EΛ TA NEA (C) HELLAS XG 2024: Bride with terminal cancer walks down the aisle in 'magical' wedding of her dreams after local vendors donate everything from her dress to the outdoor table settings.Diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer in January and told she only had four to six months to live

Δευτέρα 29 Ιουλίου 2013

Bride with terminal cancer walks down the aisle in 'magical' wedding of her dreams after local vendors donate everything from her dress to the outdoor table settings.Diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer in January and told she only had four to six months to live

Dream wedding: Wearing a mint green strapless gown and carrying a pastel-hued bouquet of wild flowers, Jen Bulik, who has terminal cancer, married the love of her life, Jeff Lang

Wearing a mint green strapless gown and carrying a pastel-hued bouquet of wild flowers, Jen Bulik, who has terminal cancer, married the love of her life, Jeff Lang.

The bride, 35, from Mountain View, California, was given the wedding ceremony she had always dreamed of on Saturday afternoon, thanks to a generous wedding planner who was moved by her story.

'I'm in awe, I'm speechless,' the newlywed, who was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer in January and told she only had four to six months to live, told NBC Bay Area.
Dream wedding: Wearing a mint green strapless gown and carrying a pastel-hued bouquet of wild flowers, Jen Bulik, who has terminal cancer, married the love of her life, Jeff Lang

Saying I do: The bride, 35, from Mountain View, California, was given the wedding ceremony she had always dreamed of on Saturday afternoon, thanks to a generous wedding planner who was moved by her story

Thanks to wedding planner Erica Ota, who had rallied more than 30 wedding vendors in the Bay Area to donate their services for free, the big day went off without a hitch.

'For me this whole process has been really difficult, and today was easy,' said Mr Lang after the couple, who have been together for six years, said their vows.

'We just showed up and did our thing. It gets more and more magical with every moment.'

After a friend of the couple wrote about their story on a Facebook page for wedding planners, Ms Ota, who was moved when she read it, quickly got in touch with the couple.

Happy couple: 'I'm in awe, I'm speechless,' the newlywed, who was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer in January and told she only had four to six months to live, told NBC Bay Area

The big day: Thanks to wedding planner Erica Ota, who had rallied more than 30 wedding vendors in the Bay Area to donate their services for free, the big day went off without a hitch

Chic: The wedding took place on Saturday afternoon, under sunny skies and Red Wood trees in a park near Ms Bulik's parent's home - which later hosted the garden reception

Generosity: The total cost, $50,000, was given to the couple entirely for free

'This was an opportunity I saw to do something extraordinary for somebody else,' the San Francisco-based social worker-turned-wedding planner explained.

Ms Ota spotted another opportunity when she stumbled upon Ms Bulik's Pinterest page, discovering a collection of images showing exactly how she wanted her dream wedding to be.

'It was my goal to have them not pay a dime. They have suffered enough'

With the help of the local community, Ms Ota managed to acquire goods, decorations and services for the wedding in just two weeks.

The total cost, $50,000, was given to the couple entirely for free.

'It was my goal to have them not pay a dime,' she explained, adding: 'These people have suffered enough. Why not give them. . . a gift that both of them. . .and their families will never forget.'

Amazing gift: Wedding planner Ms Ota (pictured) read about their story on Facebook, and decided to give them their dream wedding absolutely cost-free

Optimistic: When Ms Bulik was told she had months to live, she decided: 'I wanted to focus on life'

Emotional: She teared up when she talked about Ms Ota's generosity, as well as that of the 30 vendors who helped make her dream wedding come true

Ms Bulik's friends even created potted plant floral arrangements identical to the ones on the bride's Pinterest page.

The couple were visibly taken aback by Ms Ota's kindness, as well as that of the vendors she contacted.

'It's amazing, the generosity in their heart,' Ms Bulik said, choking back tears. 'And that they're so touched by our story.'

The wedding took place on Saturday afternoon, under sunny skies and Red Wood trees in a park near Ms Bulik's parent's home - which later hosted the garden reception.

Power of love: '[Jeff and Jen are] the most humble, deserving couple you'll ever meet,' Ms Ota said of the couple, who have been together for six years. 'Their outlook on life is incredibly positive'

Moved: 'I think it's amazing the generosity in their heart,' Ms Bulik said of Ms Ota and the local San Francisco vendors who helped bring her dream to life. 'They're so touched by our story'