In late August, the Hammonds family was told that father Steve Hammonds only had days left to live. None of his doctors believed he would live to October 1, which was when Steve’s daughter, Candice, was going to wed her fiancé.
For Candice, not having her father present at her wedding wasn’t an option she wanted to consider.
In the span of 24 hours, Candice and her fiancé, Thomas Burkett, moved mountains and rescheduled the entire wedding.
The ceremony would take place the following day, in the ICU of the Upson Regional Medical Center, where Candice’s father was being treated.
The wedding ceremony was incredibly simple, but included all the important elements: exchanging vows and rings.
Steven was taken off his usual sedatives during the event, so he could fully take in and remember the experience.
Wedding photographer (and friend of the family) Julie Schandolph later described the intimate event as one with “so much love and emotion in one room. The way that this family came together in such short time for this bedside wedding amazed me!”
Steve Hammonds passed away September 4, mere days after Candice and Thomas got married.
It was a bittersweet moment; the family was devastated as his passing, but glad that he was able to witness and share such an important day of their lives with them.
Schandolph seconded this sentiment, “Every girl dreams of her daddy walking her down the aisle and giving her hand away. Given the circumstances, Candice's daddy was still able to do just that!"
You can see Schandolph’s original post and more photos of the emotional ceremony here:
