I thought I’d quickly jot my father-of-the-bride wedding speech while I still have it in mind and also through the prompt from a blog reader, Caree Risover. The wedding was at our church in Dunstable and the reception venue was Tilsworth, in rural Bedfordshire; a “stretch tent” had been hired for this part of the proceedings alongside the village hall. It was an open-sided tent which made things interesting on such a breezy day!
“I have spoken in some unusual places over time. A month ago I was speaking in a prison, though you’ll be pleased to know I wasn’t there as an inmate. Until today I’ve never spoken in a wind tunnel!
I would like to say a few words of thanks to some folk, although I know some more thank-you’s Are to come later. Firstly I’d like to say thank you to the beautiful bridesmaids – Annie, Cesca, Susie and to the two lovely Hannah’s.
I would also like to say thank you to David as we welcome him into our family, just as he and his parents Jamie and Magdaleen have welcomed Becky into their family. It has been lovely getting to know the Shotter family over the last couple of years.
Thank you to everyone here for joining us on this special occasion and also to the countless number of folk – you know who you are – you have helped in some way to make this day run so well. I have been struck by the many people who have willingly offered and stepped forward without any prompting or being coerced in anyway.
And thank you to David for allowing me to give Becky away in your direction! Naturally there’s a few things you need to know about your new wife. Becky knows that I have been collecting stories all her life for such and occasion and I can share a couple now. Becky is already squirming!
With her Nana, when Becky was a toddler, they were out walking around our neighbourhood and they saw a nice sports car up for sale outside a garage.
“I bet Daddy would like a car like that” says my mother.
”Yes let’s get it for him”
”But it costs a lot of money”
”I have some pocket money at home, let’s go and get it!” Says Becky in such a cheerful way.
And so you can see Becky was very generous from an early age. And still on the theme of cars, last Christmas I offered a quick lesson in changing a car tyre to both Becky and her sister, Hannah. Sooner for later we all need to know how to do this. Hannah was happy to have the tuition but Becky found something more interesting to do. Roll forwards a few months and I get a phone call one evening. You guessed it, Becky and David were out in the little car they had bought together and they had a flat tyre. I then had to talk them through changing the wheel over the phone.
Becky, have you had a problem with your electric window? (Handing the microphone to Becky) That’s right and how did you solve this problem after you were going to take your car to have it repaired? Yes that’s right, you hadn’t pressed the right button!
Becky has always had a loving relationship with her sister Hannah. As a way of expressing that love she once talked Hannah into walking back from town facing backwards and all kinds of other things. When they were younger they used to chase each other around the house, poking each other and so on. A defence was to grab a leg and hold it up. Becky one day grabbed one of Hannah’s legs and then the other, she was then so surprised when Hannah fell over!
Becky knows I could go on all day with these little stories but instead I’d now like to give a few words of advice to David and Becky. It is my prerogative to do so. These words of advice are:
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice from people. There are well over a hundred people here to start off with!
- Accept offers of help, we have already talked about the car tyre
- Keep short accounts. “Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath” – this is good advice. When Rachel and I were newly married I remember we were discussing something. We couldn’t settle our different points of view. We continued discussing this as we brushed our teeth and went to bed, so we got up, got dressed and came downstairs to settle it. It worked.
- Remember to say “I love you” everyday.
- Pray with each other every day
David you have gained a wife who is delightfully scatty and dippy at times but always loving, kind, faithful and funny. It has been a pleasure seeing your love for each other grow over the last couple of years.
I would now like to propose a toast……
To David and Becky.
Finally, as I was looking up what the father-of-the-bride speech should cover, I read that it is really the warmup act for the others to follow. So without further ado, I would like to handover to Eddie, from South Africa, to say a few words”.