Weddings are special occasions filled with love, joy, laughter and cheer. It’s a day when loved ones come together to celebrate the happy union of a couple taking the ultimate step into a new life path. Without question, that happy couple should also be ecstatic about exchanging vows, enjoying the moment they officially come together as one.
For many young women, their dreams of a pitch-perfect wedding include all the traditional bells and whistles. But following traditions are not always the right thing for every couple. Some couples go the extra mile to celebrate their love – and what makes it different – before embarking on a new chapter together.
Such was the case for Australians Elizabeth Shoesmith and Scott, who were married on January 27, 2018. While their love is no less special than any other couple walking down the aisle, what does set it apart is the fact that Scott is deaf and Elizabeth not.
Scott started losing his hearing when he was only 5 years old and by age 8, he was completely deaf. The two met via the Tinder dating app in 2016, and while Elizabeth had her reservations about dating Scott, after their first meeting, she was happy to try and go the distance with him. It was good that she did as, 18 months later, she and Scott were set to tie the knot. Even though she was well aware that there would be challenges, the mom of two could not give up on the man she loved.
To show her deep appreciation for him, she planned an unexpected surprise for her husband-to-be on their wedding day. It would not only stun guests at the wedding but also move Scott to tears.
Be sure to reach the end of this article to see the full video 🙂
For the big day, Elizabeth decided she would learn enough Australian Sign Language, also known as Auslan, to be able to sign the lyrics to Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years.”
“Even though Scott is deaf, I have never felt more heard in my life. For every joy he has brought into my life over the last two years, I wanted to surprise him with my entrance,” she told Love What Matters.
The then 41-year-old said she spent weeks trying to learn the lyrics for Scott, then 38, and a clip from the wedding showed her pulling off her heartfelt surprise. In the video, Elizabeth is seen standing on the opposite end of the aisle from Scott. Dressed in a stunning sleeveless and belted gown, the song then began to play and Elizabeth starts to sign.
“I didn’t know any sign language before we met,” she told Daily Mail, adding “Before I went in, I was freaking out – not only did I want to get it right but I knew he had friends there who were also deaf, so they would know exactly what I’m saying or not be able to say. I really wanted to get it right, so there was this extra level of stress walking in.”
She told the outlet “Scott was confused because my son left me at the end of the aisle. But as soon as I locked eyes with Scott, I was signing to him like we were the only ones in the room.”
As the song ends, Elizabeth moved next to him as he wiped away tears. The video has since warmed the hearts of people the world over.
“I got lucky on the day, I didn’t make any mistakes,” she said. “Everything just came naturally from my heart, and not my head.”
What do you think about Elizabeth’s sweet gesture? Let us know and be sure to pass this along to family and friends who would love to watch this emotional moment for themselves.