addison // jack avery

Part 76

i took in a deep breath and started, 

a- although the bride doesn't traditionally make a speech, i have never been one to be short on words, and it was very important to me that i was able to personally thank all of our guests for being here, for looking as wonderful as you do and for sharing in this day with us, particularly those who have travelled far to be here.

today is a memory that i will cherish for the rest of my life, and the people here tonight are the ones that i wanted to share in that memory with me, so i thank you.

to our amazing bridal party: jonah, tate, christina, corbyn, bella, daniel, zach, esther, ash, anna, sydnie and makena. thank you for standing with us and being by our side as we took this exciting step. you are each very dear friends of ours, and we are blessed that you all agreed to be a special part of our day. to my girls especially, you look stunning, and are the best people someone could have in their life. i thank you for your friendship and for all that you have done in the lead up to today. to both of our amazing parents: thank you for doing all that you possibly could in helping to put our day together, from our engagement party right through to our wedding.

the reason that i have such faith in my future marriage to jack is that we have both had excellent role models. i can only hope that our marriage resembles the strength, passion, happiness, loyalty, dedication and longevity that yours have both shown.

to kristen and john, your warmth and kindness shown to me from the very beginning has been immeasurable, and you both became my family members long before today. if it was even possible to make jack a better catch by having fantastic parents as my future in-laws, you both did it with ease. i am so grateful for the comfort you provide in knowing that you are always there for us. 

to my mom and dad, pam and greg, thank you just doesn't seem enough. every year that I grow older now i become more and more appreciative of everything you have ever done for me, and for all of your personal sacrifices to give jake, logan and i the very best of opportunities. i will never be able to repay you, all i can hope is that i make you proud by one day giving my own children the same love and devotion that i have always been shown.

i am also very grateful that you didn't fulfil your promise to wear a fluro green safari suit on my wedding day dad, but even if you had of, i couldn't have been prouder or happier to have you walk me down the aisle. mom, your enthusiasm and excitement for this day nearly exceeded my own, you have been a wonderful mother of the bride, and i truly don't know what we will do with our time now this is all over, i love you both.

to all of the other very special people that I haven't yet mentioned who were an integral part of today: bradley, bede, mike and trevor for being terrific drivers and getting us to the church on time, christy and tate for ushering our guests and decorating the church, all our families for their lovely speeches, tate for helping to decorate this room tonight with christina, and esther's wonderful cake. you have all played such an important role in making today run as smoothly as possible and i thank you for sharing in all of this excitement.

lastly, to my new husband: i still need to pinch myself to believe how lucky i am in finding someone so perfect, that makes my heart skip a beat every day. jack, you are my pillar of strength and my balance. i am in awe of your dedication and commitment that you throw into anything you set your mind to, of your values when it comes to your family and your friends, your common sense, your wit, and your ability to never fail to make me laugh. 

i can't wait to see where our life together takes us. if there were such a thing as soul mates, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that you were meant to be mine, and i yours. i love you, and i promise to love you completely and forever, even on those days when we don't necessarily like each other, but i hope those are few and far between.

on that note, i'd like to raise a toast to my amazing new husband, who has truly made me the happiest wife in the world. and, if you could all raise your glasses once more for my best friends, christina and tate, for making today as special as it could be for jack and myself. i hope you all have had a lovely day, and enjoy the rest of your night! 

everyone clapped as i took a sip from my champagne, smiling to jack as he kissed my cheek. he took the microphone from me and kissed me one last time before i sat down, and looked up at my husband in awe. 

j- wow