CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It wasn't quite grand in size like first planned, but for Joey and Kara McDonald, their wedding was still grand in love.
"We were pretty devastated at first, but now that we're married and went through with it, we probably wouldn't change it," Joey McDonald said.
After planning their April ceremony for more than a year and inviting more than 100 guests, the coronavirus crisis took root. In March, guests started backing out.
"I think I was in denial for another week or so, and then I think we accepted our fate about a week later," Kara McDonald said.
That fate was a smaller wedding--much smaller. The couple switched their location to a spot by Lake Norman, with three family members, a pastor, and a photographer, all at a distance.
The rest of the guests, more than 100, watched on the video conferencing software Zoom.
"A lot of people were dressed up, too, at least from the waist up that we could see," Kara said.
Then, the big surprise, a couple of friends with boats drove by to send their love from afar.
"I kept seeing random boats, and I was like, 'Why are people anchoring in this cove?'" Kara said. "Then, someone finally told me it was our friends, which was really cool."
It wasn't the wedding the McDonalds planned, but it is the wedding they'll talk about for years to come.
"Never did I think that anyone would watch my wedding on Zoom or any virtual outlet, but here we are," Kara said.
"It's going to be a story that we'll remember forever," Joey said.
The newlyweds have a new reception planned for everyone in September and are hoping that event goes to plan.
Thanks to Meghan Caroline Photography for sharing the McDonald wedding photos for this story.
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