"It’s time for French class! I tried to write a speech that wasn’t just all about you, Alicia—which was pretty difficult. In fact, our friendship, and even more than that, because I truly consider you part of my family, is so important in my life. So just know that my speeches for your upcoming birthdays are already done, and my comforting texts for your next PMS are ready too.

My little Aly, We’ve known each other for 14 years now (yes, yes, that doesn't exactly make us feel any younger). I can even tell you now that come September, I will have known you for more than half my life. Back in high school, a time when our only interests were going to the beach, taking shots of lemon vodka on Rue de la Soif, or black vodka before heading to L'Indigo in Collioure.

And here we are, 14 years later, in this magnificent place, with all the most important people to you and Milan, celebrating the most beautiful thing life has to offer: love.

But first of all, what the fuck? We are really becoming thirtysomething adults... going from drinking in cars before heading to the club, to sipping Spritzes at an estate?! We’ll need to talk about this later to figure out what on earth happened...

But let’s get back to the main subject of this weekend: LOVE. We are all here today to celebrate the love that you and Milan share, but also the love that every single person here has for you, and the love you have for us. I’m going to say it in English so nobody finds it weird: I want to take a few seconds, just to take a step back and feel how much you are loved by everyone here, so you can remember this feeling whenever you need, when you’re feeling low.

Back to French and to the speech. I am so happy to be able to be here today, to have witnessed your blossoming—Aly's transition from an insecure high schooler to the incredible, powerful, beautiful woman you are today, who knows how to set boundaries! But I've also been a witness to the birth of the love between the two of you. To have been there for the first texts, the debriefs after the first dates, right Alice? (Sorry Milan, I had to do it), but look where we are now? At your fucking wedding!

When I sat down to reflect on you as a couple and dive back into the key moments, one of the things that struck and amused me the most was Milan’s cultural adaptation to your family. Notably, his lack of understanding about sitting at the table for several hours during "family" meals—"family" in the Charbonnaud sense of the word: welcoming and extended, but also lively and joyful, turning every moment into a party and an occasion to drink rosé, sing, and dance!

But there is also everything he has done for you and how much he loves you. Getting accepted by Taco—even if food had something to do with it (we're not entirely fooled)—going to live with you in the sun, following you on all your travels...! The fact that he stepped completely out of his comfort zone for you.

And there is also everything you have done for him, including living for a few years in the Netherlands (knowing that rain and wind are the absolute worst for Alicia... if that isn't love, I don't know what is!). And I find it magnificent and beautiful to see that you are both ready to make major compromises, one for the other, for your relationship, and to build a life together.

I am so happy to have been able to see your love evolve and become what it is today. So keep choosing each other—not just today, but every single day, in sickness and in health, in joy and in hardships, so that you can keep nurturing this love and make it grow for eternity.

And I can't wait to keep watching it grow, because yes, I fully intend to always be around (sorry not sorry). For both of you, for the 5 of you even (including the furry ones), the future gremlins and fur-babies, and also for you more specifically, Aly.

Aly, you deserve this happiness, this joy, and this love (Milan too, obviously). But Aly, just know that I will always be by your side, my sweet friend.

I love you so much, and above all, to the both of you: “Enjoy the marriage and love ride” And let’s live this new adventure!!!!