Apply for a Wish

Wedding or vow-renewals for couples facing terminal illness or life-altering health circumstances.

“Our vow renewal was the best day of our lives. Spending time with the people closest to us, focusing on love and life instead of cancer, was exactly what we needed. I lost Jason eleven weeks after that magical day, and the perfect, beautiful memories have brought joy to my grief.”

- Beth

A couple of women are walking down the aisle of an indoor wedding ceremony, holding hands and smiling. The groom is wearing a dark blue tuxedo with a black bowtie, and the bride is dressed in a dark dress with floral decorations and a floral headband. Guests are standing on the sides, clapping and smiling. The setting is decorated with plants and flowers, with a brick wall and ornate ceiling details in the background.
A couple shares a kiss during their outdoor wedding ceremony, with guests and floral arrangements around them.

Facing a terminal illness or life-altering health circumstance is physically, emotionally and financially taxing. While couples might dream of a wedding or a vow renewal ceremony, they often lack the physical and mental resources to bring it to fruition. We understand this predicament, and would love to hear your story!

We welcome any application aligned with our mission to help those facing terminal illness or life-altering health circumstances.

Typically, the requested wedding date must be within six months of your application. However, we can also grant urgent wishes, should the health circumstance warrant.

A member of our team will reach out to you within 5-7 business days to let you know the next steps. As part of the application process, your doctor will have to submit a verification form (which we will send to their practice directly) and you will both need to complete a background check.

The application process is simple:

  1. Determine if you are eligible to have a wish granted below.

  2. Read the basic requirements for wish recipients below before submitting your application.

  3. Apply (family and friends cannot apply on your behalf, but your partner, caretaker, or hospice worker can).

* Not all applications will be approved. Wish Upon a Wedding reserves the right to deny or cancel a Wish at any time. Wish Recipients must comprehend, agree to and comply with the terms of all applications and contracts they sign throughout the Wish granting process. 

  •  A terminal illness or severely life-altering condition is a physical illness, injury, or medical condition that is terminal, incurable, progressive, or permanent and results in significant long-term disability, loss of independence, or an inability to perform major life activities without substantial assistance. These conditions often require ongoing medical treatment and significantly impact an individual's ability to work, care for themselves, or participate in everyday activities.

    Examples of conditions that may be considered terminal or severely life-altering include:

    • Advanced cancer diagnoses

    • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

    • Serious combat or war-related injuries

    • Severe seizure disorders

    • Multiple limb amputations

    • Advanced Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

    • End-stage kidney disease requiring dialysis

    • Organ transplant recipients with significant ongoing medical complications

    • Parkinson's Disease

    • Severe Cerebral Palsy

    • Cystic Fibrosis

    • Muscular Dystrophy

    • Scleroderma

    • Stroke resulting in significant, lifelong impairment

    • Quadriplegia or paraplegia

    • Traumatic brain injury resulting in permanent disability

    • Huntington's Disease

    • Advanced or end-stage heart failure

    • Severe autoimmune disorders causing significant disability

    • Progressive neurological disorders

    These are examples of qualifying conditions, NOT a complete list. Each application is reviewed individually based on the severity of the condition and its impact on daily functioning, independence, and overall prognosis. If you or your partner has a different diagnosis not listed that you believe may qualify, we encourage you to apply.

    • One person in the couple must be diagnosed with a terminal illness with a prognosis of:

      • Classic Wish: fewer than 5 years OR serious life-altering circumstances (example: a severely wounded veteran)

      • Urgent Wish: fewer than 6 months

    • Both partners must be over the age of 18

    • Both partners must be U.S. Citizens

    • Wish recipients must submit to a background check and cannot have a felony on their record.

    • Wish application must be filled out by the couple or a full time caretaker/hospice worker. Family or friends cannot apply on behalf of the couple because the couple needs to understand the agreements that are made as part of receiving a Wish.

    Please note: Incomplete applications will not be considered. Not all applications are approved for Wishes. We do not grant Wishes for financial hardships, job loss or for any person who has been convicted of a felony.

    • We grant wishes for Weddings or Vow renewals

    • Guestlist up to 50 people

    • Wedding Planner

    • Venue

    • Catering

    • Photographer

    • Videographer

    • Cake

    • Officiant

    • Florist

    • Stationery

    • DJ or Music

    • Bride's Hair and Makeup

    • Wedding attire for the bride and groom

    • Wedding date must be within 6 months of application

    • Wishes are alcohol free

    • Wishes cannot be granted on Fridays, Saturdays, or on Holidays

    • Marriage license

    • Reherasal dinner

    • Travel expenses

    • Veil, shoes, and jewelry

    • Honeymoons

    • Bachelor or Bachelorette parties

    • Fireworks

    • Wedding favors

    • Specialty Decor

    • Guest book/card holder

    • Bridal party attire

    • Alterations

    • Alcohol is prohibited at Wish Upon a Wedding Wishes

Apply to Become a Wish Recipient →