Couple Have Drive-By Reception After Wedding Plans Altered
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
Britta Hidlebaugh and John Pifer had planned for a wedding Saturday with 270 guests at First Baptist Church, 2819 Patterson Road, Warsaw, followed by a honeymoon trip to Costa Rica.
But after the coronavirus pandemic hit, and Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb asked people not to gather in groups of 50 or more – and then no more than 10 – the wedding plans had to change.
“I would say it was in March that we thought we could just do it with the wedding party because our wedding party, with their spouses and everything, was close to 50,” Britta said. “But then the restriction was more than 10, so then we couldn’t even have the whole wedding party.”
Britta and John were still married Saturday at the Baptist church, but the wedding party was cut down to 10 and included the bride and groom; Britta’s mom and dad, with her mom standing up with her; Britta’s oldest brother standing up with John; and her grandfather. Instead of guests at the ceremony, the wedding was livestreamed over the church’s Facebook page.
After the ceremony was completed, the wedding party stood outside the church as family and friends drove by in their vehicles, around the church, honked their horns, yelled their congratulations and threw cups of rice at the bride and groom.
A large wedding reception in Warsaw will be planned once the virus threat is over.
Britta said the restrictions also changed their plans for their honeymoon.
John said they had planned to stay seven nights in Costa Rica at three different resorts for their honeymoon. That will be delayed.
Britta and John agreed they still pulled off a nice wedding “despite” everything.
