Rather than exchanging vows, well-known dad Al Jones performed just for his daughter in a breathtaking wedding video that went viral. During the historic signing of Heartland’s hit country song “I Loved Her First,” Al Jones’s remarks during the wedding address moved his daughter to tears. The moving video, which was directed by Andrew Stevens of Always Hope Creative in 2019, has received millions of views and numerous heartfelt comments on YouTube since becoming viral.
Before beginning his sign language song, Al Jones took a moment to consider his daughter Ali Kilman’s horrific car accident, which she had barely survived two years before to her wedding. Ali was able to walk away from the disaster relatively unscathed, but her injuries prevented her from speaking. Her loved ones suggested that she try using American Sign Language to communicate with them.
Learning a new language takes time for most families, and the process is accelerated in the presence of traumatic events. According to her father’s wedding speech, despite Ali’s “pretty good” American Sign Language abilities, her family was totally perplexed by her communications. Ali started writing on a whiteboard instead of using ASL to communicate with her parents as a way to make up for it.
Next, Ali will get married in October 2019. Ashland, Kentucky, native bride shone in her white wedding gown as she choked back tears as her father described how her accident left “her jaws wired shut, with tubes down her throat.” He took the lead as the touching country song from Heartland began, telling his daughter, “I’ve been practicing my sign language, Ali,” in a tone that changed. The initial whiteboard she had used to communicate following the accident was subsequently given to her by him.
The moment Al Jones signed the ASL entrance music, Ali Kilman started crying hysterically as her dad composed a song specifically for her. 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,” as he sees his daughter flee with another guy. This poignant 2006 country classic by Heartland makes the perfect fit.
The popular video featuring Al and Ali speaks to the needs of both parents and children who are hard of hearing or deaf. The cameraman acknowledged, “I cried as I was filming it,” which added to the sincerity of what is maybe the most poignant and tragic wedding speech on YouTube.
