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A Bride Shaves Her Head On Her Wedding Day To Support Her Terminally Ill Groom

April 20, 2016

A bride has paid her terminally ill husband a touching tribute by shaving her head during their wedding reception in Liverpool.

Kimberly Struth / Struth Photography

Joan and Craig Lyons have known each other for 30 years, but unbeknown to Joan, Craig had been in love with her since the day he set eyes on her.

Kimberly Struth / Struth Photography

"I fell in love with her as soon as I set my eyes on her when we were 14," Craig told DailyMail. "I was a bit shy about it and Joan has been married previously but it has always been about Joan for me - she is the woman of my dreams."

Kimberly Struth / Struth Photography

Craig finally confessed his love for Joan while aboard a ferry on the River Mersey 18 months ago.

Kimberly Struth / Struth Photography

But when Craig's pancreatic cancer became terminal, they decided to move the wedding forward and turn the reception into a fundraising event for those affected by life-limiting illnesses.

Kimberly Struth / Struth Photography

To encourage people to donate, Joan decided to let close friend Amy Walsh and Craig's barber shave her hair while the song Ferry Across the Mersey was played on saxophone in a nod to the pair's beginnings as a couple.

Kimberly Struth / Struth Photography

"It was the obviously the first time I had seen Joan without her hair and she looked beautiful, absolutely stunning," he said.

Kimberly Struth / Struth Photography

"She is the woman of my dreams."

Kimberly Struth / Struth Photography

Wedding photographer Kimberley Struth offered to shoot the ceremony after being moved by the couple's plans. "I expected the ceremony to be quite sad but it wasn't at all and, in fact, it was one of the happiest weddings that I have ever had the pleasure of shooting."

Kimberly Struth / Struth Photography

(h/t) bored panda