I figured I better get to writing my thoughts and memories from this day only fifteen months and a day later. I still like the man who wakes me up early and hugs me in dirty scrubs when I walk in through the door so I would call that a win and a very good excuse.
Secondly, this is me writing this blog post on a day I have off from work. Which is a joy. We are in the middle (beginning erm.. ending ??..) of Covid-19. A pandemic that has swept our nation (the world) in a million ways but that sounds like another time to jot exactly all the ways it has affected us and I only have water, not tea; which we all know is real writing juice. Nevertheless, I walked up to my porch on the third story of my house to empty the filter drain that has my inverter leaking water. It's wonderful, *but* the minute I opened the door I felt the strongest breeze and heard the rustle of leaves and felt a very real chill. Seratonin rushed through my body and I smiled not quite believing that this is true. A new season. The world is still turning even though everything is so different and has been different for me for a very long time (graduation, marriage, moving (x2), a husband! (a really cute husband), a new job (x2) ha, a new house, town, friends, etc and then a pandemic to tie it all together neatly.
I digress, I'm here to write about my wedding day before its years later and I don't remember those tiny details because really the tiny details are the best bits. I'll dive in sections, methinks..
Morning: The minute I woke up I remember my sisters head asleep on my right arm. I'm really glad that I took the moment to realize that before the day started. My sister and I shared a bed which is enough to make me bawl when I think of it but we did and it was the best. So that morning I wake up look over and she is completely knocked out from the night before (which was a fabulous rehearsal and rehearsal dinner; it was fun and I felt beautiful and my two high thoughts were: HOLY MOLY I'M GETTING MARRIED and to Paul who is fabulous and smart and handsome. IS this a movie? Am I starring in it? I Always thought it would be Penelope Cruz? Again, I digress. I do remember feeling ultra fabulous during dinner and after and when my dad hugged Paul goodbye and I hugged him for the last time as a fiance and got away in my car. (Later that night we texted until the wee hours of the morning telling each other we couldn't wait to be married and that this truly is the happiest life..) It was really something... Back to Sarah, I slowly moved my arm from underneath her head. She looked like a little kid. I felt like a little kid. Again, enter: What is even happening???!?
She's the best. She would carry on to be the best maid of honor a girl could ask for. Love her the most.
Breakfast: My mother came into the room. Wide eyed. Also looking very much: What is even happening?! ( Theme of the day) and said, "You need to eat. Here!" (Looking back that is very love language of my mother: food.) I am handed a coffee with cream and a buttered piece of bread. She hastily asks me, "Where are the place cards? Paul is looking for them. He's on the phone but he doesn't want to see you." I hear him on the speaker phone and my heart jumps. I imagine he feels as excited as I do. I then sit there and write letters to my mother, father, and future mother and father in law.
Getting ready: Madness. Craziness. I felt beautiful. I ran late. Everyone was going a bit mad but we all made it out alive. Barely.
The Church: We got out of the vehicle and I snapped my veil on and my eyes slowly looked up to the very tip top of the Cathedral. This is happening. This is the place. Everyone is in there. *He* is in there... My father and I went to the confessional and he is peering out the door saying he is nervous and I am very much the opposite. The whole weekend I felt very much..relaxed. Even when things were chaotic as they inevitably can be.. I felt very much at peace. Similarly, dating, the engagement..all of it. I never second guessed, I never wondered about Paul. It all just felt very right. The "rightness" came back in full swing moments before walking down the aisle. This was my guy. This was my man. This is exactly where I am supposed to be. We walked out of the confessional. I grabbed my father. Felt my throat close. Looked up and there *he* was. My first thought and I remember this so clearly is, "Oh, he looks so handsome." His haircut was flawless, his whites were crisp and white and his smile was BEAMING. His face was BEAMING at me. It was like a gravitational pull down the aisle. I quickly glanced around me and saw everyone staring *egad* and then before I knew it I my dad was putting the veil over my head; I was face to face with P. He grabbed my hand. The hand squeeze; I can still feel. It was solid and together. We were there and we were getting married. It sunk in with the hand squeeze. He looked at me and as we were walking over to our seats he whispered, "You look beautiful." After I said thank you, I said, "So do you." Because he did. He looked stalely and strong and sure of us. Just as I always hoped he would.
