A groom left his stepson in tears after calling him up to the altar and reading personalized vows about stepping up as a father figure.
Josh Jahlas, from Des Moines, Iowa, came into stepson Levi’s life when Levi was just two years old.
Until then, Levi’s mom, Lexie, had raised Levi as a single mother – but after meeting Josh, she introduced him to her son and the pair shared an instant connection, with Josh always treating Levi as his own.
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Ahead of their wedding, Levi saw Josh as no one other than Dad – and given he was very much a part of their love story, Lexie and Josh knew they wanted to include him in the ceremony in some way.
At The Gathering Grounds, in Bussey, Iowa, ahead of their own vows, the couple called Levi to the altar and asked him to hold their hands.
Josh then read out personalized vows, themed on the role he had and would play as a father figure.
He said: “Levi, buddy, I may not have been there when you were born or seen your first steps, but I promise to be there for you in every moment whenever you want to play, run around the backyard, or you need one more bedtime story.
“I will always be there for you. I love you, buddy.”
There was not a dry eye in the house with Levi hugging Josh’s leg during the beautiful moment, before Lexie then read out her own special vows to her son.
Lexie said: “While our wedding day was about us and our love story, it was also about Levi as he was just as much a part of our story.
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“We both knew we wanted to incorporate him into the ceremony and we know he felt our love in that moment.
“We are so thankful our amazing videographers captured it all, so that we can rewatch and look back on it for years to come.
“We have received so much love.
“What was a simple family moment for us has brought people around the world to tears.
“So many people resonated with our story, and it gave hope to other single mothers out there.”
