Weddings are incredibly meaningful days for everyone in attendance. However, for those that have lost loved ones, they feel that emptiness. One bride decided to fill that void and give her groom the wedding gift of a lifetime when he could hear his late brother’s heart beat again.
When he was only 13-years-old, Derick Smith’s brother Jake was hit by a car and killed. His family donated his organs, hoping that Jake would live on and do good things for others in need. Now an adult, Derick and his family have never had the opportunity to meet anyone that received Jake’s organs. Until now.
Derick’s future wife, Katy, wanted to give her husband-to-be a gift he would treasure forever: the opportunity to hear his brother’s heart beat again. She thus decided to find the woman who received Jake’s heart.
“I had asked Derick’s mom, I said, you know this is going to be a really personal question, and you can tell me no, but I’m really interested in trying to find the person that received Jake’s heart and would you be willing to do that?” Katy told Inside Edition. “She cried and she was really happy and she said, ‘Absolutely, I think this will be a great idea’.”
After a year of searching, Katy found Gracie Wilkinson.
“I found out her name and I found her on Facebook, and so I sent her a message… within two minutes she responded saying, ‘Absolutely, I would love to be there, just tell me when and where and I will be there,’” Katy said.
On their big day, Derick and Gracie had a heartfelt embrace and shared many tears. Derick was able to listen to his brothers heart again, and Gracie gifted him with a keychain with an image of his brother’s heartbeat from an EKG.
“What it was like to hear his heartbeat was a flood of different emotions,” Smith said of the moment. “There’s not a word to describe it. She gave me the gift of closure.”
And it meant just as much for Gracie, who was only 6-years-old when she received Jake’s heart,
”Getting to meet everyone and getting to be part of their day and a part of that moment for Derick and kind of bringing Derick some closure from losing his brother means the absolute world to me,” she added.
Image: Inside Edition
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It’s almost Christmas and then before you can say ‘Happy New Year,’ It will be January. We’re super excited for the Oakfield Farm’s Bridal Exhibition in Krugersdorp coming up soon. There will be exciting prizes to win (including a honeymoon in Mauritius!), a free fashion show and loads of advice, ideas and inspiration to make your dream wedding a reality.
The team from WeddingETC will also be there on January 25 and 26, 2020 at Stand BB B54. If you’re attending the event, come say hi!
Picture: Pexels
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It’s the day you’ve been waiting for. Months of hard work and sacrifices have all led up to this moment, and nothing should take that away from you. Especially not something you ate.
In all the excitement of your big day, it’s easy to mindlessly munch on snacks. However, the snacks you eat could spell disaster if you’re not careful. These are the foods to avoid on your wedding day:
Processed sugar: Sugar causes an insulin-spike that can lead to a pretty bad down. To avoid crashing on your big day, keep the sugar-loaded snacks at bay.
Fried food: Oil-fried foods can cause your stomach to feel heavy and bloated and leave you feeling fatigued, so you might want to steer clear of the vegetable oil.
Too much caffeine: This is a tough one, but it has to be done. Caffeine can cause jitters, sweating and anxiety. If you need your morning cup ‘o joe to get you through the day, make sure its only one small mug.
Spice: Spice is nice, but heartburn isn’t. Spicy food can lead to bad breath and heartburn or acid reflux, which might come back in a nasty way.
Cheese: Cheese board, be gone! We all love a slice of brie, but you might want to avoid it on your big day. Many cheeses contain hard-to-digest fats that can leave you experiencing nausea, bloating, and fatigue.
Cruciferous vegetables: Yes, vegetables are healthy but they are not made equal. Cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, and brussel sprouts, while being great superfoods, have the downside of being difficult to digest and thus causing gas. Not the fragrance you’re going for on your wedding day.
So what can you eat? We suggest a breakfast of oatmeal with a side dish of assorted berries and tropical fruit and chia seeds. Oatmeal slowly releases glucose, keeping your blood sugar levels steady for a longer period. The fruits will offer hydration and natural sugar, while the chia seeds will help your skin glow.
