Thanks Ashley for all your kind words - I guess that I need to respond now, but don't worry, I'll try to keep this fairly short.
Well, Ash has already welcomed everyone here,but let me add Elyse and my personal thanks to my grandparents Bobba, Granny and Zeida, and to my aunts and uncles Goldie, Labe, Chaim and Myrna for coming in from South Africa and Israel to be with us today. It has been great having the whole Milun family together with us.
It has been quite a year: I finally graduated with my PhD; Elyse's sister Jodi got married, as did her step-sister Alison, and her cousin Dawn; Elyse's cousin Carly had her bat mitzvah a few months ago, and my cousin Dael has his bar mitzvah in Israel a few weeks. And now, as the year draws to a close, Elyse and I get married. Wow! May every year be this full of simchas.
So, down to business: time for thank yous.
To Ma and Dad, thanks for everything! You've been wonderful these past few weeks, managing to keep umpteen people in the house, and still having time for me. And, of course, not only these past weeks, but all my life - I could not have asked for better, more caring, more loving and supportive parents. Thanks again!
To my siblings, Ashley and Lynne. Thanks again Ash for being Best Man. And thanks for everything, always. It's great to have a brother who is a good friend as well. And Lynne, even though we have not spent much time in the same city over the past few years, thanks for being a great sister.
To my in-laws, Marvin and Randy. Thanks for all your support, and for welcoming me into your family.
I must also mention Elyse's late mother. I am sorry that I never got a chance to meet her, but I am sure that she would be very proud today.
To Jodi and Eddie thanks for putting up with me, hopefully I can put up with you. :-)
Thank you to Rabbi Shay Mintz, who flew down from Buffalo with his wife Layla to perform the ceremony for us. It is great to have you here, and being married by you was a great honor.
And, to all the Bridesmaids and Ushers, thanks! I know that some of our arrangements were slightly on the late side, but everything worked out in the end. Thanks for being part of our wedding.
And, last, but definitely not least, Elyse. It is truely wonderful that you are now my beautiful bride. What more an I say than I Love You!
Thank you all for coming here today to help us celebrate this simcha. Now that the speech is over, I can relax, so why don't you all relax and enjoy yourselves too.