Best Man Speech - Receives Standing Ovation

Wow, I can't believe tonight is finally here. Can we please have a round of applause for Tifa Cecil, mom and dad, and of course the bride and the groom. All of your hard work has finally paid off. This night and this entire weekend has been absolutely perfect. And we also owe a round of applause to each of you, our family and friends who have traveled from near and from halfway across the world to be with us tonight. I know I speak on behalf of the entire family when I say that we are truly grateful for your presence. Tonight is an emotional night for me. Mara or Ate, as I lovingly call her, is my only sister. And Mark or Papi, as I lovingly call him, well somehow I always thought that instead of my sister, he would choose me. My sister was raised around my brother and I, so we take great pride in knowing that we taught her how to be a bro. It's a good thing too because as the name suggests, Mark Anthony Hermano is the bro-iest bro of all the bros in the entire bro nation. I'm convinced that in another lifetime, Mark and I have been friends since diapers. But I'm glad our children will have that opportunity. And I'm also glad that we'll be friends all the way until we're once again in diapers. I was so honored when Mark asked me to be his best man. I wasn't expecting it at all. He even gave a speech before he asked. It's the closest thing I'll ever get to a proposal. In a unique way, this not only reflects all the experiences that we've shared in the past, but is also a promise and a celebration of all the wonderful things that we're destined to share together in the future. It's funny that we're once again talking about the future. It seemed like not so long ago when tonight, their wedding night, was the distant future. It was a future that started almost seven years ago. I still remember when I met Mark. We were outside of Emerson Alumni Hall at the University of Florida. Go Gators. And I had this whole elaborate plan set out. I was going to be the strong, tough, and macho brother that sent out the message, hey buddy, my sister is not one to be messed with. The moment comes, we finally meet. What's up bro? He says. I'm Mark. I've heard so much about you and I'm excited to get to know you. I turn, look at Hopper and say, oh man, I love this guy already. Mark really did have me at hello. Since that first moment, we've shared so many great memories together. And I'm sure you guys can probably guess what the common theme is. Always. One drunken night as undergrads, we decided that it would be best for me to sleep on a mattress in the kitchen floor. For easy access to breakfast. Of course, we didn't wake up in time for breakfast. Once on a fancy dinner cruise, we decided that in order to save money, instead of buying food, we should just order a bunch of bottles of wine and then go to McDonald's afterwards. Of course, we got really hungry on that dinner cruise and we ordered a bunch of food anyway. And on September day, he told me that he was ready to propose to my sister. We were drunk and peeing on a dumpster. It was perfect. I wouldn't have it any other way. And as many of you know, who have seen the video, I was very happy when he proposed. You can definitely see it in my face. Not only is Mark charming, adventurous, and a really good drinking partner. He's also one of the most inspirational people that I know. He's inspired me in so many ways and he probably doesn't even know the half of it. In the late 1940s, most physiologists concluded that it was not possible for the human body to run a mile in under four minutes. However, on May 6th, 1954, a 25-year-old med student by the name of Roger Bannister crossed that four-minute threshold with a time of three minutes and 59.4 seconds. Not even 70 days later, another man ran the mile in under four minutes. And at the next international competition, four people ran that mile in under four minutes. Without knowing, Mark has been my Roger Bannister. Without having to say any words, he's pushed his own boundaries and he's run his own race. When I saw him get accepted into the school of his dreams, a place we once thought of as impossible, I decided to go after mine. And I couldn't believe it, but a few months ago, they said yes. Thank you, bro. I wouldn't have even applied had you not crossed that four-minute threshold first. Mark has been there through so many things, all of our life's ups and downs, from beers to books, from friends to families, and everything in between. Mark has always been there for us, even at some of the lowest times in our lives. A few years ago, when my younger brother Hopper was diagnosed with leukemia, I started writing letters to myself as a creative outlet. On January 24, 2015, I wrote this. Hopper will receive your bone marrow through an IV drip that lasts about four hours. And at the end of it, 50 family and friends will squeeze into this small hospital room and you'll sing him happy birthday, a Shands transplant unit tradition celebrating his new chance at life. One of those 50 people will be Mark. He'll fly in for just a few hours, just so that he could sing that special happy birthday to Hopper. One day when the time is right, don't forget to thank Mark for being so good to both you and Hopper. Don't forget to let him know that those memories inside that hospital are some of the best that you'll ever have. And don't forget to tell him just how much you thank God for giving you and Hopper another brother. Mark has this special way of bringing people together. I've been so fortunate to meet people from all parts of his life. I want to give a special shout out to the bros who are there both in spirit and in their physical form. So in New Orleans, Mark continues to say that it was one of the best experiences that he's ever had. And we have you to thank for that. And I continue to say that our 14-man karaoke crew in front of over 500 people was one of the best memories of mine. You're right, Andy, Dancing Queen was the perfect song choice. Mark and I have this dream of a future where we're neighbors, yachts, indoor basketball courts, and barbecues on Saturday afternoons before the Gator Games in the fall. But even if none of those fancy things happen, I'll know that we could have anything that we can ever ask for in this life, happiness, love, and family. I think it's ingrained in brothers to always look after their sisters. It's something that their fathers teach them from when they're children. They always hope that they'll find a man who'll love and care for them for the rest of their days. I'll never forget when I knew that Mark was that man. I was told at a young age that if you want to know how a man would treat his wife, you should watch how he treats his mother. So when I first saw Mark with his mom, I watched. I watched as he would move heaven and earth to make her happy. I watched as he would schedule his Florida plans not around his friends or my sister, but around Tita Cecile's days off. And I watched as he would love and converse and care for his mom like she was the most special woman in the world. The first time I watched to know, but I haven't stopped watching since in simple admiration. I cannot tell you how much joy it brings to my heart to know that you, Mark, are that man. That we've been hoping for for so long. And to know that my sister has finally found her prince. I wish that I could give you two marriage advice on how to have a long, successful, and happy marriage, but I usually ask you for relationship advice. One thing I can offer, though, is a reminder of everything that you and your love has taught me over the years. You've shown me just how patient and kind love truly is. You've shown me that love is worth persevering for through all of its challenges, through family illness, through long-distance relationships, and through the multiple rejections that my sister gave you at the beginning. And most importantly, you've shown me that the most important foundation of love is friendship. I hope that you never stop singing and dancing as only you two can. I hope that you never stop taking your late-night Taco Bell runs and stealing all the fire sauce. And I hope that your love, laughter, and smiles will never stop filling up an entire presidential hall. So, it is without further ado that I would like to propose a toast to Mark, my brother, to my sister, my sister, and to your love. I know it will last forever. To Mark and Mara.