My mom, Evelyn, had always been a hopeless romantic. At 79, after years of being a widow, she finally found love again with Robert, a charming man from her book club. Their wedding was a beautiful celebration of love, proof that age was no barrier to finding happiness again.
The ceremony took place in a gorgeous garden, with family and close friends gathered to witness their vows. Mom looked radiant in her ivory dress, her eyes filled with the excitement of a young bride. Seeing her so happy made my heart swell with joy.
Everything about the day was perfect—until it was time for the bouquet toss.
The guests eagerly gathered as my mom stood with her bouquet, ready to toss it. But instead of throwing it over her shoulder, she turned around and raised a hand.
“Wait! Before I toss this, I need to set a rule,” she announced, her voice firm.
Everyone fell silent, confused. I frowned, wondering what she was up to.
“The woman who catches this bouquet must promise to marry within a year!” she declared.
A wave of gasps and laughter rippled through the crowd. People exchanged glances, some amused, others hesitant.
“Mom, what?” I whispered, shocked.
She grinned mischievously. “I want to spread the joy! If you catch this bouquet, you can’t just keep it as a pretty decoration. You have to take the next step in love, just like I did!”
The hesitation in the air was almost comical. Normally, women scrambled to catch the bouquet, but now, some were subtly stepping back. No one wanted to be forced into marriage on a countdown.
Then, without warning, my best friend, Lisa, reached out and snatched the bouquet mid-air.
The crowd cheered, but Lisa’s face turned pale as she realized what she had done. She glanced at me, her eyes wide with panic.
“Uh… Evelyn, you were joking, right?” Lisa asked nervously.
Mom chuckled. “Oh, honey, I never joke about love.”
The guests laughed, but I saw the gears turning in Lisa’s head. She had been dating her boyfriend, Mark, for five years, always waiting for the ‘perfect moment’ to get engaged. Maybe this was the push she needed.
Later that evening, as we sat at our table, Lisa sighed. “Maybe your mom’s onto something,” she admitted. “I love Mark, but I’ve been too scared to take the next step. Maybe it’s time.”
A month later, Mark proposed, and Lisa said yes.
At 79, my mother hadn’t just found love—she had inspired it. And as I watched Lisa walk down the aisle a year later, bouquet in hand, I couldn’t help but smile. Maybe Mom’s rule wasn’t so shocking after all.
