Nothing was going to stop Canadian couple Samantha Branton and Nick Collett from marrying last weekend, not even a city-wide power outage, the result of the polar vortex currently freezing its way across North America.
Instead, they wed in a dark church and supped on platters of (very) cold food at the reception afterwards. They even walked down the aisle to music blasting out of the bride’s barely-charged mobile phone, since the church organ couldn’t play without electricity.
“She (the make-up artist) just had one (bridesmaid) finished with hair and make-up, and then the power went,” the bride told Canada’s TheTelegram.com.
Samantha adds that though the couple were a little wary of holding a powerless wedding, they decided to go ahead – and they remain thrilled they persevered.
“It turned out absolutely beautiful,” says the bride. “Between me and him, we were just so pleased. It was close friends and family that could make it there, and that’s all that really mattered to us. We set out to get married, and we got that accomplished, and neither one of us could be happier.”
Nick and Samantha, both in their early 20s, have known each other since they were 14 years old and, after a three-year engagement, decided to marry at a local church to ensure as many friends and family could attend.
“At first, we didn’t know when the power was going to come back,” she said. “It was still daylight, so I called (Nick) and said, ‘Do you want to cancel it?’ He said, ‘No, I don’t want to cancel it.’ And I said, ‘Well, I don’t really want to either.’”
So they and the guests went ahead with the wedding ceremony, braving the dark, chilly church lit only by the building’s giant windows.
Thankfully, only 30 of the couple’s 160 guests were unable to attend and, by all accounts, a most memorable time was had by all.
The picture below, of the bride shortly after her dimly-lit nuptials, was posted by the couple’s photographer with the caption “Newfoundlanders don’t let the lack of power, polar vortex or bad weather cancel their weddings.”
No, they most certainly do not!