We all have a different ideal wedding mapped out in our minds.
Some couples dream of big extravagant weddings, complete with a long guest list, a beautiful ceremony, and a hilarious reception afterward.
Others prefer to have an intimate gathering of close family and friends while they the knot.
When Jaquie Goncher pictured her perfect wedding, she imagined herself walking down the aisle and meeting her future husband at the end.
While this doesn't seem like a particularly out-of the-ordinary idea, it was for her — because she was paralyzed from a neck injury in 2008, which left her wheelchair-bound.
But she was determined to have the big day of her dreams, which involved her walking, standing, and dancing all on her own.
And with a year of hard work prior to the wedding day, she was able to have her perfect day, which didn't include her wheelchair!
Check out Halie + Alec's stunning photos of her miraculous walk down the aisle.
[H/T: BuzzFeed]
On July 12, 2008, Jaquie Goncher broke her neck while diving into a friend’s pool.
The horrible injury instantly paralyzed her from the neck down.
“I sustained a spinal cord injury from my C5 vertebrae being completely shattered,” she explained to BuzzFeed.
“I also fractured C1 and C2. After my surgery, the surgeon told my mother and I that I would never walk again.”
But she was determined to regain even a bit of her mobility and refused to give up on her body.
A month after her incident, she even managed to move her big toe, leaving surgeons and caregivers in "complete shock.”
Her dedication toward getting her body back continued when she decided that she wanted to walk down the aisle at her wedding.
Throughout the year before her big day, she put all of her effort toward being able to walk at her wedding.
She went through many grueling workout and physical therapy sessions, regaining strength in her upper body and legs.
“I was an athlete in high school, so working out again and not being able to do the workouts I used to was very emotionally hard for me,” she explained.
“I walked on the treadmill at the slowest pace holding onto the sides and focused on not passing out. I would pull myself with my legs in my wheelchair around the gym.”
But all of the time, effort, and tiredness created a miracle — she was able to get up from her wheelchair and walk down the aisle on the day of her wedding!
In fact, she was able to stand for the full four hours and a half that the event took place!
Though her husband-to-be, Andy, had been helping her to reach her goal, none of the other guests knew that she would be walking.
And the entire room was left in shock and awe — even he was completely amazed and emotional.
The newlywed Gonchers were even able to share their first dance together to Ingrid Michaelson’s “The Way I Am.”
Needless to say, there was likely not a dry eye in the entire room!
Live event artist Maggie Smith Kühn was also there to capture the unbelievable moment on her canvas.
The session was a gift from the bride's mother so that their miraculous marriage could be remembered forever.
Jaquie especially surprised herself by how long she was able to stand.
“I was completely shocked that I was standing that long,” she stated.
“I think I was just too happy to notice if it was difficult or not. All I can remember is having the time of my life!”
The wedding would have been completely beautiful on its own, but her efforts made the entire event into a real-life fairy tail.
The couple's love and dedication for one another actually defied the odds — how many couples can say that?
Jaquie's beautiful wedding proves that with enough hard work and determination, anything is possible.
If this marriage made you teary-eyed, make sure to SHARE this amazing story with friends and family on Facebook!
