In two weeks time, I am going to be the maid of honor at my childhood BFF’s wedding in Durham. I just spent the last week working on my maid of honor speech, and I think I have finally gotten it just right. Now all I have to do is practice the delivery of it…It always sounds better in my head than in real life. I even went to a speech instructor today to get some tips and practice. Public speaking is something I want to work on and hopefully overcome.  Wish me luck!

Hello everyone, my name is V. I am N’s BFF and maid of honor. And I am so happy to be here tonight to celebrate her happily ever after with her.

N and I met when we were 8 years old in Mrs. K’s class, where we were constantly told off for talking to each other. Just so you know, N’s school record was otherwise perfect. She was a model student with a knack for Kumon. That’s one of the reasons why her family calls her “Let Let”- it means “smart” in Chinese.

Since then, while we did not go to the same secondary school or even lived in the same city most of the time, somehow N and I have miraculously kept in touch. We even manage to see each other every one or two years; in San Diego, Chicago, Iceland, Taipei, Hong Kong and now Durham. Most amazingly, each time we pick up right where we left off.

N is honestly the most genuine and nice person I know. She is a burst of energy, and through her eyes everything is awesome and amazing; from In-and-Out burgers to hotdogs in Iceland. The glass is always half full and there is always a silver lining. Whenever I am feeling down, I would call N and she would pick up the phone (even in the middle of movie night) and she would always knows exactly what to say. N also constantly reminds me of the good in people. That time we went to Taipei together, within the span of 36 hours N introduced me to 10 people (which is more than I meet in a regular year) and they were all super nice! They took us around, fed us and even bought me slippers when my shoes fell apart. She just has a way of bringing people together and bringing out the best in them.

N really is the best cheerleader and friend a girl can have, and I am lucky to have her in my life [remember to look at bride!]. Judging from the number of people, both family and friends, who have come forward to help with this wedding and the miles traveled to be here today, I am sure N also holds a very special place in many of your hearts as well. The pressure is on J, we hope you realize how incredibly lucky you are!

Speaking of the lucky man, one of my first impressions of him was through an email chain when we were planning our Iceland trip. After finalizing everything, J responded to the group for the first time with one single word “Boom.” I think there’s a cultural gap here or something, because I honestly had no idea what to make of it. What does “boom” mean? What kind of person says “boom”? I had to Google this.

Turns out the kind of person who says “boom” is someone who is fiercely loyal, generous and infinitely patient. When N and J came to Hong Kong last year, J spent two weeks just getting to know N’s big (big) family – much of which was not even in English. But he patiently smile and nodded through it all, and by all accounts scored top marks. He even indulged us, and spent a hour putting on costumes and taking silly pictures – which I get the impression is not really his thing. You should ask him to show you the superman picture some day. If that is not love, I don’t know what is. So while J is not the polo shirt wearing, tennis playing Prince Charming that N had envisioned during one of our late night chats in college, he is the Prince Charming who loves her and whom she can climb mountains, trek deserts and cross oceans together with – oh wait, they have already done that!

Please join me in raising a glass to N and J. As you embark on this new journey together, we wish you all the happiness in the world. May there be many more mountains, deserts and oceans to come. Boom.