Speech by Matthew Foster

Speech Type: Groom
Speech Creator: Matthew Foster
Speech Date: May 2009
Thanks, Alan, for those kind words and a very comprehensive speech…

Now, as many of you will know, I am the kind of quiet, shy, retiring type that likes to keep my opinions to myself, therefore you can understand my nervousness at standing up here in front of all of you making a speech…

I did have a fantastic one lined up for you today but, as I am now married, my wife has told me what to say instead! As you might be able to tell, Alan hasn't been the only one pouring over various wedding sites on the internet. The main one I used recommended that, as an icebreaker, I start by listing an important event that has happened on this date in the past and then make a related bad joke. So, for the record, on 15th May 1940 in San Bernardino, California the first McDonald's restaurant was opened. Married life? Already, I'm lovin’ it! Bad enough?! So I'll begin…

Now, without wishing to duplicate Alan, I would like to re-iterate that Olivia and I are very pleased that John could be with us today. It goes without saying that we would have loved a full quota of Grandparents in attendance but unfortunately that wasn't to be. However, while not everyone we love is here today in person, I know that they are in spirit, in our thoughts and, most importantly, they're here with us in our hearts.

I promised myself when writing this speech that I wouldn't say this, but the temptation is too great so… on behalf of my wife and I ! I'd like to say thank you to a few people… First and foremost, our parents.

Jennie &amp Alan – 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 very much part of your family for a number of years now. I always look forward to coming to visit you in Monmouth and I genuinely could not have asked for nicer in-laws…and that assertion has nothing to do with Jennie‘s peerless Mushroom dolce latt&#233 or Alan‘s collection of fine wines! Seriously, I would like to thank you both for permitting me to marry your beautiful daughter. I love Olivia with all of my heart and will do everything I can to make her happy.

Mum &amp Dad – thank you for your unflinching love, support and guidance over years and specifically for your endurance throughout my “Kevin the Teenager” phase which some, not least Olivia, would argue I still frequent from time to time!

Both – we can never thank you enough for the very generous help and tremendous love and support you have always afforded us, but particularly over the last 12 months. Olivia and I haven't just gained a husband or a wife today, but also an extended family. It's a clich&#233 but words are not enough. Neither are flowers, but please accept these as a tokens of our appreciation.

Next on my list of thank-you's is you lot out there in the cheaper seats! Thank you all so much for attending and sharing this special day with us. A great many of you have taken days off work and travelled long distances to be here and we really appreciate that. I can honestly say it wouldn't have been the same without you all here…it would have been a heck of a lot cheaper, but that's not the point! It's been an amazing day and having you all here has helped to make this one of the most memorable and happiest of my life, probably second only the Saturday in early April when me and the lads dressed up as Scousers in Dusseldorf on my stag do! Now that really was a great day! Seriously, thanks to you all once more – I really hope the day is enjoyable for you as it is special to us.

We have been planning this wedding for some months now, although it seems like a lifetime. I say &quotwe&quot, in reality Olivia did much, if not all, of the work. My only job was to sort out the weather…and I couldn‘t even get that right!. Again, Alan has already mentioned this, but I'd like to thank Olivia – my best friend and now wife – specifically, for getting everything sorted. More generally, I'd also like to thank her for finally going out with me in the first place all those years ago and then agreeing to marry me last June!

As many of you will already be aware Olivia is beautiful, intelligent, independent, funny, supportive, compassionate…I could go on but I can't read her writing! Seriously, Olivia, I love you to bits, am proud to now call you my wife and look forward to many, many more years of happiness together.

I'd now like to propose a toast to the bridesmaids – all three of whom, I'm sure you'll agree, look absolutely radiant today and did a sterling job looking after Olivia prior to the ceremony…especially as we all know how high-maintenance she can be! So please, charge and raise your glasses…To the Bridesmaids!

Right, that's enough from me, I'd like to finish by thanking my Best Man for calming, or at least attempting to calm, my nerves in the run-up to today. Thanks Rob! It now gives me very great pleasure to hand over to my aforementioned little brother…and despite his height and seemingly ever-expanding waistline he always will be little to me! Now, for those who aren't aware, Rob has an exam at 9am tomorrow morning, so please go easy on him if his speech is a little under prepared as he's obviously been revising very hard instead…oh, and if anyone has even a passing knowledge of Social &amp Political History of Fascism in Europe between 1890 and 1945 then please can they see him afterwards as he‘ll more than likely need all the help he can get!

Robert!