The Groom's speech
Good afternoon, and welcome to our wedding reception here at the Ty Mawr.
Thankyou all for coming, and I’d especially like to thank Stephen Wigley the minister for pronouncing us “husband and wife” – always handy to know what one’s titles are I think !! Where I’ve lost my bachelor’s degree … Jo’s gained her ‘master’ ;o)
And I’d like to extend my thanks to the bridesmaids, to Jo’s best friend, Rachel, Beth and Carys, Jo’s nieces, and Moli, the daughter of Mike, whose role, performed admirably, was Best Man. Mike has known me since the early 70s when we used to live in Miskin. And a thank you to Jo’s sister Sue and my brother Nigel for witnessing the wedding signatures, and thus making it all legal ! Also the ushers, young and not-so-young : Padi, Asher, Peter, Danny, and Andy and Alun. The photography was brought to you today by Kevin from the walking group, and by each and every one of you courtesy of the throwaway cameras on the tables – please use them on each other and not just us !
Also, our gratitude to Anne and Arthur and Clare for providing the in-flight entertainment, Anne singing ‘All Love Can Be’ from the film, A BEAUTIFUL MIND, and Arthur & Clare performing ‘Here Comes the Sun’, which, Jo and I agree, really has pushed back the long cold lonely winter.
And the wedding cake, defended by Han and Leia, was made by Rachel (upstairs) … who also helped us re-tile the bathroom recently. I have been assured that the icing is icing and not tile grouting…. :o)
Now, the tables. As some – all ? – of you know, I’m a bit of a STAR WARS fan. And as you can see, all the tables have been named after STAR WARS organisations and worlds. So, now for some audience participation ! Can you please call out or cheer or groan or something when I name your table?
The Top Table is, of course, the SKYWALKER table… yay!
We have a Royalty table here on the right I believe….?
And a Jedi Table…?
Upstairs – in the trees – we have the Ewoks of Endor…?
Those pesky Rebels are hiding somewhere…?
And the conquering Imperials are…?
The droids and robots are clanking about…?
Bounty hunters are collecting their bounty on which table…?
Smugglers are smuggling themselves where…?
Spacepilots are in orbit where…?
The tall furry Wookiees of Kashyyyk…?
And those powerful Sith are hiding near the back…?
Thankyou !
The duck placenames are from Jo. Apparently, many years ago, an ocean-going shipping container fell into the sea, and broke open spilling lots of rubber ducks into the water. Some time later, these started washing ashore in Cornwall and elsewhere, and once Jo heard about this … she fell in love with ducks !
The wedding favour gifts on the tables hold a lightsabre ball-bearing game, and some sweets that you may have seen back in the 70s and 80s – no, they’re not THAT old !!
Joanne and I met at a dinner party blind date ! My friends from the walking group, Clare and Arthur, spoke to their friends Anne and Mike – Anne & Arthur being the singers earlier today – and got together in the summer of 2004 to arrange for us singles to meet over dinner on the 18th of september. There were two good signs that night : Anne and Mike asked me if I preferred leg or breast … from the roast chicken ! I’ve never really been a leg man. And Jo threw my arm around her when she was trying to describe a set of ceramic hugging figures ! Our first date, the following week, found us walking Penarth pier talking about families and children and the next date saw me kiss her under moonlight.
Within three months we figured that this was it, and we wanted to settle down together :o)
On the 18th of every month we try and celebrate with a meal or something, and on the 18th of march 2005, 6 months after meeting Jo, in front of Anne and Mike and Clare and Arthur, I proposed. Err, yes, she accepted !!
And her life-size 3D cardboard Artoo-Detoo, permanently borrowed from the bookshop Waterstones, was brought to my house, and I tell you, it’s FAR cooler than an engagement ring !! Unfortunately, I’ve inherited many of her rubber ducks too.
There’s something to be said for being single, to be independent, your own boss, and to do things at your own pace. But then you’re missing out on the sharing of experiences, the discussing and planning of ideas, the humour and those ‘silly moments’, the embraces, the support when you’re feeling down. So I am so glad that Jo not only accepted my proposal of engagement, but that she is here, beside me, on my wedding day.
As a surprise to Jo, I have arranged for a STAR to be named. In the constellation of Orion, near the sword tip, there is now a star called ‘Nathaniel and Joanne 28-04-2006’. Since Orion is a constellation visible from both hemispheres, it can be seen by our respective families in New Zealand too !
Jo & I have some “thankyou” gifts for the bridesmaids, ushers, and bestman, so, for fear of making this look like a school prize-giving, we have something for Rachel, Beth, Carys, Moli, Padi, Asher, Peter, Alun, Andy, Kevin and Mike.
And I leave you with this sage thought : a man who gives in when he is wrong, is a wise man. A man who gives in when he is right … is married !
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