Speech by Richard Hawkins

Speech Type: Groom
Speech Creator: Richard Hawkins
Speech Date: 21/07/2011 10:25:27

Thank you Pete for your kind words & Speech… Very well delivered…

I've got a sneaky suspicion you've done this before!

My wife and I.… would like to say a big thank you to everyone here today. I know that this is meant to be our day, but of course it wouldn't be as special a day if it wasn't for all our friends and family being here with us.

So once again a big thank you to you all and thank you so much for all the wonderful cards and gifts. 

My speech today is like a mini skirt….

Long enough to cover the essentials….

Yet short enough to hold your attention!

I like to start off by thanking our parents. To mine I would like to say thank you for their love & support bringing me up and giving me the foundations, values and the opportunities that I have had to be the person I am today.

I know it is hard to believe but, I had my moments growing up and they were always there for me when I have needed guidance, help or maybe just a clip round the ear to see me right and I hope they are as proud of me as I am of them.

<HAND FLOWERS TO MUM>

Sorry Dad… all you get is a handshake.

Pete & Sue… you've done an excellent job raising such a wonderful caring daughter, provided her with so much and love and support over the years. The only thing you missed was some cooking lessons. 

I would like to thank you for welcoming me into your family and making it very easy for me to fit in. I hope I can be everything you want from a son-in-law and more.

<HAND FLOWERS TO SUE>

I would also like to extend this thank you to Claire, Hayley, Hannah, Kris, Paul, Simon, as well as the rest of the family.

<PAUSE>

Its been an amazing day and anyone who has got married will know how much time, effort and work is involved in the preparation.

Like a lot of men I did not foresee this!

But thankfully we had a lot of wonderful people on hand to help.

<PAUSE>

Apart from my wife, there are 4 other beautiful ladies here today… our bridesmaids… Claire, Hayley, Hannah and Sarah… You all look stunning.  I would like to thank-you for your help and for being there for my new wife. I know how much support you have all given Kirsty up to and including this day. So, please can everyone stand and join me in a toast to the bridesmaids. 

<<TOAST>>    WAIT TO STAND      <<PICK UP GLASS>>

“To the Bridesmaids”

Hannah – Kirsty wanted me to thank you deeply for all your love and support. You were the best maid of honor any bride could wish for and she is truly lucky to have you as a twin sister. She loves you so much.

To my Ushers… Matthew, Duncan and Chris… you've done an excellent job helping Kirsty and I today as well as all your help during the build up. So cheers guys.

One very important job today was getting the rings to the alter, which our man Zak did with excellent precision and to thank him we have a little present for him.

Pete & Sue – We are truly grateful for all the help and support you have given us over the last few months. The run up to today was a hectic time, however, you where always there when we needed you. You gave advice, supported us, and as well as many other things. Thank you for such a beautiful and memorable day.

Claire – You did a fantastic job with all the stationary, as many people would agree. You have also help enormously with so many other wedding preparations. Thank you.

Kirsty's Aunt-Cathy kindly agreed to conduct our ceremony, making the day even extra special for us. She also gave some great advice, ideas and assistance in helping us write our vowels and choosing our readings, all at the same time as when she was trying to plan a family wedding of her own. 

This leads me onto Cathy's partner in crime, Uncle Barry, who kindly agreed to be our photographer today. For all those who don't know Barry, he had a long successful career at the Press Association, rubbing shoulders with royalty, celebrities and politicians, with many of his photos featuring in national and local newspapers. He has also won photographer of the year twice and if you look at the quality of his talent and work it's not surprising why. 

We are very honored and thankful to you both, and as a small token of our love and appreciation we have got you a small gift.

We had 2 readings during our ceremony read by Big Nan and Annie. It was great to have, 2 people very close to our hearts, being part of our special day. They did an excellent job and we very much appreciate it. It's not easy getting up and speaking to an audience… I should know speaking to you now.

Thank you so much to you both.

We had some additional helpers in preparing for today, Joan, Paul, Lee & Kim, so a big thanks to them.

I want to thank all the guys who came out for my stag do's, especially the ones which came over to Las Vegas. It was a long way, but hopefully all the guys would agree it was well worth it. I'm sure Kirsty would also like to thank them for bringing me back home in one piece.

To my best man Jim. I personally, would like to thank you for agreeing to be my best man, I couldn't have asked more from you. I've known you for a long time now and we've shared many experiences growing up together. Whether it was as computer geeks, punk rockers, traveler's or just as a couple of all right guys. It's defiantly only right you should be here now for another new experience.

Finally that leads me on to the star of today…

<FACE KIRSTY> 

…my beautiful new wife Kirsty – I can't even begin to tell you how absolutely stunning you look today. When I saw you coming up the isle it remind me of the first time I laid eyes on you and thought the exact same thing… “WOW”!

Kirsty, I love you in so many ways and for so many reasons, but mostly because you're my very best friend, my soul mate, and the person that completes me. You're the most caring, thoughtful and kindest person I know. I love you so much. Thank you for marrying me and making me the happiest man alive and for loving me as much as I love you.

You've put your heart and soul into making this day perfect… and it is.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please be upstanding, for the most important toast I'm ever likely to make,

<PICK UP GLASS>                        <WAIT FOR PEOPLE TO STAND> 

TO MY WIFE, MY BRIDE, TO KIRSTY. 

Well that's enough from me I would like to thank you all once again and hope you have a great evening It now gives me great pleasure… I think… to hand over to Jim.