Bride Breaks Down in Tears on Wedding Day as Groom Surprises Her with Teddy Bear Containing Late Grandpa's Voice
"I wanted her to feel his presence," the groom said
NEED TO KNOW
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A groom surprised his bride with a teddy bear containing her late grandfather's voice on their wedding day
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The thoughtful gesture moved the bride to tears of happiness
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The bear was included in family photos and even made its way down the aisle
A bride received a heartfelt surprise just before she walked down the aisle.
Shannon Hyatali's beloved grandfather, Shoffie, died at age 79 ahead of her nuptials, per Happily TV. Before Hyatali, 30, was even engaged, her then-boyfriend, Matt, came up with a way to fulfill the bride's dream of having Shoffie at her wedding.
"I was so sad leading up to the wedding. Like, I wish I could bring him back. I wish I could find some way to have him there," Matt told the outlet. "More than just like a picture at the reception venue, I wanted her to feel his presence."
Credit: Happily TV
In secret, Matt went to a Build-A-Bear workshop, where he created a teddy bear that resembled Shoffie with a suit and glasses. Most importantly, the plush toy contained a voice audio of Shoffie blessing their marriage, which was recorded when he was sick before Matt proposed.
"I knew that he was starting to get sick so that he wouldn't be able to attend, but I still wanted him to be involved in some way," Matt explained to Happily TV. "I gave him a call, and I told him, 'I know you wouldn't be able to be there at the proposal, but I wanted to get your blessing first before I move forward.' I recorded it on my phone, took the audio, because I'm like, 'I may need this one day,' and it was true."
Moments before the ceremony, Hyatali opened the Build-A-Bear box, which came with a note that read: "More than anything, I wish I could bring Gramps back on this special date, so I got you something to bring to the ceremony, and give a hug when you miss him today. Tap his paw to hear one last encouragement before we say 'I do.' "
Before she even saw the bear, Hyatali was in tears. What "sent [her] over the edge" was seeing it dressed up like Shoffie. When she pressed the paw, his voice filled the room.
"Now is the time to make some little decisions. And, I'm happy for you both, for the decisions you have made," Shoffie said. "Overjoyed, I cried man. You know what the Bible says, be honest with each other. I support you all 100%. I wish you all well."
Credit: Happily TV
The thoughtful gesture meant "so much" to Hyatali.
"Shannon is a once-in-a-lifetime woman," Matt raved to Happily TV. "My whole life, I've committed to just showing her how much she's valued, how seen she is, and how special this love is to me. I'll do everything I can for the rest of my life to demonstrate that."
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Hyatali told the outlet that Shoffie was "the life of any party." His bear replica stepped in to fulfill "special" wedding roles, including being held by Hyatali's mother as she walked down the aisle and joining family photos.
Hyatali added that Shoffie, who lived in Trinidad, made "a deliberate effort to stay connected with his family abroad" by messaging his grandchildren over WhatsApp daily.
Read the original article on People
