Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, family and friends. I would like to thank you all for coming to celebrate this wonderful occasion with us. My wife and I are truly happy to see you today, especially the ladies -- you look marvelous. I hope you are enjoying this splendid day.
I can’t say that I anticipated giving a speech as the father of the bride so soon, for I still remember vividly the little girl I brought to this country when she was three. Back some 20 years ago, China’s door to the world was still half-shut. My wife had to come to the States by herself to join me first, then I went back to pick up Kathy a year later from her granny’s house. She was holding a little stuffed panda when the two of us went from a small town in southwest China, through Hong Kong, Seoul, Anchorage, to New York. I remember standing at the entrance to the ladies room at the airports, holding her hand, waiting for the right woman, meaning a seemingly decent lady with a small child, to come so that I could ask her to take Kathy into the restroom. I would then anxiously guard the door, thinking about what I’d do if there were another exit in there.
A few years later, my wife became busy taking care of baby Emily, and I, as a graduate student, spent day and night in the laboratory. Kathy was pretty much left alone with her schoolwork. Maybe that is why she turns out to be OK, although my wife likes to think, and I agree completely, that it is all because of her hard work.
When I heard from my wife that Kathy was dating a hockey player, I thought, oh God, isn’t it true that not a single bone of a hockey player is unbroken, especially the nose? It was quite a relief when we eventually met this handsome young man. Evan, you are solid proof that not everything one hears is true. We are honored to welcome you into our family. We know you love Kathy dearly, want to take care of her, and make sure she has the best. Please continue to play hockey, and continue to keep all your bones intact. A word of advice, which I am sure you already knew: Always let her have the last word should an argument arise. If you absolutely must have the last word, then just say, “you are right, I am wrong, and I love you.”
Renee and Jay, thank you very much for taking Kathy into your family. We are very happy that you are such worldly people. Evan and Kathy are carrying the worldly tradition by choosing to start their new life as a young couple in Hong Kong. I know they will cherish each other, and there will be a bright future for them.
Now ladies and gentlemen, please stand up and raise your glasses: To Mr. and Mrs. Evan and Kathy (Family Name omitted here). Thank you.
- Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/10/2009
Man, you're old, or you married too early. ;)
Anyway, another milestone in a mortal's melodrama. Salute!
Isn't there a movie called "Father of the Bride"? - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/10/2009
touche wrote:
Man, you're old, or you married too early. ;)
Anyway, another milestone in a mortal's melodrama. Salute!
Isn't there a movie called "Father of the Bride"?
:-))
Felt quite a relief though, now that the responsibility is shifted to someone else. - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/10/2009
老八嫁女:) - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/10/2009
maya wrote:
老八嫁女:)
差一个字? :))
warmly congrats, prof 99! - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/10/2009
That's a moving speech from a proud father - maybe a relieved father as well? Was it tiresome work to raise a daughter! :)) - posted on 08/10/2009
八十一子 wrote:
touche wrote::-))
Man, you're old, or you married too early. ;)
Anyway, another milestone in a mortal's melodrama. Salute!
Isn't there a movie called "Father of the Bride"?
Felt quite a relief though, now that the responsibility is shifted to someone else.
还是八十一子幽默。我最近的一次参加朋友的婚礼,新娘的父亲讲完话后,大家都在哭。:)
那位父亲没说什么特别,只是对女儿说嫁过去后,要孝顺老人。好悲情的中国父亲,好美丽的传统。
- Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/10/2009
祝贺八爷!
- Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/10/2009
恭喜八十一老师及全家! - posted on 08/10/2009
真诚祝贺八十一子,从字里行间看出父女深情和恋恋不舍,很感人。
俗话说长兄如父,我最近在加州的拿帕一个葡萄园帮助把妹妹给嫁出去了,因为妹妹年龄也不小了,
所以当我挽着妹妹胳膊将她交给新郎的时候,同八十一子不同,我是如释重负:)下面是我晚宴上的讲话,当时没有人哭,倒是被几次笑声打断。
On behalf of Judy's family, I want to welcome all the friends and relatives of Judy and Victor who have come here to share this happy moment, especially families and friends who traveled from far way, like Steve from Germany, Sarah from England, Uncle Tha from Thailand, Emily's family from New York city and Glen from Virginia. We also have guests from Tuscon, Arizona, Manhansset, New York , Seattle Washington, and many friends from local Bay areas. Welcome, and by the way, is this a beautiful day for a wedding?!
