By RAELYNN RICARTE
News staff writer
August 8, 2007

Happy ending for two couples after fire intrudes on wedding at Stonehedge

A Camas, Wash., couple started their new life together on a happy note — despite having their Hood River wedding interrupted by a wildfire.

Bret and Darci Hostetler ran for cover Aug. 4 when flames erupted in the grass around Stonehedge Gardens. They had been poised to exchange vows that afternoon in the natural setting.

Although it looked like the nuptials would have to be postponed, help arrived with a visit from Teresa Ellifritz.

“I knew that Stonehedge would have helped us out and we wanted to be a good neighbor,” said Ellifritz, the wedding coordinator for Columbia Gorge Hotel.

She had spoken with Darci, a hotel guest, earlier that day. Ellifritz had shared the bride’s excitement about the upcoming event as she was finalizing details for another wedding on the grounds.

“When I learned about the fire I thought about how upset she was going to be. I thought that we ought to do something for her,” said Ellifritz.

Dan and Katy Bock, of Los Angeles, were getting married at 5:30 p.m. on the wedding lawn at the hotel. While Ellifritz was escorting Katy down the aisle, she gained the bride’s permission to place another 205 guests nearby. The Bocks’ wedding party included about 100 people.

“Katy felt bad about what had happened to Darci. She agreed that it would make the day even more special to help them out,” said Ellifritz.

She jumped in her car as soon as Katy had joined Dan at the altar. Bret and Darci gratefully accepted the offer that she extended to them in person.

Ellifritz said the scramble was on as Stonehedge staffers prepared the Hostetler dinner while hotel employees rounded up 21 tables for the west lawn and enough utensils to serve another large crowd.

The Hostetler groomsmen and bridesmaids were given cocktails — and towels to clean up any soot on their clothing. Darci, whose bridal gown was untouched by her ordeal, was given relaxation time to make a mental transition into the change of plans.

“It had already been a stressful day for her to have something like that happen. But we and Stonehedge were going to do whatever it took to make things work out,” said Ellifritz.

“It was like a big juggling act to have two wedding parties going on at the same time and get everyone where they needed to be.”

She said staffers from both the hotel and Stonehedge broke into cheers when everything had been put into place for the Hostetlers.

“We didn’t charge them anything. For us, it was just an opportunity for the community to come together and help someone out,” said Ellifritz.

She said a memorable moment occurred as the two wedding parties briefly overlapped. The touching scene made the scramble well worth the effort in her eyes.

Katy, who was leaving her reception on the wedding green as a newlywed, stopped to embrace Darci, a bride on her way to exchange vows.