Speech by Catherine Roper

Speech Type: Maid of honour/Best woman
Speech Creator: Catherine Roper
Speech Date: Jul 2009
Good afternoon everyone, for those of you that don't know me, I'm Catherine and I'm a friend of Gemma's from school. For those of you that do know me, please don't look so worried and stop giggling at my accent.
I remember clearly the day I first met Gemma, it was over seven years ago, at the third year school disco, I had just moved schools and country and I was still feeling shy and overwhelmed. Gemma approached me, a pretty 13 year old wearing purple eye shadow and a skirt I was instantly jealous of, and with her usual sweet and confident attitude said “Hiya, I'm Gemma, I'm in your English class, but I've never talked to you before”. She then proceeded to teach me all the word's from “Stan” by eminem, as if it was a crime I didn't know it, and introduced me to her twin brother Ross who said “oh no, your in my French class” and continued to sniff the inside of his t-shirt, of course I should have backed away then, but instead we became best friends and have been ever since.
Now Gemma has grown into an amazing woman. It is an honour to know the person she has become, and to have stood beside her today as her bridesmaid and friend. Gemma has a beautiful heart and mind and an innate sense of good and what is right. For as long as I've known her, the most important thing in her life has been her family and her friends followed closely by her love for animals, chocolate and baileys. She is a fantastic friend – loyal, patient, generous, and kind.
Gemma, you look stunning……and Stephen.… you look stunned! I'm sure you know that you are a very lucky man to have Gemma as your wife. You both look just as happy together today as you did in those first few months of your relationship when I first saw you together and you politely told me, “You're very pretty but you're nowhere near as pretty as Gemma”. On behalf of all five of the bridesmaids I would like to say that Gemma looks beautiful today and that it truly has been a special day for us all, and to thank you for making us a part of such an important day in your lives.
So here we are…Gemma and Stephen's wedding. They have made it.… over four years together and stronger every day. I know they have been through a lot together but they have defied the odds. Today is a celebration of not only where they are now, and the road ahead, but the road that has brought them here. They have built a beautiful life and home together.
I think you will all like to join me in this wish: To Gemma and Stephen Donnelly. May you live forever in love, and may love live forever in you.
To Gemma and Stephen.