{"id":1766,"date":"2026-05-22T09:10:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T09:10:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/?p=1766"},"modified":"2026-05-22T09:10:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T09:10:11","slug":"grooms-dad-with-als-witnesses-sons-wedding-from-hospital-bed-in-heartfelt-ceremony-before-his-death-exclusive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/?p=1766","title":{"rendered":"Groom&#8217;s Dad with ALS Witnesses Son&#8217;s Wedding from Hospital Bed in Heartfelt Ceremony Before His Death (Exclusive)  \u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"loc article-header\">\n<div id=\"people-article-header_1-0\" class=\"comp people-article-header mntl-article-header\">\n<p class=\"article-subheading text-utility-300\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"loc article-content\">\n<figure id=\"figure-article_1-0\" class=\"comp figure-article mntl-universal-primary-image right-rail__offset text-utility-100 figure-landscape primary-image\">\n<div class=\"primary-image__media\">\n<div class=\"img-placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"primary-image__image mntl-primary-image--blurry loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/Xubf3po_4NH-QGfehtw8p9SNKKw=\/1500x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2):format(webp)\/Zuleika--Zachery-Hammond-wedding-051326-876acd2631a9440bac43448bdf5ce905.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, 750px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/pdmzHVAV182Tlp2Ur-Zv0yekqoU=\/750x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2):format(webp)\/Zuleika--Zachery-Hammond-wedding-051326-876acd2631a9440bac43448bdf5ce905.jpg 750w\" alt=\"Zuleika &amp; Zachery Hammond\u00a0 Couple Marries by Groom's Father's Hospital Bed\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption id=\"primary-image__figcap_1-0\" class=\"comp primary-image__figcap mntl-figure-caption figure-article-caption\"><span class=\"figure-article-caption-text\">Zuleika, Joseph, and Zachery Hammond.<\/span><span class=\"figure-article-caption-owner\">Credit :\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lillyloreenphoto\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">Lilly Loreen Photography<\/a><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"article-content_1-0\" class=\"comp article-content mntl-block\">\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-page_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-page mntl-block structured-content\" data-sc-sticky-offset=\"90\" data-sc-ad-label-height=\"24\" data-sc-ad-track-spacing=\"100\" data-sc-min-track-height=\"250\" data-sc-max-track-height=\"600\" data-sc-breakpoint=\"50em\" data-sc-load-immediate=\"4\" data-sc-content-positions=\"[1, 1250, 1550, 1950, 2350, 2750, 3150, 3550, 3950]\" data-bind-scroll-on-start=\"true\">\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block people-sc-block-callout mntl-sc-block-universal-callout theme-needtoknow\" data-tracking-id=\"mntl-sc-block-callout\" data-tracking-container=\"true\">\n<h3 class=\"mntl-sc-block-universal-callout__heading\">NEED TO KNOW<\/h3>\n<div class=\"mntl-sc-block-universal-callout__body\">\n<ul>\n<li>Zuleika and Zachery Hammond moved their wedding date up to ensure Zachery&#8217;s father, Joseph Hammond, could be part of their celebration<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>The couple held a heartfelt hospital ceremony for Joseph, who watched their larger wedding over Zoom afterward<\/li>\n<li>They hope sharing their story raises awareness about ALS and reminds couples to focus on family instead of getting &#8220;caught up in the details&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">A couple brought their wedding to the hospital so that the groom&#8217;s dad could see them marry.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_3-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_4-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">Just one week after Zuleika Hammond, 34, and Zachery Hammond, 32, got engaged last May, Zachery&#8217;s father, Joseph Hammond, was diagnosed with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/sandra-bullock-bryan-randall-als-what-is-it-7570801\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)<\/a>. The couple says &#8220;he started having a really fast decline in his health,&#8221; and by November it was clear to them that he might not live to see their wedding day. So, they decided to fast-track their ceremony plans by scrapping their original August 2026 date for Dec. 21, 2025.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_5-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_6-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">&#8220;We were supposed to get married August of this year. And it was Nov. 21, so exactly a month before our wedding day, that we decided, &#8216;You know what, let&#8217;s do it. Let&#8217;s plan this whole thing out in a month, just so that way we can make sure that he can be there,&#8217; &#8221; Zuleika tells PEOPLE.