Welcome to our regular column series written by some of your favourite Channel 7 stars.
This week, The Morning Show co-host Larry Emdur reflects on how he felt as a father walking his daughter down the aisle.
I tapped the pocket of my tuxedo to triple check I’d put the tissues in, and the limo came to a gentle stop in the church driveway.
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Here we go.
As my baby girl Tia stepped out of the car, her bridesmaids lovingly fussed about, and I struggled back tears.
I knew they’d come but had hoped it wasn’t going to be this soon.
Not sad tears by any means.
Tears of pride, of pure love, of joy.
It’s funny, I guess I’d thought how this moment would be and feel since the day she was born, this monumental “walking down the aisle” moment.
I remember as a newborn, her tiny, tiny fingers would wrap around my pinkie, and I’d whisper to her over and over, “I’ll never let you go, I’ll always hold your hand”.
Tears are something I’ve learned to control after more than 40 years in the biz, so many times during my career I’ve managed to hold them back.
As a young reporter at a crime scene, covering a house fire where a family has lost absolutely everything, I was regularly reporting on heartbreaking trauma and suffering.
Even as a game show host I’ve had to fight back tears, I know that sounds weird.
Sometimes I’ve found myself standing next to a contestant who’s just won something truly life changing.
Then there’s The Morning Show couch where we have a front row seat to the big events and the breaking news.
Almost daily we’ll introduce news stories that can be shocking and incredibly sad, but no tears, I’ve learned to keep it together.
But nothing prepared me for this moment. And I’ll admit, I was reduced to a blubbering mess.
As we walked down the aisle I held Tia’s hand so tightly, I could see her wonderful fiancé Rowell at the end, and I was now battling those tears and struggling with the idea that in a few more steps I’ll put her hand on his.
The same hand that 25 years earlier I promised I’d never let go.
It was a moment I will remember until the day I die.
Thankfully, Tia inherited her mother Sylvie’s strength of character, stunning good looks and ability to hold back tears at weddings, so in that moment I felt like she was the one supporting me, instead of me her.
Sometimes it’s difficult to know what’s important and what’s not important in this entertainment business, and sadly we’ve seen many lose their way.
For me, nothing will ever mean more than my family and I’d like to think that’s my crying quota done for the next decade – at least!
