Virginia Couple To Be First-Ever To Wed Atop Rose Parade Float

PASADENA (CBSLA.com) — One couple will begin 2013 by getting married atop a Farmers Insurance float during the 124th Tournament of Roses Parade.

Nicole Angelillo and husband-to-be, Gerald Sapienza, were selected from among four finalists competing for the dream wedding… a first ever to be held during the Rose Parade.

"I know your wedding is supposed to be amazing but this is amazing," a tearful Angelillo told CBS2's Suzanne Marques.

Equally amazing: the story of how she and her fiancé fell in love.

Marques reports that Angelillo had a crush on Sapienza in high school but nothing ever happened.

Then ten years later, she tried online dating and came across a "Gerald."

Said Angelillo, "I just was like daydream like girls do. You know, 'Gerald and Nicole. Nicole and Gerald. You know, how many Geralds do I know?' And it hit me… could this be Gerald Sapienza, that guy from high school that I had a crush on?"

"I was shocked to find out who she was. Our families have history together. T-Ball, High school," Sapienza said. "For us to end up this way is just kind of like cosmic."

A rehearsal dinner is expected to be held Saturday evening in front of the float in Pasadena.

RELATED STORY:
» SoCal Couple Among 4 Competing For Wedding Atop Rose Parade Float