Featured Image Credit: SWNS
Topics: Sex and Relationships
Emma Guinness
A jilted bride who decided to have her wedding without her groom has been given a free honeymoon.
Kayley Stead, 27, discovered that she'd been abandoned by her partner of four years on her wedding day, and instead of letting the venue and everyone's efforts go to waste, she had her wedding alone.
Her story touched the hearts of millions when it went viral, with many praising the 27-year-old for her strength of character in the face of adversity.
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On what could have very well been a day of complete sadness, Kayley celebrated herself with her friends and family on 15 September at the Oxwich Bay Hotel in Gower, Swansea.
This involved brilliant scenes including Kayley punching the top tier off her wedding cake and having a first dance with her dad, 71 - a moment she feared they'd never have because he had her later in life.
However, almost two weeks on, the 27-year-old is now settling into single life, and her best friend set up a GoFundMe to try and recover some of the costs associated with the wedding.
The big day cost £12,000 in total and the groom has still refused to explain why he left his partner at the very last minute.
But as Kayley's story has touched the hearts of so many people, the GoFundMe has raised over £7,000 at the time of writing.
It's been appropriately titled 'Kayley's Fresh Start' and donations have been flooding in from all over the world.
One donor wrote on the page: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. You deserve someone so much better than that. Good luck for the future Hun."
"Your story absolutely broke my heart but I'm so proud of you going ahead and enjoying the day with the people who love you the most," added a second. "You deserve all good things."
Kayley said she is planning to use the money raised to help her buy a home and has thanked everyone for their kindness.
She said: "I couldn't begin to thank people enough for the kindness they have shown since my story came out.
"Seeing your kind words has carried me through this challenging journey and the fact that people have donated is astounding and I thank every single person who has.
"Thank you to everyone who has taken their time to read my story.
"Just remember that moments like this don't define you, but how you overcome it does."
Kayley's story doesn't end there, and while she had decided not to go on her initial, planed honeymoon, when she appeared on This Morning to share her story, the show had a surprise for her.
Host Phillip Schofield told her yesterday (26 September) that she was being gifted £2,000 for a 'honeymoon'.
Co-host Holly Willoughby added: "I think you need that. Get away and switch off."
"I do," Kayley said. "I need to get some sun, so thank you so much."
You can donate to Kayley's GoFundMe here.