for safe keeping.

It's been almost a month since my brother & sister in law, Phil & Megan tied the knot. Wow! Time flies. I just wanted to post my speech for safe keeping & also so I can reminisce about their special day!  

Matron of Honor Speech

Hi everyone, First off congratulations to the bride and groom and thank all of you for being here to help celebrate this happy occasion. Thanks to Megan's parents, Mark & Beth, & Missy & Steve, for hosting this beautiful wedding & Phil's parents, Ken & Vickie for the amazing rehearsal dinner.

For those of you who don't know me, I'm Carly Kipp. Kevin's wife, & Phil & Megan's sister in law! Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I have 3 big brothers & when i married Kevin, I inherited yet another big brother in Phil. I was never the little girl who wished for younger siblings. I've always been the baby & I'm pretty darn good at it. So now, everything has changed, & today, it is official.  I have a BABY SISTER! I always imagined hating this but I was wrong.  I now have a friend forever. A friend with such a kind heart, sweet disposition, a sensitive soul, a little bit of sass & my gosh, you look absolutely radiant tonight! Megan, I am so honored to be by your side as you start the next phase of your life as a Kipp.  I will always be your sister & friend, & I will be right here holding your hand as you & Phil hit many of life's big milestones. I will be here through anniversaries, new homes, & as you bring beautiful babies into the world. I promise to always play with your hair, paint your nails, tell you if an outfit looks okay, and answer my phone when your future babies have been up all night screaming & you can't figure out why. You forever have a sister in me & I thank God everyday for blessing me with you. 

Phil, I can't decide if I should take this time to thank you or curse you. If it wasn't for you, I probably wouldn't have met Kevin but I also wouldn't have my 2 amazing kids & I wouldn't be standing here tonight so I think I should Thank you. Thank you for being a good friend, a loyal brother to Kevin & I, a wonderful uncle to my children, and an adoring husband to Megan. I do have a one request from you. Tonight, I ask you never to steal, lie or cheat, but if you must steal, steal away Megan's sorrows. and if you must lie, lie with her all the nights of your life, and if you must cheat, then please cheat death because she couldn't live one day with you! 

When I look at the Phil & Megan, I feel such a whirlwind of emotions. I know that the two of you have found your true match in each other. Separately, you are two special, remarkable people, but together you are complete. You two truly are a team. My heart is bursting with love for you two today. I know you have a wonderful adventure ahead of you.  My wish for you is that the happiness surrounding you today will be there for many years to come. On this roller coaster of life, remember to scream from the peaks, hold hands through the dips, laugh through the loops, and enjoy every twist and turn.

Now before I finish, I have just one more thing I want you to do, Your wedding day is one the seems to fly by. Its a day filled with emotion, friends, rings, and dances. Many people remember how fast their own wedding day went so I want you to take a few seconds to look into each others eyes & think about the happiness that you're feeling in this moment. Really let that feeling sink in. Now, i want you to think about your life together in twenty years. where are you? what are you doing? We all know that your visions of the future are not identical, but always complimentary. John Lennon once said, " a dream you dream alone is only a dream, a dream you dream together, THAT is a reality." That new reality starts now.

Now everyone raise their glasses! Here's to love, laughter, & happily ever after! CHEERS!