Example 1: Heartfelt with a few laughs, co-hosted with the bride's family
598 words · about 5 min spoken
Good evening, everyone. I’m Glenn, Caleb’s dad. On behalf of my wife Janet and myself, I want to welcome you all and thank you for being here tonight as we get ready for the big day tomorrow.
First, a special thank you to Rich and Diane, Nora’s parents, who are co-hosting this dinner with us. We’re so grateful to have you as partners in this celebration. And to everyone who traveled—especially Nora’s Aunt Gina, who came all the way from Tampa—thank you for making the trip. I’d also like to thank the wedding party and Father Tom for getting us through the rehearsal, and for giving Caleb very clear directions to the altar. Let’s all hope he follows them.
I want to take a moment to welcome the Morettis—Rich, Diane, Nick, and Joey. After tomorrow, you’re officially family. Our spare room in Denver is yours anytime, though I can’t promise Caleb will pick you up from the airport without making at least one wrong turn.
Now, for those of you who don’t know: Caleb was a happy, chatty kid with absolutely no sense of direction. At nine, we took him to a corn maze outside Fort Collins. He disappeared for 45 minutes and came strolling out the entrance holding a hot chocolate, announcing he’d found a shortcut. We were relieved, mostly impressed, and only a little concerned that his shortcut involved a snack break.
Some things haven’t changed. Today, Caleb teaches middle school band in Denver, and he has the patience of a saint for a room full of twelve-year-olds honking on clarinets. But he still can’t get to the airport without his phone telling him every turn. So, Nora, you already know what you’ve signed up for.
The first time I met Nora was on a family camping trip at Turquoise Lake. Caleb led us on what he promised was a “short” hike, which turned into five hours. At some point, Nora calmly pulled out a paper map—yes, a real map—and got us all back to camp before dark. She never once said, “I told you so.” That’s when I knew: she’s patient, she’s kind, and she can read a map. I thought, “Keep her.”
One of my favorite memories of Caleb is from when he was sixteen and had just gotten his license. He offered to drive his grandma Pat to her church potluck, which should have been twenty minutes across town. They came back three hours later because he missed the exit and ended up halfway to Boulder. Grandma Pat didn’t mind—she wanted to see the mountains, they got milkshakes, and sang along to the oldies. She called it the best date she’d had in years, and she told that story every Thanksgiving. We lost her last spring, but I know she would have loved tonight, and she’d want me to mention the milkshake.
What I admire about Nora and Caleb is how they balance each other. Nora’s the planner and navigator. Caleb’s the one who makes every wrong turn fun. She’s the reason he’s on time; he’s the reason she takes a day off. As someone married to Janet for 31 years, I can tell you—some of our best days were the ones where we got a little lost together.
So, Nora—keep holding the map. Caleb—keep making the detours worth it. Tomorrow, just enjoy the day, both of you. And Caleb—the church is two blocks from the hotel. Turn left.
(Raise your glass) Here’s to Nora and Caleb—may your adventures always lead you home, and may your shortcuts always come with hot chocolate. Cheers!
What the writer told Toastful to get this speech
- Speaker
- Glenn, father of the groom
- Childhood
- Caleb was a happy, chatty kid with no sense of direction at all. At nine he got lost in a corn maze outside Fort Collins for 45 minutes, then walked out the entrance holding a hot chocolate and told us he'd found a shortcut.
- Personality
- Today he teaches middle school band in Denver. He has endless patience for twelve-year-olds learning the clarinet, and he still can't get to the airport without his phone telling him every turn.
- First impression
- Caleb brought Nora on our family camping trip at Turquoise Lake two summers ago. He led us on a 'short' hike that turned into five hours. Nora pulled a paper map out of her backpack, got us all back to camp before dark, and never once said 'I told you so.' I thought: she's patient, she's kind, and she can read a map. Keep her.
- Stories
- When Caleb was sixteen and had just got his license, he offered to drive his grandma Pat to her church potluck, twenty minutes across town. They got home three hours later. He'd missed the exit, ended up halfway to Boulder, and kept going because she said she wanted to see the mountains. He bought her a chocolate milkshake, they sang along to the oldies station the whole way, and she called it the best date she'd had in years. She told that story every Thanksgiving.
- The couple
- Nora is the planner and the navigator. Caleb is the one who makes every wrong turn fun. She's the reason he's on time, and he's the reason she takes a day off.
- Welcome
- Nora's parents, Rich and Diane Moretti, and her brothers Nick and Joey, who drove out from Pittsburgh. After tomorrow you're family, and our spare room in Denver is yours whenever you want it.
- Remembering
- My mother, Pat, Caleb's grandma, who passed away last spring. She would have loved tonight, and she'd want me to mention the milkshake.
- Thank-yous
- Rich and Diane, who are co-hosting tonight's dinner with my wife Janet and me. Everyone who traveled, especially Nora's Aunt Gina, who flew in from Tampa. And the wedding party and Father Tom, for getting through the rehearsal and giving Caleb very clear directions to the altar.
- Wishes
- Tomorrow, just enjoy it. Nora, keep holding the map. Caleb, keep making the detours worth it. Janet and I have been married 31 years, and some of our best days were the ones where we got a little lost together. And Caleb: the church is two blocks from the hotel. Turn left.