Vanessa and Chris first met by sheer happenstance. Vanessa’s friend had decided to go meet up with a guy that she had met online and Vanessa decided to tag along for safety and support. Turns out, the man in question had a roommate named Chris – and the rest is history. One year into their relationship, Chris popped the question and the two were married at a courthouse just 16 days later on April 18, 2011. In the fall of 2018, Vanessa began to experience some confusing health problems. She was working as a medical assistant at the time and suddenly began struggling with things like balance, tripping, slurring of speech and loss of dexterity in her fingers. Despite numerous appointments with a neurologist, she wasn’t able to find a good answer. As the months dragged on and her family watched her physical abilities diminish, she was certain that something was very wrong. The answer finally came in June and was more devastating than she or Chris could have ever imagined. Vanessa had been diagnosed with ALS. In spite of her diagnosis, Vanessa and tried her best to find joy and peace in each moment. While She and Chris had dreamed of renewing their vows on their 10thwedding anniversary, they were forced to move the day up. We were incredibly touched by Vanessa and Chris’ story and were thrilled to grant them the vow renewal of their dreams.

Amanda and Sean first met online in the fall of 2017. They had both previously been divorced and were looking to give love a second chance, each with two small children in tow. Two years before meeting, however, Amanda had been diagnosed with a rare and very unpredictable form of cancer known as metastatic neuroendocrine/carcinoid syndrome. She was working at the time and began having some strange health issues, including heart episodes. She ended up going to the hospital during one such episode and underwent a battery of various tests. A biopsy revealed multiple neuroendocrine tumors in her liver. She began radiation to kill the tumors, but they kept popping up in different parts of her body.

Amanda’s cancer diagnosis did not scare Sean. They hit it off on their first date, quickly fell in love and have been together ever since. Throughout the last couple of years, Amanda and Sean’s relationship has weathered a lot of storms. Amanda continues to battle tumors, which develop unexpectedly throughout her body and is currently undergoing chemotherapy injections every 28 days. She has participated in numerous experimental treatment programs in hopes of controlling her eradic tumor patterns, but it all remains a guessing game. In addition to caring for 4 small children, Amanda experiences extreme fatigue and pain on most days.

Wish Upon a Wedding was touched by this young couple’s sweet story and loved granting their wish for a wedding. Amanda and Sean’s wedding marks wish #150 for our organization!

Chuck and Jill first 30 years ago when they were both working at Gabe’s department store. After getting to know each other as friends for about a year and a half, they began dating and were married on Oct 24th, 1998. In 2001, they were blessed with the birth of their daughter. They spent the next 17 years working and building their life as a beautiful family of three. In the spring of 2018, Chuck developed a nagging cough and bone pain that wouldn’t go away. While he initially thought it was just allergies, it continued to worsen and he decided to have it checked out. He underwent a CT scan which revealed a devastating diagnosis – stage 4 prostate cancer that had spread to his lungs, liver and bones. 

Chuck immediately began an aggressive chemotherapy regiment, followed by 6 weeks of radiation. He is currently undergoing hormone therapy in hopes of controlling the painful effects of his cancer while also slowing its progression. We have loved getting to know this couple and were so honored to grant their wish for a vow renewal.

Joann and Will first met in high school when Will was a senior and Joann was a junior. She had borrowed a book of his and took off on a weeklong trip. When she returned, she sought her out to reclaim his overdue book and promptly asked her out. The two started dating immediately and became very serious. On Joann’s 18thbirthday, the couple ran off to Lake Tahoe and got married without telling any of their family or friends. That was 40 years ago this past April.

Over the years, Joann has battled a variety of health issues. In 2012, her first colonoscopy revealed a small cancerous tumor. She had the tumor removed but did not receive any treatment. Unfortunately, they didn’t get it all and the tumor continued to grow, eventually metastasizing to her lymph nodes. She underwent surgery and chemotherapy. In 2018 the cancer spread again, this time to her lungs. She is currently undergoing more chemotherapy and is battling a tremendous amount of side effects and fatigue. We fell for this couple from the minute we met them and were thrilled to help them renew their vows with their family and friends.

Rosemarie and Happy first met when she was 17 and he was 24. They were working at the same warehouse and were immediately attracted to each other. Although their family and friends were skeptical, the two started dating and soon fell in love. They became engaged after Rosemarie graduated college and were married just one month later. The couple went on to have three daughters and to enjoy many wonderful years together.

