The
Rewind:
25 years ago, I brought a beautiful 8 pound 1 ounce baby
girl into this world. She had a head full of dark hair and the bluest of blue
eyes when she was born. I was younger than most new moms and at 17 years old,
holding a baby in my arms, I began to truly worry what the future would look
like. It was a worry that never left my system. I knew that from the start the
odds were stacked against us and we would have to do all we could to defy them.
I believe we did. I did my best, with the help of my amazing family, to raise a
strong, confident girl in this crazy crazy world. I do believe I succeeded beyond
ALL expectations.
The
Fast Forward:
I won’t bore anyone with all the wonderful memories I have
of my Alyssa growing up. Most of it centers around her being captain of her
cheerleading squad, becoming a world traveler, a high school top 10% student, an
honor student in college (550 miles away from home), and then graduating from a
prestigious college for her Masters Degree. A lot happened between 1990 and
2013.
This past weekend, my firstborn daughter got married! To
say I was prepared for this might be a slight lie. I thought I was, but I
really wasn’t. When she was a little girl, I often wondered what her wedding
day would look like, since our situation was so different from everyone else’s.
When Vincent entered her life, as her mother, I truly
knew this would be the man she’d share the rest of her life with. They
complimented each other so well. They were meant to be. It was never a forced
or awkward moment when the two of them came around, so it was only natural that
over Memorial Day Weekend 2015, when Vincent found my husband and I sitting in
the living room alone, he took the opportunity and asked our permission to
propose to our daughter. Of course, we granted permission and then we patiently
waited (well, my husband patiently waited, I was anxiously waiting) for the big
day!
And that day came on June 19. Taken by complete
surprise, my daughter became engaged at the Air Force Memorial in Washington DC
and the fun of planning a wedding began. The date was set. And so it began……
Alyssa and Vincent planned the most amazing wedding.
Again, I always envisioned myself helping my daughter along in the planning
stages of her big day, but I raised an independent gal. She and her fiancé tackled
the task of planning a wedding all on their own.
From the date: April 9, 2016 to the venue: All Saints
Catholic Church/Bristow Manor Golf Club, the two of them were in charge of
their entire day. They chose the flowers (GORGEOUS!), the cupcakes (DELICIOUS),
and who they wanted to share their day with (PERFECT GUEST LIST!!!!) And what a
beautiful day it was.
We traveled to Manassas, Virginia on Thursday, April 7,
in order to start getting ourselves immersed in the area and to offer any help
that Lys and Vin might need for their big day. We watched the weather forecasts
(which were all calling for SNOW in Virginia on April 9), did some sightseeing,
and welcomed all the invited friends and family members as they, too, began
arriving for the big day! There were friends and family from Texas, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, North Carolina, West Virginia, Maryland, New York, and probably
other places I am neglecting to remember at this moment.
The day of my daughter’s wedding, I woke up early; too
early, like 3:30 in the morning early. As the dawn was beginning to break
around 6:30, I looked out the hotel window and it was so overcast coupled with
snow and rain/sleet. My heart sank. I decided to jump in the shower so I wouldn’t
feel so rushed getting myself prepared to head to her house, even though I didn’t
have to be there til 10. I stood in the shower and the tears poured from my
eyes. I cried for so many reasons. My daughter was getting married. It was the
crappiest weather in the SPRING. And I missed my grandparents who were no
longer with us. How I wished they could be there. How proud they would have
been to see their first great grandchild walking down the aisle. And I cried. I
begged for anyone listening to give us a break in the weather. I could handle
cold and I could handle wind. I did not want the rain ruining my daughter’s day,
even though she was prepared for it. Alyssa went out and bought herself some
really cute rain boots and a clear HUGE golf-like umbrella, totally prepared
for whatever Mother Nature was going to throw at her! She was prepared. I still
didn’t want rain on her day anymore. I know rain on your wedding day is
supposed to be good luck. It rained. It needed to stop.
As the morning progressed, I had my make-up and hair
done and I was ready to head to my daughter’s home to help her any way I could
with getting ready to go to the church. The rain/snow mixture was still around.
My heart sank a little more.
