“Perfect” – A Toast To The Newlyweds

As I write this column, it’s been a month since my son got married.  Before the wedding my now daughter-in-law asked me if I wanted to give a speech during their reception.  My reply was, “Absolutely not!  You know that I have social anxiety and don’t like speaking in large crowds.  I will get all flustered and say inappropriate things.”

After 15 months of planning, Dan and Victoria were married on a snow Friday afternoon in December in a  beautiful ceremony outside on a balcony with a temperature of 19º!  She was gorgeous and he was handsome and my heart overflowed with joy and happiness.  As Victoria started her walk down the aisle with her Dad to the altar, I looked at my son first.  His eyes were literally dancing with happiness and he had a big smile on his face.  I then swung my head around to look at his Bride and while her facial expressions were demurer, there was that same look of pure bliss.  They locked eyes and all of the guests in attendance saw it and felt it – LOVE, pure love.

As a parent, all you want for your child is to be happy and find love.  It’s what I prayed for nightly for years, “Lord, let my son find his soulmate, someone that will love him for the rest of his life.”  Four years ago, Dan and Victoria reconnected after having been college classmates. I liked her immediately and now I love her and consider her to be my second daughter. They share the same dry wit and crazy personalities.  They love their “boys”, their dogs Jäger and Bear.  They love the outdoors, traveling, doing to antique stores, and fine dining.  But the most important thing is that they love each other.

It’s reception time at the wedding.  The new Mr. and Mrs. swayed on the dance floor as Ed Sheeran crooned “their” song – “Perfect.”  I listened to the words and smiled as my eyes got teary-eyed:

“I found a love for me

Darling, just dive right in and follow my lead

Well, I found a girl, beautiful and sweet

Oh, I never knew you were the someone waitin' for me

'Cause we were just kids when we fell in love

Not knowin' what it was

I will not give you up this time

Darling, just kiss me slow

Your heart is all I own

And in your eyes, you're holdin' mine

Baby, I'm dancin' in the dark

With you between my arms

Barefoot on the grass

Listenin' to our favorite song

When you said you looked a mess

I whispered underneath my breath

But you heard it

Darling, you look perfect tonight”

They held each other tight during that dance and in that moment, it was just the two of them, looking at each other with love.

Ed was still singing:

“We are still kids and we're so in love
Fightin' against all odds
I know we'll be alright this time
Darling, just hold my hand
Be my girl, I'll be your man
I see my future in your eyes

Baby, I'm dancin' in the dark
With you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass
Listenin' to our favorite song
When I saw you in that dress
Looking so beautiful
I don't deserve this
Darling, you look perfect tonight”

I was standing on the edge of the dance floor looking at the two of them with such pride and joy. I thought to myself, “If I could give a toast to the happy couple right now, I would tell them everything is perfect. And my wish is that you will always love, cherish, and treasure each other forever and ever.”