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_7-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\">\n<div id=\"mm-ads-native-fluid_1-0\" class=\"comp mm-ads-native-fluid mm-ads-native \" data-right-rail-index=\"2\">\n<div id=\"mm-ads-native__adunit_1-0\" class=\"comp mm-ads-native__adunit mm-ads-gpt-dynamic-adunit mm-ads-gpt-adunit scads-to-load gpt native js-immediate-ad js-immediate-ad-loaded\">\n<div id=\"native\" class=\"wrapper\" data-type=\"native\" data-pos=\"native\" data-priority=\"4\" data-sizes=\"[[1, 3],&quot;fluid&quot;,[600, 250]]\" data-rtb=\"true\" data-wait-for-third-party=\"false\" data-targeting=\"{}\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure id=\"mntl-sc-block_8-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block people-sc-block-image mntl-sc-block-image mntl-sc-block-image--no-theme no-theme figure-landscape figure-high-res\">\n<div class=\"figure-media\">\n<div class=\"img-placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"mntl-sc-block-image_1-0\" class=\"mntl-image mntl-image universal-image__image lazyloadwait lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/xv6obPF8sZy7tyrns6G24D-z954=\/4000x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(539x0:541x2):format(webp)\/Zuleika5--Zachery-Hammond-wedding-051326-d8dec1f4a57248cda6fd46add59b0328.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, 4000px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/xv6obPF8sZy7tyrns6G24D-z954=\/4000x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(539x0:541x2):format(webp)\/Zuleika5--Zachery-Hammond-wedding-051326-d8dec1f4a57248cda6fd46add59b0328.jpg 4000w\" alt=\"Zuleika &amp; Zachery Hammond\u00a0 Couple Marries by Groom's Father's Hospital Bed\" width=\"1080\" height=\"720\" data-src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/xv6obPF8sZy7tyrns6G24D-z954=\/4000x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(539x0:541x2):format(webp)\/Zuleika5--Zachery-Hammond-wedding-051326-d8dec1f4a57248cda6fd46add59b0328.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/xv6obPF8sZy7tyrns6G24D-z954=\/4000x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(539x0:541x2):format(webp)\/Zuleika5--Zachery-Hammond-wedding-051326-d8dec1f4a57248cda6fd46add59b0328.jpg 4000w\" data-sizes=\"4000px\" data-expand=\"300\" data-click-tracked=\"true\" data-img-lightbox-variant=\"\" data-tracking-container=\"true\" data-img-lightbox=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption id=\"mntl-figure-caption_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-figure-caption text-utility-100 figure-article-caption\"><span class=\"figure-article-caption-text\">From left to right: Zuleika, Joseph, and Zachery Hammond.<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lillyloreenphoto\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">Lilly Loreen Photography<\/a><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_9-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">She continues, &#8220;When we told him on Thanksgiving, when we gave him the news that we were going to have the ceremony in a month versus waiting until August, he was so happy. His reaction made it completely worth it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_10-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_11-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">The couple intended for Joseph to attend their wedding in person, but &#8220;life had different plans.&#8221; Ten days before the ceremony, his heart stopped for &#8220;15 minutes.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_12-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_13-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block people-sc-block-featuredlink--people-app-promo mntl-block\">\n<div id=\"people-app-promo__left_1-0\" class=\"comp people-app-promo__left mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"people-app-promo__text_1-0\" class=\"comp people-app-promo__text mntl-text-block\"><b>Our new app is here!<\/b>\u00a0Free, fun and full of exclusives. Scan to download now!<\/div>\n<p><a id=\"iosLink_1-0\" class=\"iosLink mntl-text-link \" href=\"https:\/\/people-app.onelink.me\/HNIa\/kz7l4cuf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow nocaes\" data-tracking-container=\"true\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"people-app-promo__img mntl-image universal-image__image lazyloadwait lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/vjVtWw7XPCXrbRwgQMnGOBDykv0=\/168x168\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)\/People_Onsite_ATF_Overlay_DesktopVersion_070125_qr_code11-6a9808bc1dfa4c2a9603155d7a5343d3.png\" width=\"168\" height=\"168\" data-src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/vjVtWw7XPCXrbRwgQMnGOBDykv0=\/168x168\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)\/People_Onsite_ATF_Overlay_DesktopVersion_070125_qr_code11-6a9808bc1dfa4c2a9603155d7a5343d3.png\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_14-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_15-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">Luckily, doctors were able to revive Joseph. At the time, Zuleika and Zachery held onto hope that Joseph might still make it to their wedding, but just a few days before the celebration, he underwent a surgical procedure and had to stay in the hospital.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_16-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<figure id=\"mntl-sc-block_17-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block people-sc-block-image mntl-sc-block-image mntl-sc-block-image--no-theme no-theme figure-portrait figure-high-res\">\n<div class=\"figure-media\">\n<div class=\"img-placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"mntl-sc-block-image_2-0\" class=\"mntl-image mntl-image universal-image__image lazyloadwait lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/q9jExLxJ8R82eAA4phoS-FPr34Q=\/4000x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(539x0:541x2):format(webp)\/Zuleika3--Zachery-Hammond-wedding-051326-c434a03bab83421695950c410fca4d04.