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Cheryl was anxious, but not in a bad way; she knew that what was to come would be the best event since the day Toni Topaz entered her life. They were getting married. After four years of a relationship marked by highs and lows—mostly highs, as Cheryl saw it—this was the culmination of everything she had lived with the brunette. There were lows, but they were nothing compared to the highs: every moment that brought out her best, every smile, every "I love you," every compliment exchanged made Cheryl feel like she was floating.
During that time, Cheryl waged an internal battle over her wedding guests. She had a relationship with her family, but she was never very open with them about her sexuality. Toni never questioned it, understanding where Cheryl was coming from. The big issue was that Cheryl never denied but also never confirmed any assumptions about them, and that’s how they lived. The Blossoms were always traditional; they liked things the way they had always been, believed in God, and held to what they preached in his name. Cheryl knew it might come as a shock to them, but she was still willing to invite them. When she asked her fiancée’s opinion, Toni said she should do what she felt most comfortable with. That pink-haired woman would be happy with whatever her future wife decided and would support her as always.
After days immersed in thoughts on the subject, Cheryl finally chose to invite them. She confirmed this decision while she and Toni were making the guest list for their wedding. Despite Toni’s clear surprise at Cheryl’s decision to open up to her family, she smiled and shook Cheryl’s hand, making her feel safe.
When the invitations arrived the following month, Cheryl was ready to send them. She took another moment to think when she read the invitation addressed to her childhood home. She decided to write to them; they hadn't spoken since Cheryl decided she needed a break from the old town she grew up in, once she had enough money to move out independently. The invitation read:
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Cheryl Blossom & Antoinette Topaz are pleased to announce to Mr. and Mrs. Blossom their marriage union, which will take place on:
July 18, 2024
At 6 PM
At their current residence, the address of which is described below.
Your presence is a wish of the brides!
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Cheryl had three invitations in hand: for her parents, her grandmother, and her uncle and his family. Her brother was the only one she still had contact with, so there was no doubt about inviting him. The Blossom twins always felt trapped in Riverdale, and once they were old enough to leave, Cheryl went first. Jason followed a few years later. Despite their closeness, they ended up on different ends of the country, which meant they didn’t see each other often. However, they kept in touch with monthly calls. Jason had never mentioned Cheryl to their parents, and she appreciated the gesture.
When Toni showed up at the office where Cheryl had been all afternoon, she was finally ready to send out the invitations and a handwritten letter to those she feared wouldn’t understand. After kissing Toni’s lips, she smiled and felt at peace, knowing that no matter the response, nothing would diminish her excitement about marrying the woman in front of her.
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Cheryl's letter:
"I never really thought about what family meant. Sometimes, I thought it was about blood, until I realized it was about love, affection, support, and feeling safe. I know that when I left, you might have thought you didn’t mean anything to me, but you were a crucial part of my life. I learned and reinvented myself during my time with you.
I know all of this may sound confusing. I can’t even imagine your thoughts or reactions. I spent years with you all, and I never allowed myself to be my true self. Despite not clearly hiding who I am, I was not open about it, and that’s why I thought and rethought this invitation many times.
I am not seeking your permission, support, or acceptance. I want your respect for my happiness. I want you to respect me as I respected you, many times more than the people who have supported me my whole life. I know your view of this reality may be distorted because of the way you were raised and perhaps due to religious beliefs. But I’m not asking you to let go of your beliefs for me. I want some of the people who watched me grow up to come to my wedding with the love of my life and celebrate with me.
Not because you understand or agree, but because you once loved me enough to want to participate in another important moment for me.
I never stopped loving or thinking about all of you, but I had to find my own way. I hope you are well and that you feel compelled to come and try for me.
Love, Cheryl."
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When the big day arrived, Cheryl didn’t have time to think about whether her family would come. The rush of preparations made everything exciting and invigorating. She could hardly believe it was really happening. In a short time, she would be married to the most wonderful, attentive, and dazzling woman she had ever known. Despite their years together, she still hadn’t fully grasped the idea.
Everything became even more surreal when she came face to face with the love of her life, who wore a beautiful gray suit matching her own characteristic color. They chose to wear suits and enter together, agreeing they didn’t have significant father figures to walk them down the aisle. They smiled at each other, holding hands as they walked toward the judge who would declare their commitment.
As they walked down the aisle, many smiles were directed at them. Cheryl spotted her Nana Rose, Penelope Blossom, her uncle, and his family in one of the rows. Toni must have seen the same because her grip tightened. After receiving a half-smile from her mother and a wave from her Nana, Cheryl looked away and continued walking with her bride.
When the judge pronounced Antoinette Topaz as her wife, Cheryl felt like she might explode with joy. When she kissed the brunette for the first time as a married couple, tears rolled down her cheeks, a clear sign of her happiness. For the first time, Cheryl truly felt unshakable. She was now a Blossom-Topaz, a blend of what she had always known and the newness that had always been welcome. She wasn’t sure what would happen with her family, but the prospect of the future didn’t scare her. For her, the future always meant Toni Topaz, or rather, Toni Blossom-Topaz, the woman who had changed her life and become her world.