Speech by Ash Cross

Speech Type: Groom
Speech Creator: Ash Cross
Speech Date: 12/08/2014 11:23:19

Thank you Steve for your kind words…

and also the slightly less kind ones.

Welcome everyone and thank you for coming and sharing our special day with us.

It really means so much to us both to see you all here today.

So a big thank you to everyone.

Well.. I'm just gonna go ahead and do it.

Ladies and Gentlemen id like to introduce Dani for the first time as..… My wife !!

She is looking absolutely incredible today.

So theres gonna be quite a few toasts coming up..

so pace yourself.. Best Men, I'm looking at you !!

To start with, we are both so grateful that all of you lovely people have come to celebrate with us.

Some even coming from as far as Canada to be here with us.

There are also some family & friends who couldn't make it to join us and we can talk about them behind their backs for the rest of the night.

Very importantly though are those who are sadly no longer with us.

I hope im not speaking out of turn here but I know there will be some smiling faces looking down at how beautiful Dani is looking today.

They will be forever in our hearts and they are all truly missed.

So id like to propose our first toast go to.…  absent friends and family

TOAST – ABSENT FRIENDS AND FAMILY

So, to the Brides parents.

Thank You for welcoming me into your lovely family over the last 8 years and allowing me to become part of the furniture.

You've done a wonderful job raising such a beautiful, caring, thoughtful, loving, stubborn young lady.

I really do feel honored to have you as my inlaws and it means a lot to me to know you are there for us both.

Without the help and support of both sets of parents I don't think we would be here today.

A big Thank You has to go out to my Mum and Dad.

I know that raising me would have been an absolute breeze and probably a pleasure but still I feel I should to say thank you for everything.

Literally everything.

Except maybe the dodgy outfits when I was younger which for some reason I have chosen to exhibit on our photowall.

You've been brilliant parents, helping me out in every way you can.

I feel so lucky to have had the upbringing that I had and support that you have given over the years.

Also at this point I do want to mention my brother, Julian and my sister Lara for the “training” (or bullying) of their youngest sibling for the big bad world ahead of him.

Without your commitment and dedication to my “training” (or abuse) who knows where'd id be now.  

It was strange how the “training” all stopped when I was suddenly bigger than both of them.

Both sets of parents and families are a real inspiration to the both of us and we hope to a successful loving marriage similar to theirs.

On behalf of the both of us, I'm sure we will never fully be able to express how grateful we both are to you guys. But I hope this helps.. Ladies and Gentlemen a toast to… the parents.

TOAST – THE PARENTS

So, today was always going to be all about one person.

One person outshining everyone else.

Stealing the show.

But enough about me.

I have very kindly decided to share my limelight with this young lady sat next to me.

Dani is everything that I could ever have dreamed of.

She is beautiful; she is funny; she is loving and compassionate; and just the right amount of crazy.

For a start, she is my personal baker; and for one day only I have allowed her to share her talent with you all.

The favours, the strawberry heart biscuits, are all made by Dani and I hope you enjoy them or have enjoyed them to those who couldn't wait

She is the one person I turn to when anything is on my mind

She is the one person who will always listen

She is probably the only person who will put up with my annoying habits.

She is my best friend

And she has made me the happiest man alive by becoming my wife.

Let me take you back…

The start of our journey highlights just how much of a romantic I am. Some would say I take after my Dad in this way.

Our first date.. picked Dani up from her house, and we drove 100metres down the road from her parents house.

We parked up and chatted until the early hours.

But judging by Dani's geography knowledge, I probably could've told her we'd travelled to Barcelona and she might've bought it!?

Fast forward just over 7 years and we now lived together and Alan the cat had only bought me a little bit of time.

It was time to ask Dani to marry me.

We were in Barcelona. For real this time.

I was nervous as hell.

She was in a foul mood.

Brilliant.

It was time.

It really didn't seem like it at the time, but was the easiest question I've ever had to ask.

Just over a year on and we arrive at today and I am again reminded just how lucky I am that she said yes.

Getting old is something that I no longer fear. I now look forward to getting old knowing that we will be doing it together.

Ladies and Gentlemen please raise the biggest toast of the day. Please go wild for my Wife… to Dani

TOAST – TO DANI

The Bridesmaids – All looking beautiful today, im sure everyone here will agree.

Naomi & Nad, thank you for not leading Dani too far astray in during your many years of friendship.

Thank you to all of you guys for arranging Dani's hen do. She had an amazing time playing laser tag, drinking prosecco by the bucket load and dancing with the homeless.

Amie, Georgia and Melissa, thank you for becoming far too comfortable around me far too quickly.

I have learned more about the workings of the female brain when the 4 of you are together than I care to know.

There were threats and promises of bridesmaids dancing down the aisle today but they bottled it!!

And now that I am officially youre brother in law, I think im now ready to become friends with you on facebook.

So to all 5 Bridesmaids, we have a little something to show our appreciation.. so come on up..

Also, we do have to give extra thanks to Naomi who has made our amazing wedding cake. Thank you so much. Cant wait to eat it.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bridesmaids..

TOAST – THE BRIDESMAIDS

So, I don't think an alcoholic toast would be appropriate for the page boy so can we have a round of applause of my little nephew Alexander who is running me very close for best dressed today.

Now to the slightly older and definitely less cute boys.. Id like to thank Tom who is our Usher, and also Tadd and Greg who have been the best men today. Excellent work Boys!

Thank you Guys for your help, support and for organizing the stag do. Luckily alcohol and the stag do code have restricted any lasting memories apart from waking up and having to ask if Tom whether he remembers seeing a plant in the hotel toilet or whether it was a dream. Thanks to Brad, it wasn't a dream.

Thank you for keeping me calm today and thank you for being such good friends.

Friends that Ive had since I was very little and know I will still have when Im very old.

We also have tokens of our appreciation for you boys, so come on up

So I'd like to toast my best friends,

TOAST – TO BEST FRIENDS

I might want to take back that last toast in a few minutes time. Depends on their speech.

I should mention the other part of the favours, as you may have seen you may have a shot glass in front of you. If you do, we consider you an adult, so congratulations. It does however have a use. Me and my wife will be coming round after the speeches with these bottles and if you like you can have a shot with us.

I'm sure I've gone on long enough now, so it can mean only one thing…

Im now going to sit down and count the lies as they pour from their lying faces. Unless they're being nice that is..

Once again, On behalf of me and my wife, thank you all for coming and sharing this amazing day with us.

Now.. over to the boys..