For most 91-year-old women, their days of being in weddings as bridesmaids, flower girls and maids of honor are long gone, but not for Gaetana (Tina) Ramagnano. When Tina’s great nephew, Christopher Panna, and his lovely bride-to-be, Lumina Resnick, were planning their wedding, they realized they had a shortage of flower girls. But instead of foregoing the flower girl or asking a friend’s daughter to participate, they asked Tina…and they put a regal twist on it.
According to Lumina, Tina grew up in South Philadelphia and was a dance instructor, a profession that is saturated in tulle, sequins and all things glamorous. Whether because of her teaching background or just because it’s in her DNA, Tina has always loved to dress up and play a part. With Tina’s love for the glam-life in mind, Lumina says that she didn’t feel right asking her to be a flower ‘girl.’ So she came up with another plan instead.
After confirming with one of Tina’s closest friends that their wedding would be something should would gladly participate in and not accept out of obligation, they went to the elderly woman with a box containing a beautiful flower and asked her to be their “Queen of Flowers.” Now if that is not just the cutest/coolest/sweetest thing ever, I don’t know what is.
Tina, having believed that her days of being in weddings were long gone, was absolutely thrilled by the invite. Of course, she went out shopping first thing and purchased a soft-pink floor length gown, complete with a matching derby-style hat adorned with lavender flowers–because, you know, no queen’s ensemble is complete without a full-brim hat.
On the big day, venue regulations prevented Tina from being able to scatter flower petals down the aisle, so she made up for it by passing out flowers to deserving guests as she made her way to the front. (All guests were likely deserving, but she’s a queen and all queens have deserving subjects). Whom she did and did not bestow a flower upon became a hot topic of conversation at the couple’s reception.
According to Lumina, “It was like she was bestowing her approval on you. Not everyone got them.”
Though it was Lumina and Christopher’s big day, Tina was the star of the show. At 91-years-old, she got to be Queen for a day and become the iconic flower girl that all future brides will strive to have.
If Tina is not the picture of royal perfection, I’m not sure who is.
Here is Tina bestowing flowers to her deserving guests.
Tina, posing with the newly weds.
Here she is, posed on her throne waiting for her portrait to be painted…er, her picture to be taken.
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