Couples Forge Ahead With Nantucket Weddings Amidst Major Nor'easter
At least 34 weddings are scheduled on the island as a powerful storm brings heavy rain and high winds to the Northeast.
Despite the threat of a significant nor'easter, at least 34 couples are proceeding with their wedding plans on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, this weekend.
The National Weather Service issued a high wind warning and a high surf advisory for Nantucket, effective Friday evening, with a coastal flood warning in place through Monday night. The storm is expected to bring potentially life-threatening conditions, including four to six inches of rain to southeastern Massachusetts, Nantucket, Cape Cod, and nearby islands.
For Boston couple Maggie Lynch, 29, and Paul Flanagan, 28, whose wedding with 165 guests is planned for Saturday, the forecast presented a 'worst-case scenario.' "When we picked Nantucket, we joked that as long as this exact thing didn't happen, we'd be fine, and then, of course, it did," Lynch told MassLive.
Wedding planner Karina Crockett noted that the couple began expressing concerns early in the week, shifting focus to ensuring guests could reach the island before the storm intensified. Some guests opted for a challenging two-and-a-half-hour ferry ride from Hyannis, with one described as a 'very rocky' journey. By Thursday, approximately 120 of the 165 guests had arrived on Nantucket, with more expected Friday.
High winds began impacting the island on Tuesday afternoon, leading to the cancellation of ferry services leading up to the weekend. Most boat services were suspended on Friday, as the storm approached its peak.
Paul Flanagan's father, Robert Flanagan, described the island as "windy as hell" on social media and shared a video of strong winds whipping flags. He also quipped about the weather, unsure if he was witnessing a "beautiful sunrise or the first glimpse of the apocalypse."
Wedding plans on Cape Cod have also been affected. Caterer Olive Chase stated that the weather conditions were "really hard for the couples" with outdoor ceremonies. Some have canceled or postponed, while others have managed to secure indoor venues.
Nantucket, a popular fall wedding destination, faced significant challenges due to the storm.
Waves of nearly five feet were observed in the Nantucket Sound around 10 p.m. Friday. The US Coast Guard Northeast District has urged mariners and coastal residents to seek safe harbor as the nor'easter intensifies.
A nor'easter is a storm that forms along the U.S. East Coast, characterized by northeasterly winds generated by a low-pressure system situated offshore.
Millions across the Northeast are bracing for potential power outages and travel disruptions due to the storm's heavy rainfall and powerful gusts.
The nor'easter is expected to bring significant wind and flooding to southeastern Massachusetts throughout the weekend.
