Speech by James

Speech Type: Groom
Speech Creator: James
Speech Date: 27/07/2017 13:07:45

2 Homes, 4 Houses, 2 Countries, 6 return road trips to and from Madrid, 2209 Days, 6 Holidays, 1 Court Case (Not between us), 1 Renovation, 2 Businesses, too many nights in hotels, 1 Degree (almost 2), 1 Amazing loud and opinionated collie, and now our wedding.

In the past I have always found finding the right words difficult. You have always left me speechless, you look absolutely amazing and I feel the luckiest man in the world to be married to you and to be stood here today.

I would like to thank Anthony for his speech and kind worries and to promise you that no matter what, I will always love and protect your daughter.

On behalf of my wife and I, I would like to thank you all for joining us on our special day. It means the world to us. I would especially like to thank Alexander and Ilse for travelling all the way from Madrid to be here today, thank you. It would not be the same without you guys here.

I personally would like to thank Megan, the chief bridesmaid and my now my sister-in-law for scrubbing up well today, now we are family I may get slightly more annoying (than I am already), just pre-warning you. Also to Monksy, my best man, I can honestly say I have never seen you looking so beautiful mate.

I would like to make a toast to Megan and Monksy for all their help and support not just for today but also for the last few years…to Megan and Monksy.

Seriously though Megan, you do look beautiful even if that is the second dress and your car got ‘stolen’ in the process of buying accessories. I have never known someone especially a teacher that can lose their car in a multi-storey car park.

For those of you that have known Rowen and myself through our relationship to date, you will know that it has by no means been relaxing.

So where it all began:

Rowen and I originally met when we were 15 years old, back when it was cool for a 15 year old girl to go to Ashgate Hospice to watch my rock band perform at a terminally ill hospital with way to many speakers. When spikey hair was all the rage and OK I will a little on the chunky side.

It now may not surprise you to hear that after a romantic walk around queen's park (which Rowen forgot about) and talking a little online, we lost contact and went our separate ways.

Now I never used to be a believer in destiny or fate however this was soon to change.

I bumped into Rowen again 7 years later in a club, she had literally just returned from a holiday and was out celebrating her birthday. I was back from sea for 4 days before I left again for a few months. The probability that this would happen is crazy and to top it all off, she remembered my name. I got this amazing feeling as soon as I saw her and it lives with me every day and I promise that the bunny outfit had nothing to do with it. Needless to say it turned into a very expensive night out.

That feeling never left me, we spent practically every minute that we had with each other before I left. It then became the hardest thing ever being apart without any communication however we decided to go old school and write letters to each other to exchange when I returned. The day I went down the submarine, the only person I could tell all of this too was to Monksy, you helped me more than you can imagine and I would like to thank you so much for being there for me.

I spent what felt like the entire patrol on the submarine looking at pictures and messages from Rowen, convincing myself that this is too good to be true. By the end, I thought she would have forgotten about me or decided that she couldn't do this as it's too hard. We surfaced and I got up to the conning tower as soon as I could, sneaking my phone up. As soon as I got there and my phone had signal, I had a message from Rowen saying how much she had missed me. Now, surfacing when you have been away for so long is an incredible feeling however that was something else. That's when our adventure began.

Rowen and I have already created a lifetimes worth of memories together and I cannot wait to continue living this dream. There are also some embarrassing moments in there:

Like when Rowen beat me at an eating challenge on our first official date and I was a guy that loved food.

Or when she promised me she would not touch the pizza we got as takeaway after a night out until I has returned from the toilet, only for me to find Rowen armed with two pizza slices in hand and another in the mouth, next to a virtually empty box.

And imagine my face as we were shopping for luxury furniture in Ikea, I stopped to innocently look at kitchen product, I looked up to see Rowen continuing to walk and then put her arm around an old man (presuming it was me) to then very cheekily grab the guys arse. Needless to say we have never returned to Ikea and the man never left. I think he even taught Rowen her first Spanish word, which I will not repeat.

For a million reasons, you are my life, my best friend and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the love and support you have given to me and to us.

So our story continues…

I got called into my boss’ office and was asked if we would both like to move to Madrid to work at the headquarters of my company. I called Rowen to tell her, on her birthday (again), I was shaking and was so worried of her reaction…this is why Rowen is literally one in a million. She replied with ‘OK, so how will we do this’, not even let's think about it, in fact the one who had the most demands was our dog, Baxter. I will never forget that response.

I feel that moving abroad not only tested our relationship but it tested us individually. This made us completely independent as a couple and even though we had trouble integrating in Spain and now back in the UK, it has taught me such a valuable lesson:

‘Home isn't a building that you go to everyday, it isn't your collection of possessions or necessarily where your family and friends live. It's a feeling you get when you meet the love of your life for the first time again and again. It's your safest place, the place where you are the happiest and the place where you can be the best possible version of yourself.

And it feels amazing to say that, that place is right beside my wife, no matter where life takes us.

Rowen, you are the kindest, most thoughtful, selfless and supportive person I have met. You speak your heart and mind, your honest and always know how to light up a room and make me smile. I am envious in many ways and even though you are very clever you have also done the funniest things:

Like get in the back of your car to drive it and panic when you couldn't find the steering wheel

Or laughed so much in a restaurant you actually peed (I only found out when I saw your pants in your handbag)

You're also fiery and having experienced a few arguments with you and witnessing disagreements between you and Megan…Wow by the way, it is not something I am longing for.

Truly I have learned so much from you and I hope there is a day when I can show you how that feels. For example, a few things I have learnt:

That I am hopeless at measuring;

That signalling when driving is optional;

That we should all have 3 day weekends;

How to blame Baxter and to cover up a trump;

That it is acceptable as a man to buy yellow trousers;

How to appreciate wine, again and again (you can see evidence of this with your name card holders);

And it is normal to drink over 6 cups a tea before lunch, just to name a few.

I want to end this speech with how beautiful my wife looks, this way some of the middle sections may be forgotten. You look absolutely stunning and I truly cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you. You are my heart and my soul. I am so proud to call you my wife.

I would like everyone to raise their glasses and toast to my beautiful wife……to Rowen.

Just before I pass over to my best man. Have I told you how much I like you? And how I don't want that to end. Even though I probably asked you in the most unconventional way ever, you have been there for me and Rowen, and have supported us all the way. I would like to thank you so much for everything and just remind you of what a nice friend I have been.

Once again, thank you all for coming and I hope you enjoy the evening.