5:29 PM Fri, Jul 31, 2009 | Permalink |
OLYMPIA, Wash. - An unmarried couple decided they didn't want to have their first child out of wedlock, but their wedding plans went south when the baby decided to come three weeks early.
Shawnee Rose and Anthony Johnson had been engaged for two years and planned on getting married Thursday at the Mason County Courthouse. But then their daughter, Aliyah, decided to crash the party.
"I had my wedding dress on and I'm doing up my hair and I said 'I think I'm going into labor," said Shawnee.
They skipped the courthouse and headed straight to Olympia's Capital Medical Center.
"His mom mentioned 'I wonder if there's a chaplain at this hospital,' but I already knew there wasn't," said Shawnee.
Jennifer Weldon is no chaplain. She's the hospital's controller, but she also recently got a license online to perform weddings.
"My brother-in-law became an ordained minister to marry a friend. We were talking about it one day and I just thought, 'Wow, that's really interesting.' It was something I did and turns out it was a useful title to have," said Weldon.
Weldon performed the ceremony while Shawnee was in labor.
"I'm still at the point of trying to get my mind wrapped around it," said Anthony.
While becoming parents and newlyweds on the same day can be a little overwhelming, the new family wouldn't have changed a thing.
"It worked out perfectly," said Shawnee.
"It's a great story to be able to tell her," said Anthony.
Shawnee and Anthony say for their first anniversary, they plan to another wedding, but far away from a hospital bed. They're also hoping to get a babysitter so they can take a honeymoon after that ceremony.
That was sooooooooo sweet. May God Bless you all.
Still a b-astard. They should have gotten married before having children.
since when is fornication news?
shawnee and anthony congrats on the on ur first born child and ur marriage i love u guys
I think JJ needs to get his head out of his ass and his nose out of that bible instead of ruining a good story. Congrats to the parents!