Choose either wood or silver effect frame, 8" x 10"
Poems
40th Birthday
Sally, now you’ve reached the age of forty
The time has come to celebrate your life
And think of all the times both nice and naughty
As player, teacher, mother, chauffeur, wife
And looking back, your life’s been an adventure
Set to music of all kinds you will agree
From the time you put your bow to your first cello
A life in music was your destiny
Of course the high note was when you met David
The most romantic meeting of them all
Your eyes met as you played your first concerto
You knew, one day, into his arms you’d fall
What perfect melodies you played together
What harmonious arrangements, oh what joys
Then the symphony that was Sally and David
Was soon accompanied by two delightful boys
And now you contemplate your life with them and David
Your house filled to the brim with football shorts
The score arranged at such an upbeat tempo
Fortissimo family life by all reports
But now you’re starting on another movement
The baton raised, the conductor counts you in
So take a breath and gather up your courage
And let the melody of life begin
65th Birthday / Retirement
Brian it’s your special day
And this poem’s for you so we can say
How much you mean to us as a friend
May the good times flow and never end
You’ve worked so hard throughout your life
Times of plenty, times of strife
Believing only just one thing
The customer is always king
From meat to paint, from books to kitchens
Now finding solace with your chickens
At the tender age of sixty-five
You’re really only just alive
So now be sure, your life beginning
In the human race, you’re already winning
Whether you chose to work or rest
Brian Wesley you’re the best
Wedding Anniversary Speech / Poem
We’re all here on this special day
To celebrate in our own way
With thanks for all the joy and tears
For Eve & Norman’s golden years
The golden memories of when they met
So fresh and innocent and yet
They glimpsed each other across the choir
A glimpse that set their hearts on fire
Their wedding day, despite the rain
Fondest memories remain
With Eve and John arriving late
And Sid and Norman had to wait
Their perfect marriage was soon blessed
With two fine lads, two of the best
Our childhood memories will always be
Of a pretty awesome family
And now our families have grown
They’ve had adventures on their own
Exotic cruises round the Med,
We’re green with envy, it must be said
Advancing years won’t get you down
You’re so well loved all over town
So raise your glasses, here’s a toast
To the golden couple we love the most !
Wedding Poem / Father of the Bride
Watching you Sarah, on your wedding day
We let you go and you slip away
To a world of your own, where you’ll make your life
Together with Phil as his companion, his wife
Our feelings are mingled, we’re proud and we’re glad
So privileged we’ve been to be your Mum and Dad
And we’ve watched you change, soothed your bruised knees
And rescued your pride when you fell, climbing trees
And your time in the scouts, when first you met Phil
We thought this’ll suit Sarah if anything will
You camped and lit fires, burnt breakfast, tied knots
And then came home early, covered in spots
Remember the time when you dented the car?
Your plan to blame John didn’t get very far
And do you recall getting locked out at night
When you climbed on the shed and gave the neighbours a fright?
But with Phil your adventures are just at the start
And you’ve decided to marry your childhood sweetheart
May your journey together be lasting and long
May your love for each other be endless and strong
We know you’ll be happy and on this perfect day
We know what a treasure we’re giving away
And yet we’ll be here wherever you are
Our daughter Sarah, our radiant star
Engagement
To David on our special day
These words from me are meant to say
I love you and you know its true
I want to spend my life with you
That night we sheltered from the rain
I thought we’d never meet again
Our fate was sealed with that first kiss
A life of never ending bliss
And though you make my life complete
With soccer I just can’t compete
I know you’ll always want to share
Your footy triumphs and despair
I watch you playing every game
Our passion will always be the same
And beaming like the morning sun
Your smile says our match has just begun
Baby Congratulations
Welcome Kevin to our world
Your tiny little fingers curled
Around our hearts, a gift of joy
Our first grandchild, a little boy
The softest looks, those trusting eyes
Your beaming grins, your lusty cries
Now all our lives revolve around you
Sleep soundly as our arms surround you
Jane and Thomas love you so
Their privilege to watch you grow
Words alone can not express
Their strongest love and tenderness
You’ve made our family, little one
Our Kevin, precious first grandson
Speeches
Wedding
Best Man
There are apparently several important things every best man must do.
1. Sort out the Groom. That took some doing, but he made it in one piece, and still smiling! (Mention here any funny incidents that may have happened on the day, at the last minute)
2. Say Hi to the Bridesmaids. Haven’t they done a super job, looking lovely all day? Well done ladies.
3. Try not to flirt with the Bride. Well this might be difficult, but as she’s so gorgeous, I might have to admit defeat on this one.
4. Read out any apologies for absence. Sounds like a committee meeting, doesn’t it? Nevertheless there are a couple of greetings for the bride and groom, wishing them all the best( read out one or two, prepared earlier in the day)
And finally I have to make a speech. Well, I’ve started, so I’ll finish.
