Speech by Jack

Speech Type: Groom
Speech Creator: Jack
Speech Date: 19/09/2013 11:36:13

Good afternoon friends and family, Thank you for helping Sara and I celebrate our wedding day. I have a toast in the way of a limerick I wrote for the occasion. 

Here's to you, and here's to us

I know that weddings are such a fuss

Your dress is splendid, your suits look smart

And you being here is the important part

But time will pass, and memories fade

So drink up now the bills been paid

 Here is to our family and friends!

As you may be aware, I am unaccustomed at public speaking, and hail from a far land of shy and retiring people.

To fill the time convention says I need to spend; my speech today will be filled with interruptions to toast all of you, and a few people who are not here.

To that end, please charge your glasses with your drink of choice, and as George Bush might have said ‘lets hunker down and do some drinkin’.

I understand from Sara that people in England come to the reception and have an expectation of tradition, like this speech.

First and foremost… to my wife

So many clichés are true for us

It was kismet that we met, it is karma that we are married

You are the missing piece I was searching for… you complete me

My future is our future, and our future is my future

I could not have guessed, nor have wished how momentous our chance meeting in a little cooking school in Italy was going to be.

I would like to raise a toast to the love of my life, my beautiful bride and joy… Sara

Sara, I just want to say in front of our families and dearest friends, that I love you and hope that every day will be as happy as today… just not as expensive!

You all should know that Sara and I wrote our own vows for today, and the only thing the Registrar said we could not include was the part where we say we will love honour and Ebay! 

After Sara… I would like to toast my darling daughter Laura.  She is the apple of my eye, and is representing the other half of our family trapped in that shy and retiring land you refer to as the colonies. 

Here is to Laura, and our family from across the pond.

Next are our parents Joan and Gerald, or as they are recorded on Sara's birth certificate Jean and Gerald! Jean is representing both sets of parents today, and is once again looking amazing. My parents, Jack and Florence, passed away some time ago, and I feel that Joan has adopted me and welcomed me with open arms, she has supported us, and brought us tea and biscuits in the morning whether we are dressed or not. Please join me in raising your glass to our parents Joan, Gerald, Jack, and Florence.

By now, if you have been keeping up, you should need a refill.  While you do that I will tell you Sara's favourite one liner joke … Its short, so you won't have to wait long for the punch line.  What's green and sings?   Elvis Parsley

Many family and friends could not be here today, some because they were not invited, some because of other commitments, and others because of the distance. We wish them some of the same happiness we have here today, and toast them just the same.  Here is to friends and family present with us not in body, but in spirit.

We are surrounded today by friends and family that have known us almost as long as we know one another, …and still they came.  Thank you for that.  And to their spouses or guests that accompanied them thank you as well, for you all have made this special day that much more.  To all of you …our friends, family, and guests …we toast you.

At this point, I could try to WOW you with my mastery of the English language that I have learned since meeting Sara, but does it really matter if I call it oregannno, aluminium, or vit-amins? Oh, and if should say to you

yalwrite, fitlike, schmai, Eigh up, or whyIMan… just humour me a little and smile.

All of you are probably aware that earlier this year Sara and I purchased our Maison in Brittany. Please consider that there is an open invitation for you, your paintbrush, roller, or garden tool to come and visit with us.

Regardless of whether you can paint or garden, I just want to say how wonderful all of you have been to me and Sara.  We have both gained another family, and hopefully you feel the same. 

Here is to our new multi-national family.

God Save the Queen!