Every little girl dreams of this day.
The white dress, the flowers, the first dance…
As I grew older and life happened as it did, things changed—including my vision for my life. There was a point in time in which I honestly believed I’d be single forever.
And, I was okay with that. I had Lina. We had each other. I didn’t need anyone else.
Well, other than my family, of course.
But then Ryan came into my life—into our lives—and changed everything.
And, today, our lives are changing once more.
By the end of the day, I will be a wife, and Lina will have a stepfather.
With shaky legs, I begin to carefully make it down the stairs. Thanks to the length of the dress, I get away with wearing my favorite white Keds. At the sound of my footsteps, Valentina calls for my mom and Lina. The rustling of everyone scrambling to the bottom of the stairs causes me to laugh out loud.
It’s just so very nineties rom-com.
Until my mother gasps at the sight of me in the sheath ivory dress she wore on her own wedding day, forty years ago. The illusion sleeves, sweep train, and deep-V neckline are both vintage and seemingly modern. The linear lace, hand sewn by one of my nonna’s cousins in Italy, is timeless.
“Oh, Carina.” Clutching her heart with one hand and wiping a lone tear from her cheek with the other, my mother takes a step forward. No sooner do my feet drop on the landing does she pull me into her arms.
“Don’t you make me cry,” I threaten jokingly as I feel a tug on my hand from behind my mom’s back.
“Mom, we have to go,” Lina urges, pulling me gently. “We’re going to be late.”
If there’s anyone more excited than me about today, it’s Lina.
She’s grown so much in the last two years. At just ten years old, Lina is now taller than both my mom and Valentina—something she likes to remind them of often.
The dark red dress Lina is wearing is the same color as Valentina’s matron of honor dress. Both have long mesh skirts down to the floor and lace bodices. While my sister’s goes across one shoulder, leaving the other bare, Lina’s has a thin strap on the exposed shoulder.
The wedding photographer follows us outside, snapping his camera like the paparazzi and capturing candid moments as we all pile into the limousine.
“How’s Ryan?” I ask my dad as I settle into the cushy leather seat.
Before coming to my grandparents’ house, my father joined my brothers and Alfie in getting ready at my house. Over the last couple of years, my dad and Ryan have become incredibly close. So close that, despite Alfie being the best man, my dad was the one that planned the deep sea fishing weekend that served as Ryan’s bachelor party.
“About the same as you, I imagine,” my dad responds with a chuckle, reaching for my hand. “Excited. Nervous.”
The drive to the church isn’t very long.
I only half-listen as my sister rattles off the things we’ll need to do after the church service—the necessary photographs we must take, the people we’ll have to gather for said photographs, and so forth. She continues the entire ride.
When we pull up to St. James’ (the Catholic church every member of my family has gotten married in since my parents’ wedding), there are a few wedding guests standing on the steps outside.
The very moment the limo is parked, Valentina hops out and starts shooing everyone inside the church.
Her take-charge attitude is the very reason I didn’t feel the need to hire a wedding planner.
When she returns, my grandparents, parents, Lina, and I all step out onto the pavement.
“You ready?” my dad asks, offering me his arm.
Sucking in some air, I slide my arm in his, letting that same air out as the processional begins.
One by one, to the sound of Ave Maria, the line in front of me dwindles down. When it’s only Lina and me and my father left behind, Lina turns and blows me a kiss before she disappears into the open doorway. My dad and I are hiding off to the side, out of sight, when someone from the church closes the door. As we get into position, I can hear the music change.
When the doors reopen, my stomach flips.
Who knew making a lifelong commitment to someone in front of two hundred people would be so nerve-wracking?
The anxiousness subsides about halfway down the aisle when Ryan and I lock eyes for the very first time.
After swiftly wiping his eyes when my dad and I stop in front of him, he whispers with a shaky voice, “You look beautiful,” just before the priest starts to speak.
As the ceremony begins, Ryan rubs the pad of his thumb against my hand. It’s the smallest, most simple gesture, and it instantly calms me. This is the reason I fell in love with him.
Even unknowingly, he always makes everything better.
Over the last two years, we’ve been through so much together.
We’ve seen the show grow bigger than we ever anticipated. Ryan had followed through and taken me and Lina to London to meet his gran. We bought a house. He became a citizen of the United States. And, most recently, we adopted our first puppy together.
And, to think…it’s only the beginning.
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
There was a point in time, when I was the make-everything-from-scratch mom. I made all of my youngest’s baby food. I cooked dinner every night, packed lunches for the big kids and my husband every day…
Then, came sports.
And playdates, deadlines, and more sports.
Despite having what felt like a million more things to do, there were still only twenty-four hours in a day. That never changed.
I got to a point where I was stretching myself so thin that something had to give.
So, I started taking…shortcuts, if you will.
I realized that making cake from a box was okay, using a pre-made sauce was okay, making small little changes to make my life easier was OKAY.
And, thus…Halfway Homemade was born. Teaming up with my fellow hot-mess mom, Suzy, we created a place for anyone in need of quick and easy (or easier) recipes. From breakfast sandwiches all the way down to desserts, we keep it simple.
While we might not have a show on Food Network like Carina, we do have an Instagram.
Every recipe mentioned in here (including the dog treats!) can be found at:
Be sure to take pictures and tag us if you try any of the recipes!
MANGIA! MANGIA!