Six weeks earlier than her wedding ceremony, Hannah Carnat-Gronnerud’s life modified perpetually.
Her fiancé, Ian, was killed in a sudden office accident, on July seventeenth, 2025 on the age of 31.
“I received a name, and it was the worst name of my life — horrifying, completely horrifying,” Hannah stated. “You realize, you by no means suppose that this might ever occur to you.”
Hannah and Ian had been collectively for practically seven years and had shared a lot of their lives on-line, documenting their relationship via years of photographs and social media movies.
“I really feel so fortunate I’ve all these movies,” she stated. “Regardless of how tough these reminiscences are, I really feel extremely fortunate that I received to be with him.”
As an alternative of cancelling all the things after Ian’s demise, Hannah selected to nonetheless collect family and friends for a marriage weekend, carrying her wedding ceremony gown and honouring the love that they had constructed collectively.
Alongside her was wedding ceremony planner and pal Nellie Horvat, who says the shift from celebration to loss was devastating.
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“At some point we’re speaking about cake, after which the subsequent day I get a cellphone name that this occurred, this tragedy occurred,” stated Nellie Horvat of Chamred Occasions. “I believe my coronary heart stopped.”
As Hannah continues to navigate life with out Ian, she stated one of the necessary issues for her therapeutic has been what she calls “grieving out loud.”
“Though it’s one of the shared experiences, it’s additionally so private and it’s so complicated and all-encompassing and may really feel so extremely debilitating,” she stated. “Studying to belief your self, but in addition these round you is so very important.”
With Valentine’s Day approaching, Hannah knew she didn’t need to be alone, and puzzled if different widows felt the identical approach. She shared the thought on-line, inviting girls and widows to return collectively fairly than face the day in isolation.
Occasion poster for Ladies and Widows. Courtesy: Keely Shaw Artwork.
Keely Shaw Artwork
“I actually simply put out a video saying when are we doing this, and that that is taking place, and the response has been unimaginable,” she stated. “Each on-line and offline, individuals have completely confirmed up.”
The response poured in from throughout Canada and america, prompting Hannah and Nellie to co-organize a free Valentine’s Day gathering for girls and widows.
“I do know that being susceptible on-line is so tough for therefore many individuals. And so I’m not suggesting that anyone does that, however I’m suggesting that folks actually attempt to talk what they’re feeling with these round them in order that they will get higher help.”
“It makes me actually happy with Hannah,” Nellie Horvat stated. “The truth that she was in a position to pull herself up and use her voice for one thing so lovely. Not simply anyone might do this.”
For Hannah, the occasion isn’t about changing what she misplaced, however about making a protected house for others residing with grief.
“I hope that they really feel protected and accepted and held, whether or not they’re grieving or not,” she stated. “I hope this house is an area for them to be them, to indicate up as they’re.”
The Ladies and Widows’ Valentine’s Day occasion will occur in Calgary on Feb. 15, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. To register, head to Hannah Carnat-Gronnerud’s Instagram web page @thatgrlhannah.
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