Three days to write the Toast to the Bride

[PrairieDawn]

Everything about Sister's wedding has been disorganized and late. I keep biting my tongue and doing what I can to help her and her fiance pull off a memorable event. Yesterday she called and asked me to do the Toast to the Bride. The wedding is on Saturday. I leave on Wednesday.

:jawdrop:

I'm desparately wracking my brain for some sort of theme. If I could think of a country song -- or one by Sting? -- about sisters or the stubborn, independant (but not redneck) woman she is, I think I could work with that. A poem or verse maybe?

Gawd, I have too much to do. LOL

...Pam

[Maria 05]

http://www.hitched.co.uk/speeches/samples/samplespeechhome.aspx This has Best woman speeches.
http://www.freeweddingspeech.com/index.php?detailed=11521

Sorry I cant be of more help

[Maria 05]

http://www.freeweddingspeech.com/index.php?detailed=10504&comm=Free+wedding+speech+best+speech
This could be adapted very easily

[PrairieDawn]

Thanks, Maria, I'll have a peek at those.

Ladies, if you could give me feedback on my very first, very rough darft, please do. I've only spent an hour on it, so if its really off-base, please say so. I'd rather it be right than try to work with something that doesn't fit and won't be memorable. Its posted below.

Thank you.

...Pam

[PrairieDawn]

INTRODUCTION:

Good evening family and friends, my name is Pam and I am SISTER’s sister. SISTER and GROOM, thank you for asking me to be your Maid of Honour. I am thrilled to be part of your very wedding day and to be giving this toast to the bride.

Before I do that, though, I’d like to say a special thank you to my beautiful team mates up here, A and S, the bridesmaids. Could you please stand up? Ladies, I know you’ve been a terrific support to SISTER throughout her engagement and all of the wedding planning and behalf of the rest of the family I’d like to say thank you for all that you’ve done. I’d also like to thank S – S, please stand up – she is our brother’s wife and the sister SISTER and I always hoped for. S, thank you for co-hosting SISTER’s bridal shower in your home. You are the fourth bridesmaid. Thank you.


OPENING REMARKS:

Ladies and gentlemen,

How many of you people out there
Been hurt in some kind of love affair?
And how many times did you swear
That you'd never love again?
How many lonely, sleepless nights?
How many lies, how many fights?
And why would you want to
Put yourself through all of that again?

You may not recognize what I just said, but I know SISTER does. The words were written by her first love. Gordon Matthew Sumner. Sting. The song is called “Brand New Day” and that is exactly what today is. SISTER and GROOM’s wedding is a celebration of a brand new life together. There relationship is brand new. Yesterday they were fiancées. Today they are married and committed to sharing the rest of their lives together.

So, finally, after months of planning and years of dreaming before that, a brand new day is here and it is perfect.

(Special things about the wedding day to recall)

SISTER and GROOM, I hope you are both making the memories today that you will remember forever. If not, thank goodness for video and photographs.


BODY OF TOAST:

Allow me to share more of the song.

It could happen to you,
Just like it happened to me,
There is simply no immunity
There's no guarantee.
I say love is such a force if you should find yourself in it
You need some time for reflection
You say, baby wait a minute… .

One week ago, SISTER called me on the phone. We talked about some of the final details of the wedding and then I asked her how she was. Of course she described the usual pre-wedding jitters. I think those nerves just might be worse for someone who has waited to get married. The more you know about love, relationships and commitment, the scarier marriage can be. There’s something to be said for waiting for Mr. Right, though, and I believe with all my heart that SISTER has done just that. She’s taken some time for reflection and she knows she’s found her forever love.

Few things are more beautiful than a woman in love. SISTER looks stunningly beautiful today. The truth is that SISTER is always beautiful, inside and out. Like most girly girls, she takes great pride in her appearance, making sure her clothes, hair and makeup are just right before she goes out. But that wasn’t always the case.

To look at her today, who would think that she was ever a tomboy?

SISTER was always tall and athletic. She and I are sisters and she is only two years and two weeks younger than I am, but growing up we didn’t have much in common.

She wasn’t much into dolls or tea parties.

No, she preferred riding her Green Machine, bike. roller skates, or skate board with the boys in the neighbourhood.

Today she may love the soft scent of roses, but years ago she used to inhale deeply whenever she was in a garage as if taking in a rare perfume. She loved the stink of dirt, oil and gasoline.

And while I was taking ballet classes, she was falling out of treehouses.

I’m not sure exactly when SISTER went from the scraped and bruised tomboy with short, sun-bleached hair to the beautiful woman we see here today, but some things have remained a constant with SISTER.

Her first love was Sting, as I’ve already said.

Her second love -- well, it was more of a crush -- was with a boy down the street, but I’m certain her heart beat more loudly for his motorcycle than for him. That said, as much as she always wanted a motorcycle I’m certain that SISTER would have given up that dream for a horse. SISTER’s always wanted a horse and I have the impression that GROOM likes horses, too. GROOM and SISTER share a love of all companion animals.

SISTER loves her family, too. She makes us a priority.

Since she was a youngster, SISTER has been very tolerant and open-minded. She looks for the best in everyone and the silver lining in each of life’s challenges. Despite the downs she’s had over the years, SISTER is an optimist and has only dwelled on the highs in her life. She is also very smart. I think this all means that SISTER and GROOM have a very promising life ahead of them as husband and wife. To her marriage, SISTER brings the values of learning, growing and compromising. Those of us who are married know how important those qualities are.

I’m sure these are among the things that GROOM loves about her.

Stealing from the song some more, I’ll say,

GROOM, SISTER is the crop to your rotation
She’s the sum of your equation
She’s the answer to your question
You're the pan and she’s the handle
You're the flame and she’s the candle

You’ve gotta love Sting for saying it like a poet. ;-)

I guess what I mean is SISTER and GROOM just make sense.
I’d like to propose a toast to the bride and her groom.

Stand up all you lovers in the world
Stand up and be counted every boy and every girl
Stand up all you lovers in the world
We're starting up a brand new day

To the bride and to love! Cheers.

[Maria 05]

Thats is beautiful Pam :crybaby:

[MsJessica07]

I really like it a lot...very personal and with a lot of really nice thoughts and sentiments. And I think the Sting quotes are totally appropriate, especially since she's been such a big fan for a long time.

[Renny]

I agree with Jess and Marie