Bride Shaves Head on Wedding Day to Honor Husband

A beautiful gesture of solidarity.

ByABC News
April 21, 2016, 10:29 AM
Joan Lyons had her head shaved for charity at the reception following her wedding with Craig Lyons in Liverpool, England.
Joan Lyons had her head shaved for charity at the reception following her wedding with Craig Lyons in Liverpool, England.
Kimberley and Anthony of Struth Photography

— -- A woman from the U.K. chose a very unusual day to shave her head: her wedding day.

After her fiance Craig was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Joan Lyons decided she would start a fundraising campaign. The fundraising extended to her wedding reception, where she had her head shaved on the dance floor in front of all the guests.

PHOTO: Joan Lyons had her head shaved for charity at the reception following her wedding with Craig Lyons in Liverpool, England.
Joan Lyons had her head shaved for charity at the reception following her wedding with Craig Lyons in Liverpool, England.

"The guests were taken aback at first but after seeing how keen Joan was, they all started chanting 'Off off off' in support for her and were all telling her how beautiful she looked, which she really did," said Kimberley Struth, who photographed the wedding along with her husband Anthony.

PHOTO: Joan Lyons had her head shaved for charity at the reception following her wedding with Craig Lyons in Liverpool, England.
Joan Lyons had her head shaved for charity at the reception following her wedding with Craig Lyons in Liverpool, England.
PHOTO: Joan Lyons had her head shaved for charity at the reception following her wedding with Craig Lyons in Liverpool, England.
Joan Lyons had her head shaved for charity at the reception following her wedding with Craig Lyons in Liverpool, England.

The Struths were contacted by an organization called "Gift of a Wedding," a charity that gives to couples who are eager to get married as soon as possible due to a person's poor health.

PHOTO: Joan Lyons had her head shaved for charity at the reception following her wedding with Craig Lyons in Liverpool, England.
Joan Lyons had her head shaved for charity at the reception following her wedding with Craig Lyons in Liverpool, England.

And though the photographers knew in advance the head shaving would take place, it didn't take away from the emotion of the moment.

PHOTO: Joan Lyons had her head shaved for charity at the reception following her wedding with Craig Lyons in Liverpool, England.
Joan Lyons had her head shaved for charity at the reception following her wedding with Craig Lyons in Liverpool, England.

"It was stunning to watch," Struth said. "We just kept snapping on our camera but behind the lens we were both filling up. She looked so happy and Craig looked so proud and in love."

Joan plans to donate her hair to Little Princess Trust, an organization that makes wigs from real hair for children undergoing cancer treatment, the photographer said.