“It Felt Meant to Be”: Bride Honors Late Mother by Wearing Her Wedding Dress at a Special Place Called ‘Heaven’

Since I was a little girl, I always dreamed of a fairy tale wedding—wearing a big princess dress, walking toward the love of my life, and being surrounded by people who care about us. Planning that perfect day was something I always looked forward to doing with my mom, sister, and friends.

I imagined picking the right dress, finding beautiful flowers, choosing the perfect cake, and dancing the night away. But sadly, on March 1, 2016, everything changed. My mom, the person I wanted by my side the most, passed away.

She had been fighting breast cancer since 2011. She beat it three times, but the fourth time took her life. She wasn’t just my mom—she was my role model, my best friend.

One thing I always wanted to do with her was go wedding dress shopping. Even though I wasn’t engaged yet, I knew Scott was the one. So before time ran out, I scheduled a dress shopping appointment for March 12. But my mom passed away on March 1. She never got to go with me.

That loss felt like a hole in my heart.

Later, my dad, sister, and I talked about how I could still include my mom in my wedding. That’s when I had the idea to cut a heart-shaped piece from her wedding dress and sew it inside mine, right over my heart. But before cutting it, I wanted to wear it once and take photos to honor her.

When I started planning my wedding, I hired a photographer named Taylor Brooke. On the day of the photo shoot, just three hours before, I called Taylor and asked if I could bring my mom’s dress. She said yes without hesitation.

We went to a place called “Heaven”—a quiet spot that overlooks the town of Folsom. It’s peaceful, and it felt like the right place to remember my mom.

When I put on her dress, something amazing happened. It fit perfectly—like it was made for me. In that moment, I felt like she was with me. Like this was always meant to happen.

As we took photos, twirling in the fields and laughing, Taylor suggested I give the photos to my dad as a surprise on my wedding day—a way to honor the love he shared with my mom. That idea touched my heart.

Taylor’s photos turned out beautiful. But they’re more than just pretty pictures. They tell a story—a story of my parents’ love and the life they built. Now, I carry a part of that love with me—not just in my heart, but in my wedding dress and in these precious photos.