A young Texas couple was killed in a helicopter crash as they flew away from their “fairytale wedding”.
Bailee Ackerman Blyer and William Troy Byler III had just tied the knot at a family ranch in Uvalde on Saturday (local time) when tragedy struck.
Wedding guests bid the newlyweds farewell as they flew away in the family helicopter, piloted by a man named Jerry.
Less than two kilometres from the ranch the aircraft crashed into the side of a hill, killing everyone aboard.
Family members had already posted photos of the wedding to social media, which featured two enormous wedding cakes, lavish floral decorations and even an artist who painted the ceremony as it happened.
After exchanging vows, the couple walked through two rows of sparkler fireworks before boarding the doomed helicopter. A wedding guest filmed their departure, not realising it would be the last video ever taken of the Bylers.
A relative notified family and friends about their deaths in an emotional Facebook post on Sunday, which garnered thousands of comments and shares.
He said the couple had enjoyed a “fairytale wedding” surrounded by loved ones before the tragedy that cut their lives short.
They both attended Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Mrs Byler studying Agricultural Communication and Mr Byler studying Agricultural Engineering.
They were engaged in December 2017, which Mrs Byler posted excitedly about on her Facebook account at the time.
“I hope everyone gets to experience a love like the one we have,” she wrote. “Today is the beginning of forever together!”
