My Best Friend's Wedding

I took a whirlwind trip to PA this past weekend to play my role as Matron of Honor for my best friend's wedding. (I am writing this while I listen to my three children fighting and screaming about who knows what downstairs) It was beautiful and I am so excited for the new Mr. & Mrs. Amoss. Here is my best friend:



ISN'T SHE GORGEOUS!!!



This is my favorite picture. All day long I was pretty much the shadow of the photographer - trying to get my own shots. Most of the time I was able to get some really good ones. This one cracked me up!!! My best friend with her "fish". (She was Mrs. Amoss by the time she got this picture taken)

And this is the speech I wrote for her on her wedding day (to which I made everyone cry apparently..... including her DAD! He said he didn't cry walking his daughter down the aisle, but he cried for my speech) Hmm... maybe I have a new profession in the making??? Nah, just got lucky this time I think.

First I want to give a big THANK YOU to everyone here. I know that you being here today means more to Erin than you’ll ever know. Thank you to all the bridesmaids and family members that have helped with the wedding preparations that I couldn’t living two states away. Most of all, thank you Erin for allowing me the great honor to serve as your Matron of Honor on the most important day of your life.

Erin and I met in High School. I was the bitter teenager whose parents moved and forced me to attend my junior and senior years in a new school. I vowed to myself that I wouldn’t make any friends. Boy was I wrong. On my first day in English, I noticed a girl in a tye-dyed field hockey shirt sitting behind me. She had a huge smile on her face. Anyone who knows Erin knows that she has ALWAYS been full of life. She talked with me and made me feel welcome. Actually, I think she was the first person that had talked to me, and this was one of the last classes of the day. I had almost gone an entire day without a single person saying hello. Regardless of what others say and do, Erin is the first to welcome a new face and pull them under her wing. That is exactly what she did with me.

The first time we hung out was a result of a misunderstanding. She was talking to me about making cookies. I thought she was asking me to make some cookies for her. Although I hadn’t ever made cookies all on my own, I found myself saying, “Well, sure…. I guess I could make you some cookies….” Laughter filled the air and she said she was inviting me over to make some cookies. That’s pretty much how our friendship took off.

We were in quite a few classes together those last two years of High School. We always had a blast in English and just loved torturing our poor Trig teacher, Mr. Shuman. She was involved in Field Hockey and Student Council (which is proof of how friendly and likeable she is) as well as track during the spring. With Erin at my side, I made it through my last two years of high school with many great memories.

Outside of school, we enjoyed spitting awful tasting jelly bellies out of the window of her buick, learning squirrel calls, and scaring children on bicycles when I poked my head out of her car wearing a pair of goggles on my face.

Becoming a teacher has been a dream come true for Erin. I don’t think that there could be a better profession for her. Everything about Erin screams Teacher. She is nurturing, patient, kind, and has a great outlook on life. Words cannot express how proud I am of her. She is going to bless the lives of the children she teaches. All it takes is one fabulous teacher to inspire a young child to be a teacher. I guarantee that the new Mrs. Amoss will be that inspirer.

In thinking about this speech, the word that kept coming to mind was loyal. Erin truly is loyal to those in her life, but even more so I feel that she is devoted. She has always been devoted to everything in her life. She has never done half of a task, but rather always sees it thru. It is because of the great qualities that she has that will make her a wonderful wife and future mother. Brian – she will always do her part in being your life companion. She chose to spend the rest of her life with you – that is exactly what she’ll do. Just as she has never let anyone down in her life, make sure that you don’t let her down. Thank you for bringing her the happiness that I know she deserves.

Please raise your glasses to my best friend, Erin. A true gem that I know everyone in this room cherishes. Brian, may you keep her as happy as she has made all of us just by being a part of our lives. May your marriage see more happiness than sorrow, and may your love grow deeper each day for the rest of your lives. Here’s to Erin and Brian Amoss.


That wasn't exactly how I said it, and I made a lot of edits to it before the reception. I'm pretty proud of myself.