Vows: We said we would. I cried. I kissed him super big. I closed my eyes during the songs so I would somehow soak it all in and so I would hear the cello on the balcony above us. It was beautiful.
The Jefferson: After pictures and all we moved back to the Jefferson. More pictures. Then for the first time all day we were alone together in the Jefferson Suite. Which was HOLY MOLY stunning. Before we left to the cocktail hour I realized I needed to use the bathroom. We walked over to our bathroom and with two hands Paul scooped my up my gowns skirt and I sat...on the toilet that is. We smiled at each other and laughed realizing this was the first thing we did as man and wife. It was the most romantic moment in the world and I'll forever remember it. Then, it was time for our entrance on the grand staircase. My deepest and most sincere wish was not to fall down the steps of this grand staircase. Please, God. He heard and answered by letting us get to the top and hear the piano man stop playing to say, "For the first time: Introducing Lieutenant and Mrs. Paul Edward Daly" and we appeared and smiled and it was again wonderful. The server handed us champagne and white wine and we were off.
Reception: I for the first time in my life audibly gasped when Paul and I walked into the reception. The way the Jefferson set up the ballroom was not to be believed. It was breathtaking. Music from the 50's played throughout and the lighting was dim with the flowers and the cake and the menus and all; it was good. It was really good. We ate dinner. Paul barely ate dinner because he was so excited but I ate almost everything. I remember that being the being the biggest tip: Eat your dinner at your own wedding. We got up and tried to say hello to each table and then we danced. As Paul and I got up for our first dance I looked up at him and thought, "Oh, we forgot to practice." Then we danced with Frank Sinatra and it was beautiful. We laughed the entire way through it with these big goofy smiles. I remember feeling my dress in the back move with me. Then the Father Daughter dance came and as we were walking up my dad behind me steps on the back of my dress pulling the back of my bustle. I hear it snap, look behind me and see him with his eyes wide open saying, "I'm so sorry."But I said it was okay and I grabbed his hand because I could feel the nervousness through him. Not a performer, my father. But he was with me dancing to, "My Little Girl" by Tim McGraw. He told me he always knew I would be something, have a beautiful wedding with a beautiful life being married to Paul. He told me I was so beautiful in between tears. He mostly just laid his head on my shoulder and cried. Later, we danced and danced and had more champagne and took more pictures and met with more people. We heard our speeches and then danced and drank some more. We cut the cake with a SWORD. My sister and I did a dance to, Salt-N-Pepa's Push it for everyone. Paul's groomsman Joe led, "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" by the Righteous Brothers along with every man in the Navy who was in the room; replaying the scene made famous in Top Gun. What a night. Toss of the bouquet and the garter which we ultimately decided to do because it's ~tradition~, you feel? We had a really fabulous time. Our last song was, "This Is How We Do it" by Montell Jordan. Naturally. The first time Paul and I sang in the car together was to this song on one of our many road trips while dating. Long Live 90's hip hop and R&B in the Daly household. I remember my feet hurting and Paul getting on the ground. Pulling up my ball gown to find my feet and undoing my straps. Grabbing both my white satin heels and tossing them on a gold chiavari chair and taking my hand to the dance floor. Cue the *What is even happening?!* It was his servants heart shining through along with the top confidence he carried in just *knowing* he's the shit. I felt like the shit.
The Last Dance: Before we left and as everyone was gathering by the elevator to wish us off, we asked the DJ to play one more song. We asked him to play a Tyler Childers song that was near and dear to us. We sang it to each other and kissed some more. We kissed alot that night. Then we ran through our guests; I stopped to blow a kiss to my mom who was there holding my bouquet and as we ran through we saw all the glow sticks flying and I heard, "Paul drinks beer", being chanted. We got to the elevator and kissed as the doors closed. We then yelled over and over again, "We're f*****g MARRIED!!"
