A bride released monarch butterflies at her wedding to commemorate her father who passed away from cancer. What followed next left everyone amazed and touched. It was a moment that they would cherish for the rest of their lives.
Amy Perry, 32, and Matthew Perry, 32, reside in Back Bay, Boston. They had their first date at an Italian restaurant in the North End and instantly fell in love.
“I knew in my heart that he was the one. It was a quiet certainty, a feeling that just grew stronger every day,” Mrs. Perry, a lawyer, told Epoch Times.
When planning their wedding, the couple wanted to involve their entire family, including Mrs. Perry’s late father Nathaniel Machain, who passed away from cancer 25 years ago.
Mrs. Perry’s father passed away on August 5, 1999, when she was only 7 years old. Even before meeting her husband, she had decided to release butterflies at her wedding to honor her father.
“After my father passed away, my sister, mother, and I went on a hike together. It was around noon, the time he had passed, and monarch butterflies landed on each of us,” she said.
Since then, butterflies have appeared on his birthdays, Father’s Day, and other special occasions.
“I couldn’t think of anything more fitting than being surrounded by butterflies symbolizing him on my wedding day,” she said.
Reflecting on the precious moments spent with him, she said, “His presence filled every room with warmth and laughter. His laughter uplifted everyone’s spirits. He had a way of turning ordinary moments into cherished memories.”
Even after his battle with cancer, her father’s legacy of caring for others and meaningful memories continued, with some believing his impact persists even after his passing.
“His kindness knew no bounds,” Mrs. Perry said. “He touched everyone fortunate enough to have known him. He taught me the values of generosity and compassion. He showed by example that the greatest joy in life comes from giving to others.”
On June 14, the day of their wedding, Mrs. Perry released monarch butterflies in honor of her father. She expected them to fly away, but to her surprise, most of them fluttered around, with some landing on her dress. Some flew onto her sister holding the bouquet, while others landed on her husband.
Mrs. Perry said that everyone felt a sense of peaceful wonder in that moment.
“Our friends and family were as amazed as we were. They were so grateful to be a part of something so unforgettable and beautiful,” she said.
“In that moment, I felt a rush of emotions – gratitude for the beauty of the present and a deep connection with those around me,” she said. “It was as if the butterflies were telling us that love is eternal, and my father’s memory will always be a part of our lives.”
Mrs. Perry felt like her father was also part of the union.
“My husband had taken my mother and sister to my father’s grave, seeking his permission to marry me. Seeing those butterflies land on my dress, on my husband’s chest, on my sister’s bouquet, it was a breathtaking symbol: my father was with us, watching over us, blessing our union from above.”
Photographer Brit Perkins, who captured this magical moment, has been a family friend for years. Like everyone present, she said she found it hard to “hold back tears.” She expressed gratitude for being part of the occasion.
“I mean, seriously, what could top that moment? I told Amy these are the best wedding photos I’ve ever taken,” Perkins said of the experience.
Miraculously, the magic of the wedding spread after. Perkins posted some photos on social media, and many were amazed by the symbol of her father’s love.
“This is insane!” Perkins said. “When I realized it was going viral online, Amy and I were texting each other about how crazy it was! I remember asking her if it was overwhelming, and she said she was so touched, even strangers were touched by it.”
One person on Instagram wrote, “In Mexican culture, the monarch butterfly is a symbol of our loved ones coming to greet you. When they visit, it brings good luck, so if this isn’t a sign, I don’t know what is.”
Another person said, “All those butterflies are him embracing her. The butterfly on the bouquet is him sending her flowers. The butterflies on her husband are her father’s blessings. These things are not coincidences. He is there, proud.”
Ms. Perkins summed up the experience of the wedding day, saying, “The entire day was truly perfect.”