"You are promising to love for the long, unknown future.
If you can keep this intention, you will ride out any storms with confidence and faith."

That was part of the reading Aunt Ellie delivered at our wedding ceremony.
What's not in those words were her ad-lib remarks regarding Hurricane Jeanne as it approached over the ocean, at our service by the sea. Our groomsmens gifts and wedding invitations will forever declare the unforeseen ... the cancellation of our September 25 wedding. The ceremony and reception were scheduled at Hillsboro Club, a Key West style resort on the beach. By Wednesday the calls started. "Is everything still on?" Out-of-towners were faced with the difficult decision of being caught in a hurricane or missing the wedding. The fact that Paul at 54 had never married made this wedding a miracle already. Nobody wanted to miss it. Things got worse. Groomsman Bob (Paul's bro) might not come. Dr. Gokturk's wife Grace wasn't coming. Videographer Derek was stuck in Jacksonville. The bride's BIL wasn't coming. I was too busy trying to fix everything to fall apart ... yet. Paula (MOH) kept me on track. The groom, however, was partying with his family and friends and couldn't be happier. By Friday, evacuation orders were imminent and all festivities for Saturday probably weren't going to happen. Employees were boarding up the resort. Still optimistic ... or delusional ...the bride hoped for Saturday's wedding. However Becky (groom's SIL) had a better grip on reality and proposed the Emergency Wedding Plan (EWP) ... get married during Friday's rehearsal. Many of Paul's family and friends were here and wanted to see him finally tie the knot. And so it was. Paul asked me to marry him on Friday and I accepted. The next few hours were utter, total, complete insanity as everybody scrambled to make it happen. So far, less than 50 had arrived at Hillsboro Club. These would be the only guests to share our day. Keith and Suzie flew from D.C. to discover that Saturday's wedding was cancelled and they missed Friday's EWP. Bride and MOH gowns were still at the salon so we rushed to get them. Someone called International Flowers & Linens who miraculously made and delivered the gorgeous bouquets and buttonieres we'd ordered. No time (or place) for our centerpieces, altar arrangements or ceremony deck decor. Esther - The Elegant Harp came to be our angel of music. Rev. Heidi Alfrey got off a plane from Hawaii and came to the resort to officiate. Someone told Wedding Cakes By Sharron not to make the cake. I spoke to Nello Masci of Geplen Productions, our band. He suggested having the reception Friday but there was another wedding at Hillsboro Club that night so we were truly out of luck. Bridesmaid Nancy drove four hours in hurricane traffic trying to make it in time for the 4:30 service. She arrived five minutes after the ceremony ended. Dr. Gokturk was unaware of the change in plans since he boarded a plane in Arkansas. He was pulled out of his cab and taken directly to where bride and bridesmaids were waiting. Dad walked me down the aisle wearing his travel clothes, but looked very father-of-the-bridely with rose buttoniere on his lapel. We are eternally grateful to Lori Patterson from A Memorable Affair. From hair styling, dressing, directing, coaching, transportation, and finding an emergency photographer at the last minute, her help was priceless. Don't get married without her, hurricane or not! So with hurricane approaching, we exchanged our marriage vows in a beautiful ceremony on the deck overlooking the sea. The wind ripped off my veil as the palm fronds and waves danced on the shore. There was a sincerity, honesty, spontaneity, excitement, humor, and beauty in this wedding that is hard to describe. It wasn't what we planned, but it was very special. I remember how happy I was to be marrying Paul; how handsome he looked; how proud I was to walk down the aisle on the arm of my beloved father; how honored I was to see our bridesmaids and groomsmen stand up for us; how it warmed my heart to see those who braved the storm to be at our wedding; and the sadness of the empty chairs and missing guests. Hillsboro Club graciously provided complimentary champagne. Our entertainment-packed spectacular reception did not happen. The only dance was our impromptu foxtrot on the carpet of Charley's Crab at the rehearsal dinner. We regret the inconvenience of our guests being forced to evacuate on Saturday and travelling ANYWHERE to escape the storm. I deeply regret the Rizzardi's futile trip and remember their amazing wedding. Their photo is on the home page of this website. What irony, being in the bridal business, witnessing so many of my clients' weddings, and having mine wrecked by a freak act of nature. I know our ceremony was beautiful, and the rehearsal dinner at Charley's Crab was nice, and the Intracoastal boat charter after dinner was a blast. Still, the unfulfilled realization of the entertainment, dinners, flowers, candles, handmade place cards, dancer table cards, centerpieces Paula made, Tim's custom written song, key lime and coconut wedding cake with lemon creme filling and a cocktail hour "love story" about us left such disappointment inside. It would have been a heck of a party! My husband has the right attitude ... let's make it a heck of a marriage.