle, she took my breath away.

They say you don't marry someone you can live with – you marry the person who you can't live without and I think  that sums us up perfectly.  Now if I had to single out one thing about why I love Katie so much, it would be the fact that she makes me happier than I ever dreamed I could be.  And I intend to spend the rest of my life making sure that the reverse is also true.  I know that Katie has put a huge amount of effort into making today perfect and I think that she has done that, and more.   Having lived with Katie for a number of years now, I have learned a valuable lesson – when I'm wrong, admit it.  When I'm right, keep quiet!(yeah right)  Seriously though, I never have a problem finding the words to express my love for Katie, but if I start then I probably won't be able to stop.  Suffice to say that, Katie, I love you so much and I can't wait to grow old with you.  Marriage is something we will need to work and I would like to read this now to Katie but I feel the sentiments apply equally to us all.

The Art of Marriage

A good marriage must be created, In the art of marriage the little things, are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands, It is remembering to say, “I love you”, at least once each day, It is never going to sleep angry, It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives, It is standing together, facing the world, It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family, It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways, It is having the capacity to forgive and forget, It is giving each other an atmosphere, in which each can grow, It is finding room for the things of the spirit, It is common search for the good and the beautiful, It is not only marrying the right partner, It is being the right partner.

Katie,  in front of all our friends and family I promise I will try my best to practice this art.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please be upstanding, for the most important toast I'm ever likely to make, TO MY WIFE MY BRIDE, TO Katie.

**Now to my Best Man Brian, Brian Brian – Thank you for agreeing to be my Best Man and arranging a brilliant stag do.  You have been like a little Brother to me over the years and great friend.

Enough of the soppy stuff –  there is something that I need to make you aware of. Brian suffers from a strange condition that occasionally causes him to drift in and out of weird, strange flights of fantasy.  He has been known to make up factitious stories, absolutely believing them to be true.  

As I say, he has been there for me and I wouldn't want you to go upsetting him, so if you could bear with him, even join with him on his journey of make believe, I would appreciate it.

So, without further ado, I'd like to hand over to Brian