North Carolina Woman To Hear Wedding Bells After Ringing Cancer Completion Bell
March 20 was already set to be a big day for Wilmington, North Carolina’s Angelica May. She was all set to celebrate the completion of her chemotherapy treatment by ringing the golden bell at Novant Health Zimmer Cancer Institute. It got even better when this cancer survivor got a surprise proposal.
Angelica’s family and friends had all gathered at the hospital to celebrate the huge milestone and achievement of completing her chemotherapy treatments for stage two triple negative breast cancer. However, they knew something that Angelica May did not. Once she rang the cancer treatment completion bell, she heard wedding bells in her head as her 27-year-old boyfriend Imeek Watkins got down on one knee. And on March 20, a new cancer survivor got a surprise proposal.
Watkins and May have been together for 10 years. And sacrifices have been made. Imeek is a professional football player who put his career on pause, working a couple of jobs to support the love of his life in her time of need. Angelica tells Good Morning America, He [put his] dreams on hold for me to help me get through this. So, I really am thankful for him. He’s been by my side ever since we found out the news.” And on March 20, Imeek Watkins made the transition from by his lady’s side to on one knee as his favorite cancer survivor got a surprise proposal.
Honestly, I cannot imagine how overwhelming this must have been. I’ve been there with family members when that bell is rung. It is a hugely emotional experience for all involved. For Imeek to take the chance on shifting and increasing the emotion of the moment was quite the move. Then again, you’ve beaten back cancer, why not take the opportunity? On March 20, Wilmington’s Angelica May beat cancer and touched our hearts when this cancer survivor got a surprise proposal of marriage.
Oh, and she said yes.
Angelica May celebrated the completion of her chemotherapy treatment and got engaged in the same day.https://t.co/0nlQYk6F0p pic.twitter.com/IzARHPmgXf
— ABC News (@ABC) March 27, 2024
Ditching Tradition: A Look At 'Anti-Wedding' Trends
Ditching White Gowns
While most conventional wedding dresses feature white dresses with trains, a new trend has hit the scene. Many soon-to-be brides are opting for dresses with pops of color or even daring to wear the color black. Google Trends had high searches for “black wedding dress” over the past 12 months, CNN reported. In fall 2021 specifically, “black wedding dress” was searched more times than “white wedding dress” on Google. Another traditional gown switch-up is not wearing a gown at all and wearing a suit, or a romper.
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Swapping Veils For Dramatic Capes
More brides are saying goodbye to veils and going to wedding capes. Some brides just don’t find veils to be a comfortable accessory. It can easily be removed without destroying your hair and is perfect for chilly weather. We can’t forget to mention that it adds a majestic timeless feel.
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Quiet Receptions
Keeping it casual is a very bold and anti-wedding move. You can just gather your friends after an elopement and head to a restaurant to celebrate. The key to this is to make restaurant accommodations in advance and to make sure the food tastes good. You don’t want your family and friends to leave disappointed.
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Non-Wedding Activities
You may have been seeing this a lot more at weddings. People are ditching the first dance, cake-cutting, and speeches. Some people are taking a didn’t approach to the typical wedding program and stepping outside of the box. If you’re more into the idea of having board games, forming your own newlywed band performance, or non-conventional forms of activities, you should go for it.
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Minimal Decor
One anti-wedding trend that could save you some coin is scaling back on decorations. There’s always the pressure of making your wedding Instagram-worthy. But with anti-weddings, this isn’t the case. Think low-key set-up with cozy seating with an at-home feel. Some people even go as far as not having chairs at their outdoor ceremony, trading them in for blankets.
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The Chosen Ones Guest List
Keeping your guest list small is another anti-wedding trend to look into. Think about it, the more people mean a bigger venue, more food, higher costs, and higher expectations. A smaller wedding and reception makes it more intimate. It also gives you more options when it comes to budget.
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The Aisle Walk
Some people may dream of recreating the scene from Father of the Bride, but not the anti-bride. Anti-weddings often consist of walking down the aisle solo, with your pet, your mom, both parents, your soon-to-be Mr. or Mrs., or anyone other than your father. The big moment where you truly shine on your wedding day is your processional or the start of the ceremony. It’s the first time your guests and maybe even your soon-to-be spouse, will see you in your big-day attire. So, why not do it the way that you want?
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