If you had just one week to throw together a wedding, could you do it? What about if that wedding was free?
A Texas couple recently faced just such a predicament after a total stranger decided to donate her big day to them. That stranger was Kolbie Sanders, an East Texas woman who called off her wedding with just days to spare. Kolbie had already paid $3,500 for the wedding reception venue and she couldn’t bring herself to see that hard-earned money go to waste, so she did something unusual.
Facebook
Kolbie decided to donate her wedding day to a couple who deserved it, but couldn’t afford such a fancy venue. She offered up her event at Belle Vue Wedding and Event Center on Facebook, asking her friends to share it and spread the news.
With my engagement ending, I’ve come to find tremendous peace in knowing that I did the right thing for the both of us. With that being said, now I want to do the right thing by others and let some good come out of this decision.
This is a long shot but since my wedding venue has been paid for in full already, I have decided to donate my venue valued at $3,500 to a couple to use for their wedding day!
Facebook
Additionally, other vendors heard about what Kolbie was doing and offered up freebies of their own, including 150 tamales, wedding cookies, photography services, and more. There was only one catch in Kolbie’s generous offer: she had to select a deserving couple in just 24 hours, and the couple would have to be ready to get married in less than one week!
Kolbie asked couples to send her a private message explaining why the donation would help them, and giving her a brief overview of their love story. She then sat down and read every single message she received.
This is for couples who can’t afford a fancy venue or for couples who are spending too much money on their kids to be able to afford a nice wedding. This is for couples who love each other and will continue to choose each other for the rest of their lives.
Twenty-four hours later, Kolbie chose her favorite stories and put them inside a bowl. She then reached in and selected one at random. The winners were Halie Hipsher and Matt Jones from Canton, Texas.
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“When I chose her name, I was really excited,” Kolbie said. “I immediately remembered her story, so I was really happy for her.”
In her appeal for the donation, Halie had told Kolbie that she wanted to get married to her longtime boyfriend and father of her 7-month-old son as quickly as possible. Halie explained that her grandfather had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, and she wasn’t sure he’d live to see her walk down the aisle if they didn’t do it quickly.
“She ended up telling me how winning this wedding would let her pawpaw attend her wedding,” Kolbie said.
Facebook
Once Halie was selected, her family launched themselves into making a spur-of-the-moment wedding happen. They managed to pull it off, and Kolbie was right there in the front of the crowd, cheering them on. By the end of the day, Kolbie said she felt like a member of Halie’s family, and donating her wedding venue had been a gift she had no regrets about giving.
And Halie’s grandpa was right there to witness her big day.
Morrison Light Photography
This is why everyone should show acts of kindness to their neighbors, friends, family members, and especially complete strangers because you can end up changing the outcome of someone’s entire life when you stop caring about the outcome of your own. So blessed to know the Hipsher/Jones family and beyond grateful to have been able to witness the best day of their lives. Your love and strength in life is beyond inspiring and I can’t wait continue to see your love grow.
Kolbie’s big act of kindness has earned her national attention, and while she’s blown away by all the attention, she wouldn’t hesitate to do something like this all over again.
Morrison Light Photography
Well done, Kolbie — when life hands you lemons, make lemonade! Congratulations to Halie and Matt on your new lives together.
Be sure to share this story to encourage more of these wonderful random acts of kindness.
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