Courtney + Adam Proof 2

Courtney + Adam

Courtney + Adam FEBRUARY 27, 2021 B R I D G E W AT E R C O U N T RY E S TAT E

Courtney’s vows I’m so humbled to be standing in front of you here, because I know with everything in me that I really have found my one in 7.8 billion. I’ve won the lottery. You are the absolute best. You stole my hear t when I was 18 and now it will always be yours. Today, I have the absolute honour of becoming your wife. I promise to honour and respect you, to take on your dreams and ambitions as my own and to always see you through the same eyes and hear t that I see you in this exact moment. And when I’m in a mood, I will try. I love you now and I will love you always. You love me and complete me in ways I never knew possible. From this day four th, I promise to listen to you and learn from you, to suppor t you and accept your ever-constant suppor t. I will celebrate your successes and mourn your losses as though they were my own. Because they are mine - we’re a team. You’re my best friend and my one and only true love. We have grown together, laughed together, cried together, tested each other’s patience way too many times... and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Your incredible kindness, suppor t and love inspires me to be a better person in every single way. To put it simply, you make me a better person. Adam Douglas Parlane, I Cour tney Paige Jenner give you my hand, my hear t, my commitment and love forever and always.

Adam’s vows Cour tney, my love for you is immense, you are the most amazing person I know. I am unbelievably lucky to be on these steps holding hands with you today. So lucky I’ve bought lotto tickets - just in case. With you life is easy, you are always by my side in good times and bad. No matter what gets thrown at us I know we will come out on top. With these vows I give myself to you in marriage, today, and until the day I die. I vow to be the man that you inspire me to be, and the man that you deserve. I will spend every day I have left on this ear th showering you with love and faithful commitment.

I vow to be the most dependable person in your life, to put your needs before my own and to help and suppor t you chase your dreams. I promise to remove birds gifted by Bmo, whether dead or alive; to brighten your day and to make you laugh when you are feeling down. I promise to send you cute videos and to kiss you 6 times before going to sleep.

I promise to always let you be right, some of the time. I promise to be the best husband, and in the future, father that I could possibly be during both good times and bad. I, Adam Douglas Parlane, love you, Cour tney Paige Jenner, and with all my hear t, wish to marry you.

