Late Father's Best Friend Shows Up To Walk Bride Down The Aisle

Allyson worried she would have no one to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day. Her fiancé, Garrett, had a surprise – her Dad’s best friend!

What Allyson didn’t know was that Garrett had a surprise all along. He had already talked to family friend Chris Roose about flying in to take part in the wedding. Chris lives miles away from the family and Allyson thought he wouldn’t be able to make the wedding.

While waiting patiently in a room with her eyes closed, Allyson hears a man’s voice coming down the hallway.

“Hey, I heard somebody needs to be given away!”

That’s when she breaks into tears. Instantly she recognized his voice. Roose and her father met years ago when Allyson was a small child. What started as next door neighbors quickly grew into a deep friendship and Roose became like a second dad to Allyson and her sisters.

Late Father's Best Friend Walks Bride-To-Be Down The Aisle _ allyson eichens _ everything inspirational — credit: Aime Jobe Photography

Allyson’s father passed away 12 years ago. But even in that time and with distance between them the Chris has remained close to the family. The distance between Florida (Roose’s home) and Minnesota (where Allyson was getting married) was a bit much. He had sent a sad message to Allyson earlier that due to his wife’s health and the distance he didn’t think that the trip would be doable.

That’s when Garrett stepped in. He told Chris that Allyson had her heart set on him walking her down the aisle. Then Chris’ wife chimed in and told Roose that he had to go!

“It was something that I decided that I wanted to do as soon as their RSVP came in,” Garrett told PEOPLE. “It was like, ‘Nah, this isn’t happening, she isn’t walking down the aisle by herself.’”

Once the plan was set, they kept it a secret until right before the wedding. Allyson was completely surprised! This was exactly what she needed to make her wedding day perfect.

“He kind of just stepped into that role without expectation, and I don’t think he realized just how important he was in my life,” Allyson says of Roose. “He has always considered us important in his life, but I don’t think he realizes how much of an impact he’s had in our lives.”