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A Hurricane Can't Stop A Wedding
Nicole & Matt Set A Date That Florence Couldn't Move
September 20, 2018

H
urricane Florence changed a lot of plans when it took aim at Oriental’s coast. The storm hit on Friday, September 14. Many residents evacuated.

One plan Florence didn’t alter was an event scheduled for Saturday Sept 15. The date had been set months before.

It was the wedding of Nicole Sadler and Matt Barnett.

A Wedding After Florence
Nicole and Matt in front of the altar, Matt’s mother Celia officiating. (Photos courtesy Diane Miller.)

Nicole is the water billing clerk at Town Hall. Matt is an EMT. Their wedding was supposed to take place Sept 15 at Broad Creek Church with a catered reception at the Oriental Women’s Club. Nicole’s dress was being pressed in Greenville when Florence made landfall on Friday.

A Wedding After Florence
Smiles after the exchange of rings.

The couple chose not to evacuate, staying with Matt’s parents in Oriental during the storm.

The reception and walk down the aisle would be postponed, but the date was set for September 15 and they were determined. Where to hold a wedding the day after a hurricane?

They decided on Oriental Town Hall.

Florence kept most guests at bay, but Town Hall housed several of Nicole’s colleagues and friends.

Dave Sargent, who’s restaurant M&M’s Cafe had been devastated by Florence, donated the food. Decorations were pulled together from some of the homes of Town Hall staff. A call went out to find an ordained anyone – magistrate, justice of the peace, anyone – who was nearby and could perform the ceremony.

Matt’s mother, Celia, who is ordained, stepped up and officiated. One day after Hurricane Florence flooded Oriental, Nicole and Matt gave their vows on the porch of Town Hall.

A Wedding After Florence
The happy couple, immediately post Florence.

The couple still plan to hold the more formal wedding & reception they had planned. There’s no new date set yet, but it will happen.

Despite Hurricane Florence, Nicole and Matt are now Mr. & Mrs. Barnett.

Posted Thursday September 20, 2018 by Allison DeWeese


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