Making a speech at a wedding is never an easy thing. You get the usual jokes and funny one liners.

However today is a special occasion. Today is the start of a new chapter for Antony and Ghida. A new family has been created, a new chapter is about to be penned. So my challenge to you both is to fill your book with the story of your choosing. Do not let customs, religion or society get in your way. Do not accept that anything is normal. Take advice with a pinch of salt. Always remember what brought you together and look back fondly of the memories you make.

Ant has the ability to “go long”, as one will know by some of the events he has done. Any has run the Two Oceans, Comrades and the Baffer 100km Trail Run to name a few. Ant has risen to the top of his studies and he is completing his Doctorate at present. Ant is not scared of hard work and dedication, but more importantly Ant knows how to have fun, to enjoy the process, enjoy the journey.  Ghida you have found the prefect gentleman in Ant, he is one of the rare ones and that is why Bruce and I agreed to be his best men. He is one of us.

At the bachelors party we asked Ant to give us a few good reasons that he has chosen to get married. Well Ant could not give us any particular reasons. He just said that he knows that Ghida is the one and they are ready. That is a blessing. If Ant had said because he wanted kids, or because he was getting older, everyone else is doing it or anything else it could have potentially been  a problem down the line, because things change, we change, life doesn’t always play out the way we expect. Face the tough decisions together, stand together in the good times and smile at each other, go out there and have fun, and make the most of this adventure called life.

Well done to both of you, Ant and Ghida, for standing together and starting a new life.

Ant don’t give up on your dreams, don’t change the person that Ghida fell in love with. Invite your new wife to share in your adventures, invite your wife to be your new best friend and you will have a long happy marriage. Go out and take on the world, live life large and take chances.