(Wedding speech – giving my daughter Kelsey away to her first love, Will):

Two Eyes.

(Will, look into Kelsey’s eyes please)

Those Two Eyes

glanced back at me, asking…

Will You love me?

She was just days old, 

lying on my chest

Those beautiful eyes opening for the first time

Asking, will you love me?

Her two hands 

Laying in my palms

Wondering, 

will you hold me?

I’m a man of modest means

but I have two treasures

Two daughters.

They’re really all I have.

And their mother taught me

That if I can do anything meaningful in life,

If I can leave any value in this world,

It is them.

So today, Will

I gave you my treasure

My purpose

My meaning

My life.

She is a present to you, a gift

And you are a present to her, a gift

Really all that matters now

For each of you, 

is each of you.

Cherish that union,

Of two of you.

Protect the two of you

Honor the two of you

Celebrate the two of you

Explore the two of you

Leave room for growth

Change

Adventure

Together.

When she was little, 

Kelsey opened gifts with a hesitant curiosity

And an eventual, deep gratitude

Gifts are a love language for Kelsey,

especially food,

It is the cure-all

For almost any hangry moment

Or mistake

Bringing a smile to her face

And lifting any momentary clouds

Food, and

The ability to apologize

To own a mistake

Sometimes yours,

Sometimes hers

These are magic

That remind Kelsey

That she is essentially

Joy

Strength

Beauty

& wonder

All woven together.

When she first met you, Will

In a church Christmas play about gifts

She may have been hesitant

But eventually dating you 

In high school & college,

gave her a deep gratitude 

Even when you were apart.

When I drove thousands of miles with her

And ran many others

From Nashville, to Colorado

Across the country 

And through Chicago

She talked openly with me

Candidly sharing

That you were her gift

Her person

Her meant to be with forever

Her ride or die.

She knows that your answer to the question

“Will you love me?”

Is, and will always be

A resounding,

I do!

Will, when you asked permission

For her hand, 

I had no doubt

Because she had no doubt

You are kind

Genuine

Caring

Strong

Adventurous

Fun

Resilient

Go-with-the-flow

And perfect for her.

You are no doubt, 

the joy of your mother, and

the pride of your father

As he smiles upon you now, 

You are his proof

Of a job well done.

So let us all raise a glass

Each of us acknowledging 

with our own two eyes

Our own two hands,

Our hearts

And our voices

proclaiming to Kelsey and Will, 

We love who you are

As individuals 

And now

Together 

As one.