No, Snow, Nor Hurricane Can Keep Me From You

Wenalyn Bell Glenn
Dec 9, 2018
3 min read

Updated: Nov 3, 2024

In a land where the sea kissed the shore and dreams danced upon the waves, I embarked on a magical journey—my very first destination wedding as a planner and decorator. Ryan and Amanda’s story was one of love written by fate. High school sweethearts, they had once walked the halls together, attended homecoming side by side, and even after going their separate ways for college adventures, life brought them back to each other. Their love story blossomed again, as timeless as ever, inspiring the perfect hashtag: #ThenAndNow

With a week to go, I was eagerly sharing snapshots of the handcrafted treasures I’d prepared for their aneW Beach Wedding—every piece carefully designed to reflect their love story. Delicate lanterns adorned with starfish, wheat strands, and golden umbrellas for the bridesmaids to carry down the aisle, adding an ethereal touch to their seaside ceremony. And, oh, the ribbons! Each one in their wedding colors, painstakingly tied around the lanterns that would glow softly around the reception. Three hours of tying, but worth every second. The magic was coming to life.

Then, like a twist in a fairy tale, a formidable enchantress—Hurricane Florence—stirred up her stormy spell. Just days before the wedding, Florence swept in, leaving our wedding venue powerless and broken. Oh Em Gee! Yes, I said it just like that. The venue was out of commission for weeks, and there we were, with engraved dates, invitations, and a website—all set to the day. But love is resilient, and so, with the determination of a knight on a quest, we set out to find a new date.

After days of battling schedules and challenges, we rescheduled for a December day, hoping the winter would embrace us gently. But fate had one more surprise waiting—a rare December snowfall in North Carolina! Snow blanketed the town, turning the wedding day into a scene from a storybook. While some guests couldn’t make it, and even my team got stuck, I didn’t let the weather cast a shadow on this enchanting day. I set up the entire wedding solo, took on the roles of makeup artist and hairstylist, and with a last-minute miracle, found a DJ who saved the day with the perfect rhythm.

In the end, it was truly a day #madeaneW. As snowflakes fell softly, we watched Ryan and Amanda exchange vows, a love that had weathered storms and seasons. Even the Chinese lanterns, which the wind wouldn’t let us light, became a moment to remember—a reminder that some magic simply cannot be tamed.

Through every twist and turn, this fairy tale wedding reminded me that love, true love, always finds its way. And now, as Ryan and Amanda look back on this chapter, their story lives on, as timeless as the stars above.

It goes without saying, but I was the one-stop creative shop for this wedding. With snow swirling and my team snowed in, I transformed into a whirlwind of setup, teardown, hair, and makeup magic! From arranging decor to brushing on the bride’s makeup, I made sure every detail sparkled just as I’d envisioned. And oh, did I hustle! Even when the DJ fell through, I called in every favor I had until, just in time, we found one who could keep the dance floor alive.

As the night unfolded, everything came together in the most unexpectedly perfect way. Ryan and Amanda's love was brighter than ever, warming everyone despite the wintry weather. The Chinese lanterns, which we hoped would drift magically into the sky, had their own adventure in the breeze, but even that became a memorable piece of their story.

In the end, the day was #madeaneW, filled with laughter, joy, and the people who mattered most. This winter wonderland wasn’t the beach we’d planned, but it was an unforgettable chapter in their #ThenAndNow love story. For Ryan and Amanda, it was a magical day that they'd cherish forever—just as they were meant to.