When Ali Kilman’s Dad Sings in Sign Language, the Deaf Bride Tears Up.
A viral wedding video captured the heartwarming moment when Al Jones, a well-known parent, chose to sign the vows instead of speaking at his daughter’s wedding. The emotional rendition of Heartland’s hit song “I Loved Her First” during Al Jones’s speech brought tears to his daughter’s eyes. The touching video, filmed by Andrew Stevens of Always Hope Creative in 2019, has gained millions of views on YouTube along with numerous heartfelt comments.
Before starting his sign language song, Al Jones took a moment to remember the tragic car accident that his daughter Ali Kilman had miraculously survived just two years before her wedding. Although Ali had escaped the accident with minimal physical injuries, she was left unable to speak as a result of her injuries. Her family and friends supported her in learning American Sign Language as a means of communication.
Learning a new language can be a time-consuming process for families, especially when dealing with a traumatic event. Even though Ali had developed “pretty good” American Sign Language skills, her family struggled to understand her messages, as mentioned in her father’s wedding speech. In an effort to bridge the communication gap, Ali decided to switch to writing on a whiteboard to communicate with her parents.
In October 2019, Ali is set to get married. The bride, originally from Ashland, Kentucky, looked radiant in her white wedding gown as she held back tears while her father recounted her accident, where she had to endure having her jaws wired shut and tubes down her throat. Stepping into the spotlight as the Heartland’s heartwarming country classic began to play, he shifted his tone and said to his daughter, “I’ve been practicing my sign language, Ali.” He then presented her with the same whiteboard she had used to communicate after the accident.
While her father penned down the lyrics to a song he had composed specifically for her, Ali Kilman couldn’t hold back her tears when Al Jones began signing the ASL entrance music. Witnessing his daughter walk off with another man, the father croons, “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 emotional country ballad released in 2006 by Heartland serves as the perfect soundtrack.
When kids who have deaf parents or parents who are hard of hearing watch Al and Ali’s viral video, it really hits them in the heart. The person filming even got emotional while making it, making it one of the most emotional and heart-wrenching wedding speeches you can find on YouTube.