Groom paused before saying vows and invited his step-daughter to join them. What happened next left everyone crying
The groom knew he was not just sealing the bond with his partner but also with her daughter and found the perfect moment to make it happen.
When they say marriage is the joining of not just two souls but two families, they mean it in the most profound and sacred manner. Casey and Shannon Fleming recently tied the knot, and the groom knew he had to make the day meaningful for his stepdaughter, Sabella, too, according to PEOPLE. In a heart-melting clip shared by @pinkpetal.bts, the man stopped before he could read his vows during the wedding ceremony and asked Sabella to join them. He then rendered a warm, heartfelt, and touching promise. Casey was sure, while planning the wedding, that he wanted his stepdaughter to be a crucial part of it. He found no better way than to say aloud and seal the bond he shared with her.
He began by saying, “I may not have given you life, but God brought you to me.” As he promised to love, guide, and protect her, he was moved to tears. A few seconds into his vows, they were already emotional. He promised to step up and be there for her always. “Our family is not just built on love between two people but on the love we have for you,” Casey added. He then took out a pendant as a sign of sealing the promise and put it around her neck. "Marrying Shannon also means fully embracing being Sabella’s dad,” the groom told PEOPLE, adding that it was one of the most special responsibilities he’ll ever have. He wanted her to know and understand how important she was to him, and in the midst of 130 guests, he made it happen.
The necklace, too, had profound meaning. It was the same as the one he had made for his now-wife Shannon when they were in the early phases of their relationship. He also paid attention to detail and “linked” the necklace to the ring by giving both a close resemblance. "To him, this symbolized our family becoming official," the bride said. As for Sabella, she does not doubt that she’s got a confidante, a friend, and above all, a father. As a single mother, Shannon always yearned for her daughter to have that special love that can come only from a father. When Casey came into the picture, he perfectly took on the role.
"Sabella heard 'I love you' from Casey before I did, and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way,” the mom delightfully revealed. "He didn’t do it because I came with my mom, he willingly chose to become an amazing father figure for me and show me what it’s like to have a loving and caring dad who wants to be a part of my life,” the young woman remarked. According to data from a study by Sarah (Gold) Pachman and Kathryn Edin of Princeton University, stepfathers are stepping up to contribute to the well-being of their children, even though they are not biologically related. The detailed findings shared by the Population Reference Bureau suggested that 75% of children felt connected and close to their stepfathers by the age of 9. In their teenage years, 60% of children reported a positive bonding with their stepdads.
Pachman pointed out that the stepparent arrangement is increasing and becoming the norm for many Americans. Due to this, males are learning to adapt and adopt their role as a stepparent and show up efficiently. “As family life is shifting away from the biological two-parent form, stepfathers’ roles may be evolving in ways that are more beneficial to their adolescent stepchildren,” the researchers noted. There’s no doubt that Casey will cherish Sabella like his own, and the internet only hopes more children can witness a love this pure. @camillek_14 wrote, “What a beautiful moment! What every stepfather should be.” @camandlarisa added, “A core memory for this beautiful family.”
You can watch the video here
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