This Couple Put Their Wedding Together In 24 Hours So The Bride’s Sick Mom Could See Them Get Married
“I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day.” Update: Shortly after the wedding, Mary Quinn, the mother of the bride, died.
Updated — Feb. 3, 3 p.m. ET
Aly and Anthony Femia met as students at Manhattanville College in New York and have been together ever since.
Aly Femia
Before attending Manhattanville, Aly graduated from Greenwich High School with me in 2008.
On Dec. 14, 2012, Anthony proposed to Aly when they were on a weekend getaway to Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.
Aly Femia
They celebrated their engagement with friends and family and were originally supposed to get married in September 2015.
Aly Femia
The couple wanted to wait until Aly finished graduate school and Anthony recovered from shoulder surgery.
But last week Aly’s mom, Mary Quinn, went to the doctor to check up on a pain she felt in her neck.
Aly Femia / Via Facebook
They unexpectedly discovered she had lung cancer that spread to her brain.
Aly Femia / Via Facebook
After initially hoping there were treatment options, Mary and her family were told it was incurable. She now only has a short time left to live.
Aly Femia
When Aly asked the doctors when she should hold her wedding so her mother could be there, they answered, "Tomorrow."
Aly Femia
So in 24 hours, Aly, Anthony, their families, and the hospital staff rallied together to plan their wedding.
Aly Femia / Via Facebook
In just a few short hours, the couple managed to get their marriage certificate from New Haven City Hall and pick out a wedding dress for the bride.
Aly Femia
They officially tied the knot on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Aly Femia
Aly described how the staff at Yale New Haven Hospital, where Mary currently is, played a huge role in making her wedding day a success.
Aly Femia
“The hospital was INCREDIBLE! They made my wedding possible,” she said.
Aly Femia
One doctor offered to take her wedding dress shopping.
Aly Femia
A group of them also bought Aly a bracelet that they gave to her before she got married.
Aly Femia
The social worker brought Aly her grandmother’s handkerchief to signify "something old."
Aly Femia
The hospital even donated food and flowers and bought a cake.
Aly Femia
The hallways were filled with doctors and nurses, and the hospital chaplain performed the ceremony.
Aly Femia
Aly's stepdad walked her down the aisle.
Aly Femia
“He loves me like his own daughter," she said.
Aly Femia
"We have a beautiful family, and no matter what happens we're all going to stick together.”
Aly Femia
Aly couldn't get over how amazing and helpful everyone was.
Aly Femia
“My favorite part of the day was having my mom see me in my wedding dress wearing a string of her pearls, and seeing her smile," she said.
Aly Femia
Sixteen years ago, Aly also lost her father to metastatic lung cancer.
Aly Femia
"Maybe that’s why it was even more important to me to have one of my parents at my wedding," she explained.
Aly Femia
“I’m so glad that she was there to watch me say ‘I do’ and see me marry my best friend," Aly said.
Aly Femia
“I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day.”
Aly Femia