A bride and her father planned a beautiful surprise on her wedding day for her stepdad – with her dad collecting her stepdad from his seat to all walk the aisle together arm in arm.
Kendra Soldice, 26, has an extremely close bond with stepfather Chris Elwood, 50, having immediately taken to him when he started dating her mom, Marcie, 15 years ago.
Marice, 52, and Kendra’s father, Steve, 53, shared joint custody of their daughter, and so over the years that followed, Chris never felt the need to fill the father role in his and Kendra’s relationship.
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Kendra began to see Chris as a “bonus dad,” Marcie said, with both he and Steve being there to celebrate Kendra’s milestones and accomplishments in life.
And so, ahead of her big day, Kendra and her dad came up with the idea to give Chris equal significance in one of the key moments: walking Kendra down the aisle.
Kendra practiced the surprise ahead of her rehearsal dinner, with the best man playing the part of Chris, who was to be taken from his seat to make things a complete surprise.
Only a select few people at the wedding party knew what to expect, and so, on the big day itself, a friend of Kendra’s made sure that she had her camera rolling.
As Kendra and Steve arrived at the top of the aisle in Essex, Ontario, Canada, the pair stopped, and Steve made his way forward alone.
The 53-year-old then grabbed a tearful Chris by the arm and guided him back up the aisle so that the pair could walk Kendra toward the altar together.
Marcie said: “Chris became ‘bonus dad’ and supported Steve and I in raising Kendra and loving her like we did.
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“He and Kendra have always been close, and he has been a part of all of their milestones, celebrating accomplishments and supporting her through all of the good and difficult moments in life.
“Very few people knew about the surprise besides myself, the wedding party, and a couple of guests.
“Chris and I didn’t attend the rehearsal, which allowed them to practice, with the best man playing the role of Chris.
“Chris had no idea it was going to happen, and you can tell by the look on his face and his tears that he was shocked and so pleased.
“He never imagined he would have an opportunity like this.
“He told Kendra and I after that was a dream come true for him.
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“Seeing Kendra walk down the aisle was so emotional for me as we are extremely close.
“Even knowing this was going to happen, the moment took my breath away.
“It was one of the happiest moments of my life to see my daughter with both the special men in her life accompanying her.”