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Daily Mirror
Lifestyle
Sophie Norris & Courtney Pochin

'My husband was the best man at my first wedding - he declared his love in his speech'

When it comes to true love, we all know the path to getting there never does run smooth and every couple is bound to encounter their fair share of obstacles along the way.

One woman has recently revealed her own bump that had prevented her from being with her person - she'd married his best pal.

Event planner Desiree White from Illinois, US, explained how her husband had been the best man at her first wedding back in 2010.

And it's fair to say that his toast was probably rather awkward for the newlyweds and their 200 guests as he declared his love for her and told how she 'had to be his' in his speech for his friend.

Bryant declared his love during his best man speech (Kennedy News and Media)

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Desiree, 32, had been friends with the best man Bryant White since high school and along with her ex-husband, they made up a friendship trio.

But as Desiree stood in her dress having vowed to spend the rest of her life with her new husband, Bryant scandalously declared that he 'had always loved her' during his best man's speech. He even proclaimed that he knew 'she had to be his' from the moment he met her - while they were sat next to him.

The mum-of-four was stunned by his comments and chose to brush them under the carpet, but just a year later, as she sat weeping after her break-up, Bryant kissed her and relayed his adoration for her once more.

The pair then got married in 2012 and have now welcomed four little boys - as Desiree revealed she has never been happier despite the 'very big mess' she has overcome.

She said: "Bryant and I met each other in class at high school. I had a boyfriend at the time and because of that, I really wasn't going to talk to other people.

She married Bryant's best friend back in 2010 (Kennedy News and Media)
Bryant and Desiree (Kennedy News and Media)

"We were just friends and one day when I brought a photo of my boyfriend. He said 'oh my god, I know him - he's in my lunch period'.

"I had been talking about Bryant to my boyfriend saying I loved this kid in my class who was so funny.

"After that, I suggested we hang out. From then on, we all became friends.

"Bryant and my ex-husband became best friends and because they were guys, they did a lot together. They did everything together."

The three students became best friends and Desiree claims that over the years she even set Bryant up on dates as he had been unlucky in love - claiming she never had any feelings for him.

"I set Bryant up so many times. I've been on double dates with him and I always tell people I wouldn't have ever dated the person he was then," Desiree recalls.

"He had a lot of growing up to do. I didn't really look at him in that way.

"I got married [a few years later]. On the day, Bryant was really drunk.

"On the wedding day, I walked into the living room, right when I was done getting ready with my wedding dress on and my hair done. Bryant came into my parent's house and froze and stared at me.

"I said 'hey, what's up?'. He said I looked beautiful. I'd never had a moment of him looking at me like that. I thought he was being nice because it was my wedding day."

They now have a family together (Kennedy News and Media)

Desiree shares how Bryant got really drunk at the wedding - before giving his very honest best man speech.

"When he went up to do it, he said 'I remember the first moment I saw Desiree, I loved her. I fell in love with her. I knew she had to be mine. I thought she was the most beautiful person I've ever seen in my life'.

"He said 'she's the best person I've ever met. I've never met anyone like her. Then I found out she already had a boyfriend and I thought I needed to find out a way to get her, but then I met [ex] and we became friends'.

"He then just said 'love you both - congratulations'.

"It ended there. I remember when he first started my ears were ringing. I'm really introverted. I was in front of all these people and I didn't know what was happening.

"I don't think I thought anything of it. I was in my own head. Everyone was kind of laughing and then it got quiet."

Later that evening Desiree and Bryant found themselves on the dancefloor together, sharing a friendly dance and her husband's best man asked why she had never given him 'a chance'.

Desiree said: "I remember that night me and Bryant had one last dance before the wedding night was over. We danced with the best man and the maid of honour.

"He said 'why didn't you ever give me a chance? I would have always taken care of you'. I asked him what he meant and he said 'nothing. I love you, I love [your ex]'. Then he got quiet.

"I went upstairs and I remember sitting in my dress in the hotel room confused. I wondered if I was misinterpreting what vibe he was giving off and just didn't talk about it again.

"I'm sure it was because he was really drunk and lonely. I knew up to this point that he had girlfriends that weren't working out and he was kind of the third wheel."

Within a year, Desiree's marriage had unravelled and she got divorced from her ex-husband in 2011, with Bryant by her side to offer emotional support.

One day, after the pair met up, Bryant kissed her before vowing to always be there for her.

Desiree said: "We were married for less than a year. He was living a totally different lifestyle [to me].

"Bryant and I stayed friends throughout it all. When we broke up and divorced, I went through a depression and was really secluded myself. I just didn't want to make an effort for anything.

"I remember my mum was actually calling Bryant and saying I wasn't eating or doing anything and that she was really worried.

"He'd ask me to eat with him or hang out and watch a show. He was trying to be there for me.

"Whenever me and my ex were going through the divorce, I wanted to move out of the apartment but I couldn't afford to leave so we just stayed in separate rooms.

"I had to finish the semester in this apartment with him then Bryant and I just kissed one day when we were hanging out.

"It was out of nowhere. When he kissed me, I didn't stop it then I kissed him back. I was shocked that it was a good kiss. It felt good and natural.

"He looked up, smiled at me and I just said 'you just kissed me'. He smiled and asked if he could do it again."

The couple then started their relationship and within a year, they had married after a surprise pregnancy with their first son, Sawyer, now nine.

Desiree added: "I'd just got out of this big situation and to get into something with Bryant felt really heavy to me.

"He said 'I've always been in love with you - I'll just be here'.

"After a bit of time, after everything I went through, I was so tired of thinking through everyone else's feelings.

"Bryant made me happy. Even though we'd never done anything and I never saw him in [a romantic] way, there was so much chemistry between us.

"It wasn't awkward at all. It was better. I didn't have feelings develop with anyone else like that, like how I was with him.

"We ended up getting married. We were talking about it but thought we should wait some time. It had been a very big mess so we thought the smart thing would be to wait.

"But then well into a year of being together, I found out I was pregnant with our first baby. Then he asked me to marry him.

"He said 'I always wanted to marry you and this isn't because of the baby, but let's start this family right'.

"We were always friends but when we were together [romantically], it was like nothing was hard to do anymore knowing we had each other.

"We love being parents. Twenty-year-old Desiree wouldn't think she could be mum of four kids.

"She couldn't imagine this is what my life would be like now."

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