Grieving bride takes wedding day photos, 10 months after fiancé is killed by drunk driver

Jessica Padgett and her fiancé, Kendall Murphy, had planned 29 September 2018 to be their wedding day – the happiest day of their life.

Neither of them could have foreseen that Padgett would be celebrating it on her own. 

Ten months before their chosen date, Murphy was killed by a drunk driver. He was on his way to assist a car crash victim, hopping out of his car to fetch protective gear, when the car fatally struck him.

A volunteer firefighter and former high school basketball coach, Murphy was a popular member of his local community of Loogootee, Indiana.

Fiancée Padgett was understandably devastated by his loss, but wanted to proceed with honouring their wedding day. She spoke to Global News Canada about her decision.

"I already had my dress bought and other things," the grieving bride said. "And I still wanted to contribute to my wedding day."

The day ended up being an "emotional rollercoaster" - particularly when she showed up to meet her bridesmaids and groomsmen and they were "all standing in their places like they would if we were going to get married," she recalled.

“I was very emotional. I had to take a break for a second because I was just crying so much from that,” Padgett recalled.

Photographer Mandi Knepp, of Loving Life Photography, captured the day by shooting photos in typical bridal style: getting ready, standing with her bridal party, nieces and nephews, and parents.

Then, at the gravestone of her late fiancé.

One shot included Padgett holding a pair of cowboy boots that Murphy wore every day, filled with sunflowers – the intended floral arrangement they intended to have at the wedding.

The photos have since been shared over 26,000 times on Facebook.

Though it was an emotionally taxing time, Padgett admits she's glad she went through with the photos and celebration.

"I’m really glad I ended up doing it because I’m not only helping myself and my family, but I’m helping others that I don’t know who are going through a hard time and a grieving process as well," she said.

"Now I can look back at those memories that Mandi took, and the ways I got to honour Kendall and be with Kendall and see all the support I had that day."

Kendall Murphy was honoured at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service in Washington DC.