In a stunning wedding video that went viral, famed parent Al Jones sang only in honor of his daughter, instead signing the vows. At the unique moment when Heartland’s country smash “I Loved Her First” was signed, Al Jones’s wedding speech brought his daughter to tears. The touching film, shot by Always Hope Creative’s Andrew Stevens in 2019, has gone viral on YouTube, garnering millions of views and dozens of touching comments.
Al Jones paused before performing his sign language song to reflect on the devastating car accident that his daughter Ali Kilman had survived barely two years before her wedding. Ali managed to escape the accident relatively unharmed, but she was unable to speak due to her injuries; her loved ones encouraged her to try communicating with them through American Sign Language.
It takes time for most families to learn a new language, and it takes much longer when a traumatic event is present. Despite Ali’s “pretty good” American Sign Language skills, her family was completely confused by her messages, as stated in her father’s wedding speech. To make up for it, Ali retreated from ASL and started communicating with her parents via writing on a whiteboard.
Next, in October 2019, Ali will tie the knot. The bride, who was born in Ashland, Kentucky, glowed in her white wedding dress as she fought back tears as her father spoke about her accident, which had left “her jaws wired shut, with tubes down her throat.” He took center stage as Heartland’s heartwarming country classic started, his tone changing as he told his daughter, “I’ve been practicing my sign language, Ali.” He then handed her the original whiteboard she’d used to communicate after the accident.
While her dad wrote the words to a song that her dad had written especially for her, Ali Kilman sobbed uncontrollably as soon as Al Jones signed the ASL entrance music. As he watches his daughter run away with another man, the father sings, “I knew the love of a father runs deep, and I prayed that she’d find you someday, but it’s still hard to give her away.” This heartfelt country classic from 2006 by Heartland is the ideal accompaniment.
For children of the deaf or hard of hearing, as well as for parents of the deaf or hard of hearing, Al and Ali’s viral film hits close to home. “I teared up as I was filming it,” the videographer admitted, adding to the authenticity of what is arguably the most touching and touchingly heartbreaking wedding speech available on YouTube.
