In a heartwarming wedding video that quickly went viral, Al Jones, a renowned father, chose to sign his vows rather than sing them in honor of his daughter. During the special moment when he signed the lyrics to Heartland’s country hit “I Loved Her First,” Al Jones’s wedding speech brought his daughter to tears. The emotional video, captured by Andrew Stevens of Always Hope Creative in 2019, has amassed millions of views and numerous touching comments on YouTube.

Before signing the song, Al Jones took a moment to recall the traumatic car accident that his daughter, Ali Kilman, had survived just two years before her wedding. Although Ali emerged from the accident with minor physical injuries, she lost her ability to speak. Her family encouraged her to communicate through American Sign Language, a skill that played a significant role in this unforgettable wedding moment.

Learning a new language can be challenging for most families, and it becomes even more difficult when compounded by a traumatic event. Although Ali had developed “pretty good” skills in American Sign Language (ASL), her family often struggled to understand her messages, as her father mentioned in his wedding speech. As a result, Ali shifted from using ASL to writing on a whiteboard to communicate with her parents.

In October 2019, Ali, born in Ashland, Kentucky, was set to marry. On her wedding day, she looked radiant in her white gown, holding back tears as her father recounted the accident that had left her with “her jaws wired shut, with tubes down her throat.” Taking center stage, her father began signing as Heartland’s touching country classic played. His voice softened as he told his daughter, “I’ve been practicing my sign language, Ali.” He then presented her with the original whiteboard she had used to communicate after the accident.

As her father, Al Jones, signed the entrance music in ASL, Ali Kilman sobbed uncontrollably. Al had written the lyrics to a special song just for her, singing, “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 watched his daughter walk away with another man. Heartland’s 2006 country classic provided the perfect backdrop for this emotional moment.

The viral video of Al and Ali resonates deeply with families affected by deafness or hearing loss. The videographer admitted, “I teared up as I was filming it,” enhancing the authenticity of what has become one of the most touching and heartbreakingly beautiful wedding speeches on YouTube.