I also want to take this opportunity to thank Victor and his mother Susan and other reletavies, for embracing my sister Judy as your family member. Again, thank you so much for the wonderful Thai food the other night.
Last night, I had an extensive talk with Victor over a couple glasses of wine, and asked him some tough questions - I wanted to make sure, he suffered enough before becoming my brother in -law. However, as I know my younger sister since the day she was born, I want to guarantee you, Victor, she is as reliable as Wells Fargo(*note: my sister works there). You can safely invest your love and passion on her.
Most, if not all of us, know that a marriage is not easy. It is not only about wine and roses. It also means responsibilities and dedication. It takes a lot of effort, patience, compromise, and above all, tolerance and love.
As an ancient Chinese philopher LaoTszi said: (Note: as I mentioned before this is Quote from A-Shan translationthank you A Shan)
quote:
“The true lover follows the heart--
Desires but not pursues,
Admires but not possesses.
Enjoys all moments with gratitude,
And lets love fulfill itself."
Unquote
Judy and Victor, as your brother, I wish you always find strength and courage in what you promised one another on this day. And no matter what may challenge you and your family in the future, that you take the love and commitment of this day with you in all things. I will keep in my heart for you a happy familly in which caring, love and joy lives within your home and throughout your lives always.
This is also the hope of our family. My father, a veteran journalist and a poet who is unable to travel here but he sent his blessing from China via our elder sister XX.
This is a rough translation of this poem:(my sister showing the calligraphy of our father)
"A bridge far enough to link
two families across the Pacific Ocean
In this joyful moment of fine wine and beautiful views
We wish you-- my son and my daughter
keep love in your life forever."
Now, I won't keep you starving:) May we raise our glasses? - Cheers for the brand new couple (and cheers for us - a brand new family! Thank you .
- Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/10/2009
恭喜!!! - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/10/2009
especially their teeth, no one is not missing one or two. ;)
八十一子 wrote:
When I heard from my wife that Kathy was dating a hockey player, I thought, oh God, isn’t it true that not a single bone of a hockey player is unbroken, especially the nose? - posted on 08/10/2009
你们真大男人哈,嫁女就好像get off debt 那样如释重负,希望都married to assets, not debt any more....
娶妻生子的事情我从来不参乎,倒是有葬礼或者离婚庆典,别忘了叫上我,葬礼好玩多了,想巴金跟季羡林在棺材里看着子孙争产,一定好看好玩儿。
废名 wrote:
真诚祝贺八十一子,从字里行间看出父女深情和恋恋不舍,很感人。
俗话说长兄如父,我最近在加州的拿帕一个葡萄园帮助把妹妹给嫁出去了,因为妹妹年龄也不小了,
所以当我挽着妹妹胳膊将她交给新郎的时候,同八十一子不同,我是如释重负:) - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/10/2009
哇,恭喜,恭喜。看得我热泪盈眶:)
刚认识老公不久,他就借了"Father of the Bride"回来给我看(我们一起看的第一个片子),他自己已经看过这部电影了。自己还没娶着媳妇,已经觉得女儿要出嫁了,忧心忡忡。后来证实,实在是个好爸爸。女儿的理想,就是长大了不出嫁,永远住在家里。这个爸爸什么都好,就是不大可能当众讲出这么好的致词,我得做好将来帮他写演讲稿的打算。实在不行,找八爷帮忙。:) - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/10/2009
恭喜老八,得了个冰球女婿。
老八这个老爸当得好,婚礼祝词也写得棒。
等到老夫嫁儿子,要请老八帮着写一篇。
- Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/10/2009
哈哈哈。女儿嫁了能回头,感情投资是值得的,讲稿要写得动情。儿子?唉,从咱们自己身上来看,基本上是白投资,养老基本指望不上。讲稿就省了吧。有那时间多抓紧经营一下退休金。。 - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/10/2009
maya, 老瓦,令胡,ben ben, tugan, 阿珊,lucy, yc, 苦瓜,谢谢各位!
