Wedding at St. Peter's Basilica

Daughter Sidney was married in St. Peter's. What an wonderful memory. We adopted Sidney when she was 2 months old. Tiny little infant weighing about 7 pounds at that age.

When Sidney and Troy informed us that they were getting married in Rome. I am thinking...Weddings are eventful in the same area let alone out of the country.

We had such a good time and about 30 people joined us in Rome for that beautiful spring day in May of 1999. We toured Italy with me keeping guard over the wedding bag luggage.

I was able to roll up her dress, veil, shoes, all the garments for 3 women in one carry on bag. I mean from head to toe, shoes, all the stuff women need to get dressed... etc. I did not let the bag out of my sight as I didn't need a freaked out bride with nothing to wear. Nor would I let anyone else iron the dress.

I am ironing the dress on the bed with a travel iron with us ladies getting ready in the hotel room. It was a beautiful spring morning with the bells tolling from various churches and we took a taxi a few blocks to St. Peter's. We were staying in the Columbus Hotel which formerly had housed priests that heard confessions at St. Peter's.

Upon arriving at St. Peter's the Swiss Guard wouldn't let us in as the maid of honor's cowl neck back of her dress was too revealing. The priest comes out and wants to know what the holdup was. He told us to keep her back from the Monsignor or he would be in big trouble.

They were married in the Chapel of the Choir on the left hand side inside of St. Peter's. The art, signing in a huge book after the ceremony, floors with writing in marble, Bernini paintings. Amazing!

After the wedding Mass ceremony the huge gates were opened to let us out into the main part of St. Peter's. We were in our own little world but outside there were those waiting who had been listening to the ceremony through the iron gates with drapes over this huge arched doorway.

As the gate was opened there was a mob and cheering, clapping, kissing and hugs from those all over the world wishing the couple well. It took us 45 minutes to get outside. Their friends hired them a horse and carriage to travel to their hotel. Flowers covered the wedding bed. We had lunch with pasta, wine and bread made by friends.

Sidney's birth mother and her husband attended the wedding of her only child and was able to see her married in St. Peter's. Her birth mother had wanted her placed in a Catholic home. I found her birth mother when Sidney was 18. I knew she would like to have her there so I invited her.

The birth mother had a dinner for all later that evening even with a wedding cake. The topper on the cake was the bride and groom where the bottom unscrewed and out popped 3 little babies. Very emotional speeches and tears from the men and women attending.