Wedding Speech

This quick post is, as the title suggests, my wedding speech. I didn’t specifically mention my blog in my speech but made a reference to it (linked here). Since my blog had already made into both my dad’s and brother’s speeches though, there was really no need. Since it’s long I’ve used the more feature which should allow you to follow the link to read the rest of the speech. Enjoy or ignore. If you attended the wedding, then relive that great moment all over again.
UPDATE: Not sure how to change it, but the better link of those two is the second. The first will load a new page to show the speech, the second will open it instantly and keep you on this page.

Thank Keith for toast to us.

Thank Keith and Alison for Kate.

Thank my parents.

I wrote in February this year:
Kate leaves for India in August or September, where she will spend up to one year. We will need to know by then where we stand as a couple.

We were engaged September 1, and Kate didn’t go to India.

For months, and it’s only been 3 months since I asked Kate to marry me – so since that time, I’ve thought about this speech: What I wanted to say; how I would say it; the feelings I wanted to convey; the importance of the occasion. Months ago I planned to write this speech in a way that would amaze you all with tales of our true love – crafted to mesmerising perfection. But as any of you who know me will have already guessed, I began to write this speech less than 24 hours ago, and that was long-term forward planning.

So what does a wedding speech entail? There are some specific things to do, which I’ll take care of at the end, but I’d like to start by telling a little bit about how we met. Not how we first met, which was probably in 1983 when I was five and Kate was three years old, but how we came to know each other more recently before becoming a couple.

This requires a little context. In 1999 I went off to the United States as a 20-year-old wayward son and, in the last six months of three-and-a-half years there started to think seriously about my direction. Thanks to my family’s Christian influence in my life there were two things I always knew, and had always been certain of; one was that at some point I was going to make a clear decision about whether or not I would follow Jesus. I always knew what I would choose – to believe Jesus is my Lord, He died so that I could live, and He lives now – and not only to believe it, but also to acknowledge that freedom in the way I live my life. I made that choice in October 2002, five weeks before returning to Australia. If that had not happened, I wouldn’t be standing here today, married to this beautiful woman.

The second thing I always knew, and that was related to the first, was that whoever I married would also have to be a Christian.

The first memory of affection I had towards Kate was noticing her enthusiasm for Christ. This was shown to me, and everyone else at Ashgrove every time Kate was worship leading. I was always impressed. But this was all I knew of Kate. We weren’t friends and rarely, if ever, interacted. That was until a church camp in 2004. I was a group leader for the study sessions, and Kate was placed in my group. Feeling still a relatively new Christian I was terrified at the thought of having Kate edited, this Christian dynamo, critiquing my leadership skills and theological knowledge. The outcome was positive, since we came to know each other a little better and actually spoke to each other.

About 6 weeks after that camp, Midway through second semester last year, Kate asked me how things were going and I told her the truth. We found we were both in a perilous situation of imminent academic failure, and so Kate suggested we study together. Sure, her underlying intention may have been that we study each other, and trust me, I have no complaints there, but we did actually get work done. Every single day I was at Kate’s house, and it became obvious why I was happy to spend so much time there. But I had decided that, while I liked Kate, I couldn’t afford to be further distracted, so I would say and do nothing until the end of semester. Roxanne, who read the bible passage today, was not so patient. She informed me of a deadline Kate had made for me that was to pass at midnight.

After finishing work at midnight I sent a text message to Kate asking if I could have an extension on my deadline, noting extenuating circumstances. This was her reply the next morning:

After careful consideration of your application & due to the surrounding circumstances I have decided to grant you an extension. The extension however is not indefinite & I will expect you to meet deadline as soon as circumstances allow ;-)

After exams had finished I asked Kate out 20 days later. One year and 23 days later, we’re married. So what is it about Kate?

I love you for the connections we have emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. Some of the things I love the most about you are those that make you my best friend. I love that Kate has so many number one favourite things it’s hard to keep track of them all. Whether it’s a song, movie, food, or simply an idea, Kate is excited. I love that she gets excited about popcorn. Honestly, who gets excited about popcorn?

I think Kate is hilarious, and she’ll be the first to tell me she’s the funniest person I know.

- I love how when you wants to get something done your slightly obsessive compulsive organisational skills make you a disciplined and hard worker.
You have more than competently led enough beach missions and camps to know having a structure in place will help things to run smoothly. I completely accept that where it may not have been before, my life WILL be organised for the better.

- I love and respect your passion for social justice, women’s rights and all the hard work you have put into the pursuit of a career where you can help other people. I love the passion that permeates every aspect of Kate’s life.

I’ve left the following reason I love Kate until last because it is the most important to me. It is what makes knowing and being with her so important to me.

I love you for your godly character. For the few of you who don’t know Kate very well, she wears her heart on her sleeve – and she is passionate about Christ and His promise of eternal life for any person willing to accept it. Specifically it is this passion that drew me to her initially, is what draws me to her presently, and is what I looked forward to continually when I promised forever.

I said I would get to the official part of my speech at the end, and that is where I am. If you could all raise your glasses, I’d like to propose a toast to the bridesmaid, Julien Hasney.

To Julien, Kate’s bridesmaid and sister – and now my sister – you looked stunning and you did a great job today. Thanks for being with Kate and helping not just with the ceremony, but the behind the scenes support you’ve provided for her as well.
To Julien.