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, 4000px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/q9jExLxJ8R82eAA4phoS-FPr34Q=\/4000x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(539x0:541x2):format(webp)\/Zuleika3--Zachery-Hammond-wedding-051326-c434a03bab83421695950c410fca4d04.jpg 4000w\" alt=\"Zuleika &amp; Zachery Hammond\u00a0 Couple Marries by Groom's Father's Hospital Bed\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1440\" data-src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/q9jExLxJ8R82eAA4phoS-FPr34Q=\/4000x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(539x0:541x2):format(webp)\/Zuleika3--Zachery-Hammond-wedding-051326-c434a03bab83421695950c410fca4d04.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/q9jExLxJ8R82eAA4phoS-FPr34Q=\/4000x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(539x0:541x2):format(webp)\/Zuleika3--Zachery-Hammond-wedding-051326-c434a03bab83421695950c410fca4d04.jpg 4000w\" data-sizes=\"4000px\" data-expand=\"300\" data-click-tracked=\"true\" data-img-lightbox-variant=\"\" data-tracking-container=\"true\" data-img-lightbox=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption id=\"mntl-figure-caption_2-0\" class=\"comp mntl-figure-caption text-utility-100 figure-article-caption\"><span class=\"figure-article-caption-text\">Zuleika and Zachery Hammond holding hands in front of Joseph Hammond.<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lillyloreenphoto\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">Lilly Loreen Photography<\/a><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_18-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">&#8220;We decided to bring the ceremony to him,&#8221; Zuleika says.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_19-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_20-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">The morning of their wedding day, Zuleika and Zachery said &#8220;I do&#8221; in a heartfelt ceremony in Joseph&#8217;s hospital room. They were joined by their wedding photographer and officiant.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_21-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_22-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">&#8220;We already told him ahead of time we would be there, but I think it was still shocking when he saw us both dressed up for the wedding with a boutonniere [for him], and saw Travis (the officiant). It made it all feel real,&#8221; Zuleika shares. &#8220;It was so exciting to see how he lit up during that moment.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_23-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<figure id=\"mntl-sc-block_24-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block people-sc-block-image mntl-sc-block-image mntl-sc-block-image--no-theme no-theme figure-portrait figure-high-res\">\n<div class=\"figure-media\">\n<div class=\"img-placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"mntl-sc-block-image_3-0\" class=\"mntl-image mntl-image universal-image__image lazyloadwait lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/mOIzDmhIoCQaJZ3q0HJGZF0bgxE=\/4000x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(539x0:541x2):format(webp)\/Zuleika2--Zachery-Hammond-wedding-051326-7784dbb24a8e4de99412eda733d7e64b.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, 4000px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/mOIzDmhIoCQaJZ3q0HJGZF0bgxE=\/4000x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(539x0:541x2):format(webp)\/Zuleika2--Zachery-Hammond-wedding-051326-7784dbb24a8e4de99412eda733d7e64b.jpg 4000w\" alt=\"Zuleika &amp; Zachery Hammond\u00a0 Couple Marries by Groom's Father's Hospital Bed\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1440\" data-src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/mOIzDmhIoCQaJZ3q0HJGZF0bgxE=\/4000x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(539x0:541x2):format(webp)\/Zuleika2--Zachery-Hammond-wedding-051326-7784dbb24a8e4de99412eda733d7e64b.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/mOIzDmhIoCQaJZ3q0HJGZF0bgxE=\/4000x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(539x0:541x2):format(webp)\/Zuleika2--Zachery-Hammond-wedding-051326-7784dbb24a8e4de99412eda733d7e64b.jpg 4000w\" data-sizes=\"4000px\" data-expand=\"300\" data-click-tracked=\"true\" data-img-lightbox-variant=\"\" data-tracking-container=\"true\" data-img-lightbox=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption id=\"mntl-figure-caption_3-0\" class=\"comp mntl-figure-caption text-utility-100 figure-article-caption\"><span class=\"figure-article-caption-text\">Zuleika and Joseph Hammond.<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lillyloreenphoto\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">Lilly Loreen Photography<\/a><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_25-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">Zachery adds that his favorite part was when he and Zuleika stood on either side of his father&#8217;s hospital bed. He remembers, &#8220;[Joseph] took both our hands, and just told us how happy he was and how much he loved us.