A hurry up and get married in the COVID-19 world
by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor
Sunday would have been the wedding day of Onaway high school sweethearts, Sam Tennant and Audrey Oberlin.
The day has come and gone, but unlike so many events that have been cancelled or postponed due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), this happened before people started wearing masks or the song “Happy Birthday,” became important to personal hygiene.
The couple decided to get married sooner rather than wait until later, even though so many plans were already in place. Audrey had even picked out a $1,000 wedding dress.
Little did the families know at the time, it would prove to be the right move. Sure it came with less fanfare and a whole lot less family members. It’s sure what the young couple wanted.
Sam had actually been rooting for an earlier date before the virus was part of everyday conversation.
The wedding took place, March 25, in almost the very spot their prom photos were taken: on the front lawn of the Rev. Kamron Oberlin and Shanon Oberlin’s home.
“Our wedding wasn’t embellished with anything fancy and it couldn’t have been more perfect for us,” said Audrey.
“It was hard to grasp what was happening at first,” said Shanon. “I was standing in our front yard watching my baby girl holding hands…saying their wedding vows.”
Their wedding date was day No. 2 of the initial stay at home order issued by the governor.
“They were robbed of their big wedding and sharing the special day with close friends and family,” said Sam’s mother, Nichole Wolgast. “I am happy, though, that they were able to get a curbside marriage license.”
Some of the kudos in securing the marriage license in short order went to county clerk Ann Marie Main, Nichole said.
And the man who brought the union together, the thought of having it happen in a few days opposed to a couple of months, sooner was not exactly better than later.
“I was not quite ready,” said Kamron, “but I understood. They had valid reasons. The flipside is that I was looking forward to having my daughter home for a couple of months. Now I’ve only seen her a couple of times in a few months.”
The stay at home order became the Tennants two month honeymoon.
“At first, I felt cheated out of the full experience because it wasn’t how we planned it,” said Shanon. “Their grandparents and aunts and uncles and siblings and friends were not able to be there, not to mention
“And then I realized the beauty in what they were doing, and that no matter the circumstances or what was going on in the world, they were committing themselves and their relationship to God!”
“Sam and Audrey will always be able to say they had a corona wedding,” Nichole said.
A couple who had one of the most special moments of their lives on the cusp of a dark time in history. The story does not end quite there, as plans will be in place for a ceremony in the future. Like everything else, it remains to be seen.
Audrey is a student at North Central Community College and Sam works in his father Les’ business: Woodwinds Restaurant that just reopened. Thus ending the honeymoon.