When now 28-year-old Emily Elizabeth Creighton’s mom, Amy Astrauskas, was dying, she had one wish.
In 2021, Astrauskas was battling Stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer and she didn’t have a positive prognosis. Knowing she likely wouldn’t live to walk her then-single daughter down the aisle, Astrauskas, who loved to plan and host events, wanted to take part in her daughter’s wedding the only way she could. So she suggested they go dress shopping.
Even though Creighton was single, her mom made an appointment for her at Free Love Bridal in Cape May, New Jersey.
“She lied and said I was getting married!” Creighton told Today.com, laughing.
In a touching Instagram video that’s now gone viral, Creighton shared the whole story.
“My mom knew she was about to pass away, so she called the bridal shop, lied, and said I was getting married, just so she could have her dying wish of seeing me in a wedding dress,” she narrated over a slideshow of photos from the fun, memorable day. “They made me pop champagne and asked a million questions about my non-existent future husband. We did indeed find my wedding dress of my dreams, and it is on hold if I do ever decide to tie the knot. Honestly one of the funniest and saddest moments of my life, but now, even though she’s gone, I get to say she helped me pick out my wedding dress.”
Creighton said the dress is “classic” with pockets and buttons all the way down the back.
“As soon as I put it on, we were like, ‘Yup, this is it,’” she said. “My dad, you can see him in the video. He’s like, asleep on the couch. He had no interest. But my mom was just in her glory.”
Astrauskas wanted Creighton to buy the dress, but she said she just couldn’t justify the cost. She did put it on hold. Months later, in March of 2021, Astrauskas died.
“On her deathbed she was like, ‘I think you should go buy the dress. I think you should have it,’” Creighton said.
Creighton said the dress and veil are still on hold, and she plans to use all the wedding details she and Astrauskas planned together—like pink peonies and a “fabulous” wedding band—when she does meet her person. Only one thing will change.
“My mom thought the person at the end of the aisle would be a man!” said Creighton, who came out as gay in 2022. “But she was the most accepting and loving person—she would have been totally fine with it. All my mom ever wanted was for me to be happy.”
