BOONE, N.C. — Just days before Toyosi and Tyler Hobbs planned to tie the knot in Boone, North Carolina, they were met by an unexpected guest: Hurricane Helene.
The storm threatened to ruin the Raleigh-area couple’s ceremony before an army of community members stepped up to help.
When the original venue became inaccessible due to hazardous road conditions, a downtown Boone hotel let the couple use its rooftop for their ceremony. Next door, a coffee, wine and chocolate shop allowed them to use its space for their reception.
“It certainly wasn’t what we pictured or imagined that weekend,” Toyosi Hobbs said. “It still ended up being a beautiful and special occasion.”
The couple’s ceremony was rainy, dreary, and yet still perfect, according to Toyosi Hobbs.
“All of these pieces had to come together to make this happen and somehow they did,” Toyosi Hobbs said.
“With all this negative stuff coming out of the storm, I think everyone was coming together to make something positive in the end,” Toyosi Hobbs said.
Despite all the headaches Helene caused, the storm may have made one future decision easier for the couple. A few guests suggested that they should name their future first child after the storm.
“I don’t know about that,” Toyosi Hobbs said with a laugh.
For those who want to help, WCNC Charlotte has partnered with the American Red Cross to help gather donations to go to efforts that will help people impacted by Helene and with the nonprofit Operation Airdrop to get much-needed supplies to the mountain counties. Here's how you can help people impacted by Helene.