Maria and Jason first met through a friend in 2004. They hit it off instantly and began seriously dating. Maria is Columbian and her visa unfortunately expired just three months into the couple’s relationship, forcing her to return to Columbia. The couple embarked on a long-distance relationship that lasted more than two years. Finally, Maria was granted a visa and moved back stateside to be near Jason. The two were married and began a life and a family together. 

In the beginning of 2015, Maria went in for her first mammogram. She had noticed a change in one of her breasts and was anxious to have it checked out. The scan revealed a mass and a biopsy confirmed the news that she had been dreading. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent a mastectomy in March of 2015, followed by chemotherapy and radiation.  The past spring, the cancer sadly metastasized to her lungs and liver. We’ve loved getting to know Maria and Jason and were thrilled to grant their wish for a vow renewal. 

Rosemarie and Happy first met when she was 17 and he was 24. They were working at the same warehouse and were immediately attracted to each other. Although their family and friends were skeptical, the two started dating and soon fell in love. They became engaged after Rosemarie graduated college and were married just one month later. The couple went on to have three daughters and to enjoy many wonderful years together. Things took a drastic turn in 2015 when Rosemarie discovered a lump in her breast. She had it checked out and was sadly diagnosed with breast cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes. She underwent treatment and was doing well until the cancer spread to her brain, lungs and bones this past January. Wish Upon a Wedding is thrilled to be able to grant them their wish for a vow renewal with their family and friends. We enlisted the help of some amazing Sacramento vendors and are so grateful for their incredibly generosity. 

Chuck and Jill first 30 years ago when they were both working at Gabe’s department store. After getting to know each other as friends for about a year and a half, they began dating on Jill’s 21stbirthday. They dated for about six years before getting engaged and were married on Oct 24th, 1998. In 2001, they were blessed with the birth of their daughter. They spent the next 17 years working and building their life as a beautiful family of three. In the spring of 2018, Chuck developed a nagging cough and bone pain that wouldn’t go away. While he initially thought it was just allergies, it continued to worsen and he decided to have it checked out. He underwent a CT scan just a couple days before his family was set to leave for vacation. When he returned from vacation, he received a devastating diagnosis – stage 4 prostate cancer that had spread to his lungs, liver and bones. 

Chuck immediately began an aggressive chemotherapy regiment, followed by 6 weeks of radiation. He is currently undergoing hormone therapy in hopes of controlling the painful effects of his cancer while also slowing its progression. Chuck and Jill are looking forward to renewing their vows and celebrating their long-time love with the many people who have stood by them over the years. 

Vanessa and Chris first met by sheer happenstance. Vanessa’s friend had decided to go meet up with a guy that she had met online and Vanessa decided to tag along for safety and support. Turns out, the man in question had a roommate named Chris, who Vanessa ended up chatting with all night long. The two hit it off immediately and were married a year later.

In the fall of 2018, Vanessa began to experience some confusing health problems. She was working as a medical assistant at the time and suddenly began struggling with things like balance, tripping, slurring of speech and loss of dexterity in her fingers. Despite numerous appointments with no good answers, Vanessa was certain that something was very wrong. The answer finally came in June and was more devastating than she or Chris could have ever imagined. Vanessa had been diagnosed with ALS.

Wish Upon a Wedding was deeply moved by this beautiful love story and cannot wait to grant Vanessa and Chris’s wish for a vow renewal.

Amanda and Sean first met online in the fall of 2017. They had both previously been divorced and were looking to give love a second chance, each with two small children in tow. Two years before meeting, however, Amanda had been diagnosed with a rare and very unpredictable form of cancer known as metastatic neuroendocrine/carcinoid syndrome. Her cancer diagnosis did not scare Sean and they hit if off right away. Despite a variety of treatments, Amanda continues to battle unexpected tumors and constant pain and fatigue. The last couple of years have been a painful series of ups and downs, but through it all, Amanda and Sean’s love has not wavered.

Wish Upon a Wedding was touched by this young couple’s sweet story and cannot wait to grant their wish for a wedding - #150 for our organization!

