Heartbreaking footage captured the moment a grieving mother walked down the aisle alone, after her son, who was supposed to walk alongside her, took his own life. On August 22, 2026, Jasmine Fuller, 48, tied the knot in a beautiful outdoor ceremony. While weddings are usually emotional, Fuller, from Rhode Island, told Newsweek that hers was “one of the most complicated days” of her life because of what took place 11 months prior.
Fuller’s only child, Gianni Anthony Perfetto, took his own life on September 22, 2025, at the age of 24. Until then, Fuller was not even aware that her son was struggling with his mental health, making the grief even harder. I've gone through memories and questioned myself so many times, wondering what I missed or what I could have done differently.
But one of the things I've learned since Gianni's death is that people can hide an enormous amount of pain, even from the people who love them most.” Knowing that her son, who was so full of joy and vibrancy, was silently hurting was a devastating realization for Fuller. Prior to his death, the plan was for Perfetto to walk his mom down the aisle for her wedding. It was going to be a beautiful moment between mother and son, but sadly, Perfetto would never make it to the ceremony.
Deciding to go through with the wedding was painstakingly difficult for Fuller, who would have given anything to have her son there. She said: “Part of me questioned how I could celebrate something so important when my son wasn't there to experience it. But going through with my wedding wasn't choosing life without Gianni—it was choosing to carry Gianni with me into the life I still have.
It represented the reality of having to take those steps forward without my son physically beside me. But emotionally, spiritually and in my heart, I was carrying him with me." Indeed, Fuller carried a charm with her son’s portrait in her bouquet, had “Walk with me today, Gianni” written on the soles of her shoes, and her custom wedding band features his birthstone. There was also a memorial chair at the front of the aisle where members of the wedding party placed roses.
As she knew how much her son loved music, Fuller ensured that all the songs which marked a significant moment throughout the wedding were one of Perfetto’s favorites. Although he was not physically standing beside her, Fuller told Newsweek that Perfetto was “absolutely part of the wedding.” Following her son’s death, Fuller has educated herself on grief, trauma, mental health and healing. She has done a grief education course, completed training in trauma-informed care, and spoken publicly about suicide prevention.
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