A Guest Post by The MOB member Cynthia Osmola Keeley.  Cynthia’s daughter, Brooke, was married May 21st!

I can’t believe it’s over.

My emotions have ranged from frustration to giddiness to exhaustion to pride, all over the one day I looked forward to since those little eyes met mine, just 31 years ago. Did I mention it’s over? Did I mention that my baby girl has stepped into the wonderful world of married life…..a long time coming, but still way too soon for me.

For all of her life we’ve joked about it and laughed about how she’d want it to be unique and over-the-top fun, as she has never had a problem being the center of attention and would relish the thought that all eyes would be on her. We knew she would revel in the attention paid her both leading up to the Big Day and the Day Of, so it was immediately obvious to me that as the hours drew closer, her excitement was waning and I could sense her heart pounding, and could see the deer in the headlight look in her eyes, wishing me to tell her it would be OK. It would! It was! Everything was perfect. We both knew it at the same moment.

Her hair was lovely, her makeup even better, her dress was sparkly perfection, her flowers just right. She even had the added bonus of my Mom’s brooch on her bouquet, giving her even more confidence than she already had, as well as comfort in carrying a piece of her Meem with her as she glided down the aisle.

Her wedding day was seriously over in a minute. A brief minute in time was what it seemed, where the skies were clear and bright, the breeze was soothing, people were smiling and happy and my baby girl took on a new name, a new role, and a new life.

I look around my kitchen and my laundry room and my dining room and my garage at all the boxes and bags and piles of linens and candles and lanterns, all used to add to the perfection of one lovely day. I remember where I purchased each item and how excited I was whenever I got a delivery. I remember the many internet searches and store searches looking for that perfect blue, and more than perfect accessory and every tiny detail that goes into planning and executing the biggest party I’ll ever throw. I have 27 pages of saved emails between my daughter and myself tossing around bouquet ideas and hairdos and wedding shoes and jewelry. I bought bracelets and earrings and wedges and blue shoes. I bought hair clips and bridesmaid glasses and starfish and shells. I bought runners and napkin rings and favors and blue sparkling globes. I bought bubble glass and diamond scatter and organza and satin. I bought crystals and rhinestones and cardstock and paints. I bought the guestbook and cake knife and sashes and ribbon. I loved every minute of it. Did I mention that?

It’s over now, but I hope my daughter realizes that what we shared during the planning is something she will always have with her when her own time comes. She can back off or throw herself into it as I did, all the while making a memory for each of us to have that we can pull out from time to time and just smile about. It was a GREAT day, but it’s over now….