Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends, good evening. First of all let me welcome all the guests and say thank you to all of you for being with us here today. You make the atmosphere of this wedding reception so joyous and festive. We are grateful to share this day with family members and relatives from both sides. I would especially like to welcome those who traveled a long way to come here. Aunt (name) was stuck in an airport for over twelve hours just to be here today.

To be honest with you, throughout the day I have been looking at my daughter in the wedding gown, so elegant, solemn and glowing with happiness – like a gentle white rose on a spring morning – and I still couldn’t believe my eyes. It seems to me that just yesterday (name of wife) were standing at the altar exchanging our own vows and a kiss. Now the finest product of our marriage, our daughter, that adorable brown-eyed baby, has embarked on her own family.

While writing this speech my mind was flush with a thousand and one memories of (bride). Some of you know (bride) as a talented (enter bride’s job) nurse; for others she is an industrious cook; many of us know her as a loyal friend. For me, she will be always be daddy’s little girl with long blonde locks. She will always be the little girl staring at me with those giant brown eyes as wide as a pumpkin. One of my fondest memories was the day she was born; a dreary February morning where grey turns to grey. Despite the weather, it was a day that felt like the first day of spring. I remember her trudging off to school and returning with her books filled with sketches of a happy family in a happy home. She always wanted a lovely family of her own and now she is well on her way. Some things never change.

As she would lay her head to rest, she would force me to read her favorite fairy tales over and over again. She never tired of guessing about what her Prince Charming would look like and how he would warmly cuddle her in the night. Her own fairy tale is coming true today.

(Groom) is the type of man that makes it possible to live happily ever after. I am thrilled for (bride) and (groom), and I am sure they are a exquisite match, for they fit each other as two pieces of a puzzle. I won’t bore the newlyweds with lengthy pieces of advice regarding marriage – always remember that your marital bliss rests in your hands and your hands only. I am sure that you will build a cozy home that will serve as a safe harbor in the storms of life.

I can only wish you love and tolerance. As one wise man once said, “a successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.” Finally, I will share with you a lyric that guided me through my marriage. It is taken from our youth in the 1970′s. John Lennon sang: “Love is knowing, We can be. Love is free, free is love, Love is living, living love, Love is needing to be loved.” Please join me in a toast to the (bride) and (the groom), and their everlasting love.