NEED TO KNOW
Ralph and Cindy Zingarella’s daughters, Andrea Bodin and Dayna Ferraro, planned them a surprise 50th wedding anniversary party disguised as a birthday celebration
Over 100 friends and family attended the event, which featured live music and “superb” food
The couple’s emotional reaction was captured on video, which has since garnered over 30,000 views on Instagram
A couple was expecting a birthday party but got the surprise of their life instead.
Ralph Zingarella, 77, and Cindy Zingarella, 75, have been married since April 10, 1976. Wanting to do something special for their milestone 50th wedding anniversary this year, the couple’s daughters, Andrea Bodin, 47, and Dayna Ferraro, 44, schemed to throw them an epic surprise party.
“We wanted to do something really special for our parents, as they have always been there and supported us in our lives since the day we were born. They honestly are the best parents anyone could ask for,” Ferraro tells PEOPLE. “They have SO many close and special friends and we knew that all of those people would want to celebrate their special milestone just as much as we did!”
Cindy and Ralph Zingarella
Credit: Shane Armatino
She continues, “My father, as many will quickly agree, is one of the most genuine human beings out there. He has done so much for so many people, including many veterans over the years. My mother is a saint sent from heaven. She’s a sweetheart and she has one of the kindest hearts in the world. The two of them deserved to be celebrated more than anyone I know.”
The sisters began planning the party just before the holidays. They put together a list of guests — which exceeded 100 people —then researched local vendors and restaurants.
Cindy Zingarella
Credit: Shane Armatino
The pair ultimately decided to hold the party the afternoon of Saturday, March 28, at Salvatore’s Steakhouse in Hamden, Connecticut. Because the celebration was scheduled just four days after Ferraro’s birthday, they decided to disguise it as her surprise birthday party.
“My father is always busy with something going on, so we needed to make sure he blocked off this date at least two months in advance so he wouldn’t make any plans,” Ferraro explains. “We decided that telling him it was a surprise party for me was the best way to ensure he did not miss the event.”
When Ralph and Cindy arrived at the party, they were “absolutely stunned.”
“They cried, they laughed, they enjoyed,” Ferraro says. “They truly had no idea and 100% thought they were showing up to their daughter’s party.”
Cindy and Ralph Zingarella
Credit: Shane Armatino
Funny enough, the family was at a fundraising event the night before and Ralph was telling everyone, “Dayna has no clue about tomorrow at all,” having zero idea that he would actually be the one completely shocked.
The couple’s stunned reactions were captured on video and posted by Ferraro on Instagram. In the reel, which has more than 30,000 views, Ralph and Cindy stop in their tracks after walking into the steakhouse and hearing everyone shout, “Surprise!”
Cindy and Ralph Zingarella with their daughters, Andrea Bodin and Dayna Ferraro
Credit: Shane Armatino
“When they first walk in to the restaurant, my dad holds his hands up to say hi. He thought he was late and everyone was waving hello to him and then realized I was standing right there yelling, ‘Surprise!’ ” Ferraro remembers. “My mother also had a gift for me that she was carrying in.”
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Ralph and Cindy Zingarella dancing
Credit: Shane Armatino
The party was attended by about 110 of Ralph and Cindy’s friends and family members, and complete with “superb” food, and a live singer who performed popular oldies music and the couple’s wedding song, which they hadn’t danced to since their nuptials.
“We danced and had so much fun,” Ferraro says.
She continues, “They had friends come from all over. Some that drove down seven hours from Maine and others who flew in just to see them! The amount of joy and happiness that filled that room that day was something you can’t explain in words. Some of those people there have been in my parents’ lives since they were teenagers. It just goes to show you how loved they truly are!”
Read the original article on People
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