Two strangers who fell in love after conceiving a daughter through anonymous IVF have tied the knot, with their beautiful and unique love story set to become a feature film.
Aminah Hart and Scott Andersen, from Victoria, first laid eyes on each other in 2013, a year after their daughter Leila was born.
Mr Andersen was a sperm donor and Ms Hart had decided to go through IVF after enduring the tragic loss of two sons, Marlon and Louis, to a genetic disorder called x-linked myotubular myopathy.
She was prepared for motherhood but little did she know the birth of her daughter Leila would end up leading her to the love of her life, whom she married in a stunning lace gown atop a cliff overlooking the ocean in December.
When baby Leila was born on August 14, 2012, weighing a ‘big and healthy’ 3.9 kilos, Ms Hart said she felt ‘relieved’ but growing up without a father herself she had always wanted her child’s father to play some role in their life.
Ms Hart’s mother Helen did some digging and was able to find a picture of Mr Andersen online. She encouraged her daughter to get in contact with the clinic so they could pass on her information in case he wanted to get in touch or see a photo of his daughter and luckily Mr Andersen had indicated he was willing to meet a child that came from his genetic pool.
After meeting and miraculously falling in love Mr Andersen proposed on what would have been her late son Louis’ birthday, a day Ms Hart normally spends reflecting on her loss and the short time she had with her first two children, who suffered from a condition that affects muscles used for movement and occurs almost exclusively in boys.
‘He went out to get milk with Leila and came back with an engagement ring, which was a real surprise because usually I spent the anniversaries of their death and birthdays having a quiet day,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.
Twelve months later and the pair exchanged vows at a ‘very low key’ wedding in front of 130 of their closest friends and family in Sorrento, Victoria.
‘It was utterly spectacular overlooking the sea, but it was blowing an absolute gale.’
‘Scott’s boy and his daughter Belle were really glad to know their dad had finally found happiness.’
Despite Leila and her father sharing a very close bond, Ms Hart said the three-year-old was quite protective of her mother after learning of the wedding and did not appear all that impressed with the impending nuptials.
‘She wasn’t interested at first and kept saying ‘you can’t marry my mum’ but she ended up getting caught up in it all and was the most divine little flower girl,’ Ms Hart said.