Our guests Vicki Eades

Lisa Lepor t-Symonds

Jan Sinclair

Nick Baskett

Irene Sowerby

Stefanie White

Calvin Hurne

Matt Baskett

Alex Sowerby-Parlane

Deb Lyttle

Joanne McClean

Jess Baskett

Ashton Sowerby-Hadley

Steve Hales

Nick McKenzie

Jon Thorn

Glenn Raka

Kendal Read

Georgia Gibson

Vanessa Nash

Kat Raka

Colleen Robinson

Daniel Sinclair

Dane Wilson

Mark Sowerby

Denise Jenner

Josh Sinclair

Jamie Brown

Lynda Sowerby

Terry Jenner

Carolyn Por ter

Rhiannon Walker

Sylvea Mellor

Frans Beever

Chris Por ter

Kare Ronald

Peter Mellor

Annmaree Beever

Raymond Mountfor t

Marina Maxwell

Sonia Parlane

Collin Sinclair

Leila Massey

Mark Werpachowski

Mac Parlane

Ivor Feau’u-Marsh

Alex Fergusson

Nik Glamuzina

Doug Parlane

Melissa Jenner

Andrea Sutton

Shannon Naude

Liam Parlane

Helen Jenner

Jeanine Caffery

Ben Parker

Phil Vandermeer

David Jenner

Sirwan Shakari

Tori Thirlwall

Ross Blake

Shane Jenner

Brett Dyson

Tommy Davis

Linda Blake

Michael Jenner

Susan Dyson

Alessandro Stollenwerk

Keri Henare

Brooke Chapman

Victoria Verissimo

Cavallaro

Scott Bain

Phil Sinclair

Sophie Buchan

Dylan Yildiz

Megan Cornere

Ruth Sinclair

Elliot Henwood

Keegan Gilder

Kelly Mann

Ken Birch

Cour tney Bragg

Adele Jenner

Bride

Groom

Cour tney Jenner

Adam Parlane

Maid of honour

Best man

Jordan Gleeson

Manu Dawber

Bridesmaids

Groomsmen

Ashleigh Jenner

Nat Johnson

Brooke Jenner

Taine Barr

Lauren Jenner

Matthew Parsons

Soheila Shakari

Chris Wiggins

Celebrant

MC

Peter Lyttle

Jono Baskett

Terry's speech I am Terry and I am the F.O.B. not the friggen old bastard but rather, Father of The Bride. I think given the circumstances of what is happening in the world and NZ, par ticularly early last week, we are very privileged to all be here tonight and having 100 people these days is quite special so we are very blessed to be here. I want to star t with Denise, the M.O.B – most outstanding beauty, also Mother Of The Bride.

Darling, thank you for producing such a beautiful daughter, in fact 4 beautiful daughters and still looking as amazing as you do tonight. I’m not sure whether I am supposed to be saying anything about this but a very hear t felt thanks from me for your contribution in making this special event happen. I was the good husband, father, dad and just kept in background and did was I was told to do when I was told to do it – good man. A very quick thank you to everyone else who helped bring this very special event together, a lot of people here who did a lot of things behind the scenes so thank you very much. Irene. MOG – No, I don’t know you well enough to put another label to that and I’m not stupid so you are Mother Of The Groom. Irene in all seriousness, a very hear tfelt thanks for raising such a fine young man as Adam, and also encouraging him to share the rest of his life with our daughter. You have done an awesome job and it’s a real honour to have you, Alex and Ashton and your extended family to join the Jenner clan – thank you. Cour tney – I’ve got to star t Cour tney by saying over the years I’ve probably said many things and done a few things that have embarrassed the living daylights out of you. Well tonight I get my chance to say sorry, darling – tonight it will be different, tonight it IS intentional. Shor tly after Cour tney was born, she became this blonde, playful, spirited little human being that was so full of energy that I realized I’ve got my own little Dude and that is how Cour tney is affectionately known to me as my little Dude. You always will be my Dude, darling. But now as I look across the table at a stunningly beautiful young woman, in an absolutely gorgeous, if not slightly overpriced, wedding gown, I can’t help but look back on the last 25 years of your life that we have had together where I was the man in your life, but now you are moving on to a new era as you should be, I can’t help but reflect on the times we have had together. From the first time I saw you, I couldn’t even believe the difference that you were going to make in my life. You have brought out a range of emotions in me, ranging from excitement, happiness, frustration, head banging, all sor ts of things, sadness, there’s been a couple of times you have made me cry – a couple of which I won’t mention. But there’s times that you split your eyebrow, broke the bones in your foot and it saddens me that being your dad, I wasn’t there to protect you and prevent them from happening so I’m sorry darling, but that’s what life is. Then of course there’s the accident you had when driving to school where you ploughed through a fence and into a paddock and I’m at work at the fire station and get this call ‘dad… dad I’ve had an accident’ so being the good dad I am, ‘is the car okay?’ no, Cour tney knows that’s not true. The first thing you want to know is that your little girl is okay. So being the good fix it man I phoned the Papakura Fire Station to ask them to go up and make sure she’s okay. Sor t of right through to those special moments talking about emotions, right through to when you have said something, or done something that has absolutely made me melt – thank you darling. Over the years, you’ve given me so much to cherish and so much to be proud of, but tonight you have given me something that goes beyond everything -you’ve given me a son. So Cour tney, I am grateful to be your dad, I am proud of the beautiful woman you have become, and tonight I feel a very special, different kind of pride as I hand you over to the new man in your life, and you guys get to star t your new adventure together.

I’m so excited about Adam… Every Father lives in fear, fear of THAT day that his little girl brings ‘the boy’ home to her dad. But in retrospect I shouldn’t have worried about that boy who comes and knocks on my front door because any boy that does make it there has already been vetted, facebook checked, police checked etc but the mother and three other daughters. So I gather, anyone that does make it past the extensive background check, is more than welcome to knock on my front door. Cour tney first met Adam 7.5 years ago, but it actually wasn’t until he met me, that he thought shivers I’ve got to be par t of this family. Adam looked at me and thought here’s a guy that has survived all these years in a house with 5 woman, he’s got to be amazing, have a few tricks up his sleeve and he’s got to have some pretty good advice.

