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Wedding plans in turmoil

Getting married: Dana Behlke and Rob Johnson

Wedding plans have been turned upside down by the impending arrival of Hurricane Gonzalo.

The huge weather system is expected to bring hurricane force winds and driving rain when it hits the island at 2pm tomorrow.

Gonzalo’s strength and predicted track has already forced two couples, who had booked with Bermuda Event Solutions, to call off their weddings altogether.

Meanwhile the firm has had to bring one ceremony forward to today and postpone another wedding until next month to avoid the fallout from the hurricane.

But one couple, who have flown to Bermuda from New York, are determined to have their special day in Bermuda even if it is later than they originally hoped.

Dana Behlke and Rob Johnson were originally supposed to get married at The Reefs on Saturday, but will have to wait and see whether the ceremony can go ahead.

Mr Johnson told The Royal Gazette: “We came to Bermuda to get married, and we will not be leaving until we are married.

“If that means we will have to delay the wedding, that’s OK.

“We have friends coming in from all over the US, and any that have not been able to make it have been sending champagne to the hotel and keeping our spirits up.

“We are preparing for the worst and telling our guests to do the same, but we are also hoping for the best.

“We feel we have to show the same kind of resolve and spirit that the people of Bermuda have to show whenever one of these hurricanes come along.

“Everyone has been so good to us since we got here on Tuesday, we have been made to feel so welcome.

“We would not want to be anywhere else in the world right now.”

Bermuda Event Solutions had five weddings arranged for between October 17 and 20 before Gonzalo intervened.

Company director Kathleen Dodwell said: “As a wedding planner you pride yourself on being ready for every scenario, but having five weddings over a massive hurricane weekend has been a bit of a shock.

“This storm is obviously very unfortunate for everyone in Bermuda, but for couples who have planned for over a year for their big day it can be really upsetting too.

“Having said that all the couples have been amazing and they have taken all this in their stride.

“Everyone involved and all the vendors have really pulled together to make the best of this situation and have done whatever they can to help.”