When Grace Gainey got married in October 2025, two of the most important women in her life could not be there in person. So she found a meaningful way to make sure they were still part of the day.
At her Tuscan villa inspired wedding to high school sweetheart Brayden Gainey at Grand Island Mansion in Walnut Grove, California, Grace honored her late grandmother, Ramona Ann Byrd, and her late godmother, Lisa Rena Kent, by displaying their wedding dresses during the reception cocktail hour.
Each dress was displayed alongside framed photos and written stories that shared who these women were and the impact they had on Grace’s life. Guests were invited to read, reflect, and connect with the memories behind each gown.
Ramona died in 2021 after battling stage 4 lung cancer. Grace later received her grandmother’s wedding dress from her grandfather, long before she was even engaged. Lisa, Grace’s godmother and lifelong pastor, passed away in October 2024 after a five month battle with glioblastoma. In her final weeks, Lisa gifted Grace her custom made bridal gown, wishing she could be there for the wedding.
“I feel incredibly honored to have so many amazing, influential women in my life,” Grace shared. “My thought was to include their legacies into my own day.”
With help from family and her wedding planner, the dresses were carefully prepared and displayed with floral arrangements and antique style frames. The night before the wedding, close family gathered to see the tribute together, creating an emotional moment of remembrance before the celebration.
Guests were deeply moved by the display, many spending extra time reading the stories and reflecting on the lives being honored.
“If they were still with us today, they would not have missed our wedding for the world,” Grace said. “Displaying their dresses was my way of weaving them into our day.”
A quiet reminder that love continues, even when someone is no longer physically present.
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