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_26-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_27-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">After their hospital ceremony, Zuleika and Zachery headed to their larger wedding, which was livestreamed for Joseph so that he could watch in real-time.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_28-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_29-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block people-sc-block-spotlight--mid-circ mntl-sc-block-spotlight--mid-circ mntl-block\">\n<h2 id=\"midcirc__heading_1-0\" class=\"comp midcirc__heading mntl-text-block\">Related Stories<\/h2>\n<div id=\"midcirc__card-list_1-0\" class=\"comp midcirc__card-list mntl-block\">\n<div id=\"midcirc-card__title_1-0\" class=\"comp midcirc-card__title mntl-text-block\">Occupational Therapist Helps Stroke Survivor Achieve Dream Proposal to Girlfriend (Exclusive)<\/div>\n<div id=\"midcirc-card__image-wrapper_1-0\" class=\"comp midcirc-card__image-wrapper mntl-block\">\n<div class=\"img-placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"midcirc-card__image mntl-image universal-image__image lazyloadwait lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/U1m4JYUb2GiDVKQ31uQqVq1mOU4=\/300x200\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)\/Man-Recovering-from-Stroke-Proposal-051326-tout-20b18a18ab7849c79c93c5aee42107bc.jpg\" alt=\"Man Recovering from Stroke Works with Occupational Therapist to Propose to Girlfriend\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/U1m4JYUb2GiDVKQ31uQqVq1mOU4=\/300x200\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)\/Man-Recovering-from-Stroke-Proposal-051326-tout-20b18a18ab7849c79c93c5aee42107bc.jpg\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"midcirc-card__title_2-0\" class=\"comp midcirc-card__title mntl-text-block\">Seating Mix-Up at Wedding Turns into Unforgettable Memory: &#8216;We Were All Laughing&#8217; (Exclusive)<\/div>\n<div id=\"midcirc-card__image-wrapper_2-0\" class=\"comp midcirc-card__image-wrapper mntl-block\">\n<div class=\"img-placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"midcirc-card__image mntl-image universal-image__image lazyloadwait lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/cJHad_UsCZux0XKJdnqqXuX9ycI=\/300x200\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)\/Zane-Zotto-and-mom-Debra-Zotto-Wedding-Mishap-051226-200ca71ab1cd483a8ff36c9e360c958a.jpg\" alt=\"Groom name: Zane Zotto Mom name: Debra Zotto Wedding Mishap Turns into Unforgettable Moment\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/cJHad_UsCZux0XKJdnqqXuX9ycI=\/300x200\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)\/Zane-Zotto-and-mom-Debra-Zotto-Wedding-Mishap-051226-200ca71ab1cd483a8ff36c9e360c958a.jpg\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_30-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_31-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">&#8220;It was over Zoom, so people could stop and say hi to him. It was kind of set up back in the back of the room, so as people went and took their seats, they said hi to him,&#8221; Zachery explains. &#8220;After we walked back down the aisle, we went over there.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_32-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_33-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">Joseph died about two months later on Feb. 16 at age 64.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_34-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<figure id=\"mntl-sc-block_35-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block people-sc-block-image mntl-sc-block-image mntl-sc-block-image--no-theme no-theme figure-portrait figure-high-res\">\n<div class=\"figure-media\">\n<div class=\"img-placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"mntl-sc-block-image_4-0\" class=\"mntl-image mntl-image universal-image__image lazyloadwait lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/LVRjlte7aDFUmpcE8oCnzSV8I4E=\/4000x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(539x0:541x2):format(webp)\/Zuleika4--Zachery-Hammond-wedding-051326-6205a107437e44d188abfb06a04ac0a2.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, 4000px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/LVRjlte7aDFUmpcE8oCnzSV8I4E=\/4000x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(539x0:541x2):format(webp)\/Zuleika4--Zachery-Hammond-wedding-051326-6205a107437e44d188abfb06a04ac0a2.jpg 4000w\" alt=\"Zuleika &amp; Zachery Hammond\u00a0 Couple Marries by Groom's Father's Hospital Bed\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1440\" data-src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/LVRjlte7aDFUmpcE8oCnzSV8I4E=\/4000x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(539x0:541x2):format(webp)\/Zuleika4--Zachery-Hammond-wedding-051326-6205a107437e44d188abfb06a04ac0a2.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/LVRjlte7aDFUmpcE8oCnzSV8I4E=\/4000x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(539x0:541x2):format(webp)\/Zuleika4--Zachery-Hammond-wedding-051326-6205a107437e44d188abfb06a04ac0a2.jpg 4000w\" data-sizes=\"4000px\" data-expand=\"300\" data-click-tracked=\"true\" data-img-lightbox-variant=\"\" data-tracking-container=\"true\" data-img-lightbox=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption id=\"mntl-figure-caption_4-0\" class=\"comp mntl-figure-caption text-utility-100 figure-article-caption\"><span class=\"figure-article-caption-text\">Zuleika and Zachery Hammond hugging.