Well Adam, I’ve been trying for many many years, and ive just about perfected it but still haven’t got it quite right. There’s three bits of advice I can give you, the first one is shut up. Even when you know you are right, shut up. 2. Selective hearing is a really good skill to acquire. And the third one, you star t up a you put in, they take out bank account – it’s great. No in all seriousness Adam, there’s only two words you need to remember to have a really happy, contentive life and that’s unconditional love. Adam, I know in my hear t that you will treat Cour tney well, you will look after her, you will protect her and its not because I have a gun at home, its because of that mama bear over there – you don’t want to go there fulla. Seriously again though, I have seen the changes in you over the last 7.5 years, I am very proud of the man you have become, and I am honoured to call you son. Thanks Adam. So ladies and gentlemen if you would be upstanding please, it is my pleasant duty to propose a toast to the happy couple. Here’s to the past for all that you’ve learnt, here’s to the present for all that you share and here’s to the future for everything you have to look forward to.

Denise's speech They say daughters are a precious gift, and when we found out we were expecting our second daughter, we were stoked and that was very early on in the pregnancy. We had a beautiful name picked out, so every day I talked to Cour tney Paige, we talked about everything. We went through the 7 months of the pregnancy with me talking to her as if she was here. That’s how it was and that’s who I am, so by the time Cour tney was born, she quite clearly entered this world knowing who she was, she had a huge sense of belonging and knowing what she wanted. I suppose she was the most pleasant gift to us, she did things quite differently to her older sister, but she was this litte character who changed our lives. By the time she got to the day after her second bir thday, she got the gift she had been waiting for – a baby doll that was alive. When I brought home two babies a week later, she was over the moon. One day when I had finished feeding the twins and they were in the bouncer, I told her to talk to Brookie, so she leaned on Brookie and I wrapped Lauren up quickly and rushed her to the bedroom and as I was coming back to get Brooke there was Cour tney bringing me the baby – she was two years old stumbling down the hall with a big beaming smile on her face. Instead of yelling, I talked her through it, she handed me Brooke and it blew me away. It wasn’t until after I thought about that and I thought omg she had it all under control – from that day on she watched everything I did and whatever I did with Lauren, she did with Brooke. I should have just relaxed cause she had it all under control. She has continued growing into her life, knowing who she is, loving what she does, if shes got something she has made her mind up, it doesn’t matter who you are or how many different languages you try to tell her, it makes no difference. She does it her way. That is one of her gifts that she has. Caused us some grief, day number one at School, theres a bully in the class and Cour tney sor ted her out – took the bully out, teaches were delighted that finally someone sor ted her out but day one she got detention.

No one messed with her after that. From then on she continued to grow into this beautiful young lady. Having four girls it was a little bit nutty in our house, often, and whenever there was a mess going down you could guarantee this one was par t of it. She never let on but behind the scenes she was always involved. Then of course she met Adam, at that stage we didn’t know Adam as we do now, and we can absolutely understand why she gravitated towards him, he’s adventurous, he’s fun, he loves life and he had this incredible plan. He knew who he was and where he was going, and he just has this driving force that was an attraction she obviously couldn’t resist. We weren’t to know at that stage, but he was going to be the love of her life. It was obviously very special for her and as Adam became there more then he wasn’t, in our lives, its been an absolute treasure. He’s the son Terry never had, and he deserves a little bit of man, male set up in the house. He’s an absolute gift, you’re an amazing young man and we couldn’t have wished anyone better for Cour tney. When it came to Cour tney joining me in real estate, no one knew at that stage it was going to be a long term thing, but what hit me right from the star t, once she adjusted to the industry, was she is a very capable young lady, she is passionate and has time for everybody. It doesn’t matter who you are, how old you are, where you have come from, she always has time for everybody. Over the years and since she has joined me, I stand back in awe and it is me who is watching and learning from Cour tney, to become a better person. An absolute treasure. It is now their time, you have a fabulous journey ahead, we love you to bits both of you, we are always going to be here for you so go well Cour tney and Adam, we cant wait to be par t of whats to come.

