JASPER, Texas — After the power went out throughout Southeast Texas during Hurricane Beryl, the Jasper community went above and beyond to save a couple's wedding day.
With only a few hours to spare before they said "I do," the couple was intent on making sure the lights were on at their wedding venue.
Daniel and Bondita Zavala "fell in love" after meeting in the Navy last July.
Due to their hectic schedules, they only had a short time frame to tie the knot. July 10th was the perfect day for the couple.
"I would do anything to make her happy," said Daniel Zavala.
They didn't allow a hurricane to stop their wedding. Just one day after Beryl made landfall, they had their wedding rehearsal in the dark. The next day was their wedding day.
"We do the traditional the bride and the groom can't see or talk to each other on the day. So I was like over here just getting ready," said Bondita Zavala.
Daniel was determined to see her when he said "I do."
"And these beautiful people behind the event center, the neighbors we heard a generator going. And out of desperation I ran over there and I introduce myself," said Daniel.
Bonetta Smith, a neighbor, was unable to let the couple borrow her generator, so she called the chief of the Beech Grove Volunteer Fire Department.
"I called Jamie and told him what the situation was. He got on it. And we started making calls and he found a generator," said Smith.
"So the commissioner had a generator, personal generator, one of his own. And these other guys are electricians so they know how to wire stuff," said Chief James Gunter. "And we showed up and figured it out."
Still without AC, the fire department called the Jasper-Newton Electric Cooperative to fix the nearby power lines. The fire department blocked the highway to let them work.
"And it was like a movie, I'm late for my wedding, so I ran out of my car," said Daniel. "I ran all the way to the front and I yelled at him, I said I'm late to my wedding. He looked at me and said it's for you go, go."
At the right moment, the lights and AC came back on.
"And there's nothing short of a miracle, [because] on 4:00 on the dot, as I wrote my vows in the dark, the lights came on," said Daniel. "And I started to cry, I started to pray, and said this is it."
Bondita says she's proud to marry a man who puts her needs first.
"And that he's able to do that, and put the work in," said Bondita. "And so it's a blessing to be married to a man like that."
Daniel grew up in Jasper and says he's beyond thankful his hometown community saved his wedding day.
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