Arriving at my daughter’s, the bridesmaids were all
getting ready. I brought the flower girls and together, they all began to jump
into wedding mode. My daughter arrived from the salon, where they turned her
full head of hair into the most beautiful Disney princess hair I have ever
seen!!!! She started putting on her make-up and WOW. In the blink of an eye, I
saw my baby transform into a beautiful bride. The weather started breaking. The
sky was still full of clouds but there were blue patches coming through. The
rain/snow stopped and I just knew it was a little bit of my grandparents
helping this day be even more perfect! Again, I was reminded how much of an
independent woman my daughter had become. I really wasn’t ‘needed’ at my
daughter’s house, but I was so thankful to be there, to be watching it all come
together, because when that one moment came that I heard: “Mom, can you come up
here and help me a minute.” I smiled the biggest smile and remembered SHE IS MY
DAUGHTER and although she is so independent, she still needed me.
It was decided that my daughter and I would get our
dresses on at the church, just in case the weather decided to change again.
Around 12:30 we headed for the church. I took the flower girls and Vincent’s
aunt, who helped the flower girls (one of whom was her daughter) get ready! And
by 1:10 we were at the church. It was really happening!
I was so thankful that the rain had stopped. We walked
into the bridal suite in the church and the sun was actually shining through
the windows in the suite. I got dressed, and then it was Alyssa’s turn. My eyes
misted at the sight of my daughter, in her beautiful classic, vintage-looking
lace bridal gown, but I did not cry. I was too happy to cry. The photographer
came in and took a lot of pictures (I cannot wait to see them all!!!!!). I
decided to head out to the lobby and see my husband and let the girls all to
themselves in the room with Alyssa.
Alyssa’s bridal party consisted of her sister as Maid of
Honor, her best friend from college as a bridesmaid, as well as her Zeta Tau
Alpha little as a bridesmaid, too. Alyssa’s goddaughter was one of the flower
girls as well as one of Vincent’s cousins. I decided to give the 6 of them time
alone to get ready for the big event.
When I returned to the room, I found a penny on the
floor of the room, near the bench where all of Alyssa’s things were placed. It
was the final sign I needed from my grandparents that THEY had their hand in
all that turned out good in this day.
Our moment had arrived and the wedding was beginning. I
was ready to walk my daughter down the aisle to the man of her dreams. As her
mom, I struggled with this whole ‘giving her away’ idea, for my own VERY
personal reasons, reasons that do not need to be written on these pages. As she
and I neared the entrance to the church, I could feel the emotions building up.
We turned to face the sanctuary and all I remember was the intense pride I felt
at seeing everyone they invited, smiles on their faces. We took our cue and
went to the top of the aisle, took our little pause, and I looked at my
daughter and asked: “Are you ready for this?” She looked my square in the eye,
smiled, and said, “Let’s go!” I remember looking down the aisle, seeing my
husband’s HUGE smile looking at us and then I saw Vincent’s HUGE smile looking
at Alyssa. From that point on, all I could do was smile myself. I walked her
down the aisle, hugged my soon to be son-in-law and told him to take care of my
girl. I turned, hugged and kissed my daughter, and then took my seat to witness
this beautiful wedding.
The ceremony was beautiful. The reception was out of
this world. Beautiful venue, great food and drinks, an out of this world band,
and EVERYONE gathered in one place celebrating the new Mr. and Mrs. P!!!!! The
moment of the Father/Daughter dance arrived and it was the most beautiful
tribute to two of the most important men in Alyssa’s life. The band started
playing Stand By Me and my dad began the dance with Alyssa. Halfway through the
dance, my amazing husband, who has been such a great influence in her life as
her stepfather, cut in and ended the dance with her. It was beautiful and there
wasn’t a dry eye in the place. It was perfect. It was as it needed to be. The
reception was so filled with laughter and friendship. So many people. So much
love. Such a perfect day. A wedding for the ages.
And in a few short hours of time, I went from Mother of
the Bride, to Mother-in-law! I promise to be a good one.
Mr. and Mrs. Vincent S. Prinzivalli
April 9, 2016
Dancing their first dance to:
You Are The Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne
Until next time....Think Thankfully