Irene's speech For those of you who know me know that I hate talking and I hate microphones. For those of you who don’t know me, consider yourselves lucky, but yes as you all have heard, I am Adam’s mum, and a very proud mum – especially today.

First off, I would like to say what an honour it was to be asked by Adam and Cour tney to give a speech this evening. As I contemplated what to say, many thoughts came to mind, and it was pretty overwhelming but I am going to try and not get too emotional. But if you know me, and know how much I love my children, you’ll understand how challenging its going to be. I’m also going to try and keep this shor t and sweet, just like the beautiful bride. Cour tney, you are an amazing young lady, and I feel blessed to be able to officially call you my daughter in law – even though I’ve been calling you that for years now. You bring such joy to our lives, with your hear t of gold, your caring, compassionate, fun – loving, respectful nature and I love how you can knock Adam off his self-made pedestal when it’s required. To Denise and Terry, I say thank you. Thank you for being the amazing couple you are and for raising four beautiful daughters. You are showing these kids that love, friendship, commitment and strength is what it takes to succeed in marriage. I don’t think there’s another family out there that would have opened their home and their hear ts to Adam with as much love and respect that you guys have over the last 7.5 years, and for that I am truly grateful. Long may it continue as the bond between our families grows and flourishes.

Although, on the family subject Adam, I would like to mention an off hand comment you made a few years ago that will haunt him for many years to come. Back in the early years of their relationship, Adam would come home from being with Cour tney and her family, and sometimes talk about the sisters and different things they were doing, study, jobs etc, Adam’s sister Alex and I used to ask so which one is she again, when he was sharing different stories as I struggled to get my head around who was who and who came where in the pecking line. To which he replied, in typical Adam fashion, don’t worry, its not like you’ll ever get to meet them. In which we did, and have many times over the last few years. Today, I watched all three of those amazing sisters suppor t Adam and Cour tney as they united our families officially, and I thank them.

I believe I should be telling you some funny stories of Adam’s teenage years, but if you don’t know the sagas of his misspent youth, we should probably keep it that way. Although he hasn’t always been the fine upstanding lad you watched pledge his love to Cour tney earlier, but he’s always been the son I have been proud of, admittedly some days more than others. He was generally an okay kid, especially when you hear some of the horror stories, I think I did get off lightly.

He has always been a hard worker, who responded well to guidance and boundaries, even when pushing me and the boundary rope right to the edge. He has set himself many goals over the years, and pushed himself to achieve them, I know he is still setting goals and I know he will achieve them, especially with Cour tney by his side as they work through their goals together. One thing I will share is that most of his school repor ts, especially high school, while academically were usually covered with excellences and merits, generally also had comments such a very smar t but could try harder, or the regular one and my all time favourite, can do better. Well today I fully believe that comment is finally redundant, you’ve done good Adam, I don’t believe there is any better than Cour tney. Adam and Cour tney, you are an amazing couple, and I hope as you walk along life’s path together, side by side, you look back on this day fondly as I believe you will remember it as one of the happiest days of your lives, as it is definitely one of mine. Just one thing left to do guys, please join me in raising our glasses to my little Adman and Cour tney.

Ash's speech For those of you who don’t know, Courtney has the privilege of being able to call us her three sisters. I’m Ash, this is Lauren and Brooke – the twins. Cour tney is our middle sis and we hear middle children can often feel a bit stuck in the middle. But what she probably doesn’t know is she has actually been the first in a lot of ways. Dude you were my first little real-life doll, my first little friend, but I quickly learnt you are going to be my confident, determined and sassy little friend. When I was about 6, Cour t was 3 and she knew that I couldn’t whistle. When I came home from school she was very stoked to show me that not only had dad taught her how to tie her own shoe laces, she could now whistle. As the older sister, I’ve often been concerned about how I can be the suppor tive big sis and how I can be a role model to my little sisters – Cour t was the first one to teach me that I had actually learnt a lot more from them. Dude you have taught me how to care so well and selflessly for others, whether that is for family, friends or animals like a stray sheep on the side of the road, Cour tney will literally pull over, lift the sheep over the fence back into the paddock, before continuing on to work again. Caring for others is her first response, never to gain accolades for herself – she has volunteered at Starship, Make A Wish, SPCA and many others where I know she has made a huge impact on those people she has met. As your older sister, I am so proud of the woman you have become and the amazing brother you have brought into our lives and you both inspire me so much.

