Amy Perry, 32, and Mathew Perry, 32, live in Back Bay, Boston. They had their first date at an Italian restaurant in North End. It was love at first sight.
“I knew in my heart that he was the one. It was a quiet certainty that grew stronger with every day,” Mrs. Perry, who works as an attorney, told the Epoch Times.
When planning to get married, the couple knew they wanted to include the whole family—including Mrs. Perry’s late father, Nathaniel Machain, who passed away from cancer 25 years ago.
Honoring Dad
Mrs. Perry’s father passed away on Aug. 5, 1999, when she was just 7 years old. In many ways, choosing to have butterflies at the wedding to honor her father began before Mrs. Perry even met her husband.“A year after my father passed, I was on a hike with my sister and my mom,“ she said. ”At exactly noon, the time at which he had passed, a monarch butterfly landed on each of us.”
She says that since then, they have been appearing on his birthday, Father’s Day, and other special occasions.
“I could not think of something more fitting than being surrounded by a symbol of his presence on my wedding day,” she said.
Recalling the precious time spent with him, she said: “His presence filled every room with warmth and joy. His laughter lifted everyone’s spirits. He had this knack for turning ordinary moments into cherished memories.”
Her father’s ability to care for others and make meaningful memories didn’t end when he got cancer, and some believe that his influence carried on after his death.
“His kindness knew no bounds,“ Mrs. Perry said, ”touching the lives of everyone fortunate enough to know him. He taught me the value of generosity and compassion, showing through his actions that the greatest joy in life comes from giving to others.”
The Big Surprise
On June 14, the day of their wedding, Mrs. Perry released monarch butterflies in symbolic honor of her dad. She expected them to fly away but, surprisingly, most of them fluttered around and landed on her dress.Some then flew on her sister bearing the bouquet, and others landed on her husband.
Mrs. Perry says everyone was filled with quiet wonder.
“Our friends and family were just as astounded as we were. They have expressed great gratitude to have been a part of something so memorable and beautiful,” she said.
“In that moment, I felt a rush of emotions—gratitude for the beauty of the moment and a deep sense of connection to those around me,” she said. “It was as if the butterflies were reassuring us that love endures and that my father’s memory would always be a part of our lives.”
Mrs. Perry also felt as if her father was involved in the marriage.
“My husband took my mother and sister to my father’s grave to ask for permission ... for my hand in marriage. To see those butterflies landing on my dress, over my husband’s heart, and on my sister’s bouquet was a breathtaking reminder that my father is with us, watching over us, and blessing our union from above.”
Watch the video:
“I mean, really, what can top that moment? I told Amy at one point during the day that those photos were some of the best wedding photos I’ve ever shot,” Ms. Perkins said of the experience.
The magic didn’t just end at the wedding either. Ms. Perkins posted some of the photos on social media, and many became overwhelmed with the symbol of her father’s love.
“It was wild!” Ms. Perkins said. “As soon as I realized it was going viral, Amy and I were texting each other about how crazy it was! I remember asking her if it was too much or too overwhelming, and she responded that she was so touched that even strangers were moved by it.”
One person on Instagram wrote, “In Mexican culture, monarch butterflies are the spirit of our loved ones coming back to say hello. When they visit, it’s supposed to bring good luck so if this isn’t a sign, I don’t know what is.”
Another said, “All those butterflies were him hugging her. The ones on the bouquet was him giving her the flowers. The one on her husband was the father’s blessing. These things aren’t a coincidence. He was there and he was proud.”
Ms. Perkins summed up the experience for all: “The entire day was truly perfect.”
