*fast forward to 2033*
Thank you everyone for gathering here today. I’d like to congratulate Natalie and John on their marriage and wish them a very happy life together.
Natalie and I have been best friends since we were 2 years old and have been inseparable ever since. From cheering at basketball games and riding the bus to elementary school, going on double dates together and getting lost on weekend road trips, the memories are endless.
We are fortunate enough to have a friendship like ours and am I blessed to be standing here today as her maid of honor.
Natalie met John when we were freshmen in high school at a basketball game. He happened to be friends with my twin brother. From that day, I saw something change in her. I could see her eyes light up every time they were together and how happy she was, no matter what they were doing or who else was with them.
As high school went on, they were in “like” with each other, but never really acknowledged it so, they never dated. However, it didn’t seem to matter.
I remember sitting with Natalie at the beach later that year and asked her if she wanted to marry John one day. She looked to me and said, “if he were to ask me tomorrow, I’d say yes.” We were 14.
I know it sounds silly and exactly what a love-struck teen would say and she knew that too, but she just assured me something was telling her that he was it.
All of high school had gone by and now, John and Natalie were attending universities states away from each other. They were never more than friends, very close friends, and had never even kissed until one fateful night the summer before our sophomore year of college.
The next morning, I was at the beach again with Natalie as she told me the whole story. She was on cloud nine because the guy she'd loved for what felt like forever, might have the same feelings for her.
In fact, as cliché as it sounds, their feelings for each other were obvious to everyone except them. I looked to her the same way I did before and asked, “Remember when you were 14 and -". She cut me off right there and answered, “yes, he could ask me right now if he wanted.” We were now 19.
By the time of our senior year in college, you’d think her bliss would’ve worn off by now, but no. She and John talked just about every day. And every time she would have this huge grin run across her face. The same look she’d had the day they met.
Throughout college Natalie would go out on dates with guys from class and parties she went to, but every time she would meet someone she would tell me how he wasn’t her forever. She would try and made a lot of friends this way, but she just never made anything official. I never understood it, but she knew John was her one.
Upon finishing her undergraduate degree, Natalie received a job offer, conveniently, in the state where John was earning his masters degree. Accepting the job, and possibly her fate to end up with John, she moved. From then until now, you all can guess the rest of the story...
When we were 14, I thought I saw Natalie the happiest I would ever see her because of meeting John. Today, at 26, I see a new kind of happiness in her eyes, the forever love she always wanted.
I cannot think of more a deserving couple to find something so special. May your years be spent with smiles like the first day you met, the butterflies you felt on your first date and the love you have known since you were fourteen.
Thank you, all for being here today to celebrate Natalie and John, on their wedding day. It has been 12 years in the making, but we are finally here. To, John and Natalie.