Lauren’s speech Where do I begin? Cour t, Corney or as I most commonly call her, Peach. We have shared so many special moments over the years – some over a couple of vinos, a couple of vodkas, or over a bottle of Pamol. As Ash illuded to, Cour t was the first of many for us, and one of these was she was the first to successfully be able to open a bottle of Pamol at the age of 4. Cour t and I were on mum and dad’s bed in Papamoa, Cour t being 4 and I was 2, we got stuck in to a bottle of Pamol. When I say we got stuck in, Cour t got stuck in and I just watched. Mum then came in all flustered, noticed the empty bottle of Pamol and Cour t blamed me. Mum rushed me to hospital, and dropped the girls off at Luigi and Karin’s house on the way, where I was supposed to get my stomach pumped, however my bloods showed my levels were too low to have drunk that much Pamol.

Meanwhile Cour t is back at Luigi and Karin’s house vomiting her guts up cause she was the one who drunk the Pamol. Fond memories! Something I admire and value about Cour t is we always have each other’s back through thick and thin. Another first was when we successfully snuck Cour t out of the country at 17 to go to Aussie on a girls trip. Still not sure whether mum and dad know this to the day, but that was a big win for the girls. Cour t was also the first one to successfully injure me. At Ash’s leaving par ty to University, Cour t and I were fighting and long story shor t my face was slammed into a door. Dad was almost on the siffs radar as we lied about how the injury happened. Cour t you have the kindest soul and such an infectious personality. Your willingness to give and put others first, especially animals, is admirable. I value this about you and am constantly learning from you and looking up to you even though you might not know. Adam, yaaaas we finally have a brother! Most young girls often dream about their wedding day and marrying the love of their life, but when I was a little girl I would dream about having a brother, and today my dream came true. Adam, what a legacy you have created for the rest of us, you have set the bar pretty high and I wouldn’t have it any other way. So goodluck to the rest of the guys who come in and try to get to the other side. Im incredibly proud of what you have achived over the last 7.5 years Adam, it was fairly early on we star ted calling you our brother but today it is official and very real. I, well Scotty and I, love spending time with you both – all of our adventures, concerts and summer trips we will cherish forever and I cant wait for many many more to come. We love you both so much and we are super excited for you guys – the genuine power couple.

Brooke’s speech Dudey, you are the first one to give whether it is your time, your energy, your hear t, or a cheeky punch to a bully on your first day of School – but that is a story we now all know. To me, you were my first unofficial caregiver, because two of us came along at once, you were bumped out of the stroller and you had to put your big girl pants on and grow up real quick. Then, when mum would carry Lal around, you were given me, instead of a little baby born doll you had always asked for. All of those qualities you showed as a two year old looking after me, are some of the qualities that make you so darn special today. Everyone in this room would have seen it at some stage or another, wther it is in the way you played vet to all of the lambs you did mini surgeries on over the years, or the way you would show passion in incrementable volumes for the people you worked with and for in Real Estate and all of the other jobs you have held, and in the way you have a massive hear t for others – especially this hunk over here. Finally us girls could not be happier, because today is the day you have given us our very first brother. Adam we are beyond blessed that our wee gal has picked somebody as amazing as you and a par tner that brings out the absolute best in our sister.

Together you make a truly perfect pair. Happy wedding!

