FOTB

by Thomas Greco, Publisher

I don’t usually write about the same subject in consecutive months, so forgive me for repeating myself. But it’s not every day your daughter gets married!

For those of you who weren’t able to attend the wedding, here are two things you will only experience once in your lifetime: Me in a tux, and my father of the bride speech.

Before I get to the speech, please allow me to say that it was truly an incredible day. Everything went smoothly and everyone had a great time. Even I, the Wedding Grinch, couldn’t keep a smile off of my face. Most importantly, I have never seen my daughter happier.

Thank you all for sharing this wonderful day with us.

First of all, I want to let everyone know that I will be coming around to delete all the photos you have of me in a tie and tux.

When Michelle started dating, I was not your typical old school Italian dad with a shotgun at my side. Donna and I always knew she had a good head on her shoulders and we trusted her.

I only had one strict rule: No boyfriend could ever travel with us out of state unless there was a ring on her finger. That was it. I swear.

The fact that we only ever traveled to two places made that pretty easy. He wants to come to Wildwood? Fine. We have plenty of separate beds. He wants to come to Orlando? His last name could be Disney and it still ain’t happening.

But honestly, I was never worried because I knew she’d never find anyone as great as her dad. I mean, who’s going to top taking her to Disney every Christmas? Who’s going to top taking her to see the Jonas Brothers up and down the East Coast? Who’s going to top buying her every friggin’ thing she ever wanted? Who’s going to top taking her to meet Shania Twain? Who’s going to top taking her to meet Southside Johnny?

Who’s going to top getting her to a private rehearsal and sitting her on the lap of the boy band Dream Street? And for God’s sake, who’s going to top taking her to see two Beatles?

So anyway, along comes this guy Drew.

She tells me he’s a great guy. I’m thinking to myself, “Not as great as Daddy.”

She tells me he has a cool job. “Not as cool as Daddy’s.”

She tells me he comes from a fun Italian family. “Not as much fun as Daddy’s.”

She tells me he treats her nice. “Not as nice as Daddy.”

She tells me he’s donating a kidney to his dad. “Not as…”

Wait a minute. He what?

She had me there. He had me there. How could I compete with a guy like that?

But incredibly, that’s only one thing on a list of 1,000 that makes Drew a great person, a great son, a great brother, a great friend, a great son-in-law and, most importantly, a great husband.

Michelle, I’l never forget 25 years ago when we had THAT dinner on the boardwalk in Atlantic City after the Dream Street concert. You said to me, “Dad, this is the greatest day ever!”

I am thrilled to say that after today, it’s now a distant second.

God Bless Michelle and Drew.

My little girl is a married woman. WOW.

Want more? Check out the July 2026 issue of New Jersey Automotive!