July 29, 2010

Love and laughter

This couple connected at a community picnic

The Ciccones today

The Ciccones today

When Tony and Tiziana met, he didn’t ask for her number, but she passed it along anyway. Now the always-bold Tiziana is a busy preschool owner and her children’s book Wake up, the Baby’s Coming is scheduled for release this summer. She shares their long-term love story:

How they met

Tony and I met in August of 1978 at a picnic at Boyd Park in Woodbridge. Our parents came from the same hometown in Italy, and these annual picnics were a ritual where all the immigrants gathered to share stories of days gone by. Tony and I had attended since we were children but had never met. We were introduced by a mutual friend, and we spent the better part of that day together. When I left, I handed our friend my number to pass on to him since he didn’t take the initiative to ask me for it. (He later claimed he wanted to play hard to get!) I just thought he was a little slow on the uptake.

The first date

Three weeks later, we had a picnic lunch in High Park and shared stories of our childhoods and our future plans. After that first date, we became inseparable. Tony was outgoing and had a great sense of humour; I was more reserved and quiet. He often asks me now what happened to that quiet girl he first went out with.

The engagement

We decided to get married before Tony actually proposed. It was just a natural progression in our relationship. We selected the engagement rings together, and then Tony made reservations at Rossini Restaurant on Avenue Road. We sat upstairs; the restaurant was really busy. We had a table for two that was sandwiched between two larger parties, so it was a little awkward for us. Tony proposed in Italian because he didn’t want the people next to us to hear him. If you heard my husband speak Italian, you’d understand why I laughed during his proposal.

“ I laughed during his proposal.”

The wedding

We were married at St. Roch’s Church, near Islington and Steeles, on June 26, 1982. Our wedding day was perfect! We had 525 guests at our reception. Honestly, it was outrageous.

The early years

We lived with Tony’s parents for the first year of our marriage so we could save to buy our first house.

Secret to success

We have very hectic lives, but we slow down a few times a year to vacation with family and friends. There is no easy recipe for a good marriage. We have been challenged, enriched and defined by ours.

Every couple has a story to share. If you would like to share yours, please contact the editor at 416-250-7979, ext. 222, or news@postcitymagazines.com.
 

This article appears in the July 2009 issue of Post City Magazines

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