Alex's speech So first, im not great at speeches and it is written on the back of a receipt. For those of you who say you don’t know me, stop lying – we all know I am Adam’s annoying little sister, Alex. So annoying in fact, when he went to his Dilwor th interview at age 9, when asked why would you want to come here Adam, his answer was to get away from my annoying little sister, as much to mums disgust. TO adams disgust, I became an annoying little sister to all his friends as well. We have definitely had our ups and downs growing up and weren’t always as close as we are now. I mean, he used to con me out of my own pocket money – for some reason I used to think he had more fashion sense than me and we came to the agreement that he could lay out my weeks outfits for half my pocket money, and me being the little sister I took it up – there goes $2.50 every week. In all seriousness though, Adam, through thick and thin you have always been there for me. You have been my big brother and I look up to you in so many ways. I am sooo proud of the man you have become and of course giving me a sister. Like the girls, who always wanted a brother, I always wanted a sister and mum refused, and he could not have picked a better sister. As Brooke reminded me last night, not only did I gain one sister, I gained four – this is the best day of my life. We all know Cour tney stuck around for me and not Adam, but you guys are an amazing aunty and uncle to my monkey Ash and I hope you know how much we love you and everything you do for us. I am proud of everything you have accomplished and are going to accomplish. Like everyone said, you’re the bloody power couple – there is no beating that. We wish you all the best for your future, and cheers to Adam and Cour tney.

Jordan's speech Hi everyone, my name’s Gordon some of you may also know me as Jordan. Cour t and I have been friends for quite some time now, it was our first year of Strathallan, year 7, when Cour tney and I met, I was the nerdy girl with the wheely bag and far too uncool to be Cour tney’s friend. It wasn’t until year 9 when I realized the wheely bag was doing me no favours that we bonded over School, boys and everything else 13 year old girls are in to. Cour tney and I star ted university together in 2013 and couldn’t wait to hit the town as 18 year olds and go clubbing. The first few times were mediocre because we had no idea where to go and how to act but we had nothing to compare it to so we loved it. This clubbing phase led to a cer tain club called Lenin, I’m actually gutted I wasn’t with Cour t on this par ticular night, because how good would it be to say I was there in this speech right now. Anyway, the wonderful, classy establishment known as Lenin was where Adam and Cour tney met, on the d floor to be exact. So, Adam here are a few things I have learnt about Cour t over the years that I think are wonderful traits to build a marriage on. 1. Cour tney is fiercely loyal, as you’ve heard in speeches previously. Adam once you have Cour tney on your side, you will forever have her on your side. This was great in high school, she was always the one willing to do the fun but naughty stuff with me. She was also the one to always have your back when you had to lie about it. 2. Cour tney is very driven and ambitious. Cour tney I am so proud of you and all you have achieved and all you dream to achieve in both your career and your life. You have worked so hard for everything and it has definitely paid off.

Especially the sacrificed Saturday nights and the dusty Sunday morning open homes. Adam and Cour t as everyone has said tonight, you are the ultimate power couple and I can’t wait to see what you both do next. 3. Cour tney is generous with her time and love given to her friends and family. I feel like a lot of this has to do with the Jenner family – Denise, Terry, Ash, Cour tney Brooke and Lauren. You guys have never failed to make your house feel like a home for all. I star ted off a nerdy girl and going to the Jenner’s house was always such a highlight for me and ive been Gordon ever since. I mean, it was loud and absolute chaos, a lot, if you know you know, but it was fun and loving and I always laughed the whole time. Cour tney I love you so much and im so glad you looked past my choice my school bags and we are friends today. Adam and Cour tney I think you are such an amazing couple and I truly do wish you all the best and I look forward to seeing your next chapter. I know we have done it a lot tonight, but can we raise a glass and toast the lovely couple. Adam and Cour tney.

Manu's speech Hello. Good evening ladies and gents, my name is Manu. I have the honour of being Adam’s best man tonight. Id like to thank you all for making it out here, especially those who knew I was going to be saying a few words, its very touching you still decided to come.

If you attended the engagement par ty I promise it wont be a repeat of that performance. Not by choice I might add but Irene has been keeping a very close eye on my drink intake, a few stern words were given. Firstly I do want to take my hat off to everyone who made today happen – its such a good event aye, I’m having a mean time. There were a few scary moments there with all the Covid stuff but we made it here, we got here in the end and we are here tonight to celebrate the eternal bondage of Adam and Cour tney.

I have to give you a shout out Cour tney, you look absolutely stunning, when I saw you come around the corner I was like holy! Adam..

