When Zachery Hammond, 32, and his fiancée, Zuleika Hammond, 34, realized his father might not live long enough to see their wedding day, they made a decision that would transform their celebration into one of the family's most cherished memories.
The couple brought their wedding ceremony to Joseph Hammond's hospital room, allowing the father, who was battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), to witness his son's vows just weeks before his death.
Just one week after the couple became engaged in May 2025, Joseph was diagnosed with the progressive neurodegenerative disease. As his condition rapidly worsened, the family faced the heartbreaking possibility that he would not survive to see the wedding originally planned for August 2026.
Determined to ensure he could share in the milestone, Zachery and Zuleika decided to move their wedding date forward by several months, trading a lengthy engagement for precious time together as a family.
"We were supposed to get married August of this year," Zuleika told PEOPLE. "And it was Nov. 21, so exactly a month before our wedding day, that we decided, 'You know what, let's do it. Let's plan this whole thing out in a month, just so that way we can make sure that he can be there.'"
The decision meant reworking nearly every aspect of their wedding plans, but the couple never questioned whether it was the right choice.
"When we told him on Thanksgiving that we were going to have the ceremony in a month versus waiting until August, he was so happy," Zuleika shared with PEOPLE. "His reaction made it completely worth it."
For a time, the family remained hopeful that Joseph would still be able to attend the wedding in person. But as the date drew closer, his health continued to decline.
Ten days before the ceremony, Joseph's heart stopped for 15 minutes. Doctors were able to revive him, giving his family renewed hope. However, only days before the wedding, he underwent a surgical procedure and had to remain hospitalized.
Faced with the possibility that Joseph would miss the ceremony altogether, the couple found another solution.
"We decided to bring the ceremony to him," Zuleika told PEOPLE.
On the morning of Dec. 21, 2025, Zachery and Zuleika exchanged vows in Joseph's hospital room. Accompanied by their officiant and photographer, they transformed the space into an intimate setting where the father could witness one of the most important moments of his son's life.
Although Joseph knew they planned to visit, seeing the bride and groom arrive dressed for their wedding made the occasion even more special.
"We already told him ahead of time we would be there, but I think it was still shocking when he saw us both dressed up for the wedding with a boutonniere for him and saw Travis, the officiant," Zuleika told PEOPLE. "It made it all feel real."
"It was so exciting to see how he lit up during that moment," she added.
For Zachery, the memory that remains most vivid came after the ceremony, when he and Zuleika stood on either side of his father's hospital bed.
"[Joseph] took both our hands and just told us how happy he was and how much he loved us," Zachery recalled to PEOPLE.
After the hospital ceremony, the newlyweds continued on to their larger wedding celebration. Though Joseph could not be there in person, technology allowed him to remain part of the day.
The ceremony and reception were livestreamed to his hospital room, giving him the chance to watch in real time and interact with family and friends.
"It was over Zoom, so people could stop and say hi to him," Zachery told PEOPLE. “It was kind of set up in the back of the room, so as people went and took their seats, they said hi to him.”
The newly married couple made sure to visit him virtually during the celebration.
"After we walked back down the aisle, we went over there," Zachery said.
The day became a treasured memory for the family — one made even more meaningful by what followed.
Joseph died on Feb. 16, 2026, at age 64, nearly two months after witnessing his son's wedding.
While the months surrounding the wedding were filled with uncertainty and emotion, Zachery and Zuleika remain grateful they chose to focus on what mattered most.
Their experience also gave them a new perspective on weddings and family.
As ALS Awareness Month highlights the realities faced by families living with the disease, the couple hopes their story encourages others to cherish loved ones and not become consumed by expectations or perfect plans.
"It's all about just the people who they're with and not getting so caught up in the details," Zuleika told PEOPLE.
Planning a wedding in just one month required sacrifices. Some traditions had to be set aside, and many details were simplified. Yet those compromises pale in comparison to the opportunity they gained.
"It was more important to ensure that we could have his dad there, even though it had to be altered," she said.
For Zachery, the lesson from the experience is simple.
"It was all about family being together."
Though Joseph's battle with ALS ultimately came to an end, his presence on his son's wedding day became a lasting gift — one that continues to remind the family that love, not perfection, is what makes a celebration truly meaningful.
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