Speech by Alex McDonald

Speech Type: Groom
Speech Creator: Alex McDonald
Speech Date: 27/10/2012 01:12:52

For those of you who know me you'll know that I'm not one for talking much…I'm usually quite quiet.

Now before I get too far there are a few people to thank, so please don't drink it all in the first go!

It's nice to see so many of our family and friends here today to help us celebrate the happiest day of our lives. I know that some of you have travelled a long way to be here and that means a lot to us. It really wouldn't be the same without you all. 

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 raise your glasses, and join me in a toast to absent family & friends (To absent family and friends)

We would like to say a massive thank you to both mum and dad for helping to make today as special as it is. Both have been very generous and I'm not sure what we would have done without them.

As a token of our appreciation, please accept these gifts

Apart from my wife, there is also another beautiful lady here today, Fiona. We would to thank you very much for being such wonderful bridesmaid.

As a token of our appreciation, please accept this gift.

We would also like to thank Granny for the making of Charlie's kilt I'm sure you'll all agree that he looks absolutely gorgeous.

Granny, please accept this gift as a token of our appreciation.

We would also like to thank Wendy for kindly offering to film today's events, giving us ammunition for all of the embarrassing things that you have all done…or are yet to do.

Wendy please accept this gift as a token of our appreciation

Now there is an unwritten rule of wedding etiquette that states that nobody should look more handsome than the groom so I'd like to thank Robert and Zacc, Josh and CJ for sticking to that and Charlie for completely ignoring me again.

Let's have a clap for Charlie please.

I'd like to thank Josh for his kindly giving me his mums hand in marriage.

We are sure that your granddad would be extraordinarily proud.

Please accept this gift as a token of our appreciation.

CJ we would like to thank you for being an excellent usher you've done an outstanding job.

Please accept this gift as a token of our appreciation for your work.

Now last but not least we would like to thank Robert and Zacc for being my best men you have lived up to the title, and have done a great job

Robert and Zacc please accept these gifts as appreciation for being the best men

I'd also like to thank Robert and Zacc for organizing my stag do.

Also today is not just our day it is also someone's birthday today so we would like you to join us in saying happy birthday to Alan

I met Karen 10 years ago when I was working at Holiday inn as a chef and Karen was in Human resources, I'll never forget the first time I saw her.

I was in the kitchen one day alone and I heard a voice call my name, I looked up and there she was surrounded in this brilliant bright light…so I turned the hot plate light down and there she was stood with a contract in her hand.

 It was 2005 3 years later when  we got together properly a year which also coincidently saw Hurricane Katrina , Disneyland Florida became 50 years old and petrol cost 79.9 pence per litre and at the age of 24 my life changed forever.

A short way through I thought in my infinite wisdom that Karen deserved someone better than me so we split up for a few months, but then I came to my senses and realised that I wasn't happy without Karen, so I managed to talk her into us getting back together.

7 years later one day Karen was insistent on going out  for a meal one Wednesday evening to a curry night and I couldn't see why it was so important, trying to just carry on as usual strange coincidences started happening which started playing on my mind making me wonder if everyone was in some sort of conspiracy against me.

So we got to Wednesday night on February 29^th this year with me full of suspicion and I was made to wait till the end of the meal before Karen asked me, to which obviously I said yes, at this moment so sure of herself Karen said good cause I've been thinking about this and started to lay out all kinds of plans, most of which have come to fruition today.

I'm in a very fortunate position because you don't always get to marry your best friend and for me that is exactly what I have done today and I couldn't ask for a better wife if I did Karen would  kill me. 

Finally, I would like to thank my wife for asking to marry me and for making me the happier than I have ever been. 

 I think you'll agree that she looks absolutely gorgeous today and when she walked up the aisle, she took my breath away.

If I had to single out one thing about why I love Karen so much, it would be the fact that she makes me feel 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. 

One of the joys of being a man is that weddings seem to organise themselves usually when I'm trying to watch the TV.

In all seriousness I know that Karen has put a huge amount of effort into making today perfect and I'm sure you'll agree she has done an amazing job. As most of what you have seen today is by her design.

Please can I ask you all to stand for one last time and raise your glasses to my wife, Karen.

(Karen)

Going back to watching the TV for a moment it has its uses because I saw an advert for Sofas shortly after getting engaged which had a Neil Diamond song in it which has the perfect words I wish to convey here.

Love is all about chemistry, Isn't something you go off to school to learn, It isn't maths or ancient history, It's the kind of thing that comes down to simple terms, It's not about you, It's not about me, Love is all about we.

During the build-up to today I was looking for wisdom and someone told me that you must treat your wife like a Lady, so I took this advice. I done a bit of digging and it turns out that in Scottish law if you own land then you are legally entitled to call yourself Lord, Laird or Lady so I have bought you 1 square foot of land and now you get to officially call yourself a Lady, not that you weren't before.

Now my best men for those of you that cannot tell is my brother Robert and best mate Zacc throughout the years, they has been there for me when it matters and are always ready with an encouraging word and a welcome sarcastic comment. And, if I'm being honest, even when things are going well…

However…there is something that I need to make you aware of Robert and Zacc both uniquely suffer from a strange condition that occasionally causes them to drift in and out of weird, strange flights of fantasy. They have been known to make up fictitious stories, absolutely believing them to be true.  

As I say, they have been there for me and I wouldn't want you to go upsetting him, so if you could bear with them, even join with them on their journeys of make believe, I would appreciate it.

So I'd like to hand over to…Robert.