My Toast at Eric’s Wedding

This is the toast as it was originally written. As I was delivering it, I found that it was going much longer than I had anticipated, and quickly cut to the final few paragraphs. But for those who might be interested, here’s the entirety of what I was planning on saying.

So first off, I need to apologize. Eric had the amazing idea to leave this very important toast in the hands of his best friend, an antisocial engineer. You have no idea how nervous I’ve been, even Father Jude asked before the ceremony why Eric was so calm, yet I looked like a nervous wreck.

Everyone here that knows Eric, is already well aware that we’ve been friends for around ten years. After five years or so, I had thought I’d already watched him go through the good and the bad that life has to offer, but boy was I wrong. Once he got to know Cristina, he became a new man.

I really couldn’t help but mention Scranton at least once. The University of Scranton itself might be just another college, but for Eric, Cristina, myself, and many others in this room, it’s the place where we truly learned who were are, and how to enjoy life.

In high school, three people had a Thursday night ritual. Eric, TJ and I would cruise around in Eric’s Nissan, from West Side to wherever the road would take us. It was tradition; you might even say it was legendary. Then, a few years later, I began a new tradition; three people once again, this time, Cristina, Liz and I. We’d stay up watching Must See Tv, specifically Friends and ER. Truth is, I really hadn’t cared about those shows before I knew Liz and Cristina, I really just considered it an opportunity to spend time with some great friends.

So then when two of my favorite Thursday night friends finally got together, I couldn’t be happier. I still remember when Eric first asked for advice about Cristina. He might not remember, but he was driving down Mulberry Street, and mentioned his feelings for her as we talked about how hard it might be when she’s in Spain for the summer. I’m not sure exactly what I suggested, but the short version was that Cristina was an amazing person, and he couldn’t go wrong in trying.

So the next few years passed, just the same way you might read in a fairy tale. And I’m positive that every Scranton student here, are not only excited, but expected this day to come.

Marriage is a magical experience, and I couldn’t think of two happier, more deserving people, than Eric and Cristina to share it with one another. To single people like myself, you’re an inspiration, and to the married couples out there, you’re a beautiful reminder. And for that, we all thank you. Best wishes and God bless!

Cheers!