Gilbert and Kiletta first met online in 2015. She had been communicating with several different people but kept getting e-mails from the same guy – Gilbert. Initially she was ignoring them because she didn’t think he was the right fit for her. Eventually though, Gilbert’s humor won her over and they talked on the phone for three hours. After that, they met for coffee and have been together ever since. 

After dating for about three years, Gilbert and Kiletta began planning their future together and decided to get married. The wedding plans were immediately put on hold when Gilbert developed a terrible stomach ache. He went to the doctor, had a colonoscopy and a body scan and was sadly diagnosed with stage four colon cancer that had spread to his liver. Gilbert immediately underwent an aggressive chemotherapy treatment plan and is doing his best to remain hopeful with the results. 

Wish Upon a Wedding has loved getting to know this adorable couple and was honored to grant their wish for a wedding. 

Kathy and Tony met on the first day of college when they were just 19 years old. They joined a band together and immediately hit it off. They were engaged by Christmas of that first year and were married the following August – that was 40 years ago! They spent their lives raising two children and building a life together in church ministry. In 2014, Kathy went in for a routine mammogram. Her test revealed a cancerous high-grade tumor. She underwent a double mastectomy and chemotherapy. Despite some very troubling eye issues, Kathy was told she was in remission. Much to their dismay, she found out that her cancer had returned with a vengeance in July 2018. Sadly, Kathy’s cancer has spread throughout her body. She’s currently doing a combination of treatments in hopes of slowing down the disease. 

Wish Upon a Wedding fell in love with this beautiful couple and was thrilled to fulfill their wish for a vow renewal.

Joann and Will first met in high school when Will was a senior and Joann was a junior. Shortly after meeting, the two started dating immediately and became very serious. On Joann’s 18thbirthday, the couple ran off to Lake Tahoe and got married without telling any of their family or friends. That was 40 years ago this past April.

Over the years, Joann has battled a variety of health issues that began when a 2012 colonoscopy revealed a small cancerous tumor. Despite having surgery to remove the tumor, it continued to grow and spread and has now metastasized to JoAnn’s lungs. She is currently undergoing more chemotherapy and is battling a tremendous amount of side effects, pain and fatigue. Wish Upon a Wedding loved meeting this beautiful couple and is honored to grant their wish for a vow renewal.

Maria and Jason first met through a friend in 2004. They hit it off instantly and began seriously dating. Maria is Columbian and her visa unfortunately expired just three months into the couple’s relationship, forcing her to return to Columbia. The couple embarked on a long-distance relationship that lasted more than two years. Finally, Maria was granted a visa and moved back stateside to be near Jason. The two were married and began a life and a family together.

In the beginning of 2015, Maria went in for her first mammogram. She had noticed a change in one of her breasts and was anxious to have it checked out. The scan revealed a mass and a biopsy confirmed the news that she had been dreading. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent a mastectomy in March of 2015, followed by chemotherapy and radiation.  The past spring, the cancer sadly metastasized to her lungs and liver. We’ve loved getting to know Maria and Jason and cannot wait to grant their wish for a vow renewal.

Erik and Denise first met at a concert through Erik’s best friend. While at the concert, they flirted and bonded over their mutual love of music. Soon, the couple started dating and quickly fell in love. Three years into their dating relationship, they found out that they were expecting a child. They were married in a small, intimate ceremony and nine months later, welcomed their daughter into the world. 

Throughout their 25-year marriage, Denise and Erik have weathered a lot of storms including most recently, Denise’s illness. A couple of years ago, Denise had an accidental fall in her kitchen, which resulted in a collapsed lung and five days in the hospital. After recovering from her fall, she continued to feel lousy and often experienced pain and fatigue. Finally, she decided to have her lungs scanned again to assess whether or not she was healed. Much to her dismay, the scan revealed a large amount of spots on her good lung. Further testing revealed the worst. She was diagnosed with lung cancer. She underwent a rigorous chemotherapy and radiation treatment plan and is now doing immunotherapy. Denise and Erik are trying to maintain a positive attitude and are taking life one day at a time. 

We’ve loved getting to know this adorable couple and were honored to grant their wish for a vow renewal.