Speeches
Many people have requested the wording of Chester Ufnal’s speech (Father of the Bride). We have posted it below.
“As father of the bride, I would like to reminisce, on Claire’s life up to now, and give some of my impressions of Johnny. Don’t worry Johnny. I’ll be kind on you.
I have always been impressed with Claire’s verve, vitality and imagination in everything she does – which, in some cases, could be described as thinking outside the box… as evidenced by the theme of the present Marriage Celebration – wearing a Mardi Gras mask on Valentine’s Day – what a Hoot!
Claire is very enterprising, much like an early Martha Stewart. While still a teenager, she set up a booth, in a gift shop at a local mall, to display and sell, crafts and jewellery she had made, especially, I can recall, gorgeous necklaces. This enterprise was expanded to selling at private house parties, and even on eBay.
She later attended, and graduated from the Toronto School for Business, majoring in Computer Applications, and spent five successful years with Nesbitt Burns, a financial company. Then she went on to Real Estate, where, in addition to usual realtor’s activities, she turned to house renovations. Walls and stairways were torn down and rearranged, kitchens and bathrooms uprooted and modernised, with all areas redesigned to her creative ideas. Claire was the hardest worker on site.
Claire’s artistic abilities encompass portrait and landscape painting, jewellery, ceramics, stained glass cutting, photography, building fish ponds, etc. etc..and I shouldn’t, of course, forget, her love of gardening.
Claire loves animals ….All animals… She started with horses, which she proudly put through their paces at local riding stables. Her enthusiasm was such, that she even liked cleaning out horse stalls, which she referred to as mucking!
She is deeply involved in animal rescue work. This is a problem, because she not only rescues, but also adopts. At present, she has two lovely cats, two long hair chihuahuas and of all things- a North Carolina dingo! Which in fact, is a really fine looking dog.
Over the years, my wife Bea and I have had many animals, all inherited through Claire, including dogs, cats, birds, fish, guinea pigs and a lovable, large brown rat, which loved nibbling on carrots, held in one’s hand.
At one time falconry took her interest. On one breezy afternoon at a local bird farm, or aviary, I watched with some pride and amazement as Claire appeared with a falcon sitting on her padded arm, and in her throwing it off into the air where it swooped and dived all afternoon, and eventually, on signal, returned to her outstretched arm. Claire extended her interest in flying by taking some personal flying lessons, and she has been up in private planes, and even gliders. I hope that this does not develop into – say, sky diving, or – Heaven Forbid – even worse, into bungee jumping.
Claire always loved the crisp, snowy, true north, and has had her share in building snowmen, throwing snowballs, making angels in the snow, skating, skiing and enjoying après ski evenings in front of a blazing fireplace. But as time went by, however, Canadian Winter lost out to Florida sunshine, so, she headed off south.
Here’s the crux of the story….she winds up meeting with Johnny from Chicago. Now, from most weather reports, Chicago’s O’Hare airport seems to have more problems with winter storms, snowed-up runways, de- icing aircraft, and flight cancellations than Toronto’s Pearson International airport. Now, That’s real irony for you.……Sounds pretty hopeless….but No….Johnny has many admirable traits which offset Claire’s current, negative wintery feelings. He, like Claire, has great imagination and also thinks outside the box. I’ll illustrate this with a couple of examples.
While visiting in Ft. Myers at Johnny and Claire’s, I observed some persons passing through the house, rolling huge, dish-like, concrete objects and carrying other ornaments. I thought, at the time, that this was for some gardening project.
Later, when Johnny and Claire arrived home, he said he had a surprise for her, and after blind folding her, he led her into the bedroom, where, in one corner was constructed, a ceiling-high, concrete fountain, complete with water trickling down from the various levels. This was her birthday present, which, in reality , was a re-enactment of a romantic scene from a movie, starring Darryl Hannah, called, Splash.
On another occasion, which included Bea, myself and Claire, he chartered a launch, for a moonlight cruise of the Ft Myers waterfront. The launch included a captain and a tuxedoed waiter, who, on a grill, prepared and then later, served a gourmet steak dinner under candlelight….including, wine, salad, large shrimp, dessert and all the trimmings. Now that’s the Johnny we got to know and love.
He and Claire, seem to be kindred spirits, and should have a happy future, in marriage. Let’s, at this time, have a hearty round of applause for them. Thank you.”
Brides Speech
Make Life What You Want. That was my Plenty of Fish tag line. Anyone who knows me well, knows that the life that Johnny and I have together, is exactly what I always wanted. Spectacular and Wildly Unpredictable. The most difficult question for us to answer is “So where do you guys live?” and “What do you do for a living?” We live everywhere, and we do everything. Neither one of us would have settled for an ordinary life. Which makes us so grateful that fate crossed our paths.
I have found someone who picks me up, and gets me excited about life. I have found someone that loves my family and friends, and loves being with them. I have found someone that complements me in the perfect way. Every day, John makes an effort to make our relationship stronger, better, and so much fun. I come home to a husband that says “Honey I just signed us up for dance lessons every day for the next month. Get ready, our first lesson is in one hour.” I come home to a bath drawn for me, a slice of cheesecake waiting, and a episode of LOST cued up on the laptop set in front of the tub. What a great guy.
I adore everything you are, and represent. I admire you for all your accomplishments and the challenges you have overcome in your life. I love how your family has made me part of them, and how my family has made you part of mine. Thank you for choosing me.