@dougbIf it's any help, here's my speech notes for my daughter's wedding. I went off-script quite often and apparently that stuff was hilarious but I can't remember any of it
Drinking game. Everyone drinks whenever i weep or say something that my daughters tell me is rude or inappropriate.
See you all in horizontal mode.
Thanks to Steve's family who have travelled far to come here and my side of the family for making the trek from the other side of the pond. It's so lovely of you to have made this journey to be with us
There is something truly magnificent about having daughters. I thoroughly recommend the notion.
I'm not going to be able to direct these emotional statements to Catherine , we'd both be blubbering messes I'm sure. I think I've already let her know in our many hours of talking together.
I'm here with all sorts of hats on. I'm proud to be Catherine 's dad.
I'm proud to be gaining a son. that hat is a new one.
I'm also completely awed by working with and for Catherine . At this time in my life I'm overjoyed with being part of her vision.
Remember how Catherine has navigated her employment to get where she is
Children rely on you to steer them through but there comes that magical moment when they take the wheel themselves and go off on their own in directions you would never have chosen.
Know that all of you, each and every one of you is welcome here. There's a lot of work and preparing that goes into a wedding and these two have done their very best to make it fun for you all to share this special day.
Be careful with future kids. But have fun with them too. See if you can convince them to believe, into their teens that marrows can talk.
Sharing their joys and their sadnesses is exactly what we are designed to do for our happiness.
I don't believe in the stereotype of the dad who threatens potential boyfriends and won't consider his daughter able to date.
I think that denies that daughters are able to make their own choices. It denies that she is better positioned to make that choice.
With Steve, that choice was made a long time ago. They say a woman's job is to get a man to chase her until she allows him to believe he's caught her.
Whatever, i couldn't be happier that Catherine and Steve have made this commitment.
Catherine made it clear that she expected Steve to get my ok before she'd say yes. So I was not as surprised as I possibly could have been when Steve turned up in my doorstep to do me the great honour of asking my permission.
It's a daft traditio
This is supposed be a speech about the young couple learning to accommodate each other. But these two have already been there done that. They've known each other for so long that we already are refer to them with a single name: Catherine andsteve (or steveandCatherine if your on his side of the equation lol)
But getting married DOES make a difference.
It s a worthy change to make and one that requires a lot of thought and consideration.
I truly believe these two have made that consideration and are ready for this new style of living together.
Getting married means making a promise to each other and also in front of a bunch of witnesses who will not only stand up FOR you when you need anything but will stand up TO you when you waver in your promise.
I'm certainly not going to expect you to take everything I say as any sort of authority.
There's a bunch of simple saying that I could pick to offer advice.
What someone else thinks is none of your business.
Never go to sleep still angry at each other
Never pass up the opportunity to have a pee.
but I just thought I'd say this...
YOU are responsible for YOUR happiness.
That means if you are unhappy then it's up to you to make the changes.
But more than that, it gives you the permission to recognize that no one else is responsible for your happiness either.
Now, that could mean that you as an individual could take that responsibility or -as I fervently hope- as a couple you'll face the responsibility together.
Your partner will be there to help you steer through life's obstacles. But even more importantly your partner will be there to share in the joys. You'll realise just how much more enjoyable life is when you have someone else who can see the things that make you happy.