Speech by Jack Bishop

Speech Type: Groom
Speech Creator: Jack Bishop
Speech Date: 12/01/2014 12:22:02

Good evening everyone!

On behalf of Thalia and I, thank you all for being here to share our wedding day with us, especially those of you who have had long journeys. I can honestly say it wouldn't have been the same without you all…… It would have been a lot cheaper, but that's not the point.

Now this is probably the first and last time that, as a married man, I am going to be allowed to speak on behalf of both of us, so I apologise in advance if I milk it.

Although we have been engaged for over 4 years, we only got around to organising the wedding 3 months ago. So I think it's important to say early on that no, there is no positive pregnancy test!

Now that is out the way I would like to start by saying a big thank you to Ian and Maddy. Traditionally at this point I am meant to say how nice it is for you to welcome me into your family, but the truth is that you have made me feel part of it for years now.  I genuinely couldn't have asked for better in laws. You have been a great help not only by raising the woman I love, but in helping us to put this day together. Although we do have some of Ian's DJing to look forward to later.

To my mum Julia and my dad Richard I would like to say a big thank you for your contributions towards today. You have both helped us achieve what we didn't think possible when we first started planning. Mum, thank you for your support and love that you have shown to both of us. And Dad, you showed me the true value of hard work. Unfortunately I chose to ignore this during my time at uni, but I did become very good at football manager.

And as this is a speech from both of us, Thalia would like to give her thanks to you both, and I quote: “thank you for raising such an intelligent, funny, clever, and dashing son. Someone who is both athletic and wise, a modest man who is delightful and…did I say handsome already?” Anyway I know it must be hard to come to terms with the fact you have raised such a perfect son. So to thank you I would like everyone to please stand, and raise you glasses, to our parents Ian, Maddy, Richard and Julia….To the parents!

Next there are some special thank yous I would like to mention.

To Tina and Jo for making the cake and decorating it. It looks amazing.

To Stan and Eileen thank you for shipping in the wine we are all enjoying and letting us use your car, it looks absolutely gorgeous and I know it meant a lot to Thalia so thank you.

Thank you to Deb for helping us with lots of bits and pieces, including getting the creases out of Thalia's dress. She is very grateful for that one.

I would also like to thank Tom for putting his skills in to practice and agreeing to be our photographer. Tom has been there for me as a friend for the last 12 years, and I know would do anything for me. And for those of you that don't know he is a wild life photographer by trade so it was decided he would be perfect at taking pictures of some of you lot.

And of course to anyone we have forgotten who has been involved in helping out, not just with our wedding and making this day special to us, but for helping us as a couple over the last 8 years. We thank you all too

Now there are some people close to our hearts who were not able to make it today. My step-sister Chelsey isn't here due to ill health, and my granddad Dennis, who although passed away two years ago, left a massive imprint on our lives and we all still miss him greatly. So please be upstanding as I would like to toast to absent friends and family.

Now they say being the best man is like snogging the queen – It's an honour but nobody wants to do it! Well I am lucky to have my best man Dave sitting here beside me. We have known each other for a number of years now, and he has always been there for me, most of the time with the next round of jaegerbombs in his hands. He also did a great job of organising the stag which I am told I enjoyed very much!

Also to our maid of honour Rosie, you have been a great friend to Thalia and I. And I know how much support you have given Thalia up to and including today. And let's not forget the organising of the hen do. I shan't repeat the stories I have heard from that weekend, and all I can say is that I hope Thalia manages to get this white dress back in better condition than the one she wore to her hen party.

 So can everyone please stand and raise your glasses in joining me by toasting the Best Man and Maid of Honour ….To Dave and Rosie! 

Also I forgot to mention a thank you to Rosie for such a beautiful reading at the ceremony. ..And now we are on the subject of beautiful things (look to Thalia). I would like to thank both our brothers Tom and Piers, who did a great job of Ushering and driving today. Thank you very much guys.   

Now it's not every day that you get to marry your best friend, but that's exactly what I am lucky enough to have done today. Me and Thalia could spend every waking minute of every day together and not get bored in each other's company….We could probably spend a lot of time apart and not get bored too to be honest!

But in all seriousness while we always joke about how much we dread having to spend the rest of our lives together, we always secretly know that we will always be happy together, and that we were always meant to be. So I'd like to take this opportunity, first of all, to tell Thalia how beautiful you look today, and secondly to thank Thalia for all the hard work and time she has put in to make today such a success.

So I'd like to ask everyone to raise their glass and join me one last time, in making a toast to the most important person in my life. To my wife, Thalia!