A wedding day is truly a special and important event. It is often referred to as “the big day,” and that is not an exaggeration. It is the merging of two people’s lives, but it’s actually much more than that. It’s the merging of two entire families.

The saying goes that you don’t just marry your spouse, you also marry their family. This is true, and it is important to consider when you are seriously dating someone. How well you get along with your potential spouse‘s parents, siblings or other relatives may or may not factor into whether or not you decide to tie the knot, but if you or your potential spouse has children, it is vital to consider how your relationship will impact the children and to try to be the best step-parent possible.

At Jessica and Jefferson’s wedding, Jefferson proved that he had definitely considered every important relationship before the wedding day. He realized that he wasn’t just marrying Jessica, but that he was also marrying her entire family, and that family included an 8-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. Once he married Jessica, he would become her step-dad. Was that a step he was really ready to take?

During the wedding ceremony, Jefferson spoke meaningfully to his bride. Then, he admitted something rather surprising. He actually loved someone else in the room. Thankfully, the person he was talking about was not another woman who would cause him to leave his bride at the alter. No, the love he was talking about was the love he had as a parent to his new step-daughter.

At one point during the ceremony, Jefferson stepped away from his bride to talk directly to his step-daughter. His words touched her so much that she felted overwhelmed with emotions. It was a very sweet and precious moment and a wonderful way to include her in the wedding ceremony.

Watch the video below to see this beautiful and unexpected wedding moment for yourself.

If you need a translation, watch the video below to hear some of the sweet words Jefferson said in his speech.