Community pulls together to help Lousiana couple wed
Published: September 14, 2005
Dozens of storm evacuees and some local firefighters sat on the moist benches inside DeSoto Caverns. A couple stood beneath the stalactites, in front of the multicolored fountain, and tearfully recited their wedding vows.
It was better than anything they could have imagined, but the idea had certainly never crossed their minds.
Marty Nehlig and Gini La France were supposed to be married in St. Bernard Parish, La., the place they’d always called home. Everything was planned and paid for, but after Hurricane Katrina had passed, it was clear those plans would never come to fruition.
The bride was forced to evacuate, and for several days, she has been staying in a camper at DeSoto Caverns Park. She’s one of about 25 evacuees who made their way to the park to wait for the day they could return to their homes and begin rebuilding their lives.
Nehlig, a firefighter, stayed behind, however, and assisted other local firefighters in rescuing stranded residents from their rooftops. His fiancee had no contact with him until several days after the storm.
“That was the hardest thing in my life - wondering if he was alive,” she said. “When I did find out he was alive, I stayed up at night just hoping he would stay alive.”
They weren’t even sure the wedding would take place until Friday, and Nehlig didn’t make it to Childersburg until Saturday morning.
The bride said that, when Nehlig pulled up Saturday, it was like returning home after a long trip - things finally felt right again.
Nehlig could hardly describe how he felt after the wedding was over Saturday.
“We had everything planned and paid for, then everything was gone,” he said. “It’s just unbelievable, the hospitality of everyone here.”
Childersburg and Sylacauga businesses and residents worked tirelessly to see that this wedding happened. Danielle Mathis of DeSoto Caverns coordinated most of the efforts.
“I just see God’s hand in this, making this all come together,” she said before the wedding.
Teresa Pugh and Anita Crow of First Baptist Church in Sylacauga were involved in the catering for the event.
“It’s just been so much fun,” Pugh said. “It’s just been a privilege. As we sit back, you just want to do something in the midst of this harshness and tragedy.”
Several other businesses contributed their specialties to the wedding, as well. Florists donated bouquets, boutonnieres and other flower arrangements. Some businesses donated plates and food.
One did the bride’s hair. Another offered to supply the wedding bands. A Birmingham hotel supplied the couple with a honeymoon suite.
And, perhaps most importantly, members of the Sycamore, Winterboro and Fayetteville volunteer fire departments were present to show their appreciation for the newlyweds and collected money for them.
“New Orleans couldn’t possibly top this, especially with how the community’s pulled together here,” the new Mrs. Nehlig said. “I couldn’t imagine paying for anything better. The community is what made this so wonderful and so special.”
The couple plans to stay put for a while. The bride, a nurse, got a job at the Brooklyn Medical Clinic in Birmingham. However, her husband will have to return to St. Bernard Parish to help with the relief efforts for a while.
Eventually, though, the newlyweds plan to return there permanently and rebuild their lives together.
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