What was meant to be the happiest day of their lives quickly descended into chaos for one couple when their idyllic Hawaiian wedding was interrupted by a violent volcanic eruption.
Newlyweds Sarah and Mark had planned their dream ceremony on the Big Island, only for nearby Kīlauea volcano to suddenly spew molten lava and thick ash clouds just hours before they exchanged vows.
Panic as the ground shakes
"We felt the ground tremble first," Sarah recalled. "Then we saw this enormous plume of smoke rising from the crater. Within minutes, the sky turned dark with ash."
Wedding guests scrambled for safety as park rangers ordered immediate evacuation of the area. The couple's meticulously planned beach ceremony was abandoned as roads became impassable.
Dramatic escape through falling debris
"We had to drive through falling pumice stones with ash raining down on our car," Mark described. "The heat was unbelievable - you could see the lava flows glowing in the distance."
The bridal party took shelter in a nearby community center, watching helplessly as their wedding venue disappeared under a blanket of volcanic debris.
Wedding saved by local kindness
Their story took a heartwarming turn when local residents rallied to help. A hotel manager offered their lobby for an impromptu ceremony, while nearby shops provided last-minute outfits to replace ash-covered wedding clothes.
"These complete strangers turned our disaster into something beautiful," Sarah said tearfully. "We'll never forget how the aloha spirit saved our special day."
Geologists later confirmed this was Kīlauea's most violent eruption in decades, releasing gases and lava flows that destroyed several nearby structures. The couple considers themselves lucky to have escaped unharmed.
"We got more adventure than we bargained for," Mark joked. "But we've got a wedding story nobody will ever top!"
