Amid Iowa flooding, couple says 'I do' in Shell Rock

SHELL ROCK, Ia. — In the days before his wedding, Brady Coleman was preparing sandbags instead of preparing to walk down the aisle.

Meanwhile, his soon-to-be-wife, Abby Rundle, was frantically on the phone, trying to make sure their wedding would actually happen amid record-breaking flooding of the Shell Rock River.

“It was very close,” Coleman said, minutes before the wedding Saturday.

Towns in northern Butler County along the Shell Rock River began preparing for the flood Wednesday night. The river crested at 21.51 feet Friday afternoon.

Days before the wedding, it sounded like road closures would limit travel into the town, where the couple had booked the Boyd building downtown for their wedding. So Rundle tried to quickly move the wedding to Oran, she said. But then part of Iowa Highway 3 closed due to flooding, which blocked the primary route there for many of the couple’s family members and friends.

“We took a risk and said, ‘We’re going to have it in Shell Rock,’” Rundle said.

It paid off. Saturday evening, the couple was married as planned.

FULL COVERAGE: Flood of 2016

MORE: River continues to rise as Cedar Rapids braces

Most of the couple’s family were able to attend the wedding, despite the flood, though many had to take detours.

In about a month, the couple will have their honeymoon in Las Vegas, Coleman said. They’re looking forward to the relaxing vacation, especially after the stressful days before their wedding, they said.

“We’re really proud of them, and we’re really happy this came together,” said Amy Eilers, Brady’s mom.