Pastor Paul Guay of the Mabton, Washington, Grace Brethren Church, was recently involved in one of the most dramatic and bizarre weddings we’ve heard about this season. The bride-to-be was involved in a serious crash hours before the ceremony, but the wedding occurred nonetheless, but under the most unusual circumstances.

Here is a short excerpt from the story as reported in the Yakima Republic-Herald (Republic-Herald photo of the couple at right). To read the entire story, click on http://www.yakima-herald.com/page/dis/17422681072533

Friends drive back to Sunnyside to retrieve the dress and license from Sarah’s car, remembering to stop at her house for the ring. Other family members bring the chicken dinner and flowers from the reception hall.

At 6:30 p.m., doctors allow a group of giddy nurses to wheel Sarah, lying on a hospital bed unable to sit up, into a newly remodeled waiting area. They tearfully check her vital signs as the wedding party lines up.

“Everybody just started clapping and cheering,” says Melanie Koon, Sarah’s primary care nurse, of the first wedding in her 38-year nursing career. “It made my day, I think.”

Cody kneels by his bride while family huddles around for a view. Guay leads them through a few short vows.

Sarah hardly remembers a word.

Is this my wedding day? Am I married?

Family members pose for a few snapshots, then dig in to the meal and champagne. Someone slips Sarah a bite of cake.

Doctors then lead their newly married patient onto another ambulance with her mother bound for Seattle. This ambulance breaks down at the Selah rest area, so medics place Sarah in another, her fourth in one day.

She arrives in Seattle about midnight and is greeted by a team of nurses disappointed the couple didn’t save the wedding for them.