An emotional groom was brought to tears when his military best man, who he thought was on deployment overseas, turned up to surprise him on his wedding day in full military attire.
The tear-jerking moment, caught on video, saw Steven Marec and his new wife, Lauren, walking along for wedding photos, when someone shouted out, “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Marec!”
Steven, 27, suddenly froze and his jaw dropped as out of the bushes his best man, AJ, appeared with a huge smile on his face.
-Scroll down to see heartwarming video below-
The groom was unable to hold. Back the happy tears, as he started to bawl hysterically while AJ, 27, approached.
The best friends then embraced as Steven cried uncontrollably on his best man’s shoulder.
AJ and Steven met nine years ago, and despite AJ’s work with the US Army, the pair have remained close friends ever since.
Steven’s wedding day was set for a date that AJ could attend – but ahead of the big day, in Fallbrook, California, on January 5, AJ got the news that he would be deployed overseas for between 10 and 12 months.
A heartbroken Steven accepted the situation.
But a few days before the wedding, AJ, whose full name is Anthony White, found out that his deployment had been pushed back a couple of days and he would not be working on the base where he was stationed.
Having checked with his superiors, AJ – whose deployment details and location are classified – then planned the surprise with Steven’s friends and family.
Steven, from Aliso Viejo, California, said: “Our bond together can only be explained as the brother I never expected to have.
“I was so excited that the only thing I could do is just step back out of pure shock and cry out of happiness
“I cry every time I see it, it’s still so unreal that it happened.
“For every family, friend, or loved ones that are going or coming back from their deployment. Never underestimate them, they will always be there for you when you need it.
“With all the chaos going on right now its such a gift to have these moments that you never expect to happen. “
Story courtesy of T&T Creative Media.