At the end of the day, a slice of cheese is not going to ruin your wedding. And if you want a piece of cake, you eat that piece of cake! The important thing is to be aware of these foods’ side-effects and be make sure you eat nutritiously so that you are the best you on your wedding day.
Image: Unsplash
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The milestones don’t end after you get married. Every year holds new significance, with a particular symbol to represent it. If you’re about to celebrate an anniversary, you might want to take a tip from these traditional wedding anniversary symbols and their meanings.
Year 1: The traditional gift is paper, to symbolise the fragility of marriage and the need to look after it carefully. For a gift, a necklace with a charm in the shape of a paper plane would be fitting.
Year 2: Cotton is the traditional gift, meant to symbolise the strength and flexibility of your union. Consider purchasing matching bathrobes or branded pillowcases to celebrate.
Year 3: This year’s symbol, leather, represents strength and security. To honour it, gift your partner with a handbag or monogrammed wallet.
Year 4: This anniversary symbol is quite literal. Fruits and flowers represent the flowering of your marriage and the resulting fruits of your labour, or in other words, your happiness. Celebrate with fruit-scented products or gardening tools.
Year 5: Trees have always represented strength and wisdom, which makes wood a perfect symbol for a five year anniversary. A wooden clock or jewellery box would make excellent gifts.
Year 6: This anniversary celebrates the sweetness of your marriage, which is why sugar/candy is the symbol. Take your partner out for their favourite sweet treats in honour of the day.
Year 7: Copper and wool both produce heat, and are thus representative of the warmth couples provide each other. Gift your loved one with copper homeware or woollen clothing items.
Year 8: Bronze is the symbol of your eighth year together. As bronze is made of copper and tin, it represents the blending of two elements creating a stronger product. Bronze homeware or a sculpture would make for excellent gifts.
Year 9: From a simple lump of clay, potters can craft a beautiful work of art. It thus makes sense that pottery would be your ninth anniversary symbol. Celebrate with pots, pans or ceramics.
Year 10: Tin/Aluminium has the ability to last forever, and hopefully, your marriage does too. Vases, goblets, paperweights or homeware make great gifts.
Year 15: Crystal represents beauty and investment. There are so many great gift options, such as vases, wine glasses, dishes, bowls, candle holders and jugs.
Year 20: China is elegant yet fragile and requires care and consideration, just like your love. Purchase china ornaments, mugs, jugs, plates, bowls, vases or flower pots in honour of this anniversary.
Year 25: As an incredibly valuable and precious metal, silver makes for a fitting 25-year anniversary symbol. Jewellery would be the perfect gift for this year.
Year 30: Pearl represents a hidden beauty that is crafted over the years. Pearl jewellery or something encrusted with pearls is the obvious gift of choice here.
Year 35: Coral was once believed to have magical powers that prevent sickness and harm. Likewise, in your relationship, you do all you can to protect your partner from harm. Gift your partner with coral jewellery or simply just something in the colour.
Year 40: Ruby is one of the most sought-after gems, representing love and passion. The obvious gift for this anniversary would be a ruby, most likely in the form of jewellery.
Year 45: Sapphire is the stone of royalty and wisdom, making it the perfect gem to celebrate a love this long.
Year 50: Gold symbolises strength and prosperity, richly shining bright. It is the perfect crowning glory for a 50 year run. Celebrate with new wedding bands and renewing your vows.
Year 55: Emerald is the stone for lovers, signifying true love and adoration. Let your partner know how you feel with emerald jewellery.
Year 60: Nothing shines brighter than a diamond. This strong stone represents undying love, making it incredibly fitting for a 60-year marriage.
Year 65: Blue sapphire is symbolic of loyalty, integrity and inner peace. Any relationship that lasted this long would have to have all of these traits.
Year 70: Platinum is rare and can weather anything, just like a 70 year marriage. Honour your long-term commitment with beautiful platinum jewellery.
Image: Pexels