Marissa Rubinetti almost did not make it down the aisle. The 90 Day Fiancé Season 12 finale showed the bride breaking down in tears and panicking before her wedding to Edward Miguel Gomez, until her mother stepped in to calm her down. The couple ultimately married in front of family and friends, and they are now sharing new details about what that day actually looked like off camera.
Marissa’s Wedding Day Panic
Marissa got emotional while getting ready, and admitted she did not fully understand why she felt so overwhelmed. Her mother, Joann, hugged her and reassured her that everything would be fine. At one point Marissa suddenly panicked about the time, telling her mom, “We are running late. I promised him we won’t be late.”
Joann understood exactly what was happening. In her confessional, she explained that the planning and excitement were over, and reality was setting in. She said Marissa loves Edward but sees warning signs in the relationship, a tension Joann had voiced throughout the season. Marissa herself admitted that months of built-up stress had finally caught up with her, turning into tears right before the ceremony.
Even with the nerves, Marissa said she felt overwhelmed in a good way once she put on her gown, calling herself beautiful and describing the moment as magical. She also confessed to feeling a persistent knot in her stomach, unsure if marrying Edward was the right call. Her father walked her down the aisle and told her to trust the moment and give the marriage a real shot.
Edward and Marissa Say I Do
Edward waited nervously at the altar, worried Marissa might change her mind before showing up late. When she finally appeared, he described feeling like he could barely breathe. The couple exchanged personal vows they wrote themselves and were officially married by the end of the episode, closing out one of the most tension filled storylines of the season.
The Real Story Behind Their Wedding Day
The TV version only told part of the story. Marissa and Edward told PEOPLE that they got married on November 7. The wedding was in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, about two months before the finale aired. They limited the guest list to 55 people. This included Marissa’s two sons from her first marriage. This choice was intentional because her first wedding had over 200 guests, which felt overwhelming.
The ceremony blended both of their backgrounds. The couple had a lasso ceremony. This Dominican tradition involved both mothers wrapping a lasso around them. It symbolized their two families coming together. Every guest also received custom chocolates wrapped in packaging featuring the Dominican flag, a small touch tied to Edward’s home country.
Marissa, a longtime Kleinfeld Bridal employee, chose a corset-style Pnina Tornai gown and swapped a traditional veil for a flowing choker instead. Edward wore a classic black tux with a white rose boutonniere. Guests were served a three-tiered, gold-accented cake in vanilla and strawberry flavors, and Marissa made sure the food lineup covered a wide range of tastes for everyone in attendance.
“I wanted something that felt intimate, timeless, and true to who we are,” Marissa told the outlet.
Why the Show and the Real Story Do Not Quite Match
The gap between what aired and what the couple later described is worth noting. TLC built the finale around chaos and doubt, right up until the vows. But Marissa and Edward’s own account paints a far more intentional picture, down to the lasso ceremony and the custom chocolates. That is not necessarily contradictory. Wedding days bring nerves and last-minute jitters. Production likely emphasized these moments since they make for better TV. Still, it is a useful reminder that the emotional rollercoaster viewers see on screen is often edited to peak right before the big yes, while the couple’s own memory of the day tends to focus on the details they actually planned.
Marissa and Edward say they are looking ahead now. She just launched her own business. Edward is exploring baseball opportunities and starting his life in the U.S. Open communication helps them navigate tough times, including doubts that almost stopped their wedding.
Patricia covers the Kardashians, Real Housewives, The Traitors, and Below Deck. She specializes in breaking news and celebrity updates, from business ventures to on-screen drama. Patricia has covered reality TV and entertainment for three years.
