aki's wedding toast

Good evening, everyone. I'm Apurva Kumar - most of you know me as Apu. On behalf of the groom’s family, our parents Kamita and Vasantha Kumar, as well as the bride’s family, and her parents, Cheri and Ben Burnsed, we want to welcome each of you to the reception today. It is a true tribute to Aki and Rachel that you have traveled to Reno to celebrate this joyous occasion with us.

I am sure you will agree that this has turned out to be a fabulous event. Aki, I would like to extend my thanks to you for giving me the chance to fulfill one of my childhood dreams of becoming Mr. Frodo, the ring bearer. I would like to also thank you for finally admitting, after all these years, that I indeed am the best man!

When Aki first asked me to be the best man, I wasn't really sure what my responsibilities were supposed to be. So I asked around, & was told that my main duties for today were:
1. To ensure that the groom arrives on time
2. To make sure he is sober, &
3. Make sure he is looking good
Well 2 out of 3 isn’t bad, after all I’m the best man, not a plastic surgeon!

I’m standing here tonight, pretty boastful I have to admit, of my brother, Aki, and his lovely bride, Rachel. I am here to sing their praises, and share with you some of my most endearing moments with them, and the many values that I've learnt from them.

Aki, I begin with you. And no, I do not intend to share "the" incident from stag night. On second thought, maybe I should. So here goes.... Tim, the oversee-er, Chris, the generous tipper, Alex, the silent Frenchman, and yours truly, the Best Man - 4 men with unscrupulous values, took the young bachelor out for his last night on the town. Relax guys (looking at tim, chris, alex), I am not about to violate our non-disclosure agreement. Lets just suffice it to say that we tempted Aki with a wide variety of delicious entrées, and sumptuous delights. Aki was totally impressed, but absolutely uninterested, and so not in the mood, for food. In fact, Aki was busy clicking away on his phone. So I snatched the phone away from him, only to find that he was sending the sweetest text message to Rachel - it read "i love you my hindi bunni". That night, while the rest of us foolhardy bachelors were indulging in sensory overload, Aki and Rachel were busy exchanging lovey-dovey messages.

Aki, you are our lighthouse, our beacon, our lone star, you are the solitary oak in a meadow of wavering reeds, you are the Shepard leading us hapless bachelors from the valley of darkness into the glory of marital salvation. And most importantly, you have taught me that it does not matter where you get your appetite, as long as you eat at home!

Rachel, you look stunning as always. I have not seen a more beautiful bride. I've had the honor of knowing you for many years. You are a terrific person. You are beautiful, smart, funny, loving, and caring. Your qualities read like a list of “who’s who?”.

Most of us know that Aki is short for Akarsha. Translated from Sanskrit, it means "man with a magnetic personality" - magnetic as in attractive, not bipolar. Most of us have come to realize over the years that Rachel is at the core of Aki's magnetism. She stood by him through his highs and lows, his victories and his struggles, and most importantly, she has endured the cacophony of his blues harmonica, and she has promised today to do so for the rest of their lives.

Aki and Rachel, I am filled with great pride and admiration as I watch you take on the role of husband and wife. Both of you are wonderful individuals, and together you make the perfect couple!

Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses and join me in a toast to the groom with a bride so fair, and the bride with a groom so rare!

To Rachel and Aki, the Bride and Groom!!
Cheers!