Weddingbee Blog

After being married for over two years, looking back at our wedding day, I have to say that apart from the “I dos,” my favorite moment was when my daddy said his speech, followed by the father/daughter dance. I still  get emotional to this day when I re-read his speech. It was definitely one of the highlights of our wedding.

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After we finished our first dance, we made our way to our seats and heard a little “ching ching”. I looked around and saw my father standing up, sweating bullets and trying to keep his cool. I knew from that nervous smile of his, it was time… he was ready to give his speech.

“I want my speech to be perfect,” he had told me earlier that week. “Perfect, because you deserve no less.”

I started tearing up. Who wouldn’t after those heartfelt words?

I looked at my daddy, and instantly, all the memories of my childhood, of him and me, flashed before my eyes… and I smiled. I took a deep breath, just as he did, and tried to keep the lump in my throat under control.

And he started (originally written in French; translated by me):

Dear parents, family and friends,

I would like to thank each and every one of you for being part of this special day, Kelly and Marc-Andres’ wedding day.

Dear Kelly,
I look at you today and with my father heart, I will summarize the movie of your life:

From the day you were born I have been touched…
Touched by the memory of the first time I held you in my arms.
Touched by looking at your grow through the years. And I am so proud of the woman you’ve become.
Touched when you took my arm this afternoon and we walked down the aisle together.

And today my dear Kelly, the next scene of your movie arrives, the one about your union, your couple life. You stand beside an exceptional man that I cherish, appreciate, and love very much. I wish you both lots of love, happiness, and hope that I will be moved by becoming a grandfather one day.

Tears steaming down my face, he looked up at me and invited me to join him and dance by his side for our father/daughter dance to the song In my Daughter’s Eyes by Martina McBride. He had chosen this song carefully because he wanted words that represented “US”.

In my daughter’s eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter’s eyes

- Lyrics of In my Daughter’s Eyes by Martina McBride

I had not shed a single tear until this moment. I had found a way to keep my cool all through the ceremony and even the first dance… but this was too much. So, my father and I cried together while we danced our dance. It was a very important part of my wedding day…

We looked around and our guests circled us while shedding a tear or two. Mid-way through the song, we invited all fathers to finish the dance with their daughters… it was simply priceless. Just writing about it makes me emotional.

What was the most emotional part of your wedding day?

Up next: Boogie on down…

Images taken by Ipi-events and guests

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Now, today, I completed his story… and made him officially a grandpa.