Ladies and Gentlemen — boys and girls —
I’m Tony – Adrian’s dad and on behalf of Lina, myself, and our family, we would like to welcome you all here today to celebrate the marriage of Lori and Adrian.
With the addition of Lori to our family, we are pleased also, to add David, Thelma and their family, to our extended group of family and friends.
Lori —-
For the last few years we have had the pleasure of to getting to know you. I am sure Adrian understands how utterly fortunate he is to have met you. We take this opportunity to welcome you to our family of Tania, Sanjay and Julia, and tell you that we are very happy to have you as one of us.
For Lina and myself, this is a very special day in our lives !
With this union and hopefully, the advent of minor additions, we are not referring to more cats, will provide us with life’s magnificent gifts.
We have been looking forward to this event for some time. There were many times when I was considering shooting the arrow, but to whom to shoot, in order to expedite.
There is much I could say about Adrian but you will be pleased to hear I will keep my speech to less than half an hour.
Adrian has always been a good son. You will note that I have not said a model son for there were times, particularly in year 1, when I was reviewing options for his colic and the stress it caused for all. Fortunately, this did pass and there is little more negative to report until the advent his driving license. Living ‘in-the-sticks’ Baden, motorized wheels for Adrian was like having a magic carpet on which to tour his realm — and what events did follow you may ask — well, we have not yet been fully informed.
Adrian is a professional, thoughtful, forward looking person and he often gives me ‘fatherly’ advice, which I truly do appreciate, even though I never take any notice.
I remember asking his 1st teacher in Kitchener for her comments — he was 6 at the time — she said, “He thinks beyond his years !”
This maturity and focus is what we see in his decision to marry Lori and move forward to the best, and most fulfilling years of their lives.
A good wife is the greatest treasure a man can have. We are confident that Adrian has found such a treasure. We trust that he will cherish Lori as much as we cherish him. May they have a long and happy life together and lots of visits from us so that we may see him becoming perfect like his dad.
Today, unfortunately, some VIPs are absent, particularly those from Italy and England — Lina’s and my countries of birth.
From Italy we are missing —
Dino and Rita Dianati [brother and sister-in-law]
— their daughter Ester and husband Sebastiano
Fabio and Lilia [brother and sister-in-law] and son Paolo
And from England we are missing —
Ann and Tony Barran [my sister and brother-in-law]:
— son Ian and their granddaughter Isabel
— son David and his partner Mary
I asked these VIPs to contribute some comments and sound advice for our couple —
As you are probably aware we Canadian Bashfords are also Italian but only Lina speaks the language so here’s Lina’s translation, of Don Dino’s contribution, to help us all —-
Dear Lori & Adrian:
Today, on this very special occasion, we would have liked to be with you to see the coronation of your love.
We wish you all the best on this joyous day.
Lori, we do not know you but we hope to meet you very soon.
It is also a very special day for Tony, Lina, and, David and Thelma whom we have not had the pleasure of meeting.
We are very proud to be a part of this international family.
Again, best wishes and congratulations from all of us —
— Dino, Rita, Ester, Sebastiano, Fabio, Lilia and Paolo
This is from Ann’s pen —
Congratulations Adrian & Lori on your marriage. We would have loved to have been with you in person to celebrate the start of your new life together, but as this was not to be, we will be with you in spirit and, at 7.00pm UK time, we will drink a toast to you both. Have a wonderful day.
Love from the Barrans
Ann, Tony, Ian, David, Mary and Isabel..

Lori must take the credit for the wedding plans with Adrian presiding as chancellor.
You have both done an excellent job and your brides maids and flower girls are looking fantastic.
And let’s not forget your courtiers — they too are looking sharp.
Finally, I would ask you all to join me in this toast:-
– Here’s to the past, for all you’ve learned.
– Here’s to the present for all that you share.
- And here’s to the future for all your plans together.
Family and friends, let’s raise a glass and toast to a lifetime of love and happiness for Lori and Adrian, the new Mr. and Mrs. Bashford.
[Also included is the full text from my uncle in Italy, who sent best regards on behalf of our Italian family]
Dino’s pen —–
Dall’Italia con affetto:
Cari Lori ed Adrian,
oggi è un giorno che ricorderete per sempre e vorremmo tanto poter essere tutti lì con voi per condividere la gioia che merita il coronamento del vostro amore.
Cari ragazzi, state per costituire una nuova famiglia, un momento fondamentale della vostra vita, perchè la famiglia è l’istituto più importante di ogni società civile, il pilastro su cui è basata l’organizzazione sociale e il progresso.
La famiglia, con la sua solidità, consente di superare le bufere e gli Tsunami spesso provocati dalla avidità e scarsa capacità di chi ci governa ed è inoltre l’approdo sicuro di ognuno di noi nei momenti di difficoltà che purtroppo la vita può riservare. Per questo la giornata odierna è per voi così importante e vi auguriamo che la strada che state iniziando a percorrese insieme sia illuminata da stelle fortunate.
Da parte nostra siamo onorati di appartenere a una famiglia così “internazionale”.
Un pensiero in questo giorno di felicità va a Lina e Tony e ai genitori di Lori, che per ora non abbiamo il piacere di conoscere. Cari genitori forse in futuro dovrete abituarvi a vedere un po’ di meno i vostri “bambini”, ma questo sarà compensato dal piacere di vederli felici e sereni.
Di nuovo tanti auguri a tutti,
Dino, Rita, Ester, Fabio, Lilia e Paolo.
