Bride Plays Late Grandma's Voicemail, Mom Sobs at Wedding

Jenna Stearns found the perfect way to honor her late grandmother on the most important day of her life.

The 29-year-old bride married Joshua Caro on October 12 in Temecula, California, surrounded by 90 guests. But nobody, including her mother Noreen, knew what was coming as Jenna prepared to walk down the aisle.

About 30 seconds into an instrumental version of Lana Del Rey's "Video Games," her late grandmother's voice suddenly played through the speakers. Bonnie McLaughlin, who died unexpectedly in 2019 at age 79, spoke directly to her granddaughter through a saved voicemail from 2018.

"Hi. To my beautiful granddaughter, this is Grandma Bonnie," the message began. "I hope you have a great day and sometime maybe I'll talk to you later today, or tomorrow or something."

Noreen stopped in her tracks on the stairs. Both mother and daughter immediately began crying as they processed the emotional surprise.

"She was shocked and immediately began to cry, as did I," Jenna told reporters. "I even sobbed into my bouquet for a second and I knew it was coming!"

Jenna got the idea from a viral TikTok video by Olivia Nootens, who did something similar with her late father's voicemail. The bride spent months planning the surprise with only her husband, one friend, and the DJ knowing about it.

Sunny's Take

This story reminds us that grief and joy can coexist beautifully. Jenna didn't let loss overshadow her celebration. Instead, she found a way to include the grandmother who shaped her life in the ceremony itself.

Her mother Noreen, described as a sentimental person, received an unexpected gift that morning. She got to hear her mother's voice one more time, almost as if Bonnie was there offering her blessing.

The couple's thoughtful planning turned a wedding day into something even more meaningful. They proved that honoring our loved ones doesn't require grand gestures, just genuine love and creativity.

Now that voicemail, originally a simple birthday greeting, has become a family treasure that will outlive them all.