A woman in the US had an unusual request for her wedding.

Jeni Stepien's father Michael was murdered a decade ago, but his heart saved another man's life.

His heart was donated to New Jersey man Arthur Thomas, who had been within days of dying without a transplant.

"Jeni wrote me a letter and she said 'if you're willing would you walk me down the aisle?'", Thomas says.

Stepien and Thomas would not even meet each other until a day before the wedding in Pennsylvania.

The bride was photographed touching Mr Thomas's chest, and gripping his wrist to feel his pulse.

The New York Times reports that the pair also danced together at her wedding reception.