For those who don’t know who I am, I met Adam when I star ted back at Dilwor th School back when I was around 12 years old but we didn’t really get close until the following year when Adam had the good for tune of sharing a dorm with me. We hit it off pretty quickly, we were both low key nerds, always used to stay up talking about all kinds of things. We had a lot of classes together and I quickly realized two things about Adam – firstly, he was a very smar t dude and secondly he had to make sure everyone knew that by always having an answer for everything – he couldn’t help himself, I’m sure you guys have experienced it. It wasn’t unusual to see Adam running away from our boarding house’s resident bully, when he just couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Adam doesn’t just have the brains, he has the work ethic to back it up whether its putting in the long hours at work or running errands on a Sunday morning while the rest of us are nursing a hangover on his couch, I’m constantly in awe of his drive to get things done and get out there and do something. Not long after leaving school, Adam got me my first proper job at Kmar t St Lukes, it was touch working in Adam’s shadow as he was of course the star employee and I know they were very upset when he decided to move onto better things. It was around that time that my family decided to move out of Auckland and my second family Adam, Irene and Alex took me in as there own and I lived with them – Adam and I conver ted the living room into a Dilwor th dormitory, had a couple beers in there, had a few desks – it was cool. I’m sure I left my fair share of dir ty dishes and skiddy undies around but they tolerated me long enough until Adam and I could save up and go flatting on our own. We eventually got into our first flat with our mate Taine over there. We called it ‘funnel town’ and it was the first of many homes we shared together. It was a delicate act trying to balance this new found freedom of being able to go clubbing any day of the week with sleeping, working, eating and all that adult stuff that you have to do. For tunately Adam began to adopt the position amongst his friends as group dad, which is a responsibility that he still holds to this day. He could be relied on to be sensible when sense is otherwise scarce, he made sure our bills were set up to go out on time, he sussed out all the best grocery deals and he made sure we got our vegies in with the odd carrot or mushroom every now and then but that’s not to say he didn’t know how to par ty. Given the situation of us being broke students Adam finally put his brain to good use and got us into brewing our own beer, we used this to fuel many nights out enjoying the fine establishments Auckland City has to offer.

It was at the tail end of one of these nights that I was looking for Adam to head home and I found him passionately engaged with a small blonde girl named Cour tney. I finally managed to steal him away but it was clear from that night on that Adam had found someone special. We star ted to see a bit more of Cour tney at the flat, honestly it was a bit awkward at first, we thought she didn’t like us and she thought we didn’t like her – we all liked each other but you know, we were just a bit weird about it. It didn’t take long fir us to get to know each other and since then Cour tney has been an incredible asset to the team and a great friend to have around.

An unexpected bonus to the general improvements to personal hygiene was seen in Adam, I don’t know what you did but Cour tney convinced him he needs to see the dentist more than once every five years. I could tell straight away how much Adam cared for Cour tney since he spoke to her in the cute voice her normally reserves for his cats. He’s always looking out for her whether she is present or not and goes to great effor ts to spoil her on those special dates like bir thdays and he puts us other boyfriends to shame.. sorry.. The crazy par t is that through some gross error in judgement, Cour tney feels the same way about Adam. I knew it was true love when I witnessed Cour tney cleaning Adam’s lunch off the outside of a taxi after too many wines on Waiheke, no complaints at all even though Adam was standing in the background laughing – very sheepishly I might add. I’ve enjoyed seeing your relationship grow over the years and despite you both being amazing individuals, this is one of those cases where the whole is greater than the sum of its par ts and you bring out the best in each other and both have the drive to succeed in whatever it is that you set your minds to. Adam, I couldn’t have asked for a better brother, it’s been awesome growing up with you, and I’m proud of everything you have achieved. I’m flattered that you chose me to be here as your best man today and I look forward to seeing you and Cour tney flourish in this new stage of your life. Know that I will always be there for you and Cour tney and know that I wont slip your kids their first beer until they are at least in primary school. Now to finish up I will do yet another, and possibly not the last toast to the new bride and groom, Adam and Cour tney.

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keepsake.