A wedding day is filled with countless emotional moments, but one particular event has touched the hearts of many around the world. A bride named Kelsey Rondenet and her grandparents shared an incredibly heartfelt first look that has since gone viral.
On her second wedding anniversary on July 16, Kelsey spoke to “Good Morning America” about this cherished memory. The moment was initially captured on video by Northwest Film Co. and shared on Instagram.
Kelsey’s wedding planner, Sabrina Peters of J29 Events, suggested the idea of a first look with her grandparents, Don and Mary Hamel.
“When Sabrina brought up the idea, I immediately knew it was perfect. My grandparents mean so much to me, and I knew they would love it,” recalled Kelsey.
Over the years, Kelsey and her grandparents, who are now 79 and 78 years old, have maintained a very close bond despite living far apart. Kelsey and her husband reside in Oregon, while her grandparents live in Florida.
“I wanted to include Nana and Pepere in my wedding in a special way because they mean so much to me and my husband,” said Kelsey. “This first look was the perfect addition to our day.”
The poignant moment, captured by Deyla Huss Photography, was shared by Northwest Film Co. on Instagram on July 22, 2022. The video quickly amassed over 685,000 likes. The clip shows Kelsey approaching her grandparents in her wedding dress. When they turn around and see her, Don Hamel is overcome with emotion and sheds tears of joy.
Mary Hamel vividly remembers the moment. “Pepere was so emotional. When he saw Kelsey, he was completely taken aback. It was such a lovely moment,” she said with a smile.
Don Hamel also shared his recollection. “When I turned around and saw Kelsey in that beautiful dress, I couldn’t help but think, ‘Where’s my little girl gone?’ The tears flowed easily,” he told “GMA.”
Don continued, “All the years of her growing up flashed before my eyes as I looked at her, and I felt so grateful to be there for her special day.”
Later in the day, Kelsey and her grandpa shared a dance, creating even more memorable moments. But for Kelsey, the first look with her grandparents stood out as one of her favorite parts of the wedding.
“Watching the video of that moment brings back all the feelings I had – it exceeded all my expectations. I’m so thankful for the idea because it turned out to be one of the most cherished memories of the entire day,” said Kelsey.
