We were blessed with a gorgeous day overlooking the James River under the boughs of this magnificent tree surrounded by the love of our families and friends.

These are just a few preliminary photos sent to us by our photographer, Lindsay Collette. She will send us more of her edited photos in a few weeks.

Our dear friend Christiana Caro (Ann’s doppelgänger) was kind enough to video tape the ceremony just so that we could watch it again…and again…and again! Thank you, Christiana!

vows

WE'VE HAD SOME REQUESTS TO SHARE OUR VOWS SO I WILL INCLUDE TONY AND MY VOWS TO EACH OTHER

FOLLOWED BY MY VOWS TO AVA AND ANGELO

and Ava and Angelo’s “Wedding speech”:

I vow to put our family first — knowing that we can find the balance between our selves as independent people and as mother/father, husband/wife.
I vow to honor your individuality.
I vow to support you in your endeavors and desires in order that you may become the fullest version of yourself throughout our lives.
I vow to honor your passion and strength.
I vow to always hear you. 
I vow to stand by your side and defend you because I know that your actions are coming from a heart full of love and best intentions.
I vow to never let you stand alone in the face of any obstacle or difficulty.
I vow to honor your family.
I vow to dance with you forever.
I vow to take care of you til my last breath.

Vows for Ava and Angelo:

I couldn’t have been more blessed to receive such beautiful, intelligent, sweet, loving, cute, funny, thoughtful, creative, unique children to love and embrace as my own.

To Ava and Angelo,

In marrying your father I will become a mom to you. A bonus mom, if you will!

For the rest of my life: 
I will stand by your side, with your best interests in my heart. 
I will support you emotionally, intellectually, within our home and out in the world, as you grow through these upcoming middle school years into your teenage years, as you develop into young adults exploring your passions and interests, forging ahead with your own lives. 
I will listen to you, I will do my best to hear you and see you for who you are and who you are becoming. 
I will be someone you can always count on and call on. 
I will play games with you.
I will travel with you.
I will tuck you in at night, make you breakfast in the morning, and walk you to the bus stop.

I will hug and kiss you. And you can sit on my lap at any time.
I will run, hop, skip, and jump for you.
It has been easy to love you and I will always love you. 
And with that, I will always love and be by the side of your father as well — supporting him in all that he does for us. 
It has been a joy to become a family together, and I vow to continue to help cultivate our familial force with you.
I love you.

Ava and Angelo’s speech:

Ava: it's so great to see all of your faces out here. Thank you all for coming out here and showing your support.

Angelo: This day means a lot to me and Ava because his past year our dad has found love again.

AV: it has been so beautiful to watch this love grow, and an honor to be a part of it.

AN: my first suspicion that my dad liked ann was when we brought brownies over to all the quotation “new neighbors”. Some of Which had been there for months or longer! We later found out it was just an excuse to see Ann .

AV:My first memory of finding out is when we were visiting family in California and the family had faced timed Ann and were talking. During the conversation I overheard someone say ‘so this is Tony's girlfriend, She is so pretty.’’The next day we went shopping with my dad and he pulled me aside and started to say’’ So I just wanted to say..’’ Before he could finish I blurted ‘’I know you and Ann have been dating!’’ The look on his face was priceless!

AN: on a more seorise note were ecstatic Ann is joining our family .

AV:Thous first few months were tough ,and seeing our dad in such a bad state was just heartbreaking . When Ann joined our family it was like a weight lifted off us,a new chapter started to a new life do love,life,and prosperity.

AN:It make me so happy to see our dad in so much joy. I can see a great future ahead of us. I feel like Ann will be a great addition to our family. She has so much to offer. Like love,kindness,and her devotion.

AV:Reading this speech makes me feel so many emotions. Thinking about how ann is willing to put herself out on the line for us. How devoted she is to us and how she is willing and happy to be a mom to us. Well ann were ready to be committed to you! I can’t Wait for the future.