Marie’s Mom, Gwen, and I and Adam’s parents, Chris and Chriss, would first thank all of you for attending. We are both pleased and honored by your presence.

As many of you know, our daughter has always had a special place in my heart. Mom would go off to Choir practice and we would look for activities and I would end up video-taping her for hours and hours so I could show others how smart she was. I was going to have them all here but Gwen nixed that option. She also spent many of her early years on my back – literally. When I couldn’t get her to go to sleep, I would put her in my backpack and go for a walk until her head was on my shoulder, then return home and carefully pour her out of the backpack into the crib.

When she was in College about 210 miles from our home (that about 340 km for our European guests), Gwen and I would travel up there, attend her concert, stay overnight and return with Marie in the morning. Many times I would travel a day early and attend her classes with her, meet her teachers, and go to lunch with fellow students. In short, I could be considered a pain… but Marie encouraged it. I was especially proud recently when, on this last Father’s day, we went to the fair and she had on a fairly tight tank top with the message “My Dad Rocks”! I’m not sure any of other guys were reading the message, however.

So one of the most proud but somewhat sad thing I’d done recently was just today when I gave my daughter to her new groom. But if there is anyone that I can trust to take care of her, it’s Adam. When they were getting engaged, he called me from Wales to ask permission for her hand. How cool is that? I thought of saying no to give him a hard time, but he was nervous enough and very serious. I’ve come to know Adam as one of my sons as he has been with us since last October. I mean he’s just like one of my sons. I helped him with a loan to buy Marie’s ring and recently a temporary loan to buy a car. And I act just like his father. I had to remind him he couldn’t drive the car without insurance. In fact, the only difference so far between Adam and my sons is that Adam pays back his loans. In fact, I’m worried now that they're married. If I were Adam, I’d go through Marie for any loans.

And now they’re both grown up and married. What a beautiful couple and we parents are proud of them. They have incredible love for each other and they transmit it to others. The proof is the attendance of everyone here. I think if they got married in New Zealand, I think we would have all come. Marie and Adam have family and friends here from Wales, Ireland, France and Germany and from various portions of the United States including Florida, New York, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Virginia and, of course, many from California. You can feel the bonds between each of them and their own families and friends and, now that we are one, the bond is larger.

Of course, Gwen and I love Adam and his family and extended family is an extraordinary plus. We cannot think of any better possibilities for Marie’s in-laws than the Goffins. I remember before they visited a year ago, there were questions asked like “are the people coming stuffy, i.e. Prim and proper”? Well now we know, Chriss (Adam’s mom) is as liberated and crazy as Gwen so for those of you who know one of them, you know both. And you all know Chris, the most uplifting, enthusiastic person one can imaging. Having Chris and my brother Gary in one room for a while and you need a tranquilizer.

When Marie and Adam first mentioned that they wished to be married here in Providence, we couldn’t figure it out. But we found there was some method to their madness. They had this big Italian family for support. They stayed with my Mom during their advanced planning trip this last winter, used my brother's and sister’s homes as hubs for 4th of July parties, getting the girls in the wedding party dolled up, they had use of free cars, etc. All the dresses came to my brother-in-law, who is the best tailor in RI. My brother does DJ work in his spare time. Thinking about it, I started entertaining the idea of renting my family to cater other weddings!

So, Marie and Adam, this group seated here is amazing and the love they’ve shown for you is a reflection of your love for each other and for all your family and friends. It starts with your grandparenta and parents, who you know care for you intimately and it extends to so many others here. We all wish you the best and toast you on your marriage – may your life be long and blessed with the same love that is in this room today.