Things took a drastic turn in 2015 when Rosemarie discovered a lump in her breast. She had it checked out and was sadly diagnosed with breast cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes. She underwent treatment and was doing well until the cancer spread to her brain, lungs and bones this past January. Wish Upon a Wedding was thrilled to be able to grant them their wish for a vow renewal with their family and friends. We enlisted the help of some amazing Sacramento vendors and are so grateful for their incredibly generosity. 

On January 13th, Rosemarie lost her battle with cancer. Our hearts go out to their sweet family during this time.

Maria and Jason first met through a friend in 2004. They hit it off instantly and began seriously dating. Maria is Columbian and her visa unfortunately expired just three months into the couple’s relationship, forcing her to return to Columbia. The couple embarked on a long-distance relationship that lasted more than two years. Finally, Maria was granted a visa and moved back stateside to be near Jason. The two were married and began a life and a family together. 

In the beginning of 2015, Maria went in for her first mammogram. She had noticed a change in one of her breasts and was anxious to have it checked out. The scan revealed a mass and a biopsy confirmed the news that she had been dreading. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent a mastectomy in March of 2015, followed by chemotherapy and radiation.  The past spring, the cancer sadly metastasized to her lungs and liver. We’ve loved getting to know Maria and Jason and were thrilled to grant their wish for a vow renewal. 

Gilbert and Kiletta first met online in 2015. She had been communicating with several different people but kept getting e-mails from the same guy – Gilbert. Initially she was ignoring them because she didn’t think he was the right fit for her. Eventually though, Gilbert’s humor won her over and they talked on the phone for three hours. After that, they met for coffee and have been together ever since. 

After dating for about three years, Gilbert and Kiletta began planning their future together and decided to get married. The wedding plans were immediately put on hold when Gilbert developed a terrible stomach ache. He went to the doctor, had a colonoscopy and a body scan and was sadly diagnosed with stage four colon cancer that had spread to his liver. Gilbert immediately underwent an aggressive chemotherapy treatment plan and is doing his best to remain hopeful with the results. 

Wish Upon a Wedding has loved getting to know this adorable couple and was honored to grant their wish for a wedding. 

Kathy and Tony met on the first day of college when they were just 19 years old. They joined a band together and immediately hit it off. They were engaged by Christmas of that first year and were married the following August – that was 40 years ago! They spent their lives raising two children and building a life together in church ministry. In 2014, Kathy went in for a routine mammogram. Her test revealed a cancerous high-grade tumor. She underwent a double mastectomy and chemotherapy. Despite some very troubling eye issues, Kathy was told she was in remission. Much to their dismay, she found out that her cancer had returned with a vengeance in July 2018. Sadly, Kathy’s cancer has spread throughout her body. She’s currently doing a combination of treatments in hopes of slowing down the disease. 

Wish Upon a Wedding fell in love with this beautiful couple and was thrilled to fulfill their wish for a vow renewal.

Erik and Denise first met at a concert through Erik’s best friend. While at the concert, they flirted and bonded over their mutual love of music. Soon, the couple started dating and quickly fell in love. Three years into their dating relationship, they found out that they were expecting a child. They were married in a small, intimate ceremony and nine months later, welcomed their daughter into the world. 

Throughout their 25-year marriage, Denise and Erik have weathered a lot of storms including most recently, Denise’s illness. A couple of years ago, Denise had an accidental fall in her kitchen, which resulted in a collapsed lung and five days in the hospital. After recovering from her fall, she continued to feel lousy and often experienced pain and fatigue. Finally, she decided to have her lungs scanned again to assess whether or not she was healed. Much to her dismay, the scan revealed a large amount of spots on her good lung. Further testing revealed the worst. She was diagnosed with lung cancer. She underwent a rigorous chemotherapy and radiation treatment plan and is now doing immunotherapy. Denise and Erik are trying to maintain a positive attitude and are taking life one day at a time. 

We’ve loved getting to know this adorable couple and were honored to grant their wish for a vow renewal.

On Tuesday, July 30, 2019, Courtney and Theresa (Tess) gathered before their nearest and dearest to say “I do” and to pledge their lives to one another in marriage. For this sweet couple, the day marked the perfect opportunity to celebrate a love that has seen its share of joy and pain. 

The day was filled with so much love and light and we could have been more honored to play a role in this beautiful couple’s special day.