This Bride Held A Photoshoot With Her Grandmother Before Her Passing And Her Family Had No Idea
Most people want to spend their wedding day surrounded by their friends and family. When Tara Foley realized her 102-year-old nana wouldn't be able to make the trip to come to her wedding, she knew she had to do something.
All her nana wanted was to see Tara in her wedding dress on her wedding day, so Tara put a plan in place that involved her flying across state lines for a photoshoot that none of their friends or family knew anything about until nearly six months after the fact...
Tara's Obstacle
37-year-old realtor Tara Foley knew that her grandmother wasn't going to be able to make it to her June 1st wedding, but she wanted her grandmother to be able to see her in her wedding dress. So she arranged a surprise.
She Knew She Had To Go See Her Nana
Tara's grandmother Stasia was 102 years old and wasn't allowed to travel long distances or fly because she was in hospice care, so Tara arranged to fly out to her in secret to have a photoshoot. None of Tara's family or her nana knew about her plans.
Nana's Wish
Tara said in an interview that even though her nana had told her hospice workers that all she wanted was to attend her granddaughter's wedding, Tara knew that wouldn't happen. She said she knew she had to go see her because she wanted to get "as close as I can to giving her last wish" and Tara desperately wanted her nana to see her gown.
Making The Trip
On January 28, Tara told her family she was tagging along on her fiance Matt Bars' business trip to Miami, but instead she flew into Fort Myers. Stasia was in hospice in Naples, Florida.
One Last Hurdle
Tara showed up to her aunt and uncle's condo with her hair and makeup already done, and she told them that she simply wanted to ask her nana more questions for the legacy video she'd started making about her grandmother's life. When Tara went in to see Stasia, Tara says "she looked at me and said, 'I thought it was going to be you.'"
For Nana's Eyes Only
Once Tara was inside the condo's clubhouse, she changed into her gown and explained what was happening. Her dress hadn't even been properly fitted at the time but Tara had a rush alteration so that the gown would be presentable enough for the photo shoot.
The Beautiful Bride
Upon seeing her in the dress, Tara said her nana told her what a beautiful bride she was. "She just touched the fabric and touched the tulle of my dress. She kept looking at my dress and looking at me."
Tear-Filled Approval
Tara said she got very teary-eyed and though her nana was never one to cry, "she got teary-eyed as well." Photographer Marie Kamp said she too was emotional during the photoshoot because of how sweet the situation was.
Emotions Ran High From The Beginning
Kamp's sister Michelle Weaver was responsible for Tara's make-up that day and Weaver said that when she first got the phone call from Tara about her plan, Weaver cried while on the phone with her.
A Special Experience For Everyone Involved
Weaver said in an interview that the photoshoot of Tara and her nana would "be in our hearts forever" and that her and Kamp were thrilled to be a part of the experience.
Sworn To Secrecy
After the photoshoot was finished, Tara washed off her makeup and took out her hairdo so that her aunt and uncle wouldn't suspect anything, and she swore her Nana to secrecy. Stasia reportedly said she'd tell Tara's aunt and uncle that they went dancing in the clubhouse.
Nana's Passing
Stasia Foley passed away less than a month after Tara came to visit her. Nana passed away on February 23rd, nearly three months before what would have been her 103rd birthday.
The Big Day
Despite her nana's passing, Tara continued to keep the photoshoot a secret from her friends and family until the day of her wedding at Hidden Falls Ranch in Spring Branch, Texas.
The Big Reveal
While the bridesmaids and groomsmen were getting ready for the ceremony, Tara pulled her family aside to reveal her secret photoshoot with Stasia to them. The family was overwhelmed with emotion, unsurprisingly.
The Emotional Response
Tara said her family was completely shocked and overwhelmed. Tara's father thought she had photoshopped the photos together, and she said he was "very very moved" when he saw the framed photo.
Capturing The Moment
Wedding photographer Misty McLendon was the one to capture the moment Tara revealed the photos to her family. McLendon wrote on her Facebook page that it was "truly a special thing to be able to be a part of people's biggest and more precious moments."
A Viral Hit
Tara shared the photos from her photoshoot with her nana to her Facebook page less than two weeks after her wedding, and the post has gone viral. As of September 2019, Tara's photos with her nana have been liked more than 1.8M times and have received over 600K shares.
Kind Words From Strangers
Tara said in an interview that "everybody is just beyond touched by the photos. Everyone said the nicest, and kindest things," talking about the response she's received to the photos online. "In the world of crazy negativity on social media, people are letting me know how beautiful the world can be."
Gone, But Never Forgotten
This was Tara's way of having her grandmother there with her and with her family on her wedding day, and it worked out better than she could've hoped. Tara wrote on her Facebook page that her nana's smile "and her laugh are forever etched in my mind, and the love between us will live in my heart."
Forever In Their Memories
Tara said that her photoshoot with her nana was one of the greatest days of her life and that she will cherish the memories of Stasia and of that day forever. Though she is no longer with them physically, Stasia will stay with Tara and her family forever thanks to this photoshoot.
