Max Van Gorder tied the knot with Lydia in a moving ceremony at Fox Hill Farm, Honesdale, Pennsylvania.
The groom decided to release butterflies during their wedding vows in honor of his sister Vanessa.
Max Van Gorder and his family have a special place in their heart for butterflies as it is something very emotional related to the groom’s sister Vanessa.
A few years ago, Vanessa died in a car accident during the Christmas holidays and the butterflies have been used to remember her.
The butterflies clung to Vanessa’s parents and one even kept on sitting on her father Scott’s finger for the rest of the ceremony.
Photographer Jessica Manns who captured the ceremony shared it in an emotional Facebook post.
She wrote: “That’s a real butterfly on his finger, pointing to the image of Scott Van Gorder.’’
“This is probably the most emotional thing I’ve witnessed at a wedding. The groom’s sister tragically passed away in a car accident a few years prior during the Christmas holiday. “
“To honor her the groom’s parents released butterflies during the ceremony in her honor.’’
“The belief that our loved ones can visit us in the form of butterflies’ is what gives strength to Scott and his wife Elizabeth, and it was made all the more obvious at Max’s wedding.’’
“As they released the butterflies, they wouldn’t fly off. They clung all over them and even stayed on their bodies the entire ceremony and well afterwards into cocktail hour,’’ Jessica said.
“This same butterfly on Scott’s finger stayed there the entire ceremony and then flew onto the bride’s bouquet after the recessional.’’
“Lydia, the bride, even walked down the aisle with two on her dress. Then a few hours later during the speeches, another butterfly somehow got inside the barn and landed on Lydia’s neck and remained there for all the speeches.’’
Lydia thanked Jessica publicly when photos went viral on social media.
“Thank you again for capturing such a special and loving moment during our wedding,’’ she said.
“Vanessa was with us there and throughout the night. I relive my wedding day every time I look at your photos. You captured every moment so beautifully.’’