The mother of Julia Napolitano couldn't witness her wedding ceremony so the newlywed bride decided to bring the party to her mum's home.
Bride weds in care home so mother with Alzheimer's disease can attend
66-yr-old Linda Napolitano was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in October 2009, she could no longer recognise her family and had lost her speech
66-yr-old Linda Napolitano was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in October 2009, she could no longer recognise her family and had lost her speech. She lives in a care home in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
The 30-yr-old bride being the only child of her mum really wanted her mother to be part of her big day, though she wouldn't remember it. She told the groom 28-yr-old Justin Phillips, of her plans which he wholly agreed to.
"I couldn't imagine my mom not being around," Julia told The Huffington Post.
"Finding a way for Linda to be a part of the day was something we thought about early on," Phillips told HuffPost.
The bride and groom proceeded to the care home where Linda lives for the reception after exchanging vows at a nearby church.
"My worry was, 'What if she's having a bad day? Would she be overwhelmed by so many people there? Would the other guests be concerned?' We didn't want other challenges," Julia said.
Philip told newsmen that most of the invited guests attending the wedding hadn't seen his soon-to-be mother-in-law in years.
"We let everyone who knew Linda before the diagnosis know they could come but she probably wouldn't recognize them," Phillips said. "They were very accommodating."
"[Julia and I] were the last to arrive and we lost it when she said, 'Hi mom!, Nick, my best man -- he never met Linda -- was teary-eyed," he said.
The food, drinks and cake were provided by the facility for the wedding reception.
The bride's father Umberto, even had a brief dance with his wife.
Julia says though the wedding over two months, her mother has been in great spirits since then.
"Mom has been in good spirits since the wedding -- better than she was a year ago," she said.
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