A Palliative Wedding at Comox Valley Hospital: Stephanie & Torian’s Powerful Love Story

Some weddings are planned for months—years, even. Dresses are tailored, tables are set, and timelines are built down to the minute. But then there are the weddings that remind you what it’s really all about. The kind that shift your perspective. The kind that stay with you.

Stephanie and Torian’s wedding was one of those.

On June 21, 2025, I had the honour of documenting the most emotional and meaningful wedding of my career—a palliative ceremony held in the therapeutic gardens of Comox Valley Hospital. Stephanie, a young bride facing a terminal diagnosis, had recently been admitted and was told she might not make it to her planned wedding. But love doesn’t follow timelines. And neither did this day.

With just 24 hours’ notice, a community came together to make their wedding happen. A wedding dress was gifted. Flowers, decor, and even a beautiful wooden arch were all donated by people who simply wanted to help love shine through. The therapeutic gardens, usually a space for quiet reflection, became a place of celebration. It was peaceful, powerful, and profoundly moving.

Stephanie and Torian were surrounded by their closest loved ones as they exchanged vows under the warm summer light, with birdsong in the air and tears in everyone’s eyes—including mine. There was no first look, no aisle walk, no big reception. But there was laughter, tenderness, and the unmistakable glow of two people choosing each other in the face of everything.

This was a wedding without Pinterest boards or seating charts. But it was absolutely full—of meaning, of emotion, of love. And it reminded me why I do what I do.

On June 25th, 2025, she passed.

There are no perfect words for moments like these—only a deep, aching gratitude that I was trusted to capture such a sacred chapter in their story. In the midst of pain, there was joy. In the face of loss, there was love.

So much love.

To her family, her partner, and everyone who loved her: thank you for letting me witness the depth of her spirit and the beauty of your bond. Her strength was unforgettable, and her story will stay with me always.

It was an honour to donate my time to document this chapter of their love story. I will carry this day with me for the rest of my career, and I am so grateful to Stephanie and Torian for allowing me to witness such raw beauty and bravery.

Rest gently, beautiful soul. Your love story was nothing short of extraordinary.

To view their sneak peek gallery, click here. To read more about their story, click here

If you’re reading this and wondering what love looks like when everything else falls away—this is it.

With care,
Sarah
Latitude 49 Photography

If you or someone you love is facing a unique circumstance and needs a photographer to help document the love and connection you share—reach out. I’m here to hold space and tell your story with care.
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