{"id":56591,"date":"2018-11-21T00:02:36","date_gmt":"2018-11-21T00:02:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thefastfashion.com\/?p=56591"},"modified":"2018-11-21T00:02:36","modified_gmt":"2018-11-21T00:02:36","slug":"controversial-dead-fiance-wedding-photos-go-viral","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thefastfashion.com\/?p=56591","title":{"rendered":"Controversial dead-fianc\u00e9 wedding photos go viral"},"content":{"rendered":"

Debbie Gerlach\u2019s fianc\u00e9 died nine months before their wedding, but she still managed to take wedding photos with him, and they\u2019re going viral.<\/p>\n

Gerlach and her fianc\u00e9, Randy Zimmerman, were supposed to get married on Nov. 11, 2018. Tragically, Zimmerman was killed in a motorcycle accident in February. But Gerlach didn\u2019t let that stop her from capturing what would have been the biggest day of their lives, with him by her side.<\/p>\n

A few months ago, Gerlach put on her wedding dress and posed for photos alone in the Tucson, Ariz., desert. On what would have been their wedding day, she shared those photos \u2014 and her late fianc\u00e9 is in them. As of Monday afternoon, the Facebook post<\/a> has 308K reactions and 29K comments.<\/p>\n

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Photographer Kristie Fonseca has experience Photoshopping late loved ones into pictures she\u2019s taken. \u201cI\u2019ve done similar requests but never for a bride and groom,\u201d Fonseca says. She recently did a shoot for a girl whose father had died. \u201cI actually enjoy taking on challenges like this because, if portrayed with love and passion, the end result will be forever cherished,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

So, when Gerlach came up with the idea, she was referred to Fonseca.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I first spoke with Debbie, she told me her tragic story and asked if I was able to insert her fianc\u00e9 into what should have been their special day. A special day that was carelessly stolen from her,\u201d Fonseca tells Yahoo Lifestyle. \u201cAfter listening to her heartbreaking, story I just knew I had to do something very special for her.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Fonseca felt passionate about making these pictures perfect. \u201cIt was supposed to be her day. It was supposed to be the day they expressed their love for each other. My thoughts were going a mile a minute coming up with ideas, poses and images that would mimic her special day with him.\u201d She took Gerlach to the desert, where Gerlach posed by herself wearing her gorgeous gown. In a few photos, she\u2019s holding an urn with a Z on it, containing Zimmerman\u2019s ashes.<\/p>\n

Some of the edited images include a transparent version of Zimmerman. In one, the couple is arm in arm, and in another, he\u2019s kissing her cheek. There\u2019s even a photo of Gerlach looking up at Zimmerman and one of him sitting on his motorcycle behind her. \u201cI started the session as I normally would for a bridal shoot, and then I posed her for some as if he was there,\u201d Fonseca explains. \u201cShe naturally posed for the photos as if he was standing right beside her,\u201d she recalls. \u201cHer smile had a warmth as if he was talking to her. Even though he wasn\u2019t there, she moved as if he was.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adv<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n