WWYD???? (Wedding question)

[sparklynails23]

Forecasts look ok. I think you're good to go.

 

[brockash]

Honestly, I'm sure I'd still go. Is everything already paid for, on your end? -I guess it somewhat depends on if you're flying or driving. If you're flying and tickets are already paid for ect. I'd go, and maybe book a hotel east of Newport News to stay at for the first night to see what happens. I would guess there's a pretty good chance that the wedding will go on in some fashion, and the storm could be out of there by Sat. If you already planned on going, everything's paid for, I don't see the harm in going...maybe not drive down to OBX right away, but I'd be within driving distance to see what happens.

 

[Rora]

I'd give it another day and then make a decision. Just because the path changes or the cone changes, doesn't mean it's not going to change back!

That's happened all too many times here in Florida!

 

[Jennasis]

The bride liekly has no answer because she is a frazzled bride freaking out about her wedding being ruined and trying to hold off to the last possible second to make any changes (hoping the hurrican stays at sea).

That said. Go to the wedding. The hurricane isn't likely to come ashore.

 

[SaraJayne]

The cone has changed. The weather front on land is keeping Earl a bit farther out to sea than expected. The wedding should go off fine. Fiona is behind him but not close enough to impact the wedding weekend. The waves will likely be rough, but doesn't look like much of an event weatherwise on land. Come on over and enjoy.

Since this is a major hurricane, I'm pretty sure that the OP probably is not going to be going as planned for the wedding.

There probably won't *be* a wedding.

 

[SaraJayne]

There is a mandatory evacuation in effect for some of the islands of the Outer Banks.

OP, is there anyone you can call and get updated info about the wedding?

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/09/01/tropical.weather/index.html?hpt=T1

 

[Charitycase20]

I have seen the the info from Dare County that Ocracoke Island and ALL of Hatteras Island is under a mandatory evac for visitors effective this morning. Has the bride been in contact with her planner any? Where exactly is she getting married?

 

[SaraJayne]

Earl is expected to make its closest pass to the Outer Banks at about sunrise Friday, said CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen. "The official track keeps the storm offshore by about 50 miles, but any deviation could bring the center onto the Outer Banks," he said.

Because of Earl's size, however, effects of the storm are expected to be widely felt. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 kilometers) from the center, and tropical storm-force winds up to 200 miles (325 kilometers).

From my link above.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

I live near Newport News and I think the wedding day itself should be fine if what they news leeps saying is true. BUT I wonder if they will be flying people in on friday if that is when we are supposed to get the worst of itMy husband flew into Norfolk last month and we had a big thunderstorm and he was delayed at least 6 house and that was a thunderstorm so not sure with how that will be with the winds
Possibly fly into on thrusday if you can switch the ticketso your before the storm.

 

[RadioNate]

I'd give it another day and then make a decision. Just because the path changes or the cone changes, doesn't mean it's not going to change back!

That's happened all too many times here in Florida!

I think it is funny that it is those of us who have lived in FL who are all very wary about this situation while everyone else is kinda "meh."

There is at least one path on the spaghetti model that still has this thing coming ashore as a Cat 3. And yes, Fiona is tracking out at sea and losing strength but rough waves for a beach wedding at a place that just had a Cat 2 or 3 skim by....ugh.

These things change on a dime. Heck Fay wasn't even a hurricane and I had 15k worth of damage because the stupid thing stalled on top of my house for 3 days.

 

[NotUrsula]

I'd book some inland hotel rooms (at least 50 miles inland) and plan to have a family reunion if the wedding doesn't go off.

Is the bridal party already in place? If not, I'm guessing that they are not going to be able to get onto the barrier islands now, because some of the OBX are under a mandatory evac order and the roads will be going to contraflow to facilitate that. I don't know SC's rules for mandatory evacs, but where I come from, they don't get lifted until the storm has either passed or when the storm has downgraded sufficiently that the wind velocity on the bridges is consistently less than 40 mph. I suspect that the soonest that they will be able to cross will be late Friday, which leaves very little time for her Friday event.

I suspect that the reason you're not getting much of an answer out of the bride is that she is having trouble getting an answer out of the venue, and of course, the truth is that they don't know; the question is probably whether they will be willing to promise her enough of a refund to be able to book an alternate location inland. The storm could pass Friday morning with no real damage and everything from Saturday on will be fine, or it could be that the spot on the beach that she is planning on using will be full of storm debris and declared off-limits, or it could even be completely gone if it gets washed out by a storm surge. If the public water supply is shut off it is probable that the caterer won't be operational due to health dept. rules.