*We followed it up with post reception drinks at a rooftop bar downtown with a group of the guests and then finally trailed back to our suite to eat a piece of wedding cake*
The Next Morning: We quickly realized upon waking up that we had a brunch at 11am with both of our immediate families. The only things we had were two phones at ten percent, one ball gown, and summer whites. Our mothers quickly made it over with out things. We then got ready and went to brunch. It was delicious. We went back to our suite where we all were together for a bit more. Then we walked my family over to their car. We said our goodbyes. I remember walking back hand in hand with Paul looking back one last time to my mom, my dad, my brother, and my sister. The only family I've ever known and been apart of. But just as I began to cry, Paul gave my hand a squeeze.
Morning: The minute I woke up I remember my sisters head asleep on my right arm. I'm really glad that I took the moment to realize that before the day started. My sister and I shared a bed which is enough to make me bawl when I think of it but we did and it was the best. So that morning I wake up look over and she is completely knocked out from the night before (which was a fabulous rehearsal and rehearsal dinner; it was fun and I felt beautiful and my two high thoughts were: HOLY MOLY I'M GETTING MARRIED and to Paul who is fabulous and smart and handsome. IS this a movie? Am I starring in it? I Always thought it would be Penelope Cruz? Again, I digress. I do remember feeling ultra fabulous during dinner and after and when my dad hugged Paul goodbye and I hugged him for the last time as a fiance and got away in my car. (Later that night we texted until the wee hours of the morning telling each other we couldn't wait to be married and that this truly is the happiest life..) It was really something... Back to Sarah, I slowly moved my arm from underneath her head. She looked like a little kid. I felt like a little kid. Again, enter: What is even happening???!?
She's the best. She would carry on to be the best maid of honor a girl could ask for. Love her the most.
Breakfast: My mother came into the room. Wide eyed. Also looking very much: What is even happening?! ( Theme of the day) and said, "You need to eat. Here!" (Looking back that is very love language of my mother: food.) I am handed a coffee with cream and a buttered piece of bread. She hastily asks me, "Where are the place cards? Paul is looking for them. He's on the phone but he doesn't want to see you." I hear him on the speaker phone and my heart jumps. I imagine he feels as excited as I do. I then sit there and write letters to my mother, father, and future mother and father in law.
Getting ready: Madness. Craziness. I felt beautiful. I ran late. Everyone was going a bit mad but we all made it out alive. Barely.
The Church: We got out of the vehicle and I snapped my veil on and my eyes slowly looked up to the very tip top of the Cathedral. This is happening. This is the place. Everyone is in there. *He* is in there... My father and I went to the confessional and he is peering out the door saying he is nervous and I am very much the opposite. The whole weekend I felt very much..relaxed. Even when things were chaotic as they inevitably can be.. I felt very much at peace. Similarly, dating, the engagement..all of it. I never second guessed, I never wondered about Paul. It all just felt very right. The "rightness" came back in full swing moments before walking down the aisle. This was my guy. This was my man. This is exactly where I am supposed to be. We walked out of the confessional. I grabbed my father. Felt my throat close. Looked up and there *he* was. My first thought and I remember this so clearly is, "Oh, he looks so handsome." His haircut was flawless, his whites were crisp and white and his smile was BEAMING. His face was BEAMING at me. It was like a gravitational pull down the aisle. I quickly glanced around me and saw everyone staring *egad* and then before I knew it I my dad was putting the veil over my head; I was face to face with P. He grabbed my hand. The hand squeeze; I can still feel. It was solid and together. We were there and we were getting married. It sunk in with the hand squeeze. He looked at me and as we were walking over to our seats he whispered, "You look beautiful." After I said thank you, I said, "So do you." Because he did. He looked stalely and strong and sure of us. Just as I always hoped he would.
Vows: We said we would. I cried. I kissed him super big. I closed my eyes during the songs so I would somehow soak it all in and so I would hear the cello on the balcony above us. It was beautiful.
