So many youngsters dream of one day getting to meet a Disney princess – so imagine this bride’s delight when a little girl thought she was a Disney princess.
Olivia Spark had just tied the knot with her husband Caleb in Akron Falls, New York when they went to a nearby park to take wedding photos.
As Olivia was posing in her gorgeous white gown, she was suddenly approached by a little girl excitedly yelling: “Cinderella! Cinderella!”
The exuberant child was 5-year-old Layla Lester. Layla’s mother says that even though Layla’s autism makes it difficult for her to connect with strangers, she was overjoyed to meet a real-life princess in the park.
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“I was flattered,” Olivia told WAFF. “I was, like, in tears that she thought I was a princess, and it just made my day absolutely more amazing than what it already was.”
In a Facebook post that was published by Olivia’s mother-in-law, she says that the newlyweds spent some time chatting with the youngster before the bride told Layla that she had a ball to get to.
Before the new acquaintances bid adieu to each other, Olivia’s wedding photographer, Nicole Wickins, snapped some photos of the sweet exchange.
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Upon sharing them to social media, the heartwarming story was shared dozens of times by local media outlets. People were so touched by the adorable pictures, members of the community created a GoFundMe page to send Layla to Disney World so she can meet more of her favorite princesses. In just 10 days, it has already raised almost $12,000.
“We have talked to Layla family and we cannot wait to see Layla face as I planned to give them this great donation,” says the page’s description.
Since the initial meeting between “Cinderella” and Layla, the two have reconnected over a picnic in the park so Olivia could give presents to her new friend and take pictures with a giant pumpkin carriage similar to the one in the Cinderella movie.
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Layla’s mother says that she has been joyfully overwhelmed by the amount of kindness shown to their family since their encounter with Olivia.
“She is the epitome of what a real-life princess would be,” Ms. Lester told the news outlet. “She’s kind and she’s sweet and she went out of her way to be nice to Layla.”
Be Sure And Share This Sweet Story Of Fairytale Magic With Your Friends On Social Media – Photos by Nicole Wickins Photography
This reminds me of a story from a few years ago, when my son, then an adoption supervisor, facilitated a very special adoption hearing for another little Disney fan: https://youtu.be/MER5lJ6oz3I (my son is the guy in the blue shirt and a big smile sitting next to the door).