Speech by Ian

Speech Type: Groom
Speech Creator: Ian
Speech Date: 21/02/2017 10:39:58

Thanks to Stuart for those lovely words – it really means a lot to both of us.

I want to start by thanking every one of you that is here today. Most of you have travelled a long way to be here, it isn't exactly on the doorstep this venue – in case you're wondering, no, I didn't grow up in Stoke, and no – Sarah and I don't have any ties to the area, we just loved the venue – I hope that being here you can understand why. So thank you to everyone for coming such a distance to share our special day – you have travelled knowing you're going to pay £6 for a vodka and coke. That is commitment and we really appreciate it.

There are going to be a few thankyou's during my speech, so please make sure your glasses are charged. Also for most of the people I am going to thank, we have got gifts for you, but to move things along a bit quicker, we will be giving these out afterwards if you haven't received them already.

We have been planning this wedding for some months now, although it seems like a lifetime. Well, I say “we”, really Sarah did all the work, I just agreed to sort out the weather (if hot add: and might I say a good job has been done it wasn't easy but nevertheless I made it hot today) (If cold add: And I even got that wrong.) But today wouldn't have been possible without a lot of support from many people.

We would like to thank our parents for their support for this wedding – it means a great deal to us and we really couldn't have done it without you.

To Stuart and Jeanette, I'd like to thank both of you for the incredible job you have done raising Sarah. Sarah is kind to the core, positive, loving and has a great sense of humour – I see both of your qualities in her. I'm supposed to thank you both for accepting me into your families but you've made me feel that way for years now. Thank for your help and support over the years.

To my mum and dad, I would like to thank you on behalf of me and Sarah. You've been so generous to both of us over the years, and always been there to support us. Thank you for all you have done for me and always sticking by me as well – whatever I can be proud of in me today I have you to thank for.

We have some gifts to show how much we appreciate all of your help – Give gifts.

Also, a special thanks to our families, too. We appreciate any help received in planning this wedding and thank you for being here on our special day, too. *Toast to family

I would like to thank the bridesmaids – Jodie, Charlotte, Ashley and Stacey for all of their help towards today. They look stunning today as well as I'm sure you'll all agree [hold for yes].

Throughout the build up to the wedding all of them have helped in some way or another with planning the wedding, giving advice and support, sharing wedding ideas with Sarah, doing make up trials, trying on dresses and helping to run things down today. It all adds up to a great deal so thank you for making this day what it is.

Also to the flower girls – Grace, Masie and Chloe. Or as I call them, the flower women – they may still be in primary school, but put them in the Trafford centre and let them pick dresses, handbags and shoes and they turn into women. The Trafford centre branch of monsoon was like a pressure cooker for about half an hour but they sorted it out in the end. They look beautiful today and did a great job during the ceremony, so I would like us all to give them a big round of applause!  *Round of applause

Big thanks to Paul and Matthew, our ushers – I gave them the job of making sure I was sober enough to be allowed on the plane to go to Dublin for my stag do, but deep down, I was worried I wouldn't be allowed onto the minibus to the airport. But it was fine in the end – thank you for keeping my in good supply of tabasco shots, much appreciated. And thank you to both of you for making sure today has run smoothly.

Also a special thank you goes to Molly and Uncle Malc for their readings during the ceremony – it really meant a lot to us that you agreed to this and it will be a happy memory for both of us.

Thank you as well to our beautiful daughter, Cecelia. She looks lovely, we're delighted that she is able to share this day with us and will be able to look back on the recordings of the day in years to come. (Is the tape in, James?).

So now I'd like to say a few words about the star of the show, and my wife, Sarah. Doesn't she look incredible today? You look absolutely gorgeous, and I feel so lucky to be married to you. *Ad lib about seeing her for the first time down the aisle.

You're my soul mate and my best friend. Living with you has taught me about being positive, cheerful and caring, like you are….none of it has rubbed off on me, but I at least understand it better now.

I first met Sarah when we worked together back in 2010. We worked together on the same team and used to regularly get told off by one of the managers for talking too much at work, or to be precise – Sarah got told off for talking too much, and I got told off for listening too much. Our first date was at an Everton Wigan game which Sarah won two tickets to. Knowing I support Everton, she asked me if I'd like to go with her – and I agreed.

I can honestly say the day was truly magical – the game was nil nil deep into the second half when Tim Cahill rose like a salmon to head the ball home – won 1-0. Honestly though we didn't stop chatting all the way through the game, and then went out for a few drinks afterwards. It was a great first date and we haven't looked back.

Being together for such a long time really teaches you a lot, about how to live with a person, how to be in a relationship, and how to stay out of trouble. It has been said that a relationship is a 50/50 partnership. Whoever said that knew nothing about women…and even less about fractions. Marriage is a new experience for me, and there is no one I would rather spend it with than you.

We've come a long way in 7 years, and now we have two beautiful children (we count our jack Russell Charlie as one) in a lovely place and we couldn't be happier. Thank you for being the best mother I could wish for to Cecelia – we have a lovely daughter because of the incredible job that you do every day. We are both her parents, but really I feel like your apprentice. Whatever needs to be done, you are always right – which is a theme that runs through our relationship – and I feel incredibly lucky to be raising our daughter with you. Thank you for taking good care of our family. *Toast to the beautiful bride

So…on to my two best men….laurel and hardy, good cop and bad cop, Shrek and donkey. I'll let you work out which is which.

I asked Craig and Martyn to share the best man duties because it's hard to pick who takes such an important role between two incredibly dear friends…..or, at least, that's what I told them….the fact is, I couldn't trust either of them to boil an egg, so I gave it to both of them, and to be honest they still need a lot of supervision.

I've been dreading their speeches ever since Craig and Martyn asked me if any companies in the area rent overhead projectors. I can see there aren't any here today so it was all mind games – it worked.

They've put a lot of effort into organising a fantastic stag doo to Dublin, and they know me to well – they've help me tick off one thing from my bucket list – playing zorb football dressed as Freddie mercury from the “I want to break free video”. Thanks for helping me realise that dream, lads.

I've known Craig and Martyn for years now, and they've been great friends to me. They've stuck with me through thick and thin, and they've been really like brothers to me. Thank you for organising an unforgettable stag doo and helping to organise so much about today – on behalf of Sarah and I we really appreciate it.

Without any further ado…onto the cabaret, Craig and Martyn!