Lake-effect snowfall doesn't stop Erie couple from tying the knot

RIPLEY, N.Y. -- It was a Hallmark movie brought to real life. The extreme snowfall almost wiped out one couple's wedding plans, but in the nick of time, dedicated vendors helped save their special day.

It was a florist, photographer and community members of Ripley, New York, that braved the blizzard for this local couple.

"I was kind of freaking out internally," said bride Alli Hanlon.

This local couple's winter wedding was anything but chill last weekend in Ripley, New York.

The Hanlons had the perfect ceremony organized, but what wasn't planned was multiple feet of lake-effect snow dropping into the region. This caused nearly all of their vendors to cancel that day, including the venue. The wedding party transformed their Airbnb into the perfect makeshift location for a wedding.

"My groomsmen were shoveling. They were going door to door in Ripley, New York, to get a snow blower," said groom Braden Hanlon. "My brother, his wife and my brother-in-law just happened to go to a diner in the morning."

And after a short conversation with the owners of that diner, the Hanlons had last-minute catering.

"Bob started talking to them, and they're like, 'Do you do banquets?' We're like, 'Here we do,' and they said, 'Can you do a wedding for 100?' And Bob said, 'Yeah and like when?' And he said, 'Today,'" recalled Heila Bently, co-owner of Meeder's Diner.

"It was a lot of fun for the two of us because they needed the help. And at a certain point, it became about them, not about the food," said Bob Bently, Meeder's Diner co-owner.

The Bentlys also kept their dining room open as they prepared the roast ham, stuffed potatoes, salad bar and more.

One of the vendors that did come through was the florist. And although there were some complications along the way, they were still able to make the couple's day that much brighter.

"[We] had to re-route a couple of different ways. On our way to Ripley. Route 5 was closed, Route 20 was closed and Interstate 90 was closed, so we actually found some back roads," said Sara Szustak, florist at Allburn Florist.

In all the years that Szustak has done weddings, she says she had never experienced anything like this before.

"We really care about our brides here at Allburns, and if we can make it, absolutely we're going to try to," Szustak added.

"I think it goes to show that if you surround yourself with good people, some amazing things will happen," said Braden Hanlon.

"We just appreciate everybody that went above and beyond for us basically risking their lives in the snow for us, and we just are forever grateful," said Alli Hanlon.