MOG: Stacey Panassidi
Mother of: Tyler
Venue: Skyview Golf Club in Sparta, New Jersey
Vibe: Black tie optional, elegant
Dress: Jovani from Castle Couture
Finding a dress was actually the least of Stacey Panassidi’s concerns in the months leading up to her son Tyler’s wedding. She was caring for her mom who was in sharp decline. The joy of a wedding, the grief of seeing her mom slip away — it’s the ultimate sandwich generation dichotomy and Stacey started posting about it on social media.
“I didn’t expect people to respond so tremendously,” Stacey says. “But so many people are at the exact same stage, experiencing milestones of grief and joy at the same time.”
Between updates about her mom, Stacey started posting from the fitting room, sharing dress contenders for Tyler and Beth’s spring wedding in New Jersey. Dress try-ons actually became a bright spot in the midst of caregiving. Plus, this was Stacey’s first time trying on dresses since dropping 55 pounds. It was a whole new adventure that started with pastels, moved to florals and pinks before she chose a navy on nude lace cap sleeve gown by Jovani.
Of those who’d been following her dress try-ons on Instagram, Stacey says more than half picked the dress she ultimately chose. “It was a little sparklier than the others. It felt special.” She had her mother’s jeweled pin sewn into the train of the dress, and carried her spirit down the aisle. Stacey’s mom saw a photo of her in the dress, which brings Stacey some comfort. Her mom passed away before the wedding.
The day before the wedding, Stacey got sick. “I barely made it through the rehearsal dinner,” she says. “Maybe my mom did that so I’d be too preoccupied to think about her. All I cared about was feeling good enough to make it through the wedding.”
And she did. When it came time to hit the dance floor with her son, they selected “You’ll Be in my Heart,” a poignant moment that gave way to “Shake Your Groove Thing.”
“Everyone was crying and cheering. It was one of the best moments of my life,” Stacey says. “My mom would have loved this moment."