Good evening everyone. I’m Patricia, Emma’s mother, and I must say, looking at my beautiful daughter today brings tears to my eyes – though I promised myself I wouldn’t cry until at least the third sentence of this speech!
Emma, seeing you in your wedding dress today brought me right back to when you were five, parading around the house in my old wedding dress and high heels, both about ten sizes too big. You kept tripping over the hem, but you’d just get right back up, straighten your plastic tiara, and declare, ‘I’m practicing for my real wedding, Mommy!’ Well, sweetheart, your ‘real wedding’ is even more magical than you imagined – and these shoes actually fit!
To those who know Emma, you’ll understand me when I say she’s always been wonderfully determined. When she was eight, she decided to start a neighborhood pet-sitting business. The fact that she was terrified of dogs didn’t stop her – she just specialized in goldfish! That same determination led her to become the amazing woman she is today, and ultimately, to finding Tom.
Tom, I remember the first time Emma mentioned you. She came home from work, dropped onto our couch, and said, ‘Mom, I met someone who’s even more obsessed with Harry Potter than I am.’ Given that Emma once wrote a 15-page essay arguing why Hufflepuff is the superior house, I knew this had to be serious!
But what truly won me over, Tom, wasn’t your shared love of wizarding worlds – it was how you look at my daughter when you think no one’s watching. It’s the way you support her dreams, even the crazy ones like that time she decided to learn juggling (which lasted exactly two days). You don’t just love Emma; you cherish her, and as a mother, that’s all I could ever want for my daughter.
Emma, my darling girl, watching you grow has been the greatest joy of my life. From the little girl who insisted on wearing mismatched socks because ‘life’s too short for matching,’ to the incredible woman standing here today – you’ve made me proud in more ways than I can count. Your father, looking down on us today, would be bursting with pride. I know he’s here in spirit, probably planning to tell Tom all about your teenage goth phase!
To Robert and Mary, Tom’s parents – thank you for raising such a wonderful man. Our families may have different opinions about whether pineapple belongs on pizza, but we’re united in our love for these two amazing people.
Tom, welcome to our family, though if I’m honest, you became family long ago – probably around the time you helped me set up my Netflix account and didn’t laugh (too much) at my technology challenges. You’re the son I never had, and I couldn’t be happier that Emma found you.
Could everyone please raise their glasses? To Emma and Tom – may your love story continue to be as beautiful as it is today. May you always face life’s adventures together, support each other’s dreams (even the questionable ones), and never lose that special spark that makes you both light up when you’re together.
And remember, in the words of your favorite wizard: ‘Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light.’ Though in your case, Tom, that’s a literal reminder to stop leaving all the lights on in the house!
To my beautiful daughter and my wonderful new son – may your love grow stronger with each passing day, and may you always remember that my door (and my refrigerator) is always open. To the happy couple!