Bride Plans Wedding in 48 Hours So That Her Mother with ALS Could Attend Before Her Death (Exclusive)

From watching Say Yes to the Dress together to saving wedding posts on a joint Pinterest board, Marla Khetem and Mariah Kiel (née Khetem) had been “dreaming” of Mariah’s big day since she was just five years old. Even though Marla’s unexpected terminal neurodegenerative disorder was never originally part of their vision, the mother-daughter duo still made the dream wedding come true before it was too late.

After being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) on May 9, Marla was given a life expectancy of six to 18 months. As Marla’s condition progressed and her mobility decreased, Mariah’s then-boyfriend, Brayden Kiel, decided to propose two months early on May 17. The couple then fast-tracked wedding planning, setting the date for Sept. 27 — nearly five months into Marla’s prognosis.

“Time was precious,” Mariah tells PEOPLE.

Mariah quickly found her dress and expedited wedding preparations, but it soon became clear that Marla wasn’t going to live long enough to see her daughter walk down the aisle. In the weeks leading up to the big day, Marla experienced a “heartbreaking and shocking” decline.

“By July, her ALS had progressed so quickly that we were not even sure she would make it to August,” Mariah admits.

Although Marla did her best to stay positive and put others before herself, she knew she had to tell her family the truth. So, on July 10, she called a family meeting with the chaplain.

“It was the hardest and most loving conversation I have ever experienced,” Mariah remembers. “After that meeting, I called Brayden and told him that I knew my mom was not going to make it to our September wedding, no matter how strong and faithful she remained.”

Mariah and Brayden decided to tie the knot “48 hours later” on July 12 at the bride’s parents’ home in South Carolina.

Brayden’s mother and sister “drove through the night from New Jersey to be there.” One of Marla’s best friends also had been planning a bridal shower for that same day, so all of her friends were already preparing to come.

Other family members scrambled to get the legal ceremony ready, with Mariah’s father, Moose Khetem, making the wedding cake. The maid of honor got the bouquets and boutonnieres before the best man drove them and the officiant to the home.

“It meant so much to have some of our bridal party there in their dresses and suits,” Mariah says.

After Mariah and Brayden said “I do,” they shared their first dance. Moose and Mariah then had a father-daughter dance to Chris Young‘s “Lady” to honor Marla.

“It was not the Pinterest wedding we planned, but it was perfect because she was there,” Mariah says.

About two months later on Sept. 19, Marla died of ALS. It was just eight days before Mariah and Brayden’s Sept. 27 wedding at Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island.

“It was the worst day of my life,” Mariah remembers. “Even though we had our ceremony in July, in my heart I truly believed she would make it to September. I kept thinking that one more week did not seem impossible.”

Although everyone was grieving, there was still another wedding to prepare for. Two days before the larger celebration, several of Mariah and Brayden’s family members “worked all night” to help with final details. Everyone wore “Team Marla” shirts. At the welcome party the next night, Mariah wore Marla’s wedding dress in her honor while guests wore pins with her picture.

On the morning of the wedding, Mariah admired photos of her mother around the bridal suite. Her parents’ wedding album and Marla’s mother of the bride dress were also on display in the room.

“It was such a bittersweet morning,” Mariah says. “Through the tears, the quiet laughs, and the prayers, it still felt incredibly special.”

Others nods to Marla throughout the day included a “precious” charm of Marla for Mariah’s bouquet, angel charms for Brayden and Moose’s boutonnieres and pink Cubs handkerchiefs for the groomsmen and ushers because Marla was a huge fan. The wedding party also carried a single tulip, Marla’s favorite flower, down the aisle before placing them on a chair dedicated to her.

“Our wedding on Sept. 27 was truly everything we had imagined and it felt like the Pinterest wedding my mom and I dreamed up together,” Mariah says. “My favorite moment from the entire day was when our DJ played ‘Only the Good Die Young’ by Billy Joel to honor my mom. Everyone came together in one big hug and we danced while laughing and crying at the same time. It was the most emotional and joyful moment and it felt like she was right there with us.”

