Vanessa Valentine never dreamed she’d walk down the aisle in a Home Depot parking lot to marry her mud-covered fiancé, Ryan. But, looking back, she knows it was perfect.
Vanessa and Ryan are veterans whose relationship is deeply rooted in giving back. The two met while volunteering and, years later, decided to get married while working with Team Rubicon on restoring flooded homes in Longmont, Colo.
Getting hitched at Home Depot wasn’t always part of the plan. After joking around about tying the knot on the worksite, their Team Rubicon friends–one who happened to be an ordained minister–made magic happen by pulling together a Home Depot inspired wedding in less than 24 hours.
“It was beautiful to see how everyone came together and contributed. A local woman baked us a cake from scratch and our friends worked with Home Depot to get flowers and décor,” said Vanessa. “It felt like our wedding was a layer of hope among all of the devastation that happened in the community.”
Ryan remembers he was able to work on restoring homes devastated by the flood right until it was time to stand up at the altar, which is part of what made the celebration so unique.
“I came straight from a project and was still muddy when I got up to the altar,” said Ryan. “Volunteering has always been a big part of our relationship, and being able to merge giving back with our wedding ceremony was truly special.”
Still avid volunteers with Team Rubicon, the two are in good spirits today with their first baby on the way. They have also started their own nonprofit organization, Wounded Warrior House, which facilitates outdoor recreational activities and services to medically retired veterans of the United States Armed Services.
