It’s easy to look around and see how the pandemic has changed the way people celebrate major life events — from graduation and birthday parades to virtual happy hours.

For customer Erin Butler, the wedding of her dreams to marry fiance Ben Cohen was supposed to feature a Publix wedding cake. Growing up in Coral Springs, Florida, Erin remembers that family milestones and celebrations had always included a Publix cake, and her wedding would be no exception. The couple decided to get married in Minnesota and planned for Erin’s brother to fly in with the Publix cake. However, the pandemic changed those plans. When Publix got word of the bride’s wishes, we enlisted the help of Bakery Technical Specialist Brittany Lavallee to help make this happen.

The bride wanted our Bohemian Beauty cake design, and Brittany was more than happy to overnight the cake layers, icing and flowers needed to put it together. Two days before the nuptials, Brittany video-called the couple to show them how to build and decorate the cake step by step.

“The icing on the cake was watching them have so much fun building their wedding cake,” said Brittany. “It made it that much more special.”

And more than 1,000 miles away, Erin’s parents — who were not able to attend the wedding — were surprised by Bakery Manager Jules Monroe, #750, Oakland Park, Florida, who made a replica of the cake for them so they could enjoy the long-distance celebration.

Meanwhile, at #1495, Islamorada, Florida, Store Manager Miranda Hendrix and her team had a special request of their own.

Lloyd and Marie Heiselbetz, who live at the Crystal Health and Rehab Center in Islamorada, were celebrating Lloyd’s 101st birthday and their 83rd wedding anniversary on the same day! But due to the pandemic, their family was only able to celebrate through the glass doors of the center. As soon as Miranda found out about this special occasion, she had associates sign a card and provide the birthday and anniversary cakes, along with decorations, at no cost.

“To me, it’s the little acts of kindness that deliver the biggest impacts,” Miranda said. “I hope next year we can celebrate Lloyd’s 102nd birthday and their 84th anniversary and be there to see them cut the cakes.”