废名的发言很有意思。可惜你的老父亲未能亲临婚礼。
把斋主也赚出来了?你的儿子现在哪里飞? - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/10/2009
恭喜哈,八爷当老丈人啦,祝贺,祝贺! - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/10/2009
恭喜八爷, 要是我一定哭得稀唎嘩啦。
幾年前,一位同學的婚禮上,八徇老父寫的賀辭,很多在場的賓客都濕了雙眼。
要是我還能討到原文,也來貼上。
- Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/11/2009
wow, 8 爷将会是个最年轻,最sexy的grandpa :-) - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/11/2009
想起赵丹让女儿写永不嫁人的保证书的故事。父母嫁女的心理的确很不一样。 Father of the Bride 刻画的很真实。老八嫁女很豁达嘛!恭喜! - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/11/2009
恭喜恭喜! 老八真要成八爷了/
可以上照片吗? 很喜欢看婚礼的照片。。。 - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/11/2009
恭喜八爷! 最近一定是忙得很,关于具体举办细节,有什么体会是否能讲讲给我们有女儿的人家?
废名长兄为父也很感动。
上周倒是参加了一个葬礼。没有玛雅提到的那些情节。 - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/11/2009
草叶,七月,管仲,Susan,RZP:谢谢。
{照片撤除} - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/11/2009
八爷有福气,八爷的女儿也很有福气。
我也读得感动,写得真好!
恭喜!
- Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/11/2009
好漂亮的照片。新娘子好幸福的样子。室外的婚礼最美了。
cafe lite 也有一条线讲婚礼的。
废名上次说的婚礼原来是这个。我昨天又看了你用的那几句,哈,原来不是翻译老子的,是我自己译的高兴,狗尾续貂瞎编的。:)) 熟读老子81章,不会写经也会编。 - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/11/2009
Thanks, Xiaoman and Ashan. - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/12/2009
A very beautiful place to say "I do". Congratulation. - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/12/2009
Thanks, st dude. It is a beautiful place indeed.
Outside
Inside
Table for the wedding party
- Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/12/2009
恭喜恭喜! - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/12/2009
恭喜八爷!眼看就要真的成爷啦!
这篇东东是即席还是念稿子或背诵? - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/12/2009
是按照美国人的习俗, bride's parents paid for the wedding banquet? - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/12/2009
I had the same question too.
If so it must have set you back more than a few grand. ;-)
yc wrote:
是按照美国人的习俗, bride's parents paid for the wedding banquet? - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/12/2009
守望古典 wrote:
恭喜恭喜!
谢谢古典。 - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/12/2009
zxd wrote:
恭喜八爷!眼看就要真的成爷啦!
这篇东东是即席还是念稿子或背诵?
谢谢朱兄。背诵加即席吧。 - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/12/2009
yc and tar - the parents of the bride are the host of the wedding. very costly indeed - sets me back a lot. :-)
tar wrote:
I had the same question too.
If so it must have set you back more than a few grand. ;-)
yc wrote:
是按照美国人的习俗, bride's parents paid for the wedding banquet? - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/12/2009
因为看到大红灯笼高高挂 :)
tar wrote:
I had the same question too.
If so it must have set you back more than a few grand. ;-)
yc wrote:
是按照美国人的习俗, bride's parents paid for the wedding banquet? - Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/12/2009
八十一子 wrote:
yc and tar - the parents of the bride are the host of the wedding. very costly indeed - sets me back a lot. :-)
You have only one daughter - now we can be sure about it. Can we :)
- Re: Speech at daughter's weddingposted on 08/12/2009
I'm sure you didn't mind. ;-) Congratulations!
八十一子 wrote:
yc and tar - the parents of the bride are the host of the wedding. very costly indeed - sets me back a lot. :-)
tar wrote:
I had the same question too.
If so it must have set you back more than a few grand. ;-)
yc wrote:
是按照美国人的习俗, bride's parents paid for the wedding banquet?
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