Jen Bulik, a 35-year-old who recently was diagnosed with terminal cancer, got the wedding of her dreams over the weekend — thanks in large part to the generosity of strangers.
More than 40 local vendors donated their services for the ceremony, which took place Saturday in San Jose, Calif.
Bulik and Jeff Lang, her boyfriend of six years, were married in a park near her parents’ home. Surrounded by friends, family and a New Orleans brass band, the newlyweds led a parade to the reception, where 125 guests ate barbecue, played cornhole and watched the couple dance to an acoustic version of Lady Gaga’s “Edge of Glory.”
“I avoided tearing up the entire day until I saw them dancing,” Erica Ota, a Bay area wedding planner who donated her services for the event, told Yahoo News.
Bulik wore a light green dress for the exchange of vows and had several wigs on hand.
“Jen changed her outfits and wigs about four times during the event,” James LeDeau, a friend of the couple, said. “A true trendsetter, she always kept us guessing.”
Kristen Chappelle, another wedding guest, added: “I can’t picture Jeff without Jen, and I can’t picture Jen without Jeff. They are one.”
Bulik was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in December. Despite aggressive treatment, the cancer spread to her lymph nodes, and doctors told her in June she has less than six months to live. Lang proposed earlier this month.
Ota launched an online “wedding wish” fund to cover additional wedding-related expenses, including Bulik’s planned Hawaiian honeymoon. So far, they’ve raised more $47,000.
Dylan Stableford, Yahoo! News
