A tale of generosity: Blowing out their inner breaths of creativity
The matron of honor had already baked the sumptuous desserts. And the bridesmaids have made the flower arrangements with lemon slices, visibly adding color accents to lilies, daisies and babies’ breaths. The outdoor fireplace was adorned with white balloons, which they manually blew air into. Even the giveaways of bath scrubs were handmade. It was a diy, do it yourself shower, with many creative touches.
You can see the love in all the details, 24 photos depicting 9 years of togetherness, with the 10th year culminating in a fall wedding, conveniently taking up space in several corners. Two games of discovering the message using emojis and an over/under game about the couple’s relationship journey.
Jessica, an American-born Filipina, paid homage to her roots with Lumpiang Shanghai, Pancit, Turon and Rice. Appetizers were cone-shaped containers filled with nuts, pretzels, stick of pepperoni, salami and cheese; multicolored seasonal fruits, pesto mozzarella sandwiches.
With a bachelor’s and a master’s degree, she is into digital designing of curriculum materials. Even the game scorecards were printed with artistic sophistication, the product of digital designing skill.
The feast offered outstripped the capacities of thin women partaking the food. While some fully girthed women, like myself, enjoyed them.
The bride to be, @Jessica del Rosario, was gracious, happy, sweet and solicitous in welcoming her parents. Her mom, my sister, Rachel, had tears of joy in seeing her unica hija, about to tie the knot.
I too was in tears as all four of us, sisters, estranged by the pandemic and our healing journeys from two losses, before the pandemic, of our mom and eldest sister, 60 days apart. Blood is truly thicker, warmer and electrifying with tears of reunion. We couldn’t let go of our group hugs.
Guests mingled freely, introduced themselves to each other. The pandemic truly brings out our better selves, shaving off distance, into a humble atmosphere of I am connected to you. I saw three radiant women, took their photos and told them:”Don’t ever let anyone steal your joyful radiance. You are beautiful.” As a grandma, about to turn 70yo, I held no barriers in approaching women. It made for an easy, warm, welcoming afternoon.
By the time the gifts were opened, the bride valiantly enduring the peak of the afternoon sunshine, Jessica graciously showed her sunny appreciation for all the gifts that she received, as with tears of joy.
A theme was emerging: tale of creating mini-dents, Dent is going to be her new married name, soon. The bridesmaids and close friends’ gifts were symbolic: wooden transmission key to run the engine of trains, multiple wooden spoons, cocktail glasses, margarita pitchers, taco stand holders and seductive, alluring nightie for each night of their honeymoon, ten in total.
Imagine the laughter as I called out each number, 1, 2, …9 and Matron of Honor corrected me that it was 10 nighties. With three grandmas in the crowd, the laughter was palpable, to compel one to say: “I guess their generation has different ideas.” I agreed and nodded.
And of course, the bride to be appreciated more the barista appliance, as she can now skip Starbucks stops.
It was a beautiful afternoon of connected humanity and sisterhood. And the groom to be joined the shower the last few minutes to give his beautiful bride a dozen red roses and gazed at her with such love as she looked back at him, tenderly.
Love can make one so confident to stand up with the crowd! Love always wins!