As Charlotte Villarin of Manila, Philippines, started planning her big wedding day, she was also emotionally struggling with the devastating news that her father, Pedro Villarin, was dying.

Pedro had been fighting liver cancer for a year. A few months before the wedding, it became clear that he wasn’t going to live to see his daughter get married.

Like every young girl, Charlotte had always dreamed of having her father by her side as she walked down the aisle. Pedro had also dreamed of the day. The bride and groom decided to change their wedding date and move it up by two months and on their wedding, August 9th, Charlotte and her fiance, Mark Cordova, got married with Pedro looking on.

“We hired an ambulance and a private nurse,” Charlotte stated. “We thought he would be able to sit on a wheelchair, but he couldn’t take it and used the stretcher from the ambulance instead.”

As the Villarin and Cordova families gathered in the church, Pedro was wheeled down the aisle on a stretcher, holding his daughter’s hand. What an emotional time, I am sure there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Photographer Law Tapalla shared the images on Facebook, writing:

“Mr. Pedro Villarin walked her daughter down the aisle like any father would have even if his current health makes this a difficult endeavor. Mark and Charlotte’s wedding was a celebration of love, not only theirs but a love that joins their families closer to each other. We have witnessed how in every difficult situations there will always be hope and happiness. We’re privileged to capture every moment of smiles and tears in this wedding.”

Just three days after his daughters wedding, Pedro passed away.

“It was really painful,” Charlotte said, “but knowing that he left this world, fulfilling his dream, I’m happy already no matter what.”

Sometimes the most painful moments turn into the most beautiful. Please pray for this new family.