Styled photoshoots are common practice for creative content, marketing and networking purposes, but Ashley Minor with Delight Events had a bigger vision… a styled shoot- on steroids, as a GIVEAWAY! When the process began, all we had was a handful of committed local businesses and 6 months to plan a wedding.

A month-long nomination process brought in over 100 nominations, the only requirements being that the couple had to live in mid-MO, and be willing to share their story. We thought it would be a difficult decision to decide on a winner, but one couple with a very special little girl won the votes unanimously.

The nomination entry that had us all in tears…

“Megan and Hunter had their daughter Adalynn, born March of 2022. After seeing a team of doctors specializing in Ophthalmology, Neurology and Genetics at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, and undergoing an abdominal ultrasound, MRI of the brain and bloodwork, Adalynn was diagnosed with Tay-Sachs Disease. Over time, this will lead to seizures, vision and hearing loss, muscle stiffness/paralysis and other major issues. There is currently no cure for Tay-Sachs Disease, which means the symptoms will progress, and her body will slowly shut down. We were told that Adalynn’s current life expectancy is 2-3 years. There is a new clinical trial in Boston,Massachusetts…

As of January 31st, 2023, my sister, Megan, her fiancé, and my niece, left home in Missouri, to live in Massachusetts for 4 long months to try and help their baby girl. Adalynn will have lots of testing before and after her surgeries and her surgeries will consist of two injections into the brain and two injections into the spine and from there, they will monitor her progress. Traveling to Boston has affected their ability to work full-time. We have done all we can and more to help ease the financial stress and allow them to focus on taking care of their baby girl but finding a way to help them afford the wedding of their dreams is something our family has not yet been able to do and I’m hoping and praying by some miracle, we can do just that, for them.”

Megan was nominated by her sister, Leah (who never mentioned the giveaway to Megan!). Leah and Ashley arranged a zoom call with Megan, Hunter and their families, with ALL VENDORS tapped in to reveal the big surprise. The shock factor (and amount of tears and excitement) was HUGE!

As the project grew and progressed, sponsors and 44 vendors came together to produce a beautiful wedding, easily amounting to over six figures, entirely free of cost for the family. Although the magical wedding day has come and gone, the memories, photos, videos and connections created will last a lifetime. Please keep sweet Adalynn and her family in your thoughts and prayers, as they continue to navigate life’s deepest battles.