The beloved Mary Ann Glorioso Valentino’s wedding to Anthony “Val” Valentino took place in New Orleans on April 9, 1944. Mary Ann has been an incredible volunteer and has helped so many organizations. Anthony was a teacher but decided he would go into construction instead; he founded Val-Glo Construction Co., building homes and hotels, then went into buying hotels, and the rest is history.
Mary Ann and Val met in college at Loyola University New Orleans at their first social. They had dates with other people, but Val thought Mary Ann was “really cute,” so he asked her out. The feeling was mutual and that was “it.” They dated for two years. During the war, Anthony was in the Army; Mary Ann wanted to help her country, so she taught herself to type and got a job at the Port of Embarkation. (Her job was to help move troops around and she loved it!) Val was stationed in Monroe, La., so when he came home on leave, he asked her out to The Court of Two Sisters and gave her a beautiful ring. From there, the planning began. Val wanted the rehearsal dinner to be at The Court of Two Sisters where they were engaged, and the next day the wedding took place at St. Maurice Church in the afternoon. Mary Ann’s family had the reception on the roof of the Jung Hotel. They had an orchestra, beautiful hors d’oeuvres and flowers. Her father ordered the best champagne from New York, but two days before the wedding there was a rail strike. Not to be deterred, they found the railroad car and rescued the champagne in time for the wedding. Their wedding cake was created by Swiss Bakery. Mary Ann’s dress and the bridesmaids dresses were created by Mrs. Cahill. Mary Ann’s dress was made of slik peau de soie. Her lace veil cascaded down under a crown of tiny seed pearls. The bridesmaids dresses were pale pink organza. Farley the Florist fashioned all of the flowers. Mary Ann had her heart set on sweet peas for her bridesmaids’ bouquets, but a huge storm in Florida wiped out all of the sweet peas. The florist didn’t want her to worry, so they substituted orchids instead. She was totally surprised and delighted.
Val and Mary Ann honeymooned in a cottage at the Broadwater Beach hotel in Biloxi, Miss. They came back to New Orleans and started their beautiful family.
