Couple celebrating wedding is interrupted by elderly 'destiny' man with unusual request

There are times when life arranges something so precise, so strangely timed, that it feels less like coincidence and more like a thread being spun by the universe. Whether it's a chance encounter, a shared glance, or a few words from someone unexpected, it can land so deeply that it reshapes the memory of an entire day. One such moment was shared on Instagram by Ainaz (@ainaz_serikhan), who had just finished taking wedding pictures with her husband in the streets of Rome, when an elderly man approached them and made an unusual request.

In her post, Ainaz wrote, "On the day we were taking our wedding photos in Rome, after the shoot, we sat down at a little café by the street, looking through the pictures. Then this kind old man came over, and a beautiful moment happened." In the video, he can be seen approaching the couple with a gentle, "forgive me." The man showed them a photo on his phone and said, "Seven years ago, I was in Rome, and this man was waving at me with his daughter. Seven years later, yesterday, I saw him again." He then smiled and asked, "May I take your picture... in the hopes I see you in the future?"

The couple nodded, and he lifted his phone to capture them, saying, "We live this wonderful moment," he said. They thanked him warmly as he stepped back onto the street. Unbeknownst to the couple, their Pocket3 camera had been running the entire time. What it captured was the kind of moment people rarely get to replay. "It felt like fate had quietly arranged a witness for us," Ainaz wrote. She ended the post with, "I hope this sweet grandpa stays healthy and safe. Maybe someday, in the vast sea of people, we will meet again." Research supports the idea that such serendipitous encounters can have a lasting emotional impact.

In his 1982 paper, The Psychology of Chance Encounters and Life Paths, Albert Bandura discusses how unplanned events can have lasting impacts on personal development. He emphasizes that while these encounters are unexpected, individuals' responses to them can shape future decisions and directions. The video left many people moved, and the comments reflected just how deeply it resonated. @shayxmarshall wrote, "Maybe you guys will have a beautiful little family in the future, the next time you meet." @ooyen commented, "That's so wonderful. I hope in 7 years' time your paths cross with this kind man again."

@salihaanoor chimed in, "I was half hoping that when the girl saw the picture, she would be like, 'Omg that’s my dad and me!!' That would’ve been amazing!" @blklotus__ added, "I think it also means he wants both of you to have a successful marriage that lasts." @randalynnsihelnik noted, "It's adorable. I can also see the message as: if he meets them again, they are still together like they were when he met them. Meaning he wishes them a happy and long life together." @novonniemorris_ wrote, "Wow, what a wholesome comment, and he found the right people. I hope you guys meet again in the future." 

You can follow Ainaz (@ainaz_serikhan) on Instagram for more daily life content.