Over the past year, many couples have had to push back their wedding plans—some more than once. For some, the delays led to more extravagant celebrations. But one couple chose a completely different path: instead of a grand event, they held a modest ceremony inside a hospital. What inspired such a decision? They had actually spent the entire year of 2020 planning out every single detail of their big day.
They picked out the perfect dress, veil, and bouquet, mapped out the guest list and seating chart, finalized the catering, and booked a photographer. The wedding was scheduled for June 5, and both were eagerly counting down the days. Then, something heartbreaking happened that changed everything. The bride’s mother, Taura, was hospitalized. Back in 2018, she had been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer—a battle she had bravely fought for years.
Just before the wedding, Taura’s condition took a turn for the worse. She was placed on a ventilator, and it became painfully clear she would not be able to attend the ceremony. But her daughter refused to accept that. After discussing it with her fiancé, the couple came up with a heartfelt alternative. Carly Auddino and her soon-to-be husband decided to cancel their original plans and instead celebrate their union at the hospital.
Of course, this meant their friends couldn’t all be there, but they were able to plan a small, intimate ceremony. Their main goal was to ensure someone very important could witness their vows. For Carly, having her mother present outweighed any desire for a glamorous event, a designer dress, or a big guest list. “She fought for so long and with so much strength, and she truly wanted to be there. So I did everything I could to make sure that could happen,” Carly said.
With the hospital’s permission and help from the medical staff in her mother’s unit, Carly organized the wedding. It was held in the hospital’s conference room. Carly walked down the aisle arm-in-arm with her groom, with her four brothers behind her, while close family and friends stood nearby. Though Taura couldn’t get out of bed, she was brought into the room on her hospital bed and carefully positioned so she could see the entire event.
After the wedding, Taura’s spirits lifted. She began to recover slightly, but she was still too ill to attend the larger celebration Carly had originally planned for June 5. Even so, she remained at the heart of it all. Carly’s friend created a special video and photo collection just for her, and the bride made sure her mother’s presence was felt. Everyone at the wedding wore bracelets that read “Taura is persistent,” and her favorite song played during the celebration. “We kept her in our hearts the whole time,” Carly shared. “We knew she was with us, even if not physically.”