The Jefferson: After pictures and all we moved back to the Jefferson. More pictures. Then for the first time all day we were alone together in the Jefferson Suite. Which was HOLY MOLY stunning. Before we left to the cocktail hour I realized I needed to use the bathroom. We walked over to our bathroom and with two hands Paul scooped my up my gowns skirt and I sat...on the toilet that is. We smiled at each other and laughed realizing this was the first thing we did as man and wife. It was the most romantic moment in the world and I'll forever remember it. Then, it was time for our entrance on the grand staircase. My deepest and most sincere wish was not to fall down the steps of this grand staircase. Please, God. He heard and answered by letting us get to the top and hear the piano man stop playing to say, "For the first time: Introducing Lieutenant and Mrs. Paul Edward Daly" and we appeared and smiled and it was again wonderful. The server handed us champagne and white wine and we were off.
Reception: I for the first time in my life audibly gasped when Paul and I walked into the reception. The way the Jefferson set up the ballroom was not to be believed. It was breathtaking. Music from the 50's played throughout and the lighting was dim with the flowers and the cake and the menus and all; it was good. It was really good. We ate dinner. Paul barely ate dinner because he was so excited but I ate almost everything. I remember that being the being the biggest tip: Eat your dinner at your own wedding. We got up and tried to say hello to each table and then we danced. As Paul and I got up for our first dance I looked up at him and thought, "Oh, we forgot to practice." Then we danced with Frank Sinatra and it was beautiful. We laughed the entire way through it with these big goofy smiles. I remember feeling my dress in the back move with me. Then the Father Daughter dance came and as we were walking up my dad behind me steps on the back of my dress pulling the back of my bustle. I hear it snap, look behind me and see him with his eyes wide open saying, "I'm so sorry."But I said it was okay and I grabbed his hand because I could feel the nervousness through him. Not a performer, my father. But he was with me dancing to, "My Little Girl" by Tim McGraw. He told me he always knew I would be something, have a beautiful wedding with a beautiful life being married to Paul. He told me I was so beautiful in between tears. He mostly just laid his head on my shoulder and cried. Later, we danced and danced and had more champagne and took more pictures and met with more people. We heard our speeches and then danced and drank some more. We cut the cake with a SWORD. My sister and I did a dance to, Salt-N-Pepa's Push it for everyone. Paul's groomsman Joe led, "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" by the Righteous Brothers along with every man in the Navy who was in the room; replaying the scene made famous in Top Gun. What a night. Toss of the bouquet and the garter which we ultimately decided to do because it's ~tradition~, you feel? We had a really fabulous time. Our last song was, "This Is How We Do it" by Montell Jordan. Naturally. The first time Paul and I sang in the car together was to this song on one of our many road trips while dating. Long Live 90's hip hop and R&B in the Daly household. I remember my feet hurting and Paul getting on the ground. Pulling up my ball gown to find my feet and undoing my straps. Grabbing both my white satin heels and tossing them on a gold chiavari chair and taking my hand to the dance floor. Cue the *What is even happening?!* It was his servants heart shining through along with the top confidence he carried in just *knowing* he's the shit. I felt like the shit.
The Next Morning: We quickly realized upon waking up that we had a brunch at 11am with both of our immediate families. The only things we had were two phones at ten percent, one ball gown, and summer whites. Our mothers quickly made it over with out things. We then got ready and went to brunch. It was delicious. We went back to our suite where we all were together for a bit more. Then we walked my family over to their car. We said our goodbyes. I remember walking back hand in hand with Paul looking back one last time to my mom, my dad, my brother, and my sister. The only family I've ever known and been apart of. But just as I began to cry, Paul gave my hand a squeeze.
The Wedding Dress: June 1-3, 2018
Monday, September 16, 2019
"Once in a while, in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairytale."
Melissa Brown
I really never had in mind what kind of dress I wanted before the wedding. I knew I wanted it to be very white because I didn't want it to clash with Paul's summer whites. I did also know that I wanted my mother, sister, and mother-in-law there when I found it. It would be the first time our mothers had met and I couldn't think of a better way to also introduce them both to Richmond and specifically the sites Paul and I had chosen for our big day than to make a girls weekend.
