Bride holds emotional dress reveal at hospital for her nana — fearing she wouldn’t be there on the big day

Grandparents eagerly wait to see their grandchildren walk down the aisle. Perhaps, for them, it's like reliving a moment they've dreamed of since they first held their grandchildren in their arms. Through every milestone and memory, the grandparents patiently watch their grandchildren grow and dream about witnessing the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. Similarly, months before her wedding, Gianna Huber (@gianna on TikTok) wanted to make her ailing grandmother, Jo Ann, feel truly special. Fearing her grandma might not make it to her big day, Huber planned a heartfelt surprise—a special wedding dress reveal just for Jo Ann. 

While Ann rested on the hospital bed with her husband sitting beside her, the door gently opened, and a sense of anticipation filled the air. One by one, her family entered, elegantly dressed, their radiant smiles lighting up the room with love and warmth. Each member greeted Ann, presenting her with flowers that brought a splash of color to the moment. Finally, the bride-to-be, Huber, stepped in, arm in arm with a man. Ann appeared visibly emotional at seeing her granddaughter looking ethereal in her white wedding gown. As the beautiful scene unfolded on the screen, the text overlay read, "We were worried my nana wouldn't make it to my wedding, and my dress wasn't here yet, so we did this so she could still see me in the same dress, borrowed from the boutique."

At the end of the video, Huber shared a heartfelt moment from her wedding day—a photo of her posing with her grandfather, who held Ann's photograph close to his heart. The onscreen text read, "She was there though in spirit." The TikTok video received an overwhelming response on social media, leaving netizens teary-eyed at the bittersweet moment. @morgangaaayle wrote, "I would give anything for any of my grandparents to see me in a wedding dress. Cherish this forever, she was deff with you on your day." @andyniic commented, "I lost my nana last year. I also got engaged at the end of last year. I’ve really been struggling with the thought that she never got to witness any of her grandkids get married."

Meanwhile, @kbrem7 wrote, "My grandpa died 3 weeks before my wedding in 2023. I got my dress back from alterations the week before he passed and I was able to put it on and show him in his hospital room." On the other hand, @wowchels wrote, "This is so sweet! Can you post the pictures you got from this I would love to see the way the photographer captured it." @marzwrx commented, "Sobbing because I lost my grandma this year and it makes me so sad that she won’t be there to see me get married. I’m so glad you had this opportunity."

Talking to PEOPLE, Huber explained that her decision to surprise Ann came after she received the devastating news about her grandma. "My Nana was sent to hospice and was given a few weeks. This was about three or four months before my wedding. Right when I walked in, I was just so happy that I was finally showing her. The look on everyone’s faces, especially hers, she immediately started crying," she added. Interestingly, to honor Ann, Huber wore rings her grandma had gifted her. Additionally, she also included a charm with Ann's picture on her bouquet and created a photo wall showcasing wedding pictures from both her family and her husband's family. Among them was a meaningful photo taken with Jo Ann during the dress reveal incident. 

You can follow Gianna Huber (@gianna) on TikTok for more lifestyle content.