Couple marries after EF1 tornado interrupts rehearsal, damages Missouri wedding venue

Apparent road rage brawl on busy Los Angeles freeway …

Couple marries after EF1 tornado interrupts rehearsal, …

MTA sets date for congestion pricing to begin in …

Foodie Friday: Dipped N’ Smashed

Video

Crowds expected at Black Comic Book Festival in Harlem

‘We have our demands; they have theirs’: Pro-Palestinian …

An inside look at ‘Ripley’

Donald Trump makes campaign stop in Midtown ahead …

Miss America talks mission to end pancreatic cancer

Video

Avery Wilson talks his role in Broadway musical The …

Video

567BROADWAY! merges cardio dance and strength training

Small business owner on upcoming TikTok ban

Race training tips with Matt Wilpers

Asian Comedy Festival returns for 5th year

MLB pitcher forced to change glove over ‘distracting’ …

Video

Malik Nabers expresses excitement on joining Giants

Brooklyn Nets surprise youth athletes with basketball …

Moose on the Loose: Reggie Bush gets his Heisman …

Mollie Walker talks Rangers as series shifts to DC

You Auto Know – Owner’s Manual

Video

Naturopathica opens new spa in Tribeca and is offering …

Protect all your smart devices with a new plan from …

Visit the New Jersey Immersive Experience and plan …

KAFSC hosts a rally to shine a light on sexual abuse …

by: Megan Mueller, Patrick Clark, Michael Bartiromo

Posted: Apr 26, 2024 / 01:30 PM EDT

Updated: Apr 26, 2024 / 01:34 PM EDT

EUREKA, Mo. (KTVI) — At least six small tornadoes developed in Missouri and Illinois last Thursday. One of those went right through Brookdale Farms in Eureka, Missouri — during a wedding rehearsal dinner.

“We had just gotten here to do the rehearsal for the wedding on Saturday, and then got in the building and shortly thereafter, the storm hit,” Heather Jonas, the mother of the bride, said. “We kind of ran to the bathroom and (it) sounded like a train was getting ready to come through the building.”

Annette Johnson, the wedding coordinator, said there were around 25 people in the building when the storm arrived.

“Everything started rattling when the roof ripped off and we got everyone to safety,” she said. “It was a little bit of chaos, but we stayed very calm and tried to keep our guests calm, but nobody was hurt.”

Nearby barns were also destroyed in the storm, but no one was injured at the 350-acre event venue.

“Once we knew everyone was OK, we went outside and practiced and rehearsed for the wedding,” Jonas said. “Everyone was good, (we) kind of celebrated and we were all safe.”

The team at Brookdale Farms worked overnight to assess structural integrity and make repairs. In photos shared to Facebook, workers could be seen replacing the roof of the wedding venue in preparation for Saturday’s reception.

“We are optimistic that we will be able to host their wedding here at 5 p.m.,” James Vivak, general manager of Brookdale Farms, said Saturday.

Come the day of the wedding, the happy couple — Kyle and Taylor O’Driscoll — were able to celebrate (almost) as planned, complete with photos in front of a damaged barn.

Wedding photographer Mindee Malloy, speaking with Nexstar, said she wasn’t present at the rehearsal dinner, but praised Brookdale Farms for their impressive turnaround.

“Brookdale Farms did an outstanding job dealing with the situation and making sure Taylor and Kyle were still able to have the day they deserved,” Malloy said.

Suggest a Correction

Submit

Δ

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Touchland hand sanitizer has become a beloved product on TikTok — it hydrates your skin every time you use it.

Food Huggers is a sustainable food storage company whose silicone sleeves wrap around the unused portions of avocados and other fruits and veggies.

Playing with and loving on your dog can help you feel happier and more relaxed, according to a new study. Here’s some top gear to help you do just that.