There’s an amazing story behind this destination wedding styled shoot and we couldn’t be more honored that Kiamarie Stone of KSS Photography shared it with us. You see, we all seek happiness and have dreams of finding love. Right? Well, for some, that dream may be a longing to find a special someone to spend the rest of your life with or simply to find compassion in a friend. Bride Pierangely Wever, an Aruban local, was lucky to discover both, all while battling the hardest fight she’ll ever face―breast cancer.
Aruba doesn’t have aggressive treatment for cancer, so when Wever flew to Colombia to get the help she needed, she not only received treatment, but also ended up meeting her future husband. The pair planned to marry, but with limited funds they couldn’t have the wedding they always dreamed about. As fate would have it, Kiamarie, who was traveling with her family to celebrate her mother’s life, who was battling stage four pancreatic cancer—was lucky enough to meet Wever. Upon hearing her story, Kiamarie put a plan into motion and was able to give this Aruban local the gift and opportunity of being a bride.
After receiving permission to borrow a stunning Maggie Sottero gown from Forever Yours Bridal in Aruba, Kiamarie invited Wever to the Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort where she, her assistant, and daughters did her makeup, complete with false eyelashes. To make Wever feel even more beautiful, they dressed her with a flower crown for a perfect beach bohemian look, and she carried a beautiful silk bouquet from Afloral.com that Kiamarie had on hand. As they walked the resort, guests cheered, whistled, and congratulated Wever, making this experience truly special. “Towards the end of the shoot, she even let me photograph her without her wig,” Kiamarie shared. “There wasn’t a dry eye on the beach. I used to think you had to be a supermodel to be beautiful. As I get older, I realize beauty is in strength, humility, and courage.”
Location: Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort / Photography: KSS Photography / Model: Pierangely Wever
Wedding Gown Designer: Maggie Sottero / Bridal Salon: Forever Yours Bridal / Flowers: AFloral.com