Bride bursts into tears seeing her paralyzed dad ‘standing’ at the chapel door to walk her down the aisle
'A father’s love for his daughter can make them do incredible things...'
Savannah was only two when her father, Sam Schmidt, an ex-IndyCar driver, was paralyzed below the neck following an accident in 2002. She had never seen her dad stand, but that changed when he surprised her on her wedding day by sharing a dance. Steelhead Cinema (@steelheadcinema) documented the beautiful moment and shared it on YouTube.
Schmidt had almost forgotten how it felt to stand on his feet, and rightfully so because he had spent 21 years in a wheelchair. But for his daughter, he knew he had to stand again, so he did, giving her an unforgettable wedding memory. To help him walk again, a team of engineers designed an "exoskeleton" that could support his legs, allowing him to stand and walk with a person who helped him balance from behind. "I've almost run out of words to describe the feeling in this entire process. Epic. Mega. Unbelievable. After 21 years, I didn't remember what the view was like. I haven't gotten a full-body hug in 21 years, you know. And I got some of those today," he told TODAY. As the door opened, and Savannah saw her dad standing on his feet for the first time, she couldn't stop crying. With slow steps, Schmidt walked towards his daughter, who immediately held his hands, supporting him, as they moved towards the stage for a dance together. Watching the father-daughter duo share a special dance was just too emotional, especially for Savannah's mom. Moments later, she joined her husband and danced with him, perhaps remembering the good old days. The video from September 2, 2021, could make any grown adult cry.
Much like most wedding rituals, the father-daughter dance stems from a patriarchal tradition. Back then, the dance was more like the father's last chance to dance with his daughter before she became part of her husband's family, according to Brides Magazine. With time, society changed, and so did the meaning of the tradition. Today, the father-daughter dance often happens after the bride and groom's first dance together. For Savannah, however, it was extra special. It wasn't a dance alone, but it was also a reminder of how far her father could go to bring a smile to her face.
Meanwhile, reacting to Sam Schmidt's story, @latina1223 commented, "I love that he did this with his daughter, but look at his wife's face; she is so happy to be dancing with her husband, getting to hold him. I am pretty sure she does everything for him, and she is so happy to have this moment." @annek1226 wrote, "A special gift from a loving father to his little girl! The smile on his face gives you a glimpse of how happy this has made both of them! Way to go, Dad! People have no idea how much work this took to achieve! I am so proud that they chose to share this great gift with us! Thank you!"
Similarly, @jesusrodriguez-gy5eu exclaimed, "What a beautiful thing for the bride to be able to dance with her father on her special day, and the mother so thrilled just to dance with her husband like the old times." @nathangirvan9178 wrote, "Absolutely beautiful! A father’s love for his daughter can make them do incredible things! I am so very happy and in awe to see you dancing with your daughter! What strength you have, sir! As a father, I have total respect for you! Congratulations to your daughter on her special day, and thank you for sharing this! True inspiration to all of us!"
You can follow Steelhead Cinema (@steelheadcinema) on YouTube for more wedding content.
More on Scoop Upworthy
People rally around dad who refuses to walk his daughter down the aisle for good reason
Woman dreamed of getting married in her childhood backyard. Her dad spent 8 months recreating it
Share on Facebook