Firstly let me tell you all how privileged I feel to be standing here today. John and I have known each other for such a long time and I’m thrilled that he’s finally admitted that I’m the Best Man. No, seriously I was so pleased they asked me, they’re such a terrific couple, we’re all envious. They’re obviously made for each other.
My main purpose today, I suppose, is to think of something complementary to say about the groom. Well I’ll give it a try. John has gone through many evolutionary changes to become the man you see before you today. Before we begin to analyse when it all started to go wrong, let’s look at the evidence. An old English teacher once told me to always avoid using clichés, but in John’s case it’s inevitable. Take the time we went on a hike up the Pennine Way and we were starving all day. It was John who forgot the lunch. That's when I knew he was at least one sandwich short of a picnic. Then there was that famous flying incident when John’s kite got stuck in the tallest tree at Cannon Hall and he decided to climb up and fetch it . He fell from one of the branches and of course confirmed what I already knew, that he was out of his tree. I doubt if he remembers the night in Zante when he was so drunk that there was many a raised eye brow, except for John’s left one, that is, which met with an unfortunate shaving accident while John was, shall we say, asleep. But all that’s in the past. Look at him now. He’s generous, kind hearted, good natured, handsome and modest, like me. This is his finest hour without a doubt and I always suspected John was never quite complete until he met Caroline. Now he’s finished. They say marriage is the ultimate opportunity to grow up, I don’t see that happening any time soon, John and Caroline are perfect as they are. So I’ll finish with some words from an Apache Blessing,
Now you will feel no rain
For each will be a shelter for the other
Now you will feel no loneliness
For each will be a comfort to the other
Now you are two people
With only one life before you
May your journey together be a long one
Raise your glasses please to wish them a happy marriage. To: John and Caroline
Golden Wedding Anniversary
This is the text of a speech delivered by the eldest son at a Golden Wedding Anniversary party. Religion, marmalade and clocks feature as parts of the lives of the couple.
Good afternoon everybody, and welcome to this wonderful Golden Wedding celebration. As most of you know, I am Frank, Jean and Edward’s eldest son, and Edward came to me a couple of weeks ago, to ask me to make a speech. Of course I said no, it wasn’t really my sort of thing. Then he offered me fifty quid. I said “Really Dad, I’m not the sort of man who can be bought !” Then he offered me a hundred quid. (pause)…..
So, Ladies and Gentlemen, so glad you could join us on this marvellous occasion. I would like to say a few words in recognition of Jean and Ed, and their marriage, and to thank them for all their preparations for this event. In contemplating what to say, I thought I might share with you a bit of a conversation that I had with some fellow tourists while on holiday in France last summer. We were just chatting about this and that, and the conversation got round to wondering why, when writing the number seven, the French always put a little line across the middle. My new friend said, very knowledgably, “I know exactly what the reason for that is. It goes back to the days of Moses and spreading the word of God to the French”. Apparently, the French were considering the various terms and conditions of the ten commandments, and all was well, until they got to number seven, “Thou shall not commit adultery”. And they said “Right, we’ll have to put a line through that one!”(pause)
Obviously, that has no relevance whatsoever to Jean and Ed’s marriage, which has been a long, happy and faithful one….( pause)…as far as we know… (pause).
On the subject of marriage, it also struck me that Jean and Ed’s marriage has been very much like a gold watch. Valuable, reliable, and very much dependent on the constituent parts meshing together, to run smoothly, And its success also dependent on a regular wind up. Jean and Ed, it’s no wonder people get awarded a gold watch for long service. You certainly qualify.
What a record. Fifty years, it’s a long time. Your marriage deserves at least a gold star for perseverance, and that’s certainly something we can all aspire to. You truly are a gold blend of a couple.
I was also thinking, how like a jar of golden shred you are. A marmalade of a marriage, soft and sweet and smooth like the jelly, but also tangy and tantalising like the peel. Sometimes fine cut, because we all have to cut things a bit fine occasionally. Sometimes rough cut like those difficult moments. Sometimes half cut when Jean’s had one too many.
So speaking of all that marmalade, does anybody fancy a toast?
Ladies and Gentlemen, will you join me in celebrating Jean and Ed’s golden wedding? Our very own golden oldies. We all, I’m sure, wish you many more golden years. So please stand, Ladies and Gentlemen, and raise your glasses, to Jean and Ed.
Wedding Vow
I Promise to Keep You
I promise to keep you
In our own precious space
Wherever I travel
Be in the same place
I will try to protect you
From danger and harm
Keep you safe and surrounded
In my loving arms
I’ll be by your side
Through your lows and your highs
I’ll be all your rainbows
Be all your blue skies
We’ll share our safe haven
As we journey together
And enjoy all our travels
Whatever the weather
And I’ll stay beside you
From beginning to end
Your lover, companion
Supporter and friend
No matter how risky
Or steep is the climb
I’ll be here forever
Til the end of all time
