00:00It's a Build-A-Bear.
00:01I was so sad leading up to the wedding.
00:03Like, I wish I could bring him back.
00:05I wish I could find some way to have him there.
00:07More than just like a picture at the reception venue,
00:10I wanted her to feel his presence.
00:16More than anything, I wish I could bring Gramps back
00:19on this special day.
00:20So I got you something to bring to the ceremony
00:24and give a hug when you miss him today.
00:27Tap his paw to hear one last encouragement
00:31before we say, I do.
00:32My grandfather has always made such a deliberate effort
00:35to stay connected with his family abroad.
00:38All of the grandkids would receive
00:40his WhatsApp messages once a day.
00:42I always wanted him to be at my wedding.
00:44He was the life of any party.
00:46I had always envisioned dancing with my father
00:48and then having a dance with him as well
00:51and having him walk my mom down the aisle.
00:54So not having those things was a loss for sure.
00:57I knew that he was starting to get sick
00:59so that he wouldn't be able to attend.
01:01But I still wanted him to be involved in some way.
01:03I gave him a call and I told him,
01:05I know you wouldn't be able to be there at the proposal,
01:07but I wanted to get your blessing first
01:09before I move forward.
01:10I recorded it on my phone, took the audio
01:13because I'm like, I may need this one day.
01:15And it was true.
01:16It's a Build-A-Bear.
01:20Oh, cute.
01:21Oh, there was a little thing in here.
01:32More than anything,
01:33I wish I could bring Gramps back on this special day.
01:36So I got you something to bring to the ceremony
01:40and give a hug when you miss him today.
01:43Tap his paw to hear one last encouragement
01:47before we say I do.
01:54Oh my goodness.
01:56The thing that sent me over the edge
01:58was the fact that it even had glasses like my grandpa.
02:02And he put glasses on it like my grandpa.
02:12Oh my God.
02:16Is it this one?
02:17Oh, this one.
02:18There was a game to meet someone in the future.
02:21And I cannot be.
02:24I think you do a stand that you want me.
02:27Oh, my joy, don't cry, man.
02:29You know what I love, I say.
02:30You're honest with each other.
02:32I support you all.
02:34Come on, Arca.
02:35I wish you all well.
02:38The outfit that the bear was wearing
02:40was exactly what he wore to my cousin's wedding.
02:44Oh, okay.
02:45His gift definitely beat mine.
02:48The fact that you cared enough to think about
02:50how to incorporate something that was so important to me,
02:54that meant so much.
02:55It was really special to see even my mom
03:00interact with that bear as well,
03:02like as it being her dad.
03:04For her to get to hear her dad on the day
03:06like was a really special thing for her as well.
03:09And she walked down the aisle with the bear
03:11in place of how she would have with him.
03:13Shannon is a once-in-a-lifetime woman.
03:15My whole life,
03:17I've committed to just showing her
03:18how much she's valued,
03:20how seen she is,
03:21and how special this love is to me,
03:24that I'll do everything I can
03:25for the rest of my life
03:26to demonstrate that.
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