Wednesday, June 29, 2011

My Wedding Toast


I invite you to read my wedding toast:

Photo by Bruce Barone.




I AM BLESSED.

I AM HONORED.

I AM THANKFUL.

I AM THANKFUL FOR ALL THAT BETSY AND JOHN DID TO MAKE TODAY’S WEDDING CELEBRATION SPECIAL AND MEMORABLE.

I AM HONORED TO SEE SO MANY FRIENDS AND FAMILY HERE TODAY CELEBRATING DANIELLE’S SPECIAL DAY.

AND I WISH US ALL TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO ARE HERE  ONLY IN SPIRIT; THOSE WHO LIVE IN OUR HEARTS AND SOULS, OUR MEMORIES……MIKE’S DEAR UNCLE RAINY…BETSY’S LOVING FATHER TOM…AND MY DAD, FRED, WHO TAUGHT ME ALMOST ALL I KNOW ABOUT LOVE.

LOVE.  I AM BLESSED.

I AM BLESSED THAT DANIELLE IS MY DAUGHTER.

I AM BLESSED THAT MIKE IS IN HER LIFE AND I AM BLESSED AND THANKFUL AND HONORED TO NOW CALL HIM SON.

DANIELLE. MIKE.

A FEW WORDS FOR YOU. TO LOVE EACH OTHER IS ITS OWN REWARD. SAY EACH OTHERS NAMES ALOUD OFTEN. DANIELLE. MIKE. ACT KINDLY AND COMPASSIONATELY TOWARD EACH OTHER AND YOU WILL ALWAYS BE ENRICHED. EXPRESS LOVE IN YOUR VOICE AND IN YOUR ABILITY TO LISTEN. CHERISH THE SMALL DAILY RITUALS THAT REINFORCE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE LOVED. AND KNOW THAT THE PLEASURE OF LOVE IS IN LOVING.

DANIELLE. MIKE. WE ARE ALL BLESSED BY YOUR MARRIAGE. WE ARE ALL THANKFUL TO BE ENRICHED BY YOUR LOVE. WE ARE ALL HONORED TO BE ONE FAMILY.

DANIELLE. MIKE. I LOVE YOU. GOD BLESS YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS.

I ASK YOU ALL TO JOIN ME IN WISHING DANIELLE AND MIKE A LONG, LOVING AND HAPPY LIFE TOGETHER.

Danielle and Mike. The Introduction. Photo by Bruce Barone.

The wedding photographer was the amazing,
incomparable, friendly, untiring, creative
Niki Rossi.

~~~

5 comments:

  1. Superlatively judged for permeating the principle's minds; I know you don't want such "grading" remarks and that they are almost offensive. But one isn't there, one is reading this after the occasion and more as a testament than as a strand of the experience. I've been married; we did not hear this graciousness. Best wishes.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Laurent, Thank You. There is a video online of me reading it, but it seems to be missing the last 20 seconds or so. What was moving, for me, and others, was when I saw the tears in Danielle's and Mike's eyes and then when people came up to me afterwards with tears in their eyes; for both the words and how I reminded them of my dad, who was dearly beloved by all (He passed away unexpectedly in the hospital a few years ago recovering from knee surgery.)

    Torrie, Thank You!

    ReplyDelete
  3. all of my best
    to them both.

    xo
    erin

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is super sweet, Bruce. I'm sure it made Danielle's heart sing! Best wishes to them!

    ReplyDelete

An Anniversary

  Valentine's Day is around the corner and I like to share with you a love story. Fourteen years ago on February 9, Susan and I met at t...