<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lillyloreenphoto\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">Lilly Loreen Photography<\/a><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_36-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"><strong>Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/people-news-daily-newsletter-sign-up-8692701\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\"><strong>PEOPLE&#8217;s free daily newsletter<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u00a0to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_37-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_38-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">Although &#8220;it was a really stressful time&#8221; for the couple, they say they&#8217;re &#8220;really thankful&#8221; that they went through with the last-minute hospital ceremony and brought their photographer to capture all of the touching moments for them to look back on.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_39-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_40-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">May is ALS Awareness Month. Zuleika and Zachery hope that by sharing their story, they&#8217;ll raise awareness about the neurodegenerative disease and its fast progression. They also want to &#8220;offer reassurance&#8221; to other couples who might be in that &#8220;stressful planning stage.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_41-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<figure id=\"mntl-sc-block_42-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block people-sc-block-image mntl-sc-block-image mntl-sc-block-image--no-theme no-theme figure-portrait figure-high-res\">\n<div class=\"figure-media\">\n<div class=\"img-placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"mntl-sc-block-image_5-0\" class=\"mntl-image mntl-image universal-image__image lazyloadwait lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/d7VzMffUE44A8gDK5erKqDFYCwI=\/4000x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(566x0:568x2):format(webp)\/Zuleika6--Zachery-Hammond-wedding-051326-63e80207b29a4434bc9faaed4ddcac92.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, 4000px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/d7VzMffUE44A8gDK5erKqDFYCwI=\/4000x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(566x0:568x2):format(webp)\/Zuleika6--Zachery-Hammond-wedding-051326-63e80207b29a4434bc9faaed4ddcac92.jpg 4000w\" alt=\"Zuleika &amp; Zachery Hammond\u00a0 Couple Marries by Groom's Father's Hospital Bed\" width=\"1135\" height=\"1544\" data-src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/d7VzMffUE44A8gDK5erKqDFYCwI=\/4000x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(566x0:568x2):format(webp)\/Zuleika6--Zachery-Hammond-wedding-051326-63e80207b29a4434bc9faaed4ddcac92.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/d7VzMffUE44A8gDK5erKqDFYCwI=\/4000x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(566x0:568x2):format(webp)\/Zuleika6--Zachery-Hammond-wedding-051326-63e80207b29a4434bc9faaed4ddcac92.jpg 4000w\" data-sizes=\"4000px\" data-expand=\"300\" data-click-tracked=\"true\" data-img-lightbox-variant=\"\" data-tracking-container=\"true\" data-img-lightbox=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption id=\"mntl-figure-caption_5-0\" class=\"comp mntl-figure-caption text-utility-100 figure-article-caption\"><span class=\"figure-article-caption-text\">Zachery and Zuleika Hammond at their wedding.<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lillyloreenphoto\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">Lilly Loreen Photography<\/a><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_43-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">&#8220;It&#8217;s all about just the people who they&#8217;re with, and not to get so caught up in the details,&#8221; Zuleika emphasizes. &#8220;Being only a month of planning, we had to sacrifice having some more traditional things. Like, I bought my dress two weeks before the wedding, and that was complete chaos. We didn&#8217;t have a traditional bachelor\/bachelorette party, we didn&#8217;t have a traditional honeymoon after the wedding. But that&#8217;s completely okay because it was more important to ensure that we could have his dad there, even though it had to be altered.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_44-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_45-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">Zachery agrees, sharing, &#8220;It was all about family being together.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Zuleika, Joseph, and Zachery Hammond.Credit :\u00a0Lilly Loreen Photography NEED TO KNOW Zuleika and Zachery Hammond moved their wedding date up to ensure Zachery&#8217;s father, Joseph Hammond, could be part of &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1768,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1766","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1766","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1766"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1766\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1769,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1766\/revisions\/1769"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1768"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1766"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1766"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1766"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}