Emotional moment bride reads late father’s letter he wrote for her wedding day
Todd Excell lost his battle with cancer on Mother’s Day in 2001 when his daughter Emily was just 8.
Still wanting to be there for Emily, he decided to prepare special letters for each milestone in her life. However, he did not have enough time and instead chose to write a letter to be read out on her wedding day.
Emily married her husband Shakeal Darbey, and during their reception, her father’s letter was read out by her uncle, Peter.
Clutching her new husband’s hands, Emily fights back the tears as she hears her father’s precious words.
Her father wrote, “To my dearest daughter, Emily. You are my heart and soul and always will be.”
He added, “I love you, Emily. I know I would love your new husband. To your new husband, I will be walking with you, too.”
At the end of the letter, Todd added a caution for his daughter’s husband.
“To the new husband... I will not be able to intimidate you or ask you a million questions before you date my daughter, tell you I have a gun under my bed, or ask you why you are interested in dating my daughter, take your licence plate down and the type of car you drive. But what I can do – is haunt you.”
Laughter immediately erupted in the room as the new couple wipe away their tears.
Her wedding day letter
“To my dearest daughter Emily.
You are my heart and soul and always will be.
I'm writing this letter for your wedding day to tell you how I will not be there in body but I will be there in spirit.
I remember when you were just starting to walk and what it would be to walk you down the aisle on your wedding day.
Walking is another passage to a new beginning. A wedding day is like a new beginning to a life with another person you love. You will never do anything alone.
You will have a partner to be at your side in good and bad — something I would have loved to have done for you, if I was not dying. You have found someone to be that person for you. You will know the feeling as soon as you say your vows.
You have been my sunshine in my darkest days. I want you to have the best life and love that God can give you. I'm asking you and your husband to treat each other with love and respect. I hope that you have children to love and cherish as I have with you.
My advice for you and your husband is always to say 'I love you' to each other. Even when you get mad at each other or disagree because you still love the other person — it's just the other feelings that get in the way.
Love will hold the marriage together.
The other advice is be yourself and never change, that's why you love each other.
The things you bring only bring out the best in each other. Still have friends and family to go to when problems arise, they will always have an open ear. But always listen to your heart when making decisions.
I love you, Emily. I know I would love your new husband. I will always be there as you walk anywhere. To your new husband, I will be walking with you, too.
Welcome to the family, I love you.
Love, Dad.
P.S.
To the new husband... I will not be able to intimidate you or ask you a million questions before you date my daughter, tell you I have a gun under my bed, or ask you why you are interested in dating my daughter, take your licence plate down and the type of car you drive. But what I can do – is haunt you.
Treat her like a princess and the queen she will be.”