Sunday, September 14, 2025 - Day 397

Sunday, September 14, 2025

Good morning my friends and family.

Congratulations to Alex and Nicole on their marriage yesterday!!

It was a wonderful, fulfilled magical wedding day for Alex and Nicole. The whole day was perfect and there is much to talk about. It’s going to take a few days to provide the highlights. And since I slept in this morning, you’ll have to wait until Monday for details.

I’ll leave you with the father of the groom wedding toast….which I was able to deliver in its entirety with only one or two pregnant pauses.

Father of the Groom Wedding Toast -Alex and Nicole 9/13/25

Good evening, everyone. Thank you for being here tonight to celebrate Alex and Nicole. Looking out and seeing all of you…family, friends, people who shaped their lives…reminds me just how blessed we are.

I’m Andy, Alex’s dad. Standing here (not), I can hardly believe the little boy I once carried on my shoulders is now standing here as a husband.

When I tried to capture Alex in just three words, I struggled. He’s smart, funny, creative, dapper (only tonight), and loving. But the three that really define him are tenacious, loyal, and frugal.

Tenacious. When Alex set his mind on making the wedding rings for today, there was no stopping him. Out came the homemade furnace, the hammer, the anvil—and a barely enough safety fear to protect key body parts. For months he worked, failing, learning, trying again. He nearly burned down the garage, he ruined his first attempt, but he never quit. And tonight, the rose-gold bands on their hands carry more than metal. They carry the gold given by family and friends, the hands that helped shape them including Wyatt and Coco, Alex’s determination, his promise, and above all, his love for Nicole.

Loyal. Swimming gave Alex not only discipline but also lifelong friends. Many of them are here tonight. They’ve been by his side for decades, through victories and defeats, college, work, and life. After his bachelor party, Alex said something that struck me: “I’m the winner for having such great friends.” That loyalty runs deep. And Nicole… you now have that same loyalty, forever.

Frugal. Well…let’s just say Alex can pinch a penny until it squeals. He could run his account down to one cent and still feel confident he wouldn’t overdraft. Unless, of course, it’s for one of his wild projects…then the budget goes out the window. It’s who he is, and it makes us laugh.

And then you met Nicole. From the first time we saw you two together, we knew. You laughed more. You listened differently. You became stronger, more complete. Nicole, you bring out the best in Alex, and you fit seamlessly into our family. Cindy and I love you dearly, and we are so grateful you chose each other.

But beyond words and stories…what I want to say, as his dad, is this: Alex, I have never been prouder of you than I am tonight. I’ve watched you grow from the most easygoing child…who could fall asleep anywhere after early morning swim practice…into a man who faces challenges head-on, who treasures his friends, and who has the courage to forge not just rings, but a future.

To Liz and Eric, thank you for raising such a wonderful daughter, and for opening your home and your hearts this weekend. This place, and this moment, will forever be a treasured memory for our family. And we can now check Maine off the bucket list.

Alex, you’re the kite…flying high, chasing ideas, trying to solve every problem.
Nicole, you’re the string…steady, grounded, keeping Alex tethered to reality…and maybe keeping him from departing too soon on his one-way trip to Mars.

Together, you make the perfect balance.

Please raise your glasses…to Alex and Nicole. May your love be as solid as the rings you wear, your laughter abundant, and your days long together.

I love you!

Cheers!

Have a great Sunday.

Love you guys!❤️

p.s. if anybody would like to share their photos from yesterday…feel free to send them to me. I was not able to snap many, so I’m dependent as always on others to play photographer. Thanks.