Dying Herne Bay mum Kayleigh Duff's dream 'wedding' day at Whitstable Castle
Published: 09:48, 18 April 2013
Updated: 16:53, 14 November 2019
A dying mother has been given her dream "wedding" in a fairytale
location thanks to her family and friends.
Photographers, make-up artists and a male model "groom" gave up
their time so 23-year-old Kayleigh Duff could have her "big day" at
Whistable Castle.
The mother-of-one, who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer,
was picked up in a Jaguar from her home in Wye Green, Herne Bay,
before being whisked to the lush grounds, where she was pampered
and photographed.
The whole day was organised by her friend Katie Birch, who spent
a month arranging it after seeing that getting married was on her
friend's wishlist.
Former Spires Academy pupil Kayleigh (pictured right with
'groom' Danny Wisker) is undergoing five months' chemotherapy for
liver cancer and hopes to take her son to Disney World, Florida,
with donations from family and well wishers.
An earlier wedding dress fitting at Attractions Bridal Studio in
Herne Bay proved to be a winner, as Kayleigh showcased when she
posed solo and with her two-year-old son Kai.
Dying Kayleigh Duff had a
dream 'wedding' at Whitstable Castle and (below) posed with son
Kai
She said: "I didn't expect any of this. It's mad. It really is a
dream come true. It's great.
"The dress is beautiful – it really is. The castle and
everything is just beautiful.
"Katie has done wonders. When she said I was having a photoshoot
I thought it would be just me in a dress. She has done really
well."
Kayleigh's mother Beverley Cox, 46, also of Wye Green, said:
"She looks beautiful.
"I cannot believe the generosity of everyone. I was just amazed
and Kayleigh has been absolutely overwhelmed. Katie has been
marvelous for putting all this together.
"Kayleigh always wanted to get married and wear a lovely
dress.
"It has been quite overwhelming. You see Kayleigh with a nice
young man on her arm and you forget about what is going on.
"It was like it was really happening for her and although it is
not going to be for real, to us it was real and we have got lovely
pictures and memories.
"It is a beautiful dress. It looks like it was made for
her."
Kayleigh Duff with
grandparents Ian and Sharon Day and (below) with her mother Bev
Cox
Also present were Kayleigh's grandparents Sharon and Ian Day,
who are 70 and 71 and have been married for 52 years.
Kayleigh posed for pictures in the castle's main hall before
moving outside for shots with her family and her groom for the day
– Herne Bay footballer and model Danny Wisker.
Her nails and eyebrows were done by Herne Bay-based Classic
Beauty, pictures by NV.ME Photography and make up by Gemma
Morpurgo.
Flowers were provided by Interflora, a wedding cake by Divine
Party Cakes and she was driven to the castle by PKR wedding cars.
Her hair was done by organiser Katie.
The 28-year-old, of Fleetwood Avenue, Herne Bay, said: "I saw
that it was on her wishlist so I decided to arrange the whole
thing.
"Everyone has helped and donated because she is such a nice
person. We all know her situation.
"She looks absolutely beautiful. She's so stunning."
Click here to visit Kayleigh's fundraising page.
More by this author
Danny Boyle