Bride Spotlight: Kristen and Mike

After two years of dating, Mike took a relaxed moment at home to propose to Kristen on her 25^th birthday.  Not wanting a long engagement, the couple planned to have their wedding only six months later.  The bustle of planning quickly took a backseat only two months before the big day; Mike began to feel sick and was subsequently diagnosed with testicular cancer.  During a time when most engaged couples are preparing seating charts and menus, Mike and Kristen found themselves preparing for a major surgery.  The surgery left the doctors optimistic but just two weeks before their wedding, they found out that Mike would also need to undergo chemotherapy after the nuptials.  Kristen remembers, “We were devastated, but determined to have an incredible wedding and to enter into this battle as husband and wife.”

An Absolutely Perfect Day

Kristen and Mike were married on July 17^th, 2010, at Kristen’s grandparent’s church in Cheboygan, Michigan.  After the ceremony they took pictures in front of the Mackinac Bridge and danced the night away at their reception, surrounded by family and friends.  Kristen describes the day as “absolutely perfect in every way… Mike and I vowed that day to always love each other and to be together until death do us part.”

Mike Smiling Down

With Kristen by his side, Mike continued to fight his battle with cancer for the next four years, but lost to it in December of 2014.  As this month marks their five year anniversary, Kristen decided to donate her gown to The Brides Project, feeling that it would be the perfect way to celebrate the brief but loving relationship that she and Mike shared. “To be able to help cancer families in need by donating my dress means the world to me and I know Mike is smiling down on this!”

Kristen and Mike may not have gotten to grow old together as planned, but in her words, “we did live life and loved each other every moment of it!”  The Brides Project is so proud to represent the Cancer Support Community as it supports those families, just like Kristen and Mike’s, touched and scarred by Cancer.  And, we are beyond honored to be entrusted to pass on Kristen’s gown – and all of the love that it represents – to another Brides Project bride.