A couple of months ago I had the privilege to witness Kym and Paul get married in the heart of Brisbane, and there was one particular aspect of their day that made me both smile and cry – Kym’s precious bond with her father.
From the word go Kym had decided that her dad would play a special part in her big day. I could tell their relationship was something very solid and special, and I’m so happy for Kym that she was able to share her wedding day with her father. It may seem like something most of us take for granted, but for those of us who know what it’s like to not have our dad there to see us get married, it definitely tugs on our heartstrings.
My father passed away 3 years before my own wedding. It was extremely difficult to plan my big day knowing that there would be one less seat in the front row at the ceremony, that he wouldn’t be walking me down the aisle, and that he would never really get to know my husband as his son-in-law. I felt cheated out of something that was supposed to be one of the most special aspects of my wedding day, but no amount of tears or “what-ifs” could change that, so I went through it wishing he could have been there and hoping he was watching from above with pride and joy.
When I realised the lengths Kym had gone to to create some truly special moments for herself and her dad, my heart was bursting, and I felt so lucky to be able to witness it! In a way it was like I got to live out my own fantasy for how it would have been like if my father had been alive, and while it brought tears to my eyes for my own loss, it also made me realise how happy I was for Kym that she would have those precious moments to look back on in the future. Priceless.
Kym wanted to do a first look with her dad, and when he saw her in her beautiful dress for the first time, they both shed tears and hugged each other tight. Kym also saw her father in his traditional Scottish outfit for the first time, and it was just an amazing moment!
Kym had both her mum and dad walking her down the aisle, a statement of their tight family bond. But it was at the reception that the real testament to their relationship came to light. Kym had organised a father-daughter dance, and she had created a special song with her own voiceover expressing her love and gratitude to her father throughout the years. They were stunning as they danced in a loving embrace that only a father and daughter could share, and Kym was able to express something that was really important to her.
The reason why what Kym did was so amazing, and why I myself couldn’t hold the tears back, is that most of us never think to say those words, “I love you” and “thank you for everything you’ve done for me”; not because we don’t mean them but because on some level we think that our parents will be with us forever. They won’t. Our wedding day is one of the most special days for us, but it also is for our parents; their little girls and boys officially have another man or woman in their lives now, and while it’s the start of a new era for us, it’s the end of an era for them. It’s a happy day, but it’s also very emotional, and sometimes we forget about the people who brought us as far as to the altar.
I’ll never have the chance to tell my dad how much he meant to me, how much I loved him and how much I appreciated everything he did for me. But the lucky girls who still have their fathers in their lives do, and I wish to see many more special father-daughter moments in future weddings that I get to take part of!
Brisbane Bridal Photography
