#AmbrewSaysIDo

This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to stand witness to one of the most amazing proclamations of love. The pledging of one soul to another. The exchanging of vows between two people made for each other. In the unbeatable backdrop that Tofino, BC provides, my girl Amber and her beau Andrew walked down the aisle as man and woman, and walked back as husband and wife. The whole weekend was like something from a fairytale. Morning yoga on the beach, bride and groom surf sessions, the reunion of old friendships and the kindling of new ones. Family and friends together celebrating the beginning of what is undoubtedly an ever-lasting union (as long as Andrew stays away from shellfish).

I could describe every minute, and gush for pages, but I am still flying high from the fabulous celebration (and I need about ten naps). So I will leave you with my speech. As the Maid of Honour, I was asked to say a few words about this amazing couple, and for better or for worse, this is what I came up with. Hopefully, I didn't embarrass myself or the Williams' too much!

Maid of Honour Speech

I met Amber in our third year of University. Back then, we were just a couple of doe-eyed 20 year olds trying to conquer the academic world and figure out who we were. We have been study buddies, roommates, partners in crime, and I will never have a better dance partner (sorry Nick). Being young and trying to find your way in the world isn’t always easy, but it becomes infinitely easier when you have someone who you can laugh, cry, and dream with like a sister.

Amber, I have truly never known someone with a heart as pure as yours. You have always been there for me in so many ways. You have been strong for me when I couldn’t be for myself. Your positivity and level-headed approach to life keep me grounded. Your unwavering kindness inspires me. I am so thankful that I get to celebrate with you today the love that I know you will have for the rest of your life. Thank you for being the best friend a girl could ask for. You are someone I know I can always count on. I don’t know what I would do without you.

Andrew, you were the first boyfriend to break into our little group and you set the bar really high. I still remember the first time I met you, and I remember knowing that Amber sure knew what she was thinking.

You are a very uniquely special person, and I am so happy that we get to keep you in our crew forever, but I hope you never forget that you are getting one of the best girls to ever be. And Andrew, even though I know you will, I still have to remind you to take care of our girl, or, as you have been forewarned before, I will cut you.

I have lost track of how many adventures I have seen Amber and Andrew fit into their time together already, and I know that they will continue to challenge and support each other for the rest of their days. I can say with certainty that I don’t know any two people more suited for each other. The way you complement each other’s energy, insatiable thirst for knowledge, and adventurous spirits is a thing to be coveted. You are both so kind and so adorably quirky.

Some of my favourite evenings spent with these two wonderful humans have been us and a group of our closest friends in someone’s home singing and dancing the night away to every 90s hit from our childhood that we can think of. So, as we have many times before, I think it best to paraphrase some of our most trusted philosophers from the 90s to send you two off into marriage.

Pack it up, pack it in

Let me begin

Before you two found each other,

You thought, I want something else

To get me through this

Semi-charmed kind of life

Always wondering how’s it gonna be?

You found someone who will always love you

With the bird you’ll no longer share a lonely view

Amber, you made a great choice.

That Andrew, What a man, what a man,

He’s a mighty good man

I don't believe that anybody
Feels the way you do, about him now

And Andrew, you are getting a one-of-a-kind girl,

She is original

She is the only one

When no one is around you

Say “baby I love you”

We don’t care who you are,

Where you’re from,

Or what you did,

As long as you love her

Now, in marriage,
You can’t always be on the run
Gotta slow it down baby, gotta have some fun

You better lose yourself, in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go

And remember: Mo Money, Mo problems

So, as you look back on this most joyous occasion,

You’re always gonna wanna to feel,

Like you did today

This is the place you love

And You took it all the way

Power and the money, money and the power,

Minute after minute, hour after hour,

You’re going to keep spending most your lives, living in a paradise

That’s just the way it is

Things will never be the same                                                  

So tonight, in celebration, we are going to welcome everybody to the wild, wild west

And get jiggy with it

We’re going to throw our hands up in the air

Wave’em around like we just don’t care

And jump, jump!

Now before anyone shouts “Stop right now thank you very much”

Oops, I did it again,

Will the real Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Williams please stand up?

Everyone else,

Get up, stand up, come on throw your drinks up

And please help me toast this amazing bride and groom, that we are so lucky to have in our lives, and the life of happiness that they have ahead of them. Cheers!