Honestly, the one thing that I wouldn't do if you can possibly avoid it is to simply not go. That happened to my DH's brother (the situation was an ice storm), and it was the saddest thing imaginable. They still got married, but there were NO guests at all except the two of us and my MIL. The bride had no one but the groom, and a huge pile of food rotting with no one to eat it. Even if the wedding cancels and they end up visiting a JP, it will be a much happier occasion if there are family and friends to share their joy anyway.

 

[bumbershoot]

The bride liekly has no answer because she is a frazzled bride freaking out about her wedding being ruined and trying to hold off to the last possible second to make any changes (hoping the hurrican stays at sea).

Definitely. It was bad enough realizing that my wedding weekend outside of Portland OR was going to be around 100 degrees (doesn't often happen in the pac NW) and having to scramble to rent fans for the tent and whatnot. But a hurricane...


Can you contact the hotel where you are staying? See what they say?

 

[novajeanjellybean]

Thanks everyone for the replies!!! She has no planner she planned the wedding herself but didn't plan for rain. Her reception is going to be
at a beachfront beach house. Those of us in Houston have been trying to contact her, her mother, and father.
No one will answer. She did send a text last night saying they were driving down today and she was staying
positive. I'm aware of the mandatory evac so now we def need to know the plan. BTW its a destination wedding and no one is from there.
Sorry if my writing is funny. I'm typing on my phone.

 

[kirstenb1]

Nova, be aware they always evac Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands. The road washes out during smaller storms all the time. I'm not trying to minimize the storm, but trying to advise since you're coming from so far away. They are still giving projections of it being 120 miles off the coast when it passes through. Definitely will be high winds, lots of rain.

 

[doxdogy]

I personally would stay home if there is a mandatory evacuation order for the Outer Banks. Hurricane's are unpredictable in nature. Hurricane Hugo was predicted to hit Jacksonville, FL. Went to bed one night expecting to get hammered, when a pressure system steered him away from us and then he went on to hit Charleston.

Recent data from air recon indicates Hurricane Earl has strengthened back to a category 4 hurricane. Hurricane Force winds extend 90 miles out from the center and tropical storm force winds extend 200 miles out... this is a large hurricane. So focusing on just the exact track is misleading as just a close pass 50 to 75 miles off the Outer Banks will push 74+ mph winds across the barrier islands.

 

[novajeanjellybean]

Nova, be aware they always evac Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands. The road washes out during smaller storms all the time. I'm not trying to minimize the storm, but trying to advise since you're coming from so far away. They are still giving projections of it being 120 miles off the coast when it passes through. Definitely will be high winds, lots of rain.

They are getting married in Avon, NC. I didn't mention that in my earlier posts.I think were so pprehensive because we dealt with Ike in 2008.
That was a Cat 2 storm with little rain but lots of wind. There was no power, no gas, and some significant damage. Were inland too.

 

[RadioNate]

They are getting married in Avon, NC. I didn't mention that in my earlier posts.I think were so pprehensive because we dealt with Ike in 2008.
That was a Cat 2 storm with little rain but lots of wind. There was no power, no gas, and some significant damage. Were inland too.

Wow, that is one tiny strip of island and I'm fairly certain tourists are under mandatory evacuation.

This article freaked me out.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/09/01/1661701/earl-menaces-nc-it-will-be-close.html

I hope this one turns but even if it does the storm surge and wind gusts will happen.

I'm not even sure if you went they would let you on the islands.

Why aren't they answering? I think that is super rude to do to your guests even if you are totally freaked!

 

[kirstenb1]

okay, they're evac'ing tourists. At this point, I'd still start heading that way. As pp'rs have suggested grab a mainland hotel if you need to until they open the OBX back up for tourists. Since the storm will be gone early Friday, it shouldn't be long. The Today Show is still showing it well off the coast.

 

[onelilspark]

The idea to go a day or two late is great, however half of our group is flying. I wonder if the airlines would reaccomodate them on a different day.
However, I understand the weather will be nice after the hurricane, but what about damage? When Ike hit, our beaches were trashed and we (us personally) didn't have power for 2 weeks.
I appreciate the suggestions. Thanks for the input.

Many times the airlines will work with you if you attempt to reschedule before the storm hits.

 

[kellyg403]

I don't know if I would head or even attempt to head that way at this time. Right now, even here, Emerald Isle is under mandatory evacuation. You might be able to get there but getting back out may be a major issue. With that area the road always floods out due to storm surge, and at the very least Earl will bring that.

Its not that getting there will be easy but the getting back off the island will be a lot harder. After Floyd we couldn't get back to our town for 6 days because of the flooding between us and the homestead. It was horrible. So be aware, that if you do attend you may be stranded here especially if you are driving, for a few days.

Kelly