‘I don’t know how to break the news’: They were planning a spring wedding. Then the doctor said something that changed everything
A Pennsylvania woman goes viral for her November wedding photos. However, she shares how devastating news about her fiancé’s health led the couple to celebrate months earlier than their planned spring 2026 wedding.
In a video with over 4.3 million views, TikToker Grace (@dacedenn) acknowledges many “older women” in the comments of her wedding photos, which she posted throughout December following her November ceremony.
“I don’t know how to break the news. They had such sweet comments,” she says. “But I am so sorry to say that, unfortunately, Evan died on Tuesday.”
The couple’s last-minute wedding reschedule
Grace consistently posted her and her fiancé’s journey following his glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, diagnosis in 2022. According to the Glioblastoma Research Organization, the five-year survival rate for the disease is just 6.8 percent.
Viewers praised the couple for their sense of humor and for sharing a candid look into life as an engaged couple navigating a serious diagnosis. The couple also advocated for further research into glioblastoma.
In a prior post, Grace shared that the couple initially planned to hold their wedding in May 2026, but moved up the ceremony at the suggestion of Evan’s healthcare team.
Grace writes that she had only 3 months to plan for their new wedding date, joking about the ordeal: “Luckily, I’m a genius.”
Other widows share their stories
In the comments of Grace’s video, other young widows share their own stories of having a spouse with a terminal illness. Many offer encouragement to Grace, pushing back against comments that questioned her use of dark humor in the grieving process.
“Some of these comments are wild. My husband died 33 hours after we got married in his ICU room. If I didn’t make jokes, I’d never get through it in one piece. I’m sorry for your loss. You two looked very happy together,” one offers.
Another shares, “My husband died 8 weeks after our wedding. Your emotions are all over the place. I laughed, changing my last name at the dmv. it was 3 dollars for the driving test. I laughed hysterically for 10 minutes over that 3-dollar charge.”
“Folks who have never experienced a loss like the loss of a partner will never understand. Go ahead and laugh. Sometimes you have to. It’s been 3 years for me, dark humor has gotten me this far,” a third writes.
“Dark humor is how I’ve survived! I’m so sorry for such a huge loss!” another viewer comments.
@dacedenn sorry to the fans
♬ original sound – grace
How to break the news about a date change
While there’s no right way to handle a change of wedding plans due to a serious health issue, brides on Reddit share how they approached similar situations.
One bride, whose fiancé was diagnosed with lung cancer, asks others for advice on informing guests about rescheduling in the subreddit r/weddingplanning.
“Some good friends of mine changed their wedding date due to some family circumstances that they wanted to keep private. We received a ‘Changed the date!’ in the mail—thought it was a cute play on words!” one suggests.
Another tells brides to lean into their humor and genuine feelings, writing, “My husband is 33, and they found a cancerous tumor in his bladder 3 months before our wedding. ‘We’re both pretty f— up about this’ really resonated with me lol.”
The Mary Sue reached out to Grace via TikTok direct message for further comment.
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