It’s not where you get married, it’s who you’re with.
A bride in Whittington, England, dreamed her whole life, as many do, of her father walking her down the aisle on her wedding day. And when that dream was threatened by his terminal illness, she decided to plan a ceremony in less than 24 hours — and hold it at his hospice — to ensure that it came true, according to SWNS.
Maurice Haynes was diagnosed with terminal tonsil cancer last October, and is currently in the care of St Giles Hospice. With his daughter Hannah Haynes’ wedding approaching in February, the duo — who have long looked forward to the special father-daughter moment — were willing to do whatever it took to ensure he could give her away.
So Hannah, 29, along with her groom Josh, also 29, enlisted the help of St Giles to hold their nuptials at the Whittington hospice — and they managed to do it in less than 24 hours.
In just one day, the facility’s chapel was unrecognizable, with staff using banners, ribbons and more to transform it into a venue fit for a wedding. The only buzzer beater? Hannah’s gown, which she found the morning of her nuptials.
Maurice Haynes walks daughter Hannah Haynes down the aisle.
SWNS
Maurice, 69, and Josh also got dressed up for the occasion, donning suits for the hospice ceremony, which was captured in an emotional video.
With the help of another member of the wedding party, Maurice was able to fulfill his dream of escorting his daughter down the aisle — a walk which, in the intimate February ceremony, began in the hospice hallway. He dabbed tissues at his eye while the trio slowly made their way to the chapel.
The hospice patient had a front-row seat as Hannah said “I do,” watching intently during the emotional ceremony, which also saw his future son-in-law reach for tissues — as well as when the couple sealed their union with a kiss.
Maurice also shared a sweet, intimate moment with Josh after the couple tied the knot, and later added his signature to the newlyweds’ marriage certificate, footage shows. He also had another central role in the nuptials — selecting the couple’s wedding song, the hospice said on Instagram.
Maurice Haynes and daughter Hannah Haynes.
SWNS
The day, Hannah told SWNS, was perfect because Maurice was by her side against all odds.
“Having our wedding in a hospice wasn’t the norm. However, having dad there to walk down the aisle, it didn’t matter where I was getting married,” she said, “so long as he was there.”
“What St Giles have done for my dad is unbelievable,” she continued, adding that Maurice was initially “unsure about coming to a hospice to start with, but now he is here, he is comfortable and likes the environment he is in.”
Leon Ratcliffe, the interim director of clinical services at the English hospice, told SWNS it was an honor to help the father-daughter pair create the “very special moment.”
“Hannah was determined that her father would be part of her wedding day, and we were delighted to assist in making that happen,” Ratcliffe said, adding that the hospice wishes the newlywed couple “a long and happy marriage and thanks them for allowing us to be a part of such a memorable occasion.”
