Speech by Eddie G

Speech Type: Groom
Speech Creator: Eddie G
Speech Date: 03/04/2013 19:11:45

Thank you Pete for your kind words, good wishes and for the hipflask you gave me for Christmas – today it was that cold, mine had soup in it!!!!!!

Well, she wanted a white wedding…(it had been snowing for 48 hours beforehand)

Before I start, there will be a few toasts over the next few minutes so please make sure that your glasses are charged – and please don't empty them in one go – Mum!!!!!!

My wife and I would like to welcome you all here today. It's really lovely to see so many of you joining us to 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. Thank you for being here to share our day with us. It really wouldn't be the same without all of you – cheaper yes but not the same – joking!!!!

Please do excuse me if I get a tad emotional – it started the other day when I went to get petrol, not sure what happened, I got out of the car and just started filling up.

Unfortunately, it's not possible to have everyone that we love here with us today and they're not only in our thoughts, but more importantly, in our hearts. So, with them in mind, would you please all stand, raise your glasses, and join me in a toast to absent family & friends. (To absent family and friends)

Mum and Dad thank you for your kindness, on-going love and support and yes, I know, it's been a long time coming but well worth the wait. The wonderful cake you see before you is a joint collaboration from my Mum and Dad – thank you – it's beautiful.

I'd like to sincerely thank Zoe's Mum and Dad, Christina and Peter, who have accepted me and made me feel like a son they never wanted – right from day two. Karl, Stefan, Vicky & Family, have never made me feel anything other than welcome – thank you for that.

We'd like to thank our Mums for their help, kindness, love and support in making today amazing.  The flowers, table decorations and buttonholes are fantastic – thank you. As a token of our appreciation we'd like you both to accept a small gift from us.

Maria and Christina, thank you for being our witnesses today

Phil and Stefan, thank you very much for taking part in the ceremony and reading our chosen readings.

Thank you also to Leo our fabulous photographer who may also be available if anyone else in the room has any weddings planned!!!!!!!!

We'd also like to thank Keith and the entire team here at Rowton Castle – well done to all involved – today has been fantastic.

I would very much like to thank my brother and Best Man, Richard whom I have known all his life – contrary to popular belief – he is younger than me. I'd like to thank him for being a good and true friend in all that time. However, there is something that I need to make you aware of he suffers from a rare condition that occasionally causes him to drift unknowingly between fact and fiction. He has been known to make up fanciful stories all about me, believing them to be true. Anyway, it's only right that I advise you all of this ahead of his speech, so if you could bear with him, even join with him on his journey of make believe, I would appreciate it.

Now, tradition dictates that at this juncture I tell a couple of funny stories about my wife. However, my wife dictates I do no such thing so let's move on.

Zoe and I first met through work. Zoe works for the company that manages the facilities of the building we occupy in Burton on Trent.  We met at a meeting during which I couldn't take my eyes off her and understandably, vice versa plus she laughed in all the right places – not something I've experienced before and so I thought I'm going to progress this. I asked Zoe out and to my sheer delight she accepted.

Quite early on during our relationship I knew that Zoe was my Miss Right, thankfully her first name isn't ‘Always’. I decided I was going to propose to her whilst on holiday in Cornwall and on our first anniversary.

Plan A was to have lunch near a beach and then propose on the beach utilising a concealed message in a bottle that I'd sourced specifically.  Sadly, this plan didn't get executed owing to the amount of seaweed and flies in the vicinity.

To cut a very long story short and cutting out all the bits that went wrong – Plan H was sprang into action just around the headland on a small bench overlooking the coast. I dropped to one knee as Zoe unrolled the scroll that contained the proposal, popped the question and, well you know the rest – needless to say that 96 weeks to the day since our first date, we are here in front of our friends and family today as husband and wife.

I would like to thank Zoe for marrying me and for making me complete. You're truly beautiful.

I have learned a valuable lesson having lived with Zoe – when I'm wrong, admit it. When I'm right, keep quiet! Seriously though, Zoe, I love you so much and I'm really looking forward to our future together. Ladies and gentlemen, please stand and raise your glasses to my wife, Zoe. (To Zoe!)

Now, you'll be pleased to hear – I'm not going to stand here any longer and continue to bombard you with tall stories and stale jokes. That's Richard's job! So, without further ado, I'd like to hand over to my brother and Best Man, Richard.