I have to give the "Father of the bride speech" at my sisters wedding...

[SerendipityAlways]

As the eldest sister my youngest sister has asked me to give the father of the bride speech at her wedding next month - my Dad passed away a few yrs ago. I haven't prepared the speech yet and now need to put something on paper. Any advice urgently needed - Im just so nervous about getting too emotional during the speech as its at moments like this my Dads absence will be felt the most...I want to keep it short with at least one bit of humour

oh the places you will go by dr seuss.
slightly adapted would make the perfect wedding speech

Oh the Places YouÆll Go - Dr Seuss
Congratulations!
Today is your day.
YouÆre off to Great Places!
YouÆre off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
YouÆre on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the couple whoÆll decide where to go.
YouÆll look up and down streets. Look æem over with care.
About some you will say, ôWe donÆt choose to go there.ö
With your heads full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
youÆre too smart to go down, any not-so-good street.
And you may not find any
youÆll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
youÆll head straight out of town.
ItÆs opener there
in the wide open air,
Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.
And when things start to happen,
donÆt worry. DonÆt stew.
Just go right along.
YouÆll start happening too.
OH! THE PLACES YOUÆLL GO!
YouÆll be on your way up!
YouÆll be seeing great sights!
YouÆll join the high fliers
who soar to great heights!
You wonÆt lag behind, because youÆll have all the speed.
YouÆll pass the whole gang, and youÆll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly youÆll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
Except when you donÆt.
Because sometimes, you wonÆt.
YouÆll get mixed up of course,
as you already know.
YouÆll get mixed up
with so many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with great care and great tact
and remember that LifeÆs a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will indeed!
(98 and + percent guaranteed.)
KIDS, YOUÆLL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
So, be your name Buxbaum or Dowrie or Bass
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen OÆShea,
youÆre off to great places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So à get on your way!

A friend of mines sister did this for her brother at his wedding and it was very moving but also funny. She listed the marvelous things and rather odd things/stories about about him which were funny and moving and after each anecdote said - but its all ok 'because we love you'. Tales from childhood and older years. I liked the phrase 'we' as it implied it was a family sentiment for those who had passed and something the wedding party could also buy into. As though she was talking for the whole family.

Love that Dr Seuss. Have you seen 'in her shoes'? Love Cameron Diaz wedding speech buy it's quite emotional. I would have a little emotion and a little humor. My dad took our names and went into the meaning of them, plus gave us silly gifts to reflect the meaning, so I got a sunflower because my name means light. It was brilliant!