Speech by Andy

Speech Type: Groom
Speech Creator: Andy
Speech Date: 05/09/2013 14:23:46

Thanks Chris for your very kind words.

As you all know I am a man of very few words and so was going to keep this short, but I did read this is the last time a husband gets to speak on behalf of a couple without being interrupted so I will try to make the most of it.

I also read that 2 things you must never do if you want to deliver a good speech is to drink or eat too much beforehand. So you may have to bear with me.

First of all …my wife and I would like to thank everyone for making it here today and to share our special day. I know that a number have people have travelled a very long way to be here so we just hope that you are all enjoying it as much as we are.

When I initially started thinking of this speech I was adamant it was not going to be just a long list of thank yous. However, you never quite appreciate just how much work goes into just one day…well that is until your fiancée gives you a very long to do list and says ‘get on with it’. We both know all of this would not have been possible without all of your help.  Can we just say thanks to:

Sister in laws (Natalie and Luiza) – for all the little touches you have helped with today

David & Martin – for doing a great job with their usher duties

Holly – for the wonderful cupcakes you will all see tonight and of course Darren for having to eat cupcakes for dinner every night during the trials

Carla & Jude  – for the readings

Chris & Trine – for the musical accompaniment in the church

Uncle Andrew – for very kindly agreeing to marry us and the very lovely service

Lucy & Albert – for Saying Grace

Ava – for being a beautiful little flower girl

Holly & Jodie – for organising Laura's hen do

Nick – for organising the stag do, even if the outfit left a lot to be desired!, and looking after the rings

Stephen – For the number of jobs you have done today and for what I'm sure will be a very kind speech

The team at the hotel and especially Lorraine – who have suffered our numerous questions and requests over the past 18 months. I'm sure they'll be glad to see the back of us.

There has been help from so many people that I may have not mentioned everyone so I sincerely apologise if that is the case.

If I could ask you all to please put your hands together to say a very warm thank you for all of their help.

And finally I would just like to say a big thank you to all of the bridesmaids. We really are grateful for the amount of help and support you have given Laura over the past 12 months and also getting her back from the hen do in one piece!

You all look stunning today, which I am glad about after seeing Laura's bridesmaids’ bill!  I do appreciate you welcoming me as Laura's other half as I know I can be hard work at times.

We are very thankful that you are all here today and for your continuing friendships, can I ask you to raise your glasses for the toast. .. to the bridesmaids.

Chris, Julia and Pete, I would like to thank you all for welcoming me as part of Laura's life right from the start. You have been very supportive over the past few years and really helpful in the run up to the wedding. From the table names to the venue visits, from the mint tins to budgeting advice and from wedding dress shopping to the very generous contributions. In fact you have been so helpful anyone would think you couldn't wait to give Laura away.

We both think so much of all of you and we just want to say thanks for the love and guidance over the years to help Laura become the person I have very luckily married today.

I promise to take good care of her and support her in everything she wants to do just as you have over the years. Mum and Dad,

I'm sure if you were to guess how I would describe you as parents you would probably expect me to say ‘Parentish!’. However, on this occasion I will elaborate slightly.

I know I am the quietest of the three of us which I'm not sure could've been easy most of the time. However, you have always been there for me whenever I have needed you and you have always encouraged me to strive for greater things. I have inherited and learnt so much from both of you about hard work, respect, manners and being part of a family. I have also learnt about some very nice wines and how not to play golf.

I really can't thank you enough for putting up with me through my tantrums and the numerous injury scares to help me become the person I am today.

I am also very grateful for you welcoming Laura into the family and treating her like a daughter. Unfortunately for me that means teacher talk at home now as well.

Thanks for all your help with the wedding with the reading, the love spoons, the invites, the table plan along with the wedding dress shopping. We are truly grateful.

For those of you who are not aware in six weeks time it is my mum and dad's 40th wedding anniversary. And after putting up with the 3 of us that is an incredible achievement.

But from today Laura and I are catching you up.

Sincere congratulations to you both.

Everybody please raise your glasses for Janet and Gerry.

Right…  Laura.

First of all I would just like to say how gorgeous you look today, I think everyone would agree.

I have to admit when Laura walked into the church today I was speechless, absolutely lost for words  – it is the first time she's been on time for anything.

Errm, well, after the first potential marital argument I will start at the beginning.

How did Laura and I meet. For those of you who do not know, Laura and I met in the supermarket..… well apparently that's what you're supposed to say if you've met on the Internet.

Laura has admitted that when first looking at my picture on the site she thought, ‘nah, next!’, but from seeing that angelic face I knew she was the girl for me, and as you can see persistence does pay off as we met for the first time 5 years and 5 days ago. As I am very often reminded that at the end of our first date we said our goodbyes walked away and stopped turned round and came back for a kiss. Laura remembers it like something out of a movie! I'm not sure I remember it quite like that!

For the next 4 years no matter how much we talked about the future Laura was quite often reminding me I would never propose (in fact she was just in the middle of telling me that very thing as I handed her the ring).

I will never forget how quickly such a glum face turned to one of sheer delight (I still think it was the ring she wanted and more than me as I didn't get a reply for quite some time!). It seems diamonds have that effect on Laura!

However, I do think that the time we have spent living together has really helped us get to know each other better and prepare us for married life. As in any good relationship you both learn from each other and so I have just noted a few things that I think we have learnt during our time together.

A few things I think Laura has learnt from me:

–        No matter what time of day it is there is always some form of sport on tv. And I'll quite happily watch it.

–        All fish is not as smelly as tinned sardines

–        Milan is not in Spain

–        This….  is the internationally recognised symbol for ‘the bill please’

Things I have learnt from Laura:

–        It is ok (and possible) to eat chilli for almost every meal

–        The bigger the person you are the smaller amount of the bed you get to sleep in

–        It is actually possible to fill a Sky planner full of soaps and reality TV

–        Don't believe the phrase ‘I've invited so and so round for dinner, but don't worry, I'll cook!’

–        It doesn't matter how often I change my job, I still know who my boss is

(to Laura)  But on a more serious note I am still continually learning from you Laura, you have so many great qualities:

–        You don't have an evil bone in her body

–        You make such an effort for your friends and family

–        I don't think I've ever met someone with so many close friends that all think so highly of them

–        You are very intelligent and capable even if you don't always believe it

–        You are absolutely gorgeous

–        And what's more you make me extremely happy

You know I do not convey emotion easily, or indeed very often, but I hope my gestures and actions show how much you mean to me and how much I love you. I just hope that I can continue to make you as happy as you make me and help us achieve everything we want to in the future.

People always say our wedding day is supposed to be the best day of our lives, and it certainly has been a great day so far, but I read a line from Robert Browning that I hope is more appropriate

‘Grow old along with me, The best is yet to be.’

And so without further ado, I will pass the baton over to my little brother. Now as he has been in America for a while please be warned he may be prone to extreme exaggeration and also the flight may have affected his memory slightly. He will also be very familiar with compensation culture for the ensuing claim I will file in about 5 minutes time for defamation of character.