March 30, 2019

Good evening everyone. Welcome!

My name is Rosie, and I am the mother of the bride.

I would like to thank you for joining us today,

Especially those who have traveled a long way.

We could not be more honored by your presence here

 To celebrate the marriage of my daughter Sabine

 And her other half Sean.

There is a reason I am giving this speech today

And that is because Sabine always speaks highly of me.

I figure her wedding day is the perfect occasion

Not only to return the favor,

But also to shine a light on my daughter,

And express my pride and my love for the new couple.

My speech is like a mini skirt,

Long enough to cover the essentials,

And short enough to hold your attention.

Sabine, I’m going to take this opportunity

To apologize for one thing that I did to you

 While you were growing up.

I am sorry for making you go to bed

Every night at 8:30 from preschool

Until you graduated high school,

As it may have helped make you

 Who you are today.

Sabine is the sunshine to all the people who know her

And truly, the most beautiful gift

And blessing I have ever been given.

It is with magnificent love and delight

That I stand here today

To wish my beautiful daughter,

A blessed life, full of happiness and joy.

As a child Sabine surrounded herself with a lot of friends.

Some of whom are here today.

She was always happy,

Always finding good in all human beings

Whether they are classmates, neighbors,

Acquaintances and friends,

Everyone she meets is touched by her kindness.

Sabine, as a little girl,

I remember how talkative you were in kindergarten

To the point that Sister Isabel who was the principal

Of Corpus Christie Catholic School,

Rewarded you for being

The most talkative student in the classroom.

She gave you a card and

On the cover page was a parrot.

If you knew how to read between the lines,

She meant to say you talked like a parrot.

It’s amazing how you have grown

From a talkative, pretty little girl

Into a beautiful, intelligent, caring,

Respectful and hardworking young woman.

I am incredibly lucky to have you

As a daughter as well as a friend

Who I value and treasure with all my heart.

I understand that I can no longer hold your hand

 To walk you to class every morning,

But I will always hold you onto my heart.

I would like to say a few words to Sean’s parents

Cathy and Mitchell Stallings

For doing such a great job

 Raising such a wonderful son.

I couldn’t wish for a better man

 For Sabine than Sean.

I would also like to take a moment

To welcome Sean into the family

And thank him for the joy and happiness

He brings my daughter.

I was delighted when Sabine met Sean

And brought him home for the first time.

Sean, you may have not married

The woman you want to live with.

However, you have married the woman

 You cannot live without.

Now that the two of you become one

And are heading on an amazing journey together,

 I hope the love you share will make you feel

Cherished but not spoiled,

 Directed but not controlled,

Wanted but not possessed.

The book of marriage has many chapters.

Even though some of them are difficult,

They can be easy to understand 

It depends on how you read them.

As you start reading the first chapter from this day forward,

Remember that saying,

“There is no such thing as a perfect marriage”.

Nevertheless, when you make mistakes,

Always take steps to correct them.

My greatest advices to you are that,

When times get tough, remember your wedding day.

Remember the promises you made

And the vows you exchanged.

Use the light you have found in each other

To brighten your love and bring it fresh charm.

A marriage is like a partnership

Whose purpose is the management of a shared life.

You are partners, not adversaries in a contest.

You will either win together or you will lose together.

Treat your partner as you would like to be treated.

Go out of your way to make your partner feel unique.

Be completely transparent with each other.

Be your partner’s mentor and learn from each other.

Consider your partner’s feelings when making big decisions.

And more importantly, communicate with your partner

Because poor communication is the number one weakness

 Of even the most successful marriage.

 Success in marriage is not only finding the right person,

It is being the right person.

Sabine and Sean

You have my support and love for you as a couple,

And as a family.

With all my heart I congratulate the commitment

 You have made to each other today.

May you both have a long, happy, healthy life,

And a love that grows stronger

With each passing day!

Rosie Bourget