Speech by Ant Ward

Speech Type: Groom
Speech Creator: Ant Ward
Speech Date: 07/04/2015 11:42:59

Thanks Chris for your kind words and more importantly ensuring Lucy made it here today and didn't back out at the last minute – she's in for the long haul.

Right before I start I thought it would be useful for you all to know that there is going to be several toasts during the next few minutes, so please could you ensure your glasses are fully charged. Going off what I have seen so far from most of you, you may want to pace yourselves as today is a marathon, not a sprint.

I was rather nervous about this speech today, as many of you may know I'm not one for public speaking. One advantage of standing here, reading my speech to you all today is that, it's highly likely this will be the last ever time I get to speak in public without being interrupted or corrected, so it's a privilege and honour to do so.

On behalf of my wife and I, we would like to thank everybody for coming today. It means so much to us to see all of our family & friends here to celebrate one of the happiest days of our lives.

Obviously for new, the best day of my life had to be when Chelsea beat Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League Final… but today does come pretty close! 

Of course it would be rude not to mention that we finished 6th in the league that year, denying the NOT so mighty spurs a place in the Champions league.

I'm sure Lucy's dad Chris will remember this well!

On a serious note, this day certainly wouldn't be the same without you all here; however it would have been a hell of a lot cheaper.

I would just like to say a special thank you to my granddad Bruce who at the age of 90 has travelled from Peterborough to be with us today. Also a special thank you to my Uncle Colin, Auntie Kerry, Mollie & Bill for travelling 9,000 miles from Perth Australia to be here with us today. I know there are others who have travelled some distance also, so thank you very much, it means a lot to us both.

There are several people who myself & Lucy would have loved to be here today, one of those people being my granddad Colin who passed away in 2008. I know he is looking down on us today, wishing he could be here to meet Lucy and share this special day with us. Another person who we wish could have been here with us today would be Lucy's Nan Ethel, I never had the chance to meet Ethel but from what I've heard she was very loving and great fun. She too will be looking down on us today, thinking how beautiful her granddaughter looks.

So with them all in mind, would you please, raise your glasses, and join me in a toast to the absent family & friends.

“ABSENT FAMILY & FRIENDS”

Chris & Joan, you have done a fantastic job raising such a wonderful daughter and I would like to thank you for welcoming me into your family, it's a real pleasure. Not only have I gained a wife today, but also a family. I couldn't have asked for better In-Laws. I can assure you I will do all I can for Lucy toensure I give her the best life possible.

Now onto my Mum & Dad – May I take this opportunity to thank you both for your love & support over the years and for welcoming Lucy into our family. You have showed me the value of hard work which I chose to ignore up until the age of 19 which is when I started my first proper job. I think it's safe to say that I'm working hard now thanks to you both and I hope you are both proud of me. I really couldn't have asked for better parents.

Myself and Lucy would like to say a massive thank you to both sets of parents for helping make today possible. As a token of our appreciation – we have a little gift for you.

Ladies & Gentleman, could you please raise your glasses, and join me in a toast to our Parents.

“PARENTS”

Now onto our wonderful Bridesmaids. Amy, Ellie, Vicki & Claire – you all look beautiful, I'm sure everybody here will agree. I'd just like to say a massive thank you on behalf of Lucy and myself for agreeing to be a part of our special day. 

A big thank you to Amy for being our chief bridesmaid and for looking after Lucy, you've done a great job. Having lived with you for 3 months last year – which again I'd like to thank you for, you're already like a sister to me and now you have the privilege of finally calling me your brother-in-law.

I'd also like to personally thank my lovely little sister Ellie for singing during our ceremony. You done a fantastic job and it means so much to both of us. One day when you become an aspiring actress or pop star don't go forgetting about your brother & sister in law – you know where we are.

Can I just check that nobody here works for child line?!… OK GOOD… One thing I should say to Ellieis I'm sorry for dangling you over the banister all those years ago – fortunately for you; Lucy has now taken your place. Back in the day, Ellie was a bit of a nightmare but thankfully she has now turned into a beautiful young lady.

On that note & as a sign of our appreciation – please could the Bridesmaids come up to collect a gift.

Ladies & Gentleman, could you please raise your glasses, and join me in a toast to our beautiful Bridesmaids.

“BRIDESMAIDS”

I would also like to say a huge thank you to Mollie, Bill, Rhiannon & Louisa for doing a reading during the ceremony today. Could you please all come up to collect a gift also. 

A big thank you to both my best men Ollie & Matt – you have both done a great job today and in the run up the wedding. For those who don't know Ollie and Matt, they have been my closest friends for years. Despite being my closest friends, I did have several concerns about letting them both organise the stag as they'd never organised a night out let alone a weekend away, so to say I didn't trust them – would be an understantment. I had no input but to be fair they organised a pretty decent trip. The antics that weekend didn't leave Berlin and never will – so no questions please as there will be no answers. 

Thank you also to our Ushers Luke & Jack. You have both done an excellent job today, especially the way you searched handbags and frisked pockets on the way into the ceremony room with such discretion. As many of you will know Jack is my little cousin (well not so little now), we've always been quite close but recently become more so since I've been having him round for FIFA lessons. Luke is another one of my closest friends – he is the cocky one with the dodgy laugh who looks a bit like Jeff Brazier. If you don't know Luke, I'm sure you will meet him at some point tonight, especially if you've got nice legs and a short skirt.

Now I've heard there is an unwritten rule of wedding etiquette that states nobody should look as handsome as the groom… So on that note I would like to thank Ollie, Matt, Luke & Jack for sticking to that rule.

As a token of our appreciation – please could you all come up to collect a gift.

Once again, could you please raise your glasses, and join me in a toast to our Best Men & Ushers.

“BEST MEN & USHERS”

Now onto my gorgeous wife…

Lucy – you look absolutely stunning today.

In the run up to this wedding – I've learnt a lot. Whenever Lucy is right, and I'm wrong – admit it. Whenever she is wrong and I'm right – keep quiet.

For those who don't already know, I first met Lucy 13th August 2011 in Club 195. I somehow got left standing on my own, I looked towards the dance floor and there was Lucy… Chatting up Matt! I decided to go over and introduce myself. Later that night Lucy somehow managed to dance her way over to carry on with the conversation – It was obviously my charm. Out of nowhere Lucy's sister Amy came running over, I thought she was going to say hello but if I remember correctly, her exact words were “Come on Luce, were going”! At that point, I would never have thought 3 ½ years later I'd be standing here doing a speech at our wedding.

Luce, you really do look amazing today. When I saw you walking down the aisle I was blown away. It's an absolute honour to call you my wife.

I have a little present for you also… But don't get too excited, I'm saving the real present for later.

On that note, Ladies & Gentlemen, could you please be upstanding for quite possibly the most important toast I'm ever going to make – to my gorgeous wife Lucy.

“LUCY”​

Now I would just like to ask Lucy to stand with me as there is just one more little thing that we would both like to share with you all…

As of the 4th November, there's going to be a little addition to the Ward family.

Right before I pass you over to both my Best Men Ollie & Matt, and not forgetting my Usher Luke for their speeches, I must make you aware that they all strangely & unfortunately suffer from the same rare medical condition that makes them prone to exaggeration. It makes them believe that fanciful events in their head actually really did happen, however I can assure you they didn't.

They are my closest friends, so would be grateful if you could join them on their journeys so you don't upset them.

So without further ado, I pass you over to the THREE, NOT SO, WISE MEN.