Bride's best friend lost her dad as a teen — so she stopped her dad-daughter dance to invite her to join in

For many brides, the father-daughter dance is one of the most emotional traditions of a wedding day. But for someone who has lost their father, it can also be one of the hardest moments to watch. That’s why one bride made sure her best friend, who lost her dad as a teenager, didn’t have to miss out. Brie Marx, who goes by @briemarx on Instagram, shared a video of her wedding that shows how she included her best friend in the tradition. The video, posted on July 27, has since garnered 4.7 million views and around 77k likes.

The video began with on-screen text that read, "My best friend’s dad passed away when we were teenagers, so I wanted to make sure she still got her father-daughter dance." The bride began her dance with her father before pausing to bring her best friend onto the floor. Her dad reached out his hand and guided the bridesmaid into the dance, while the bride stepped aside and smiled through tears. In her caption, Brie wrote: "I’ll always be grateful my dad did this with me. I thank the Lord; he gifted me this opportunity. If you don’t have your dad earthside, this dance is for you." 

It was a gesture that gave her best friend the father-daughter moment she thought she’d never have. A recent doctoral study from Leiden University found that adults who lost a parent in childhood often report higher levels of attachment anxiety in romantic relationships. That kind of loss can leave someone carrying questions of security and belonging well into adulthood. A moment like this dance can’t erase that grief, but it can give back a sense of connection and comfort in a way that resonates long after.

The comments showed how deeply people connected with what happened. @ciarastasi_ commented, "As someone who lost their father before I even met my fiancé, this is the most selfless thing I have ever seen anyone do. May your life always be wonderful and beautiful!!" @mrs.wellborn added, "Both my parents passed before I was married; within a year of each other and about a year and a half before my wedding. When our wedding date was set, my best friend's parents called and simply stated, 'What does dad need to wear?' I never even had to ask; they immediately stepped right up and stepped in to walk me down the aisle. I will always be more than grateful."

@_janinamillis_ shared, "This is so beautiful. I lost my dad when I was 14 (way before marriage was on my mind), but not having him at my future wedding is something I think of all the time. Seeing my friends dance with their dads is a hard/ emotional thing to watch. You are such a good friend to share this moment. I know it meant so much to you both. I wish you nothing more than the most BEAUTIFUL life." @jen_ma_c wrote, "I have a very hard time watching dad/daughter dances as I lost mine a year before my wedding. This is incredible." @alice19786 commented, "What a great dad you have. You and your dad did something very special for her. She will always remember this. You have a beautiful soul."

You can follow Brie Marx (@briemarx) on Instagram for more lifestyle content.

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