Speech by Grahame Sumner

Speech Type: Groom
Speech Creator: Grahame Sumner
Speech Date: oct 2003
Ladies and Gentlemen, Family and Friends, I'd like to start by welcoming you all here today, you are actually about to witness a unique event in history. The very first and very last time that the wife is going to let me speak on behalf of both of us. It is a privilege and an honour to do so. I just hope I don't let Libby down so soon into our married life.

Now apparently as groom it is my job to do all the thank you's, I will try to be brief, however I do have one or two things to say and so many people to thank that you might think you have walking into an Oscar ceremony by mistake, so please relax and bear with me for a few minutes. You can loosen your clothing if you like but please don't try and loosen anyone else's. I'm afraid its not that kind of party.

My first thank you must be to Muriel and Rona. All the flowers you have seen today both here and in church have been down to their hard work, I know you have spent a great deal of time planning and preparing the flowers even to the extent of climbing up a ladder outside the church. And not to forget Vera who has kindly made all the buttonholes and Libby's bouquet. All of your efforts are greatly appreciated and the flowers look wonderful today.

It has to be said, lib and our mums have been rather more involved than I have in planning today and I'd like to congratulate them on a fine job. Of course wedding organisation has never been an equal opportunities business anyway, but they did let me sign the occasional cheque which was nice. Also BT would like to thank Lib and Ruth for increased profits this year.

To Ruth (thanks for the kind words it does mean a lot to me), I would like to thank you for everything you have done for us and for welcoming me so openly into your family. I feel very proud to be able to say that I am your son in law and will always do my best to live up to your expectations. Or failing that at least continue to pull the wool over your eyes. I know it must have been hard for you today, although when it came to the time for you to walk Lib down the aisle I could have sworn I saw you running.
On a serious note you have done a brilliant job today in getting Libby ready and to church in good time. Libby also wanted me to say that she sees you as her best friend as well as a mum.

We would also like to thank Roger for his support especially over the last 12 months. For giving up your wife and being so understanding. Also for providing us with a lifetime supply of bedding plants, fruit and veg, ice creams and sweets courtesy of Lyndene garden centre.
For anyone who is interested, Roger has even agreed a special deal for all the guests today, he's offering 20% discount off all ceramic pots.

Now on to my parents I would like to thank you for the wonderful son you produced, for everything you have given me during my life, for bringing me up the way you have, for giving me all the encouragement and support I have ever needed and for pointing me in the right direction – usually to watch me go off and do exactly the opposite of course.
Mum you are a very kind, caring and loving person. Dad you never let me down, you can fix anything and nothing is too much trouble. Anybody who knows you both is very lucky, but to be your son is just the best.
I hope today you are proud and content parents. Proud because Lib and I have gotten married and you know that she is not only beautiful, but a wonderful caring person who I'm very much in love with. And Content – content in the knowledge that I am finally someone else's responsibility.

Next I'd like to thank Max, Anne and all the staff here for all there effort and hard work, making the room look so lovely and the wedding breakfast we are all about to eat if I ever finish this speech.

I'd also like to thank all of the ushers for ..… err ushering

So to my wife, I actually proposed to Libby over 2 years ago now when we were in Cyprus. I chose a lovely spot on some rocks with the sea crashing up against them. Its just a good job you said yes. Seriously though the term better half doesn't quite do you justice, you look absolutely stunning today, but then you look stunning to me every day. Thank you for marrying me and making me so happy. I realize that I'm getting the best of this deal because I get you while all you get is me.
So I would like to drink my own private toast to you and our future together (bike bottle). I know that today is the result of the best decision I have ever made and I'll try to make sure you can say the same thing. (rose)

Next the best man. Thanks mark for agreeing to be my best man. We've been close now for a number of years and in that time you have proven to be and I hope will continue to be a great mate, but of course that could all change in the next few minutes when you start speaking. Thanks for organising a great stag do…… which I am told I enjoyed enormously.… especially when you tried to convince me that water tasted like vodka. After downing a flaming zambuca.
I should perhaps mention at this point that mark does in fact suffer from a rare medical condition. He often invents the most fanciful stories which he sincerely believes to be true.
Actually unlike most bridegrooms I'm looking forward to hearing my best man's speech particularly because mark is returning the favour after I went easy on him last year at his wedding. However when I asked mark he seemed reluctant at first saying he was an old married man and that I should pick someone single. Well judging what he got up to on the stag do, if that's old and married then I'm glad I'm heading that way.

Finally no wedding is complete without the bridesmaids. Mandy and Ruth thanks for lending us your daughters, but remember we only needed them for the day. Hattie you have done a wonderful job looking after the rings and the young ones, Elle and Katie thanks for being so special and looking so cute.
Ladies and gentlemen please be upstanding, I would like to propose a toast.… “to the lovely bridesmaids”
Whilst you are all standing I'd also like you to take a drink for friends and family who are unable to be here today for different reasons. To absent friends.

Before I close Libby and I would like to thank you all for coming today, for taking the time and the effort to help make this day special for us. I hope you all have a brilliant day, lots of fun and go home with happy memories, thank you.