When Devin and James planned to say, ‘I do,’ they imagined a joyful day surrounded by family and friends. What they didn’t imagine was exchanging vows in a hospital room – yet it became the most meaningful moment of their lives.

Like many brides, Devin had been dreaming of her wedding day for as long as she could remember. Although she and James had once considered eloping to save money for their new life together, Devin couldn’t imagine a wedding without her parents by her side. 

“Growing up, I always pictured a fairytale wedding – and in those dreams, my dad was always there,” Devin said. “It was really important for my parents to be there and for my dad to have the chance to give me away.” 

So, the couple began planning their dream wedding for Oct. 4, 2025. Everything was falling into place until just three days before the big day, when Devin received a call from her mother with heartbreaking news: her father, David, had been rushed to the emergency room at Williamson Medical Center and needed surgery. 

David and his wife, Micki, had tried to delay a previously scheduled doctor’s visit so they wouldn’t miss their daughter’s wedding, but his situation had become urgent. As soon as she could, Devin was by her father’s side at Williamson Medical Center. Shortly after being admitted, David was scheduled for surgery – less than 24 hours before his daughter’s wedding.  

“My dad is one of my biggest inspirations. He’s my hero,” Devin said. “So, when I realized he wouldn’t be able to be there, I knew I had to find some way for him to still be part of it.” 

Devin left the hospital and called her fiancé to share the news. James immediately offered an idea that would change everything: what if they got married right there at Williamson Medical Center so her father could attend?  

“It was a no-brainer choice for me,” Devin recalled. “It was either canceling the whole wedding or getting married here. There was no way my dad wasn’t going to be there.” 

While Devin and James began working out the details, word of their situation reached the hospital’s staff. During a morning safety huddle, the story made its way to Samantha Rayburn, the nursing director of the Williamson Health Joint and Spine Unit, and she immediately wanted to help. 

“Someone mentioned that one of our patients wouldn’t be able to attend his daughter’s wedding,” Samantha said. “Our chaplain Greg Rumburg was the one who set the ball in motion and said, ‘We need to make this happen.”’ 

Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee Nurse Practitioner Laura Sharp and Williamson Health Nursing Supervisor Daphne Garrett also played key roles to launch this special event. 

Samantha secured one of her unit’s large private rooms for the ceremony and coordinated with staff from multiple departments to safely move David there. So many different people worked together to manage important care logistics, prepare the room, and make sure everything went smoothly. Members of the Williamson Health Marketing and Communications team were also present to help photograph and video the meaningful ceremony for the family. 

“Our entire team was so kind and willing to help,” Samantha said. “They didn’t see it as just another admission – they saw it as a chance to do something good for someone.” 

A detailed and meaningful plan was quickly put into motion. After meeting with Rev. Rumburg, who serves as the Williamson Health Spiritual Care Coordinator and Chaplain, the staff began transforming the hospital room into something special. Nurses and team members found flowers, helped tidy the space, and made sure David was comfortable for the big moment. 

On Friday, Oct. 3 – just one day before Devin and James’ original wedding date – Devin entered the hospital wearing a white dress, ready to say “I do” in the company of her father. 

To her surprise, the hospital staff had gone above and beyond. What the family had planned to be a simple exchange of rings turned into an intimate wedding ceremony filled with warmth, joy and love. 

David had a front-row seat from his hospital bed as Chaplain Greg led the ceremony. James, who wanted nothing more than for his new wife to have the day of her dreams, was seen gently wiping tears from her cheeks as the reality of the moment set in. 

Very quickly, all the details Devin had once worried about faded away. Her fairytale wedding, she realized, only needed the people she loved the most. For the Williamson team, that day was a reminder of why they do what they do. 

“It was such a positive moment that I know our team needed,” Samantha said.

“It reminded us why we’re here. In nursing, we see a lot of hard days. That day, there was nothing but love in the room,” she said. 

As the newlyweds left the hospital that evening, Devin’s heart was full. Her father had not only witnessed her wedding – he’d signed the marriage license as her official witness. 

“That was the part that really got me,” Devin said. “I didn’t even know if he would get to see me get married, and then he’s the one who got to sign (the license). That meant everything.” 

Devin and James still celebrated with family and friends the following day, but Oct. 3 will always hold the most meaning. 

“The third was our wedding day,” Devin said with a smile. “The fourth was our after-party.”