A Saskatoon couple was forced to get creative and make alternate arrangements for their wedding after a hurricane hit their destination location in Jamaica. Newlyweds Ja-Lynne and Curtis Lechman, who had been dating for 14 years, planned on saying “I do” on a sunny beach in Jamaica — something in the works since last March. After Hurricane Melissa devastated their wedding destination, the couple was forced to quickly come up with a new plan. “We made the best out of, you know, a poor situation really,” Curtis Lechman told CTV News. With their Nov. 1st wedding date embossed on wedding favours, they decided to go ahead with the nuptials — even though they weren’t yet in their planned destination of Jamaica. “We absolutely had no backup plan,” explained Ja-Lynne Lechman. “We’ve been to Negril probably eight or nine times. We always go at that time of the year, and Jamaica hardly ever gets hit with a hurricane, especially as devastating as it did this time,” she said. “It was heartbreaking for us and for the people.” The new unlikely wedding venue was an area with windows just beyond security at the Saskatoon airport. Their wedding took place at 6:30 a.m. Saturday, before they boarded a new flight to Mexico — a trip they booked just days ago, after realizing the planned trip Jamaica was no longer possible. The couple found a justice of the peace through a friend, who admits he wasn’t sure what to expect when he arrived. “When I got there, they were all happy. They’re in beachwear already,” said Jason Perepelkin, who officiated the ceremony. ”We kind of pretended like it was the beach, I guess.” The Lechmans tied the knot in front of two friends and some unlikely wedding guests — airport staff who cheered them on. Since they were eloping, none of their four children knew they were getting married — until now, when the couple shared the story with CTV News. The couple says the surprises surrounding the wedding are continuing. Insurance covered their postponed Jamaican vacation, so they’ll get to visit their favourite destination again in the future. As an added bonus, when staff at the Mexican resort heard their story upon check-in, they were upgraded to an ocean-front room. RELATED STORY: Canadian Red Cross sending hurricane relief to Jamaica after Melissa devastation
