Marry Me Monday: The Ogletree House

Yesterday evening a massive tornado ripped through my sweet little hometown of Hattiesburg, Mississippi.  I simultaneously checked Facebook, the local news station online, CNN and The Weather Channel. I was completely horrified that Hattiesburg was making live national news because of a wedge tornado that was traveling down the busiest road in the city. The video coverage coming in was sickening as I watched familiar places ripped and flattened. I sat in Oxford, five hours away, and felt helpless with the only thing I could do was post my support and concern on Facebook while I prayed. Miraculously no one was killed. 

The last report I heard was over 200 businesses and homes were destroyed.  I thought that our reception site might be slightly damaged but not beyond a quick repair.  I did not know that the video I was watching was covering the time the tornado hit the historic building on our campus.  I received a text from my good friend who told me The Ogletree House had been damaged.  Still thinking the damage was minor, I text back for more information. The next text that came from her made my stomach sick, "I will send you a picture if you can handle it."

So 55 days away from our wedding, we run to the computer to see the picture before Jackie had a chance to text me back. Our reception site and the beloved house on Southern Miss's campus looked destroyed. I sat in shock as my mind raced to estimate how long the repair would take if repair was possible. My mind quickly realized not in 55 days.  Yes, I cried. All the planning was almost done and what would have been a precious place to share this beautiful moment with our friends and family was now a vulnerable building that will need a lot of care.  Then I pulled myself together. While it is a very special place and it hurts to see the Southern Miss campus so damaged, buildings are replaceable and can be fixed. Thankfully no one was taken from us in this storm.

I have heard of couples losing venues to natural disasters and having to come up with a new place in a last minute scramble. We are now one of those couples.  We have 54 days to go and no clue where we will have our reception.  However, beautiful things have come out of this moment. People, some even going through the tornado themselves, text me to check on us about losing our reception site. Talk about feeling loved!  The event manager, Dawn, has already contacted me to assure me something will be worked out.  I was not going to contact her for a few days, assuming our wedding was the least of their worries at the moment.  However, she reached out to me less than 24 hours after it happened which was so impressive.  So of course it will work out and it is not our home or something of personal value but it is still very sad because it is our Alma mater.  A friend reminded me that people were not coming for the reception but to see us be married.  I am happy to hear it because we may be celebrating the new marriage in a parking lot but we will be celebrating regardless!  And, I guess we will one day be able to tell the story and say our wedding had character!