By We have to make this the most magical experience, Lacey Wicksall thought as she talked on the phone with Karen Mastropietro, who had stage 4 ovarian cancer.
It was Lacey Wicksall’s first day working as executive director for Wish Upon a Wedding (WishUponAWedding.org), a nonprofit that alleviates the financial burden of weddings and vow renewal ceremonies for couples facing terminal illness or life-altering health circumstances.
“We want to stand up in front of our daughters and our family and friends and show everyone that we’re still madly in love,” Karen and her husband, Rich, told Lacey.
Lacey’s heart swelled as she witnessed the power of their devotion. I can’t wait to give them this gift, she thought.
A spark of hope
Karen and Richard Mastropietro
A few months later, Lacey learned that her own father had leukemia. Not long after his diagnosis, he sadly passed away. His tragic loss only deepened Lacey’s understanding of the challenges and heartbreak couples like Karen and Rich face each day.
People need joy when they’re trudging through despair, Lacey thought. They need someone to shine a little light, bring them hope and have something to look forward to.
Inspired to give Karen and Rich their dream ceremony, Lacey verified Karen’s condition with her doctors. Once approved, the nonprofit gave $2,000 to a wedding planner to coordinate their event while working with local wedding professionals who donated tens of thousands of dollars worth of services to the couple, including a gorgeous venue in New York, wedding clothes, food, music, photography and videography.
The vow renewal ceremony took place in July of 2019—on the couple’s 25th anniversary. Two years later, Lacey was heartbroken when she learned Karen had passed away. “I can’t stop crying. Her happiness was what keeps me going at this job,” Lacey told a friend the day of Karen’s death.
But remembering the joy on Karen’s face on the day of her ceremony kept Lacey inspired. Karen was my beacon, and others who are struggling deserve to feel this joy too, Lacey thought with newfound hope in her heart.
Giving joy
Jenny Nelson
In the years since, Lacey has spent countless hours on the phone with prospective brides, grooms and couples facing unimaginable loss. Since its founding, the nonprofit has provided more than 300 free weddings and vow renewals, averaging about 50 a year.
After Lacey and her wish coordinator, Megan Biehl, verify a potential recipient’s medical condition, they ask couples intimate questions: “Why do you want to get married or renewing your vows? What do you love most about each other?”
Lacey recently asked these questions to Chrissy and Matt Stewart, both with stage 4 terminal cancer, who wished to renew their wedding vows.
“I don’t think that we will get to see our kids get married,” Chrissy told her. “I want Matt to have a daddy-daughter dance, and I want to dance with my boys. I want them to have photography of this day that we were all together smiling, so they can remember this forever.”
Last year, after Moira Collette-Jean Legault, 27, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer and given less than a year to live, she wished more than anything to marry the love of her life, Tyler Scott Ferron. Without funds for the beautiful wedding they’d hoped for, Tyler reached out to Wish Upon A Wedding and their dream ceremony came true. “It ended up being the most perfect day,” Moira says.
Jenny Nelson, who has stage 4 breast cancer, was a recipient of a magical vow renewal ceremony with her husband of 22 years, Nic. “I felt like a queen that entire night,” says Jenny. “I had my hair and makeup done so perfectly, and I just cried so many tears of joy. It just felt so special.”
As for Lacey, she cherishes each joyous occasion she helps create. “They get to put their worries on the shelf for a little bit,” she says. “It gives people something to look forward to—they feel beautiful and create this incredible memory.”
