“This is probably the most emotional thing I’ve witnessed at a wedding,” photographer Jessica Manns wrote on her Facebook page after sharing touching pictures of a wedding ceremony she shot. The groom's family was determined to pay a tribute to his sister, who tragically died a few years ago, so they released stunning orange butterflies into the air. The fragile and beautiful creatures were supposed to symbolize resurrection and represent life, as some believe that our dead loved ones can sometimes visit us as butterflies. Jessica's photos went insanely viral and touched many people’s hearts.
“The groom’s sister tragically passed away in a car accident a few years prior during the Christmas holiday”
Image credits: Jessica Manns Photography
Jessica Manns, a wedding photographer based in Pennsylvania, shot such a magnificent wedding ceremony that she took it to Facebook to share it with the world. Max Van Gorder married his wife Lydia at Fox Hill Farm, Honesdale, Pennsylvania. The groom together with his family decided to release butterflies during their wedding vows to honor his sister Vanessa. Vanessa had tragically died in a car accident during the Christmas holidays a few years ago.
“To honor her, the groom’s parents released butterflies during the ceremony”
Image credits: Jessica Manns Photography
“This is probably the most emotional thing I’ve witnessed at a wedding”
Image credits: Jessica Manns Photography
“That’s a real butterfly on his finger”
Image credits: Jessica Manns Photography
"As they released the butterflies, they wouldn’t fly off"
Image credits: Jessica Manns Photography
For the Van Groder family, butterflies hold a special meaning as they have long been used to remember Vanessa who would have been 29 this year. To remember and honor Vanessa, the groom’s parents released the butterflies which later wouldn’t fly off of the guests. As the photographer wrote on her Facebook page, “They clung all over them and even stayed on their bodies the entire ceremony and well afterwards into cocktail hour. This same butterfly on his 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. Unreal.”
"They clung all over them"
Image credits: Jessica Manns Photography
"And even stayed on their bodies the entire ceremony and well afterwards into cocktail hour"
Image credits: Jessica Manns Photography
"There’s a common belief that our loved ones visit us sometimes as butterflies"
Image credits: Jessica Manns Photography
The beautiful tribute got some guests very emotional
Image credits: Jessica Manns Photography
The touching pictures and story quickly went viral
Image credits: Jessica Manns Photography
The bride herself commented on the now-viral post on Facebook by saying: “Thank you again Jessica Manns for capturing such a special and loving moment during our wedding. Vanessa was with us there and throughout the night. I relive my wedding day everytime I look at your photos. You captured every moment so beautifully! You are the best!”