Speech by James Simpson

Speech Type: Groom
Speech Creator: James Simpson
Speech Date: 29/08/2012 12:09:11

Thank you John for your kind words.

My short speech today will be like a mini-skirt. Long enough to cover the essentials but short enough to hold your attention!

To be honest I didn't really know where to start so I thought I'd trawl the internet. After a couple of hours I‘d found some really, really good stuff. But then I remembered that I was supposed to be writing a speech.

Distinguished guests, relatives, friends and freeloaders

On behalf of my wife and I, thank you all for joining us today to celebrate our marriage! It's a privilege to be in the company of so many people that are important in our lives and we're delighted to welcome you here to share our special day with us. It's great to see you all and I can honestly say it would not have been the same without you.

Events like today don't just happen. We have been planning this wedding for some time now. Well, I say “we”, Juliet actually did most of the work, as one of the best things about being a man is that weddings seem to organise themselves. So to Juliet and everyone else who has helped organise today I would like to say a big thank you.

Now as is custom, there will be a few toasts during my speech, so please don't neck the whole glass at the first toast…mentioning no names, Richard!

To start with, I would like to take this opportunity to say that unfortunately, there are some people close to our hearts who cannot be with us today. I know they would have enjoyed it immensely. Our thoughts are with them and we know that their thoughts are with us.

Ladies and gentlemen… please raise your glasses to ABSENT AND LOST, Family and Friends

Firstly On behalf of my wife and I, we would now like to thank both sets of parents as we wouldn't be where we are today if it wasn't for them. If we can become half the parents they are to us then I'm sure we won't go far wrong.

To John and Margaret

Traditionally I am supposed to thank you both at this point for welcoming me into your family, but it seems strange for me to do that today as you have both made me feel like a part of it for many years now. I genuinely could not have asked for nicer in-laws, and thank you for bringing Juliet up to become the women that I have married today. I love Juliet with all of my heart and will do everything I can to continue to make her happy. As a token of our appreciation please accept these flowers.

At this point I would also like to thank Juliet's bother John not only is he a fellow Norwich fan he's also like a brother to me so thank you.

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So, Ladies and Gentleman, please be upstanding and raise your glasses, to the parents.

That leads me on to the star of the today, my gorgeous new wife Juliet – I can't even begin to tell you how absolutely-stunningly gorgeous you look today. When I saw you coming up the isle I realized how lucky I am, looked at myself and realized wow that it is definitely me getting the best of this deal.

Juliet, I love you in so many ways and for so many reasons, you know me and understand me like no one else ever could, you make me laugh so hard and smile so often, you have a way of bringing out the very best in me, but mostly because you're my very best friend, my soul mate. I love you with all my heart. Thank you for marrying me and making me the happiest man alive and for loving me as much as I love you. I know this is the start of many more happy years together.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please be upstanding, for the most important toast I'm ever likely to make, TO MY WIFE MY BRIDE, TO JULIET.

To our bridesmaids, Claire, Vicky, Megan and Katie I'm sure everyone will agree that you all look stunning today. Thank-you for your help and for being there for my new wife. I know how much support you have all given Juliet up to and including this day.

I'd like to just ask everyone to raise your glasses and join me in a toast “The bridesmaids”

Give Presents

Now there is an unwritten rule of wedding etiquette that states that nobody should look more handsome than the groom and I'd like to thank our usher's John, Sam & our Best Man Adam for sticking to that rule to the letter.

Give presents

My Best Man for those who do not know is my brother Adam and throughout the years, he has been there for me no matter what and is always ready with an encouraging word and a welcome pint of beer when things are going badly. And, if I'm being honest, even when things are going well!!

However………there is something that I need to make you aware of. Adam suffers from a strange condition that occasionally causes him to drift in and out of weird, strange flights of fantasy. He has been known to make up factitious stories, absolutely believing them to be true.

As I say, he has been there for me and I wouldn't want you to go upsetting him, so if you could bear with him, even join with him on his journey of make believe, I would appreciate it.

So, without further ado, I'd like to hand over to Adam