She continues, “July 12 was the best decision we ever made, but Sept. 27 will always hold the most special memories of how we honored my mom.”

From watching Say Yes to the Dress together to saving wedding posts on a joint Pinterest board, Marla Khetem and Mariah Kiel (née Khetem) had been “dreaming” of Mariah’s big day since she was just five years old. Even though Marla’s unexpected terminal neurodegenerative disorder was never originally part of their vision, the mother-daughter duo still made the dream wedding come true before it was too late.

After being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) on May 9, Marla was given a life expectancy of six to 18 months. As Marla’s condition progressed and her mobility decreased, Mariah’s then-boyfriend, Brayden Kiel, decided to propose two months early on May 17. The couple then fast-tracked wedding planning, setting the date for Sept. 27 — nearly five months into Marla’s prognosis.

“Time was precious,” Mariah tells PEOPLE.

Mariah quickly found her dress and expedited wedding preparations, but it soon became clear that Marla wasn’t going to live long enough to see her daughter walk down the aisle. In the weeks leading up to the big day, Marla experienced a “heartbreaking and shocking” decline.

“By July, her ALS had progressed so quickly that we were not even sure she would make it to August,” Mariah admits.

Although Marla did her best to stay positive and put others before herself, she knew she had to tell her family the truth. So, on July 10, she called a family meeting with the chaplain.

“It was the hardest and most loving conversation I have ever experienced,” Mariah remembers. “After that meeting, I called Brayden and told him that I knew my mom was not going to make it to our September wedding, no matter how strong and faithful she remained.”

Mariah and Brayden decided to tie the knot “48 hours later” on July 12 at the bride’s parents’ home in South Carolina.

Brayden’s mother and sister “drove through the night from New Jersey to be there.” One of Marla’s best friends also had been planning a bridal shower for that same day, so all of her friends were already preparing to come.

Other family members scrambled to get the legal ceremony ready, with Mariah’s father, Moose Khetem, making the wedding cake. The maid of honor got the bouquets and boutonnieres before the best man drove them and the officiant to the home.

“It meant so much to have some of our bridal party there in their dresses and suits,” Mariah says.

After Mariah and Brayden said “I do,” they shared their first dance. Moose and Mariah then had a father-daughter dance to Chris Young‘s “Lady” to honor Marla.

“It was not the Pinterest wedding we planned, but it was perfect because she was there,” Mariah says.

About two months later on Sept. 19, Marla died of ALS. It was just eight days before Mariah and Brayden’s Sept. 27 wedding at Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island.

“It was the worst day of my life,” Mariah remembers. “Even though we had our ceremony in July, in my heart I truly believed she would make it to September. I kept thinking that one more week did not seem impossible.”

Although everyone was grieving, there was still another wedding to prepare for. Two days before the larger celebration, several of Mariah and Brayden’s family members “worked all night” to help with final details. Everyone wore “Team Marla” shirts. At the welcome party the next night, Mariah wore Marla’s wedding dress in her honor while guests wore pins with her picture.

On the morning of the wedding, Mariah admired photos of her mother around the bridal suite. Her parents’ wedding album and Marla’s mother of the bride dress were also on display in the room.

“It was such a bittersweet morning,” Mariah says. “Through the tears, the quiet laughs, and the prayers, it still felt incredibly special.”

Others nods to Marla throughout the day included a “precious” charm of Marla for Mariah’s bouquet, angel charms for Brayden and Moose’s boutonnieres and pink Cubs handkerchiefs for the groomsmen and ushers because Marla was a huge fan. The wedding party also carried a single tulip, Marla’s favorite flower, down the aisle before placing them on a chair dedicated to her.

“Our wedding on Sept. 27 was truly everything we had imagined and it felt like the Pinterest wedding my mom and I dreamed up together,” Mariah says. “My favorite moment from the entire day was when our DJ played ‘Only the Good Die Young’ by Billy Joel to honor my mom. Everyone came together in one big hug and we danced while laughing and crying at the same time. It was the most emotional and joyful moment and it felt like she was right there with us.”

She continues, “July 12 was the best decision we ever made, but Sept. 27 will always hold the most special memories of how we honored my mom.”