Change of plans! With just days to a beach wedding, Hurricane Matthew forces couple to spring into action
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- With just a of couple of days' notice that the monster storm was heading their way, Amanda Parker and Daniel Outlaw took on the Herculean task of moving their entire wedding away from the North Carolina coast, and 155 miles inland to Raleigh.
They were all smiles Friday night at their rehearsal dinner at Jimmy V's Osteria. But it was a much different story two days ago.
"We kind of did a panic mode and realized we cannot get married on the beach because of our good friend Matthew," Amanda said.
With Hurricane Matthew expected to skirt the Carolinas, Amanda and Daniel's dream wedding, scheduled for Saturday on the beaches of Beaufort, turned into a nightmare scenario.
"I received a call from the owner where the wedding house was and she said we have to evacuate," said Amanda's mom, Joanne Parker.
Daniel called his mother, ready to push back the wedding date.
"My son called me on Wednesday afternoon and said, I think we're going to have to postpone it," Julie Outlaw said.
"As the days passed, we realized it was inevitable, we got to move it," Daniel said.
With 225 invited guests, Daniel and Amanda's parents worked the phones, desperately trying to keep their children's Oct. 8 wedding date intact.
"My first thought was that I wanted Amanda and Daniel to get married this weekend, no matter what," said Amanda's dad, Bruce Parker.
READ MORE: HURRICANE MATTHEW'S SHIFT GETS NC COAST'S ATTENTION
After the initial shock wore off about the prospect of rearranging months of wedding planning in a matter of 72 hours, Amanda says the family rallied around a common purpose.
"We stayed very calm," she said.
It paid off. A last minute hurricane cancellation at the downtown Raleigh Sheraton meant rooms for all the guests and a ballroom for Saturday's ceremony.
"Every single family member has been able to travel and none of the flights got canceled," Amanda said.
"I think even most of our guest are still going to be able to make it," Daniel said.
"When you turn something that negative into a positive, it's a great feeling. But, that's what we do," said Sheraton Raleigh General Manager Leon Cox about his hotel's hurricane hospitality.
Amanda and Daniel will be saying 'I do' in the safe confines of the Sheraton Raleigh at 5 p.m. Saturday.
And though many of their wedding guests have gently suggested they name their first born son, "Matthew," Amanda isn't convinced.
"We're not there yet," she said with a smile.
