Bringing Up Bates alum Warden Bates and Kaybrie Patterson have tied the knot.
In a joint point shared via Instagram on Thursday, May 28, the couple announced they have officially married just two months after debuting their romance on social media in March.
The couple announced they were engaged on May 2, while their wedding took place just days later on May 5.
Patterson, 19, explained in Thursday’s post that she and Bates, 22, were compelled to bring forward their wedding, which was originally slated for September, so that her late father could attend the nuptials before he died of Stage IV colon cancer.
“I am learning that even in the midst of sorrow, there can be joy. I don’t think I ever truly understood that until recently,” she wrote.
Patterson shared that her dad had been diagnosed with the disease three years ago and fought to survive until treatment “was no longer an option.”
“And yet, right in the middle of all that heartbreak, one of the happiest moments of my life happened. I got engaged to the love of my life, and we began planning our big wedding celebration for this September,” she wrote.
Patterson continued, “As my dad continued to decline and we were faced with the reality of hospice care, I came face to face with something I had never allowed myself to imagine. I could not picture a life where my dad was not the one to walk me down the aisle. So we decided to gather our immediate families and share a small, private ceremony together while we still could.”
Patterson shared her gratitude that she was able to include her father in her special day before his death, creating a “beautiful” memory that will last a lifetime.
“On May 5th, my dad walked me down the aisle. It was simple, emotional and beautiful in a way I will spend the rest of my life trying to find words for,” she wrote. “The next day he became unresponsive, and three days later he went home to be with the Lord.”
Patterson added that she and Bates plan to still hold a bigger wedding celebration in September, knowing that her dad will be looking down on them.
Bates and Patterson announced their engagement on May 2 by sharing joint proposal photos via Instagram. The post was captioned, “The easiest yes 🤍💍.”
Patterson shared more photos from the romantic moment via her Instagram Stories, writing, “I cannot wait to be your wife. I love you more than words.”
Warden is one of the 19 children of Bringing Up Bates couple Gil and Kelly Jo Bates.
Following their son’s engagement, the proud parents wrote via Instagram, “We’re beyond thrilled to see the smiles they’ve brought each other, & we’ve already all fallen in love with Kaybrie’s sweet, fun, enthusiastic personality! Couldn’t feel more blessed!”
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