Fathers of the Bride

A young woman finds a unique way to honor the many men who helped her survive her childhood

- Sarah Chassé

IN THE SUMMER of 2023, on a warm afternoon in Chelan, Washington, a beaming young woman named Ivy Jacobsen stood ready to walk down the aisle toward her husband-to-be.

Her blond hair was in a loose bun, and her long white gown was simple and sleek, with just a hint of a ruffle at the back. Waiting for Ivy at the altar was the love of her life, Tristen Jurgensen, who was 28 years old like Ivy and a sheriff's deputy, wearing a blue-gray suit and tearing up with emotion at the sight of his bride.

More than 300 guests had gathered for the wedding ceremony, held in a backyard venue framed by rocky mountains and tall pine trees. From the green grass under Ivy's feet to the blue sky overhead dotted with wisps of white clouds, the day was picture perfect.

For Ivy, this happy moment was hard won. She'd endured an almost unimaginably difficult childhood, having been abused by her father from a young age. At times, she wondered if she would always live in fear. She worried about her mom and her little brother and sister. She worried about her future. But she survived, thanks, in no small part, to a large support group.

"There are a lot of people who have helped me get to where I am now," she says. In particular, she credits some special men who were always there for her, who stepped in as role models, friends and surrogate family. "I wanted to find a way to honor them." So she asked the men-all 15 of them to give her away at her wedding.

They traveled from near and far, and they had met Ivy at various points in her life. But they have two important things in common: They love her dearly, and she considers most to be father figures.