We booked a weekend at Linden Row Inn, a few bridal shop appointments, a tasting at the rehearsal dinner restaurant, Bistro 27 and brunch at The Jefferson Hotel where we would have our reception.
Here trying on shoes, a veil, and a tiara. Very surreal to be putting any of these things on. My favorite part of this photo is my mother beaming in her seat.
After going to a few places and not finding anything at all, we landed at Tiffany's Bridal. My mother-in-law struck a conversation with one of the ladies on the floor. Her daughter had recently married a man from Charlotte (love those men) and she liked Barbara's shoes. She decided that the woman she was waiting for was running late so she would pass her to another colleague and that she wanted to work with us.
I'm trying a million dresses on and she was so knowledgable about everything I asked. Later, we came to find out she owned the boutique. We were *IN*!
So much beautiful...
Women at different times had told me that I would end up with the exact opposite of what I thought I would like. I went looking for lace and ended up falling for satin.
We found the dress!
Relieved we headed toward the restaurant for the tasting and ate all the delicious food William had prepared.
We then finally headed back to Linden Row. Our rooms were right next to each other and I surprised each of them with a box of goodies. Just to let them know how happy I was that we were all together and how much I loved each of them. Marriage to me has always meant Paul but it also meant that we would both be expanding our families. There's nothing that makes us happier.
Here is a picture of the box for my mother-in-law...
Linden Row Inn was beyond accommodating. We were so glad that most of our guests housed there.
Little delicious local chocolates attached didn't last for a picture...
We then headed to bed and got ready in the morning for Mass at the Cathedral and brunch at The Jefferson.
Never in any of the times I've been to Richmond guessed that the city would one day be so important to me!
Afterward, Mom, Sarah and I headed to the Greater Richmond Bridal Show and had a *little* fun...
We headed home happy and for the first time, I felt like this was really happening. I am getting married!
10 months later...
The dress was picked up and ready to be tailored. I closed the back, added buttons and made the front a high neck....
I felt so beautiful and so perfect that day. My mother gifted me with the most beautiful dress and I never wanted to take it off. At the end of the night I looked at the bottom of the my dress and it was so dirty! I knew it had all of Richmond on it. I wouldn't want it any other way.
Oh and big white ballgowns are perfect for dancing with your brand new husband...
Oh and big white ballgowns are perfect for dancing with your brand new husband...
At the end of the day, it's the bride who makes the dress, not the other way around." | Kang Chun Lin
My Dear Aunt Gracie
Thursday, August 15, 2019
I was sitting here at my desk, working ( which is the job I have now for the next two weeks with my broken foot) and suddenly I believe it all processed that I lost my dear Aunt Gracie.
A funny realization I had was that I always remember Aunt Gracie old. There was never a time in my life when I saw her young so a part of me; I think a part of all of us; assumed she'd just always be around. She's always been strong, always youthful and always with a glass of wine..
There was no one more pure of heart than Grace Medaglia. Her hugs were pure, her heart was the size of planet Earth and her love of life and family was incomparable. She appreciated every single day and took joy in every member of her family. My father in particular was always moved to a young boy when Aunt Gracie was around, my opinionated mother quiet to listen to everything she had to say, my stoic brother amused by every moment she made, my adorable sister enthralled when she was around. We were thankful for every McDonald's gift card, Christmas card, birthday card and call we would receive. I don't know how an event can go by now without her or without hearing a loud, "I love you, too" at the end of a phone call..
I was scrolling through photos today and thanked God above that I have these photos to cherish..
I can see her little face poking through the crowd smiling at my dad and I walking down the aisle. I didn't realize how important this photo would be to me until now.
My cousin Jane brought Aunt Gracie onto the dance floor. My sister and I each grabbed a hand and danced. She was so little and smiling. I again didn't realize how important this photo would be. Which is the way I feel about alot of these photos filled to the brim with faces I love and care about.
Paul and I knew from the moment we got engaged that we wanted a big wedding with everyone there. Even if that meant planning through nursing school, deployment, and any other added stress: we were doing this because there is only one day in your life where you can have everyone you love in one room. We got that day and I'm so thankful that Aunt Gracie was able to be there. It wouldn't have been the same without her. It won't be the same without her.
