Knowing that Jim Zetz was dying of pancreatic cancer, photographer Lindsey Villatoro decided to help the dad and daughter duo stage some of the important life moments that she knew the two would miss.
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Weddings are supposed to be happy events, but in the staged “marriage” for 11-year-old Josie Zetz, the day was filled with sadness, and the glaring reminder that her dad wouldn’t be around to walk her down the aisle on the real big day.
Knowing that Jim Zetz (62) was dying of pancreatic cancer, photographer Lindsey Villatoro decided to help the dad and daughter duo stage some of the important life moments that she knew the two would miss.
In 72 hours, Villatoro raised enough donations to purchase a wedding dress, cake, flowers and all the other necessary parts to make Josie and her father’s day perfect.
Zertz walked Josie down the aisle where a pastor pronounced them “daddy and daughter,” and he placed a ring on a right-hand finger.
Although sad, the fake wedding will help Josie remember her father on her real wedding day, Villatoro said. Villatoro filmed the tear-jerking event for the family.
“Josie, you will forever have a video of you and your dad walking you down the aisle to play at your wedding in years to come, as if he was physically there.”
This post originally appeared at Elite Daily. Reprinted with permission.
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Katie Gonzalez is a contributing writer covering fashion and feminism. Katie graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in Middle Eastern Studies and currently lives in Haifa, Israel, splitting time between academic research and scouting for “The Middle East’s Next Top Falafel Wrap.” She enjoys a hot cup of green tea and a Joan Didion novel to take the edge off her aggressive online shopping addiction. Follow along on Twitter and Instagram: @KatieGonzalez12