Speech by Joseph Reeves

Speech Type: Groom
Speech Creator: Joseph Reeves
Speech Date: Jul2007
Thank you Keith for those kind words.

I had a fantastic speech all worked out today but now I'm married my wife has told me what to say and has told me to keep it brief. So as Henry VIII said to each of his six wives, “I shall not keep you long”.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the 7th of July 2007 7.7.7 is considered to be the luckiest day of the Century. Having just got married my wife and I do indeed feel very lucky to be celebrating this day with such fine company and indeed thank you for all the presents and kind words you have expressed. It is very much appreciated as we know many of you have had to travel to get here. We hope you are all enjoying the day as much as we are. As a fitting tribute to the luckiest day of the Century, it is only right that we attempt to make someone lucky today with the scratch cards. Good luck to you all and I expect 50% of any winnings!

I am of course also lucky in that I will be hard pressed to forget any anniversary with such a date. Believe you me however I probably will.

It is now an appropriate time I think to make a few notes of thanks. We would like to thank all our Parents here today as we would not be celebrating this occasion if it wasn't for them. Thank you for all your love and support over the years, for your advice and guidance you have given us, for putting up and pointing us in the right direction and right decoration in respect of the house, and of course for part funding, planning and delivering the day. I would now like to in the time honored fashion present the mothers with a token of our appreciation. PRESENT FLOWERS.

The one person in this room to which I owe the most thanks to today is Sam my wife. I am sure you will all agree with me how stunning my bride looks today and the fact that she still said yes after having put up with me after these past eight years. I can honestly say I was overwhelmed when I first saw her for the first time today walking down the stairs and am privileged to say that you are my wife.

As some of you will know, we first met at Aston University at the Student Guild. At first she was completely disinterested in me as you would be too if a drunkard all bleary eyed came up to you asking for a dance. That was of course until I said that I had completed the same course as Sam only a few years earlier. At this point her demeanor changed looking to borrow my notes. Little did I realise at that point that it wasn't only my study notes that were to be borrowed over the next eight years. My bank balance is evidence to this and at least my study notes were returned, sadly I have no hope for the rest.

When I decided to pop the question to Sam, I took her to a lovely setting for a meal at Brockencote Hall in Worcestershire. Finally plucking up the courage to ask the question, I did it over coffee following our dinner. Well I might as well have been the prime minister calling a snap general election. The wedding war machine instantly took off and within three days of popping the question, we had bought the rings and sorted out the venue. I would not have been surprised if at the point of popping the question, three spin doctors came running out of the kitchen of the restaurant telling me what I had to say for the next nine months planning!

Sam has probably mentioned in the past that today has been in the majority arranged by both ourselves. This isn't entirely accurate, as if I were to stand by this claim it would be dishonest of me, because other then turning up to get my wedding outfit measured and looking around this venue and paying the odd bill, Sam has arranged the wedding virtually single handed. So I hope everyone can raise their glass to the effort of Sam and the hard work that she put in to make this day a success.

Sam has asked me to say a special thank you to Paula and Sue for being the best friends that she could ask for and to pass on her thanks for being there in times of need and of course for arranging the hen night.

A big thank you goes to our bridesmaids the two not so ugly sisters Anna and Nicola who look beautiful today as I am sure you all agree.

Well I could stand here and continue to thank many others and any that I have missed off sincere apologies, but I think it is time to listen to someone who will deliver a speech full of depth, spirit, poise, imagination, and flair with a dash of humor. As there isn't anyone available to do that we'll have to listen to my best man James instead.

I have known James since primary school and therefore he knows me as well anyone and he has been witness to any of the fabricated stories he is likely to mention shortly. But before I allow him to commence defaming my excellent character, I would like to present James with a token of mine and Sam's appreciation for his best man duties.

So with great appreciation and a lot of apprehension I give you James – the Best Man.