Imagine, after 9 years together and sharing two precious children, the person you planned to share the rest of your life with decides to leave just three days before your wedding. This is the story of Carly Akers, a 30-year-old woman from Kent, whose fiancé Shaun called off their wedding at the last minute. Yet, what follows is a tale of resilience and grace under pressure.

Despite the heartbreak, Carly made a promise to her daughters, aged 2 and 6, that they would experience being bridesmaids. True to her word, Carly proceeded with the day. Dressed in her wedding gown, with her daughters by her side, she walked down the aisle of what was meant to be her wedding ceremony. Close family and friends gathered, not to witness nuptials, but to support a woman fulfilling a promise to her children and, in a way, to herself. The moment she threw the bouquet, an act traditionally symbolizing a pass of the baton to the next to be wed, was poignant, marking both an end and a new beginning.

As often happens in tales of love gone awry, there are two sides to every story. Carly claims that Shaun’s infidelity was the reason behind their split, an accusation he vehemently denies. He alleges it was Carly who was unfaithful years ago, a claim she also denies. Amidst this he-said-she-said, the only truth universally acknowledged is the pain of a broken promise.

“The wedding day should be the most beautiful day in a woman’s life. For me, it was the saddest,” Carly reflected. Yet, through this ordeal, she demonstrated incredible strength. She showed her children, and perhaps even herself, that even in the darkest of times, there can be moments of beauty and grace.