[ Blizzard turns wedding into adventure ]

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Jun 16, 2002 by Janet Chubb Capital-Journal

Editor's note: In response to a request for articles about memorable wedding moments, Janet Chubb, of Topeka, sent in her diary of the wedding of her daughter Molly, who was married in 1997 during a blizzard that dropped 32 inches of snow on Denver.

By Janet Chubb

Special to The Capital-Journal

It is 6 a.m. on Oct. 25, 1997. I fall back into the warm covers in my room at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver. This will be a wonderful day, storm or not. It began the day before with blustery winds that had us ducking into appointments.

Oct. 24, 10:30 a.m. --- Don and I pick up Molly's wedding dress while Molly runs last-minute errands. Because of the snowstorm, Don backs the Buick up to front door of the wedding shop, so we can place dress and veil on the back seat with as little disturbance as possible.

12:15 p.m. --- Molly and I visit the spa. We eat a steaming bowl of clam chowder in the hotel dining room before a cold dash to the car and the countdown to the wedding rehearsal.

2 p.m. --- We worry about Molly's Aunt Susan, and cousins Michael and Christina, who have flown from Key Largo, Fla., to Colorado Springs, Colo., rented a car and headed out in the blizzard now raging over Denver.

4:40 p.m. --- All leave for rehearsal at St. John's Cathedral. The snow and wind now are relentless. Aunt Susan calls from her car to report she is stuck in Denver traffic. She and the kids opt for freshening time instead of rehearsal.

5:15 p.m., St. John's Cathedral --- Diane Caste, Altar Guild, and Canon Elizabeth Randall review the service. Garrett, the groom's nephew and ring bearer, takes several practice runs down the aisle -- - probably the longest in Denver, Randall says. Deacon Joe Thompson, of Grace Cathedral in Topeka, has arrived by way of San Francisco.

6:30 p.m., Brown Palace --- The rehearsal dinner and toasts begin: Brother Lance, maid of honor Alison, Molly's father Don, Dan's father Don, Uncle David and bride's attendant Jeni James all honor the bride and groom. After dinner, Jacque Kimbrough, then of Topeka, joins us in our room for a late night family reunion. Molly moves into the room next door.

Oct. 25, 6 a.m. --- The wedding day begins with a check of the worsening weather behind the window shade. Highways are closing. The governor declares a state of emergency. One of Dan's attendants from Tacoma, Wash., doesn't know where his wife and baby are. He checks with the Brown Palace doorman on the quarter hour about shuttles from the airport. Inside, all is warm, polished and genteel, the Brown Palace at its best. The namesake's example, "unsinkable."

8 a.m. --- Molly is at the door. The hotel's beauty salon is closed, and she can't have her hair done. A bridesmaid is snowed in at Parker and won't be able to attend. Dan and Lance are lining up 4x4s to transport attendants to the church --- no two in one car. Dan prepares to travel to his parents' home in Lakewood and will pick up Michael's tuxedo on the way. Molly reminds him he is the other indispensable member of the wedding party.

9 a.m., front desk --- Staff advises the salon will not open at all, so I ask if staff could find someone to come in. "I know Molly," the clerk says. "I'll try to find someone."

9:15 a.m. --- Michael and Christina are on the prowl. They lead me to the Comfort Inn where Aunts Susan and Carrie and Grandmother Anderson are having breakfast. Someone burnt the toast. Michael is outside playing in the snow and occasionally waves at us through the window. Uncle Skip keeps him company and takes an occasional snowball.

We all watch as an airport shuttle founders under the walkway between the hotels. Aunt Susan reports the kids were up at 5:30 a.m. anxious to inspect every nook and cranny of the Brown. They opened doors and turned on lights from top to bottom. One of the employees told Michael the architect for the hotel purposely hung two of the wrought iron panels lining the atrium upside down. Out of hundreds circling each floor, Michael found them and is anxious to show them to us. As we return to the Brown through the skywalk, we comment on the beauty of the snow. I carry Christina. "Your coat smells like burnt toast," she says.

9:30 a.m. --- Alison will help Molly with her hair. "I'll bring my rollers. I've done this before." Molly turns down the rollers, but not Alison. The bride has no clothes for the attendants' brunch at 10:30. Her hair is wet, and she is on the phone almost constantly about changes in arrangements and rides for the wedding party. "Mom, please call the florist, the caterer and the photographer."

10 a.m. --- The florist can't make the flowers adhere to Velcro for the mothers' bracelets, so he will substitute wrist corsages. The boiler is out at the reception site. A plumber has been called but it doesn't look good. One wedding has canceled at the Phipps Mansion, and another is close to cancellation. A decision will be made at noon about whether the other reception will be canceled, freeing the facility for our use in that event.