If there’s any credence to the adage that rain on the day of the ceremony leads to a long and happy marriage, then Lilly and Trent Jordan are in for one of the longest and happiest on record.

Patrick and Kelly Parker had imagined their daughter’s wedding day as a perfect expression of family, tradition, and love. On December 9, however, it became clear that the weather would not be cooperating with their plans, as clouds rolled in and soon gave way to tornado warnings in Hendersonville, TN and surrounding areas.

That day, the decision was made to move the ceremony from the Parker’s home on Old Hickory Lake to Hendersonville First United Methodist Church, a contingency plan that had been crafted in response to the potential for inclement weather. As the wind began to pick up, the floral arbor the couple had planned on standing underneath as they took their vows was moved inside the church and the ceremony went ahead as planned, uniting Lilly and Trent in front of a room full of friends, family, and well-wishers.

“At that point, it was just bedlam,” says Patrick. “All the phones started going off advising of dangerous weather and we were asked to take cover. All 230 guests were down in the basement of Bluegrass Country Club taking cover in the various rooms and little offices that are on the lower level. We lost power and didn't know where Lily and Trent were for quite a long period of time.”

At the same time their guests were taking cover at the country club, Lilly and Trent were taking photos outside of Spring Haven when it became clear that they needed to take shelter immediately.

According to Lilly, “Trent began to receive texts and calls from his brother and mother because they were concerned. We were still snapping pictures until our wedding planner got a call letting her know our guests were taking shelter at Bluegrass, and it was at that point we knew we needed to take shelter ourselves.”

They had just made their way down to the basement of Spring Haven when the winds let loose. Trent describes what happened next:

“As the tornado ripped through, we could hear the wind kicking against the door and the pillars that held up the carport to the right of us gave way.”

Despite the destruction happening around them, Trent’s primary concern was for Lilly.

“I felt really safe while we were down there,” he says. “The only thing I was worried about was Lilly, because she’s the type of person who thinks about everyone else first. I knew that if I could stay calm and let her know it's about to blow by us and then it’ll be over, she wouldn’t worry.”

Back at the reception, the country club had been plunged into darkness after having lost power, making it difficult to assess the damage.

“We knew it was significant, but we weren’t aware of the extent of the devastation until we were able to get out of the building,” says Patrick. “We realized then that the entire front entrance, and the only way in and out of bluegrass Country Club, was blocked because of the extensive tree damage and downed power lines across Gallatin Road.”

After attempting to reach Lilly and Trent multiple times, Patrick and Kelly were finally able to confirm the newlyweds were safe. They then proceeded to discuss the situation with Bluegrass management and staff.

“We weren’t sure at that point if we were going to be able to have the reception at all, but after lighting the 300-400 candles we had at the tables, we could see a little bit,” Patrick says. “Some of the food had been prepared and placed on warmers before the tornado hit, so the decision was made to start serving what we had available until it ran out.”

While the group at the reception was doing what it could to salvage the day, a seemingly insurmountable hurdle remained — with the roads and entrance to the country club deemed impassible, how would Lilly and Trent get to their own wedding reception?

After several calls back and forth, it was determined that Lilly and Trent would be able to leave Spring Haven Mansion and try to make it as far as Saint Timothy Lutheran Church on the corner of Gallatin Road and Stop 30 Road. It took about an hour and a half before it was confirmed that the bride and groom had reached the church.

Patrick recounts what happened next.

“Our friend, Chris Lancaster, drove a golf cart across the golf course in the pitch darkness to pick them up and bring them back to Bluegrass.”

Adds Lilly, “Our wedding planner gave me her nice, long jacket and I wrapped my dress up in it. We bundled up under an umbrella and set out in the golf cart.”

After a quick jaunt across the course, the bride and groom arrived, to the relief of their worried guests.

“We had the best wedding entrance. Everyone was so excited that they all gathered outside on the staircase leading up to the entrance, just to usher us in,” Trent says.

After dropping off the bride and groom, Chris Lancaster made another trip across the golf course to pick up Tammie Sutherland, who had the presence of mind to grab from Spring Haven a few disco lights which were used to light the dance floor of the country club.

And so it was that an hour and a half after the tornado touched down, friends and family looked on as Lilly and Trent performed their first dance as husband and wife.

“Our DJ somehow figured out how to play music over his phone. We were able to do the first dance and daddy/daughter dance,” beams Patrick.

Although the reception had to be cut short, guests were able to celebrate the couple as they left the venue. An awaiting limo driver took them to the Hermitage Hotel in downtown Nashville, where they stayed for their wedding night.

Ensuring the safe exit of everyone present required the coordination of the Hendersonville Police Department and Bluegrass Country Club management, as the singular entrance was blocked by debris and downed trees. A plan was developed to take 10 cars at a time and drive them in a chain across the back of the golf course. Guests followed one another carefully across the golf course in complete darkness until they reached the main roads, where they faced obstacles such as downed power lines, trees, and debris.

By all accounts, it was one of the most unique wedding celebrations that most guests had ever attended, and the bride and groom took the unusual events of their special day in stride, handling the uncertainty of their plans with the grace and calm that bodes well for a marital union.

“That's how marriage is,” reasons Trent. “At the end of the day, we can say we weathered our first storm together, and I think that's pretty amazing. If we can get through this on our first day of being married, then I believe we can get through anything.”