PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, PA - "We’ll be able to tell our future children that mom and dad got married during a worldwide pandemic," explains Ryan Detweiler, "literally hours before the Pennsylvania Governor decided to put us in a stay at home order."
Not many couples can say they tied the knot in the nick of time or during a worldwide pandemic. But that’s how the story goes for Ryan and Ashley Detweiler. The Plainfield Township couple said I Do minutes before a shelter in place order was issued in Northampton County on Wednesday, March 25th.
"Everything happens for a reason and it just worked out.," explains Ryan, "t’s just amazing that we were still able to get married and tie the knot just hours before that actually happened. The pastor himself said, if they do put a stay at home order in, this might not be feasible just because he’s trying to abide by what everyone is telling us to do."
While some couples planning their nuptials during the COVID-19 outbreak are struggling with the timing of this health crisis, the Detweilers say otherwise. With a marriage license set to expire in 60 days, they rallied help from Pastor Matt Whistler of Faith Alive Community Church in Wind Gap, who made himself available for a house call, and agreed there was no better time to wed than now.
His bride, Ashley, tells PBS39 News Tonight Reporter, K.C. Lopez, "It was crazy. I had my mom calling me, Ryan’s mom calling me, his sister, all trying to help me find something to wear and you know--to put everything together. It was really kind of a crazy few hours."
With no time to buy a dress, shop for flowers and the uncertainty of being able to book a venue in the near future, the couple threw together their entire wedding ceremony in less than 24 hours. Luckily, everything seemed to fall exactly where it needed to.
"It kind of just fell all together I think we just kind of went with it," says Ashley, "However it was going to happen, that’s how it was going to happen. We just went with it."
"And luckily, my mother is a very crafty person when it comes to it and she literally went above and beyond," recalls groom, Ryan, "She went out and bought the things that she did, she had a bottle of champagne in the fridge already which she brought and she brought over about six or eight white folding chairs and a white table cloth. She tried to order us a wedding cake. Unfortunately, no one would make a wedding cake at that time but Wegmans fortunately had a white cake that they sell and it was very good. She bought a dollar store wedding topper for it with two hearts on it."
With more than 400 people watching on Facebook Live, this Pennsylvania pair was happy to share their special day with the ones they love from a safe distance. And as for a honeymoon? The Detweilers have plans for that too.
"I’m going to screenshot a shot of Hawaii on the screen TV and make some margaritas," says Ryan, "and we’ll sit and enjoy our honeymoon from the comfort of our home and pretend we’re anywhere else in the world."
Got a news tip? Email K.C. at KCLopez@wlvt.org
