Strangers, Biltmore staff help save wedding impacted by Helene

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A Carolina couple is remembering the kindness of strangers who helped save their wedding, a day after Hurricane Helene hit.

The popular Biltmore estate was supposed to be the site of Jansen Humphrey and Travis Putnam’s dream wedding, but days before, there were already issues from the previous storm.

“We had to go through the back entrance because they said the flooding was already getting pretty bad,” said Humphrey.

Humphrey and Travis Putnam made it back to the Inn at the Biltmore after dropping off tuxes for the groomsmen, never knowing they’d be stuck there on their special day.

“We didn’t really have any way to contact anyone to figure out if they were OK or what it looked like outside of the gates,” said Humphrey of the lack of cellphone service and communications being down following the hurricane.

Helene had come as an uninvited guest, destroying Biltmore Village nearby. And the estate announced its indefinite closure just days later.

Some of their wedding guests, including Putnam’s parents, had to evacuate because of the rising waters.

“We really hadn’t had a moment to think about getting married on Saturday because we were just so worried about making sure that we were able to get in contact with people,” said the couple.

What they didn’t know is that the staff and hotel guests at the Inn had still plans for them.

“She told us she could marry us, and we were like, ‘Yes!” said Humphrey.

In a matter of hours, one of the Biltmore staff members had scrambled to get their officiant’s license while hotel guests arranged flowers and laid down decorations for an aisle.

And Humphrey’s friend did her hair and makeup.

“It was also kind of weird because we couldn’t wash my hair, we hadn’t showered in a couple days,” said the couple.

But the bride loved the look.

“I had to try not to cry so I wouldn’t mess it up, I was just so overwhelmed,” said Humphrey.

Before she walked down the aisle, they had to check with Putnam’s parents because they were going to miss the big day.

“It was tough, but I knew they were going to be happy that we were getting married, so it made it better,” said Putnam.

The feeling compounded when he saw his bride.

“Her walking down the aisle, that’s what I remember,” said Putnam.

And there’s something else they’ll never forget.

“We felt so loved by so many strangers,” said Humphrey.

They even got their first dance in, and another couple got married right after them.

“It was really an unexpected miracle out of a terrible, terrible situation.”

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