Page 8 - The Wayne Dispatch

Sometimes marriage comes sooner and later

By Carolyn Marnon of chips and cans of pop.
There was going to be a huge wed- The couple is celebrating their
ding at the church in Warren, Michi- honeymoon at home, not at the air
gan where Wayne resident Ashley bnb in Traverse City as planned.
Herald’s father is the pastor. There They’re just hanging out together.
would be all the pomp and circum- Ashley has been home from work for
stance that comes with a dream wed- the honeymoon. She is a little nerv-
ding. The flowers, the decorations, ous to go back to work next week, es-
the bridal party, the bride in a white pecially since she also suffers from
dress walking down the aisle es- asthma.
corted by her father, all the people Although the wedding was not
who loved her and her husband-to- what they originally had planned,
be in attendance and then the big they are not letting that get their spir-
party afterward. It was the moment its down. They have postponed the
the young couple had been looking big wedding with all the works for
forward to for a year. August 22. That is the day Ashley
Ashley Herald and Brad Hinken will walk down the aisle on the arm
met when they were 16 years old at of her father while wearing her white
a campground in Wixom. Brad was wedding dress. Brad will see her in
camping there when a mutual friend that dress for the first time as will all
brought Ashley along. Brad says Ash- their beloved guests. “We have so
ley likes to tell the story that she was many people in our lives we are
interested in him at the time, but blessed to know and be around,”
that he was a stupid teenage boy who said Brad. “We’re ‘people’ people.”
was into other things. And what happens if the COVID-
Forward to September 2018. 19 pandemic has not passed by that
Brad and Ashley had been friends on time? There is no back up plan.
social media. Brad was bored one “We’re the type of people that just roll
Friday night and messaged Ashley. with it,” says Ashley. In regards to
They ended up staying up all night the original wedding plans being af-
messaging and talking. “She’s been Ashley and Brad Hinken fected, she says “At first we were
putting up with me literally every day kind of sad, but we just figured out
since,” laughs Brad. area. While the nation, and the dream wedding, they also knew now another plan.” Brad adds “We want
On March 29, 2019, Brad and world, is dealing with the spread of was not the time. However, they still them (the guests) to all be safe, of
Ashley became engaged. They COVID-19, health care workers are wanted to get married. On Saturday, course.”
started planning their dream wed- on the front lines, risking exposure March 28, the two lovebirds gath- Brad finished the conversation by
ding with no idea of the pandemic every day. “She’s been holding up ered with their immediate families at adding “What an awesome story this
that was to come the following year. pretty good,” says Brad. He says Hill Crest Bible Church in Wayne is going to be. How much fun to tell
They chose March 28, 2020 as their about a week before their scheduled where Pastor Seth McDonald per- our kids and grandkids about this.
wedding date. wedding, Ashley came in close prox- formed the wedding nuptials. It was The whole experience was not what
Brad works at The Henry Ford as imity to a confirmed COVID-19 pa- a simple wedding. Ashley didn’t wear we had planned.”
an exhibit specialist working with tient. She had to be tested. Luckily, her white wedding dress. Brad didn’t It may not be what they had
permanent and temporary installa- she is COVID-19 negative. wear his suit. There was no unity planned for their official wedding
tions. Ashley is an inpatient clerk at Those were unsettling days be- sand and no decorations. The post- day, but the couple is now united in
University of Michigan hospital work- fore the wedding. As much as Brad wedding meal consisted of pulled holy matrimony and can start their
ing in the bone marrow transplant and Ashley wanted to have the big chicken sandwiches, coleslaw, bags own happily ever after.

8 · April 2020 · The Wayne Dispatch