When we get married, we usually want our loved ones to be there as part of the celebration. Being surrounded by family and friends helps to make it a day we will never forget. When a loved one has died and cannot be with us, it can be heartbreaking.
Brides and grooms sometimes go to great lengths to honor those no longer with us in a beautiful way. Sometimes, those loved ones send what seems to be a sign from heaven that makes the whole world smile.
Boston photographer Brit Perkins shared a video on her Instagram, @britperkins_, of a wedding she shot recently that is nothing short of a miracle. Amy and Matt got married on June 14, 2024, and wanted to honor Amy's late father with a butterfly release. Instead of flying away, however, the butterflies landed on Amy's dress, giving her a what looked like an incredible hug from heaven.
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Amy wanted her dad to be there.
Even though he wasn't present in body, the couple knew her father was there in spirit, and the text on the video, which has been viewed 18.5 million times, reads, "the bride honored her late father at her wedding ceremony by releasing monarch butterflies."
At the end of the ceremony, Amy and Matt opened a box to let the butterflies fly free, but they decided to stay for a bit.
The butterflies landed on the bride and groom.
These monarchs weren't in a hurry to leave and landed on Amy, Matt, and Amy's sister's bouquet. The couple laughs in the video as beautiful butterflies perch on the even more gorgeous bride as if to say her dad's fine and he's sending his love.
Perkins shared photo stills of the bride and groom at the end of her viral video, and it's hard to watch without getting the chills.
People are sure it was Amy's dad.
Perkins captioned her Instagram post, "Still not over it," and Instagrammers agreed with the photographer's sentiment. People were moved by what she had captured.
Someone wrote, "seems like her daddy just wanted to hold her one last time."
This person had a different take and commented, "He really said, 'if it were up to me I'd always be with you!'"
"The fact that the majority are on her dress is beautifully symbolic of her father's embrace on this special day," another comment reads. "And then one landing perfectly on her groom … as in to say, I approve of this union. And lastly, one on the bouquet as in saying, 'I give this bride away.' OMG … such a heartfelt and beautiful accessory!"
Many people have experienced special butterfly moments.
"My dad passed 3.5 months ago, we were extremely close," one person wrote. "Yesterday on Father's Day, I was kayaking alone on Lake Tahoe, and I started talking to him out loud. Within 5 seconds of talking to him a single white butterfly appeared out of nowhere and started flying around me. "
And this one: "Beautiful!! We lost my son and at his funeral we released these monarch butterflies they flew around me and my husband. We had a candle in a lantern we would blow out before leaving. After the butterfly came to us it sat in that lantern untill we were ready to take my son to be cremated. The butterfly only flew away once we blew out the candle."
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This video caused all the tears.
So many people were bawling at the sight of the butterflies.
"I'm crying hysterically in the corner of the office," someone wrote.
And this mom made an incredible observation: "I was already crying and then my mom pointed out they're concentrated on her other arm like they're walking her down."
Congratulations to the beautiful couple. Amy, we believe in miracles and butterflies, and we know how proud your dad was that he could be part of your special day. May there be many more beautiful butterfly moments to come.
