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Couple doesn’t let severe weather dampen wedding plans already ruined by pandemic

Couple has wedding ceremony, symbolizing unity during COVID-19 (WSOC)

CHARLOTTE — A Charlotte oncology nurse at Atrium Health has gotten used to last-minute changes during the pandemic, and it’s not just at work.

Victoria Barrett was planning to have her wedding ceremony Friday, but that obviously couldn't happen safely.

Her backup plan got scrapped, too.

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Barrett and Maurice Bryan knew they were going to get married since they were teens, and the couple eventually got engaged.

They were originally going to get married at the Mint Museum surrounded by family members and friends.

“It was one day we just took a walk,” Barrett told reporter DaShawn Brown. “I was crying. I was upset about all of this, and Maurice just said, ‘Let’s just get married.’"

The couple downsized their original ceremony due to the coronavirus and agreed to have an outdoor ceremony at Marshall Park in uptown Charlotte.

The forecast then indicated bad storms that day.

“Honestly, I was, like, ‘We're still going to do this,’” Barrett said.

The nurse has also had to make changes to her professional life.

“We’ve just been determined to get through this and keep our patients safe,” she said. “Keep ourselves safe and just do what we need to do.”

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Ahead of their wedding day, the groom’s mom stepped in to help make the wedding happen.

The mother traveled from Florida and found a local hotel for a location.

“And wasn’t even a tough call for them,” Bryan said. “They were just, like, ‘Sure! We'll make it work for you guys.’”

The indoor arrangements were made in the restaurant inside Le Meridien in uptown, which is closed because of COVID-19.

The mother arranged for the couple to wear homemade masks during the ceremony to symbolize protection in their union.

“I think this is what this whole pandemic is about, just everybody coming together to take care of each other and make it through, and have some sunshine moments throughout the storm,” Barrett said.

The original ceremony has been postponed until their one-year anniversary.

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