Wedding guests surprise newlyweds with socially-distant reception
.jpg "After Kevin and Hilary Johnson's small wedding today, the couple was lured to their original wedding venue for photos — only to be surprised by cars filled with friends family and well wishers honking and cheering while maintaining social distancing. They even had their first dance to")
BOARDMAN— Hilary Minton and Kevin Johnson of Boardman were married today amid the COVID-10 pandemic.
What they will likely remember most fondly, though, is the surprise that made their day extra special.
Hilary is a nurse practitioner in Boardman and together with her fiance Kevin, a Boardman dentist, they have worked with wedding planner Angela Gossard of Endearing Events over the past year to plan their perfect day.
Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit and Gov. Mike DeWine suggested in March that spring weddings be postponed.
"They were my first clients impacted by COVID-19 and the regulations — but certainly not the last," Gossard told Mahoning Matters. "Since their decision, I have had six other weddings reschedule just for April and May."
The couple first planned to move their wedding to September. Ultimately, they became determined to say "I Do" on their original wedding date.
So, the couple was married today at Kevin's parents' home in Canfield. The intimate ceremony was witnessed by immediate family — following the Department of Health's social distancing and community gathering guidelines.
After the ceremony, Lindsey Ramdin, Hilary and Kevin's wedding photographer, led the couple to the original wedding reception venue, Waypoint 4180 in Canfield, to take photos.
When they arrived, the unsuspecting couple was greeted by an amazing sight: Family and friends in scores of cars lined the parking lot to surprise the newlyweds. The wedding guests cheered, flashed their headlights and honked their horns in celebration as the couple and the wedding party made their way down the tunnel of cars.
Hilary and Kevin shared their first dance — "Blessings" by Florida Georgia Line — outside of Waypoint 4180 as their DJ played loud enough for guests to hear from their cars.
Gossard and Hilary's maid of honor, Krista Johnson, planned the socially distant surprise.
"I hope it gives other people and other couples hope and encouragement that even though their initial plans may be impacted, what wins, in the end, isn't COVID, but is love," Gossard said.
This story was originally published April 18, 2020 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Wedding guests surprise newlyweds with socially-distant reception."