Lorelai woke up on the morning of Saturday August 3rd in her old bedroom at her parents' house. She was in bed with Rory, who despite being almost 18 and an adult herself, looked so small when she was asleep.

There was a light knock on the door and Lorelai answered, "Come in."

Emily entered smiling, "Hello, Hello! Time to get up, we have a full day planned. And since it is a special day . . . Aurora!"

The maid entered with a large tray with coffee and croissants.

"I get to eat in bed!?" Lorelai asked excitedly.

Rory woke up and rubbed her eyes, "Where am I?"

"Move over kid! My Mommy arranged for me to have breakfast in bed!"

"There's enough for both of you," Emily smiled.

"Ooooh, cool!" Rory said while propping up the pillows to support hers and Lorelai's backs.

Aurora set up the tray on the bed and placed a trivet on the nightstand for the coffee pot. The girls thanked her and dove into the chocolate croissants.

"Now," Emily started, "It is finally your wedding day. Are you willing to hear details yet?"

"I want to be surprised. I've waited this long."

"I meant about the days' schedule."

"Oh. Sure!"

Emily sat at the foot of the bed unable to stop smiling, "You two will eat your breakfast and then shower. We'll go over to the venue and I've sent a car to Stars Hollow to get the Bridesmaids. Once there I have arranged for everyone to have a massage, get their hair, make-up and nails done and then we'll get dressed. The photographer will take pictures of all the women before the ceremony, we'll have the ceremony and then Lorelai you'll do some pictures alone with Luke. On to the dinner and reception and all is done.

"Wow! That's a full day," Rory said excitedly. "Where is the venue?"

"The same place we had your debutante ball. Because of that party a lot of people in my circle have book parties there, so they owed me and were very accommodating about the extremely short timeline. Oh, I have chartered a bus that will fit all your Star Hollow guests. That way they can drink till their hearts' content and we don't have to worry about getting a bunch of taxis. Taylor Doose was especially helpful in the planning. He seems like a lovely man. He spoke so well of you and Luke and all that you were doing this week to get Stars Hollow back on track after the tornado. Is it true that Luke was letting people eat there for free?"

"Yes, of course. A few houses had some serious damage. So we're letting the families stay at the Inn and Luke and Sookie are keeping them fed. It's a team effort with Stars Hollow."

Emily smiled, "Small town life never seemed like my cup of tea but I can see the appeal with the way you all care for one another." She then jumped up and got into planning mode, "Okay now, you two eat and start getting ready. The limo will be here in an hour."

"Wait Mom," Lorelai said while getting out of bed. "I have a gift for you!"

"For me? It's your wedding day."

"Oh, you know me, I'm always breaking the rules. Open it!"

Emily smiled and opened the box finding a light blue velour tracksuit and a matching t-shirt. On the front of the t-shirt and on the back of the velour top was embroidered 'Mother of the Bride'. She seemed happy until she saw that on the pants 'M.O.T.B.' was embroidered across the butt. "Honestly Lorelai, across the bottom?"

"It's a thing Grandma, everyone does it," Rory said while showing her a magazine and a catalogue from the place the outfit was ordered.

"We got them for all the ladies," Lorelai held up her white set that had 'Bride' all over it. "You have to wear it today. It's the only day you'll be the Mother of the Bride. We're all wearing them to the venue until we put on our dresses."

"You want me to go out in public like this?"

"Come on, Mom. Please! I'm wearing a wedding dress you chose, without even seeing it. You can wear this. Plus, not so many people will see you in it, just us girls."

"Plus the people that work in my house and at the venue. Oh! And your Father!"

"I bet he'll love it!" Lorelai insisted.

Rory laughed.

"You are lucky I love you," Emily said while shaking her head.

Lorelai's breath caught in her throat, "Wow. I love you too Mom."

"Aaaaaawe," Rory gushed.

Emily realized what they both had just said and tears began to form. She turned to leave, "I'll go change. You two get a move on."

The day was going by in a blur and before Lorelai knew it, it was time to get into her dress. Surprising everyone, Lorelai agreed to wear a dress that Emily picked out as it went with her vision of the day and the dress Lorelai had for the planned Stars Hollow.

Lorelai tried the dress on earlier in the day and Emily had a seamstress there for whatever alterations needed to be done.

Emily was surprised that the dress she loved was from a Disney line, inspired by Cinderella. The gown featured yards of fabric draping gracefully into the perfect ballgown. It had a fitted bodice with a sweetheart neckline; the thick straps were off the shoulder and was framed by linear sequin and bead clusters with airy, ethereal ice blue tulle ruched across the bodice and waistline. (A/N: Yes, it is from a 2021 collection while this takes place in 2002 - deal with it. You can check it out here disney-boutique/bridal-gowns/standard-collection-2021/cinderella/ )

Lorelai's hair was down with soft beach waves and she wore Emily's tiara.

The bridesmaids (Sookie, Lane and Rory) all had dresses in ice blue. All with sweetheart necklines but all in a length and style to best flatter their different body shapes. Emily nailed it on all accounts. She wore a powder blue satin dress with a matching jacket which had similar sequins and beads to Lorelai's dress.

The time had come. Luke entered the Grand Ballroom with Jess and took his spot at the chuppah he had carved for Lorelai. Most of Stars Hollow and a whole lot of people Luke had never seen were sitting and smiling up at him.

The string quartet began to play "Fools Rush In" by Elvis as Richard and Emily appeared at the top of the staircase. Both had beaming smiles and walked gracefully with arms linked. Richard walked Emily down the aisle to her seat and then snuck off to head back upstairs to take the same trip with his daughter.

Next Rory and Lane chose to walk together after talking about feeling like sisters at their Mom's wedding. The Stars Hollow folks all smiled and whispered how beautiful the girls were. Even Mrs. Kim looked proud. Before the girls took their places each gave Luke a hug.

Lorelai took a deep breath and turned the corner to meet her father at the top of the staircase and get her first view of what her mother planned. When she saw the room tears filled her eyes and her smile spread ear to ear. The ballroom had been turned into a Winter Wonderland. Tulle was wrapped around tiny white lights, fake snow was scattered, the room was decorated in the colours of white, ice blue and deep purple that somehow made the hot August day seem cold. Emily had instructed that the air conditioner be set high to add a small chill to the room. The chairs were translucent and looked like ice. It was gorgeous. Lorelai was shocked at how spot on her Mother could execute a dream wedding that Lorelai didn't even know she had.

While Lorelai was taking in the ballroom Richard was tearing up looking at his daughter. She looked like a Princess and for a moment he saw his little girl running into his office in a new dress asking if he liked it.

"You look gorgeous … magical, even."

"Thanks Daddy," she smiled shyly and linked her arm through his. "You're looking pretty dapper yourself."

The quartet started playing Pachelbel's Cannon in D, Richard and Lorelai began to make their way down the steps and the crowd rose to their feet. With the fear of falling down the stairs off her mind, as soon as they were on the main floor, Lorelai locked eyes with Luke. She had never seen his smile so glowing and unconcealed. Instinctively she tilted her chin up and made a kiss with her lips. He winked back at her. They both grinned as if they were sharing a secret or as if no one was watching them.

Walking down the aisle she felt other people's eyes on her but she couldn't look away from Luke. She didn't see Babette and Miss Patty clinging to each other and crying. Or Morey casually dab a tear from his eye. She even missed her Mother's eye full of pride and love watching as Richard placed Lorelai's hand in Luke's.

"Hi, I've been waiting all day for this," she smiled with her eyes still locked on his.

"I've been waiting my whole life," he responded as he kissed her hand.