Speech by John Paffet

Speech Type: Groom
Speech Creator: John Paffet
Speech Date: sep 2003
Thank you Richard for your kind words and welcoming me to your family, which I feel part of anyway.

On behalf on my wife and I we would like thank you all for coming here today and sharing our special day with us because you have been chosen by us because you are special to us.
I would especially mention those who have travelled long distances to be here from the UK and further afield, Spain, Germany and Denmark, even Tim from Australia. Its so good to see those we love here to enjoy our celebration.
Thank you all very much for your cards, kind thoughts and many wonderful gifts you all have kindly given to us. This day has obviously been much anticipated by Brenda and myself and I am happy to say that so far it has been simply perfect. Here's to all of you who are all very special people to us, may we all have a great day.

Brenda and myself had been through difficult periods in our lives but now, when I look at Brenda, my wife, it reminds me of the first time I saw her as she walked across the floor I thought ‘Wow, she is beautiful’ and today she is so beautiful. I even turned down an offer from HELLO magazine.because I wanted privacy. Money cannot buy everything.!!

Ellen summed it up for me a few years ago and I have not forgotten. She said Brenny is not only beautiful outside but inside too
She is a wonderful and caring person, funny – said in the Wedding rehearsal that I am her awful wedded husband. She even says I look better in the dark!! She is a good cook, loads of energy and has an endless list of attributes but she is someone who always puts others first and I'm very much in love with her

There is one thing though that not everyone knows about Brenda. She is the seventh child of a seventh child, born on the seventh day. She loves cats and crows, feeding both regularly and I did however wonder if she would come down the aisle on a broomstick because she has certainly put a spell on me.

As some of you know I support the best football club in England -Portsmouth Football Club with my dear old Dad- and it dawned on me that Pompey are now, like Brenda, Premiership Class.

Seriously though, to my wife, I would just like to say thank you for marrying me, making me very happy, treating me like a King and loving me as much as I love you.
A toast to the beautiful bride.

A few Thank You's now –

I would like to give a very special thanks to my parents, Alf and Peggy who should really receive a medal for perseverance and endurance. We love you both very much. Even though Mum thinks with my hair short I look a Freak. Dad thinks I look like a Storm trooper and some friends ask if Brenda practices cutting hair on me!

They have worked especially hard to teach me the difference between right and wrong. Thank you both so much, I now know exactly which it is I am enjoying at any given time!
So thanks to you Mum and Dad for all of your love and guidance, you are both terrific parents and have done a brilliant job in raising me!
We have a small gift for you Mum

(Thank You – Bridesmaid)

Next a big thank you goes to our bridesmaid Bryony. Thank you for
travelling such a long way from Spain to be here as Brenda's bridesmaid. We would like to say how lovely you look and thank you for doing such a
wonderful job today. I pity the boys a few years from now!!
I hope you will wear the bracelet we gave you and it will remind you of this special day you shared with us

(Thank You – Ushers)

We would like to thank the Ushers, our sons, Darren, Jamie , Lewis and Russell for their help in being Ushers and if they could come here we have a gift for each of you.

(Thank You – Margaret)

Thank you to Margaret, my sister, for her reading at the wedding ceremony. She is always there to help anyone and I couldn't wish for a better sister.. If you could come here we have a gift for you.

(Thank You – Wendy)

We would like to thank a very good friend of ours, Wendy, for her help in making up Brenda's mind on all the wedding matters and her other half, Barry for his patient attributes and chauffeuring. We both appreciate your friendship. Please accept these gifts Wendy and Barry

(Thank You – Lynn)

We would also like to thank Lynn for her help she has given to Brenda in particular organising the Hen-night. If you could come here we have a gift for you.

(Thank You – Best Man)

I'd sincerely like to thank my brother, the Best Man, for a great stag night – it was one to remember, I think.!!
I am sure my dear Sister-in-Law, Lyn who has put up with my leg pulling over 30 odd years would agree he is the Best Man as she has never been known to complain about him!!!!!.

Finally just remember, before his speech, he's never been one to let the truth get in the way of a good story….… Ladies and Gentlemen, Arthur