The following’s a transcript of the Best Man speech I gave recently. To say I was honored to act as Murph’s Best Man is a complete understatement. There were four other groomsmen as deserving of the role as I was.
Good evening everyone! First of all I’d like to thank the couple’s families for a wonderful weekend, and the beautiful evening we have ahead of us tonight. For everyone to have spent the time and money to spend today in celebration of Mike (Murph) and Ashlee’s (Ash) relationship, I know the two of them are deeply appreciative. Murph’s been crying all week about it. Seriously though, each and everyone in this room has a place in their love and life.
I’d also like to thank many of you who, having heard me express how nervous I have been about this speech, so kindly told me, “well…it is pretty important”.
But let me first say that our bridesmaids look absolutely gorgeous tonight, and are only rightly outshone by our bride, Ashlee. I’m sure you’ll agree with me gentlemen, today is a sad day for single men as another beauty leaves the market.
And ladies, I’m sure you’ll agree that today’s passing by without much of a ripple.
For those of you who don’t know me, I’d encourage you to go ahead and type Derek Shanahan into Google. You’ll find most of what you need to know there. Mike and I met in second grade, and haven’t been able to get rid of one another ever since. We spent every year as a student in the same school, and having led our highschool soccer team to two Championships while maintaining pretty rigorous academic lives, probably appeared to outsiders as if we had found a way to become twin brothers.
The truth is…it took many years, and wasn’t until college in which Mike and I realized that our foundation was impenetrable and our friendship was more than just a friendship. We were inextricably linked for life, and found ourselves with a friendship that reframed our definition of the word.
Which is why I was so surprised he chose Ashlee over me.
In college I drove across the country with Mike a few times, two young men with no idea what the world had in store for them. Mike had a lot of questions back then, and I remember assuring him that his life was destined for greatness. To all of those questions, Ashlee was and is Mike’s answer. I’ve watched Mike live a life of determination, dedication, and passion. I’ve watched him excel at nearly everything he’s set his mind to, and I’ve watched him apply that attitude to loving Ashlee.
Ashlee, your grace and humor and your delicious appetite for life make your new husband a better man. You are his sunshine. You are wonderful. You are also now responsible for his many food allergies.
Michael, you’re a brother to me, and you are someone who’s greatness I’ll always aspire to emulate.
I’m truly humbled to stand here tonight in honor of Mike and Ashlee. I’d ask you all now to raise a glass with me, and to drink to two people who make the world brighter. To Mike and Ashlee forever.
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