Bringing Up Bates alum Warden Bates and Kaybrie Patterson have tied the knot.
In a joint point shared via Instagram on Thursday, May 28, the couple announced they’ve officially married just two months after debuting their romance on social media in March.
The couple announced they were engaged on May 2, while their wedding took place just days in a while May 5.
Patterson, 19, explained in Thursday’s post that she and Bates, 22, were compelled to bring forward their wedding, which was originally slated for September, in order that her late father could attend the nuptials before he died of Stage IV colon cancer.
“I’m learning that even within the midst of sorrow, there might be joy. I don’t think I ever truly understood that until recently,” she wrote.
Patterson shared that her dad had been diagnosed with the disease three years ago and fought to survive until treatment “was not an option.”
“And yet, right in the course of all that heartbreak, one in all the happiest moments of my life happened. I got engaged to the love of my life, and we began planning our big wedding celebration for this September,” she wrote.
Kaybrie Patterson and her dad. (Photo courtesy of Kaybrie Patterson/Instagram)
Patterson continued, “As my dad continued to say no and we were faced with the truth of hospice care, I got here head to head with something I had never allowed myself to assume. I couldn’t picture a life where my dad was not the one to walk me down the aisle. So we decided to collect our immediate families and share a small, private ceremony together while we still could.”
Patterson shared her gratitude that she was capable of include her father in her big day before his death, making a “beautiful” memory that may last a lifetime.
“On May fifth, my dad walked me down the aisle. It was easy, emotional and delightful in a way I’ll spend the remaining of my life trying to seek out words for,” she wrote. “The following day he became unresponsive, and three days later he went home to be with the Lord.”
Patterson added that she and Bates plan to still hold a much bigger wedding celebration in September, knowing that her dad shall be looking down on them.
Bates and Patterson announced their engagement on May 2 by sharing joint proposal photos via Instagram. The post was captioned, “The simplest yes 🤍💍.”
Patterson shared more photos from the romantic moment via her Instagram Stories, writing, “I cannot wait to be your wife. I like you greater than words.”
Warden is one in all the 19 children of Bringing Up Bates couple Gil and Kelly Jo Bates.
Following their son’s engagement, the proud parents wrote via Instagram, “We’re beyond thrilled to see the grins they’ve brought one another, & we’ve already all fallen in love with Kaybrie’s sweet, fun, enthusiastic personality! Couldn’t feel more blessed!”