Couple has fly-by Colorado wedding to include Fort Collins mother with terminal cancer

Couple has fly-by Colorado wedding to include Fort Collins mother with terminal cancer

Most brides plan their wedding over a span of months, crafting every detail with precision and care — down to the last flower petal.

But for Jaqueline Diaz-Sua, 23, of Florida, the perfect wedding required no pomp and circumstance — only the people she loves and the blessing of her 63-year-old mother-in-law, Geri Kidawski.

Diaz-Sua and her fiance, Chris Kidawski, 34, began planning the makeshift ceremony three days before saying “I do,” flying to Colorado on Friday night to give the family one more memory together before the end of Geri’s two-year battle with cancer. She’s expected to die in coming weeks.

“That’s what weddings are all about — to have the people around you who you love there to witness your love,” Diaz-Sua said minutes before walking down a makeshift aisle in the garden of Turnberry Place Assisted Living, where Geri moved 10 days ago.

“That’s the most important thing in this world.”

The couple, who got engaged July 22 of this year, originally had planned a larger February ceremony in Diaz-Sua’s Florida home. When it became apparent that Geri likely wouldn’t survive long enough to be there, the young bride and her mother began drafting a plan to include her “second mom” in their special day — a gift to her husband-to-be and the woman who raised him.

The February ceremony will feature a slide show from their fly-by wedding in Colorado, she said. Sunday’s ceremony was as “perfect” as any wedding could be.

She donned “something new” — a princess-like white dress purchased from David’s Bridal the night before. Her hair was swept into a simple, romantic side ponytail by a local stylist at Arabella Salon.

She slipped “something blue” — graceful royal blue sandals — on her feet.

“Something borrowed” came in the multiple donations from the Fort Collins community — a donated cake from Baby Cakes bakery, donated photography services from Natalie Beck Photography, donated decorations from Fort Collins Nursery and a donated arch and chairs from Front Range Event Rental — that put the finishing touches on what started out as a small, private ceremony.