The reason why this couple got married in a hospital will leave you in bits

It takes most couples the bones of a year to plan a wedding, but this couple managed to pull it off in a matter of days. 

Chelsea and Jordan Harper wanted the big white wedding, but when Chelsea's mother was given a week to live they decided to get married in the hospital. 

Putting out a plea on Facebook for a photographer, Wendy Teal answered the couples call. Recognising the name of the hospital, she offered to do the shoot for free. 

"It soon became clear that everybody involved in the wedding had donated their services to this young couple," Teal wrote in her blog. "As the mother of the bride was given a week to live just days beforehand, and the daughter wanted nothing more than to be married with her mother in attendance."

The wedding, unbeknownst to the bride and groom, was held in the same room where Teal's mothers's funeral had been four years earlier. Both her parents passed of cancer in the same hospital within days of each other. 

At the time, the hospital staff offered the use of the room so that her father could attend her mother's funeral. He died that day. 

"He had willed himself to live until then. He had promised my mother he would never leave her, and he took his last breath only after knowing that she was already gone. He kept his promise." 

Some of the hospital staff recognised Teal and asked her how she was able to shoot the wedding.

"The only answer I gave them was that at the time when my family was suffering so much, the hospital and staff went above and beyond for us and this is my opportunity to pay it forward," she replied to them. 

She didn't tell the bride and groom of her connection the hospital as "they were already dealing with enough and I didn't want to cause any more sadness." 

Despite the last-minute rush, the beautiful wedding went off without a hitch, with Chelsea's mother looking on. 

"In fact, an hour after the wedding I quickly edited and printed out five images as the bride, through her tears, asked if I could give her one as quickly as possible so her mother could have a photograph of them in her last days," Teal wrote.

The ceremony was filled with touching and heartfelt moments, speaking to Buzzfeed, Teal recalled a particularly poignant one: 

"I think the moment that stands out was watching the bride break down in tears and her mother, Kim, wipe her tears away at the same time. It just brought the reality of the situation to the forefront."

In spite of her own grief, Teal was honoured to be part of the special day.

"It was an honour to take part in the ceremony, and an honour to photograph it, to be able to give them precious memories."