The Engagement: March 19th 2018
Sunday, July 28, 2019
The day of Our Engagement:
We had just spent four or five days in Charlotte, NC before going to Savannah, Georgia to meet Paul's extended family and celebrate their second Christmas, St. Patrick's Day. Paul would be on his way to deployment very soon. We had spoken about marriage several times, Paul asked me if I was sure I didn't want to spend a year in Spain alone before settling down and whenever our weekends together would end he would say, " I wish you would just propose already so we didn't have to go through this anymore." Haha.
I was hoping that this trip we'd planned would be the time where he would propose! Why not? Savannah is beautiful, so much family and I thought if he didn't propose now then he would when he got back! Right?!
We spent our whole week in Savannah. It was beautiful. There were so many opportune times where you could ask someone a very important question. Instead, we enjoyed our time and I told myself to not think about it so I could enjoy myself. I loved Paul and I loved him whether we were engaged or not. Nothing could change that.
At the end of the trip, we drove back to Norfolk after one more stop in Charlotte and March 19th was just like any other day. We got Chick-Fila for breakfast and came home to take a nap before we unloaded the car. Yet, before I went back on my way to Kilmarnock we had a thirty-minute shoot scheduled that evening in Sandbridge Beach, VA. Paul and I only had cell phone photo quality photos together and before he left I wanted something I could look at for the next 8 months....
We were getting ready to leave and Paul took FOREVER to get ready. As we were getting in the car it looked like it was going to storm. I suggested that we reschedule the photos again for later in the week but Paul was determined that it wouldn't rain.. We HAD to get there.
We got there and I had a long green dress that I bought for the photos. I was so excited to get photos in a flowy dress on the beach with the love of my life. It all hardly felt real..
We then went to change into our second outfit. I quickly slipped into another dress while in the car but Paul said he needed to change his pants in the bathroom. I thought if I could change my dress and shoes in the car he surely could too but fine. He said, "Go down to the beach and get some solo shots so that I can have those with me on deployment." I said, "Okay." Just totally unassuming.
In the meantime, Paul had gone to the bathroom to pray before he proposed. Cue tears later when I found this out...
I was down on the beach and the photographer knew what was going to happen because Paul had emailed her of his plans earlier that week. I noticed she just kept looking at me and smiling. I look up at the top of the beach and see Paul with a full smile making his way down to me.
We start taking photos and I feel Paul squeeze my hand to turn me around and then he says, "I love you." I said, "I love you too.."
Paul: "No, I love you so much that I don't want you to be my girlfriend anymore. I want you to be my wife."
Cue my heart completely stopping. I just remember putting my hand over my mouth and seeing him get down on one knee and vaguely hearing snaps from the photographer around us.
Paul: Will you marry me?
Bianca: "Yes!"
All I could muster was to close my mouth that was on the floor and go in to kiss him because anything I could say just wouldn't be enough...
After our kiss, I couldn't stop saying, "We're engaged!!"
I called my mom and she knew and yelled in the background to the family that it had happened!
I called my sister who isn't a public crier to hear her gasp and cry which made me bawl even more.
We called Paul's mom where she greeted us with the most hearty congratulations. I couldn't believe I was growing my family to some of the best people I've ever met. We got ahold of Paul's brothers who knew, as well! We barely were able to stay on the phone with anyone because we couldn't stop kissing! (sorry mom!)
We finally got ahold of Paul's dad where Paul thanked his dad for making him a man and I knew
that this was the best day of my life and I was marrying the best man I have ever known.
We don't exactly remember how we made it home that night but we stopped on the way because Paul wanted to pick up flowers for my mom and beer for my dad.
We got back to my house so late and I couldn't even tell you the rest because I just remember being up all night staring at my ring.
We later found out it was the feast of St. Joseph which makes so much sense because Paul is so giving, kind, and God-fearing like Jesus' father is said to be. He always puts me before him. When someone loves you this way you put them before you and that's what made us work while dating in school and being in the military. The purpose of every day changed when we realized we loved each other. We chose each other.
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