One year ago, a newly married couple were celebrating their wedding surrounded by friends and family.
Now their relationship is facing what might be its toughest test yet in a trial against Mother Nature.
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Wayne and Bridgette Todd are from Halifax County and are on their delayed honeymoon for their one-year anniversary in Jamaica when they learned Hurricane Melissa would not only disrupt their fun, but also put them in the middle of a life-threatening situation.
RELATED: Chapel Hill woman's scholastic trip to Jamaica derailed by Hurricane Melissa
The hurricane hit Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 5 storm with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph. The storm has brought rain and tropical storm-force winds since Monday. The entire island was seeing flash flooding and storm surge.
With all the unforeseen stress, Bridgette said the couple is hoping for the best and keeping faith that they'll remain safe. They're staying at a resort outside Negril on the island's west coast.
"We just keep asking people to send prayers for everybody that's stranded here and the country of Jamaica," Bridgette said.
The Todds, who work as paramedics in Halifax County, are staying at a resort and said they've been on lockdown since Monday night. The picturesque destination spot they picked to celebrate their nuptials is now surrounded by clouds and uncertainty.
"We're kind of bunkered down here in our room," Bridgette said. "We've got, like, all of our furniture and our mattress against the balcony, door and window."
As medical responders, the two have composed a strategy for the worst-case scenario. Bridgette said they have extra clothes, a supply of medications, some snacks, water bottles and a lighter.
"We have a game plan," Bridgette said. "We have a go bag packed ready for us if we happen to need to leave our room. There is a stairwell right across from us that we could also bunker down in if stuff becomes unstable in our room.
"Along with that, we already made like a little pallet in the bathroom, just in case we have to move this way. And then, we also filled up our bathtub with water in case, for contamination purposes, or if we run out of water."
An advisory from the National Hurricane Center on Tuesday described the gravity of the storm.
"THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION! TAKE COVER NOW!"
Bridgette said they tried to leave on Sunday, but the airport closed that day.
"That was a little frustrating," Bridgette said. "Because the weather appeared nice that day, and even half the day yesterday. We're kind of confused as to why they couldn't have got more people out sooner."
A honeymoon almost halted by Hurricane Melissa
A newly wed couple traveled to Asheville with their family on Thursday and their plan was to a weekend wedding ahead of their honeymoon. Jayden and Austin McIntosh got married on Sunday and were supposed to fly out on Monday to the Coral Springs Resort in Jamaica.
But thanks to some important updates from the National Hurricane Center warning about the impacts of Melissa to Jamaica, the McIntoshes were able to plan ahead.
"We found out the night before the wedding, so Saturday night, that all the airports got closed, so we had to power through the wedding with hopes and dreams, and then we found out on Sunday night that it was closed for sure," newlywed wife Jayden remarked.
The couple was able to cancel their trip to Jamaica and rebook it to a resort in Cancun.
Jayden continued, "It would be pretty nerve-wracking, especially because we both have important jobs. I work with kids, he works at Amazon...so it would be pretty hectic."
Austin added that the new couple is excited and feeling good about this new trip. They are on their way to their new honeymoon destination as of Wednesday.
