Chris & Lori

I’d like to thank everyone for being here tonight and joining us in the celebration of Chris and Lori, as well as, give a special thank you to the parents and grandparents of the bride and the groom. Chris and Lori, I am deeply honored to be your best “man” today and beyond grateful to witness your marriage.

Some of you may already know this, but I have had the amazing privilege of knowing Chris since we were five years old – yup, since we were in kindergarten. For years now, I’ve lived on the opposite side of the country in Washington D.C., and Chris has been in Northern California since after high school, BUT we’ve remained best of friends. Even after all the years apart, we still seem to pick up conversations right where we left off. And for me, that is the definition of a true friend – someone who never leaves your heart.

When I think about our friendship, I immediately think of a book written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein called The Giving Tree. The book is about the life of a young boy and the friendship he shares with a tree. And throughout the book, the tree sacrifices itself for the little boy, freely. Because the tree loved the little boy. And growing up, I always saw Chris as being selfless – sacrificing for his friends – because he cared for them and he loved them. This, for me, is Chris’ greatest strength and most admirable trait.

And so to Lori, I will say this – you have a husband who is devoted to you and will never let you down. He will sacrifice himself freely because he loves you. I have seen him at his worst and I’ve seen him at his best, but through the years, I have never seen him as happy as he is as when he’s with you. Take care great care of him.

To end, I leave the both of you with a quote. “We never live so intensely as when we love strongly. We never realize ourselves so vividly as when we are in full glow of love for others.”