Kimberli Romano and Kyle Hlavaty dwell in Chicago, together with most of her household. The couple flew to Las Vegas for his or her weekend wedding ceremony on Wednesday, October 6, and didn’t have any points.
A bridesmaid’s flight was delayed Friday. However it wasn’t till Saturday morning, the day earlier than the marriage, that the couple grew to become involved Romano’s mother and father wouldn’t make it.
Hlavaty’s pal was speculated to be on the identical flight as Romano’s mother and father from Chicago Halfway Worldwide Airport. He referred to as to inform the couple his flight had been canceled, and he didn’t know what was occurring as a result of he was nonetheless on maintain with customer support.
“So, I name my mother and father instantly and informed them double-check all the pieces as a result of we simply acquired notification that the flight was canceled,” she stated. “And, after all, it seems that it was, and I used to be freaking out. I used to be so emotional.
“That was most likely one of the vital troublesome issues I’ve ever needed to do was to get married with out my mother and father.”
CNN has reached out to Southwest Airways for remark.
Two years of planning, one venue change
Romano and Hlavaty acquired engaged October 2019. The couple began planning instantly for an October 2021 wedding ceremony, and it was initially speculated to be close to Chicago.
With all the pieces being so fluid because of the pandemic, the couple rethought their plans in March 2020 and opted for a smaller ceremony with 18 company in Overton, Nevada, about 60 miles east of Las Vegas.
Kimberli Romano and her husband Kyle Hlavaty.
Onyx & Arrow Images
Romano’s household checked out flying into neighboring airports in Phoenix, Los Angeles and San Diego — something that will get them within the common neighborhood, however to no avail.
“Everybody was scrambling. Kyle and I had been scrambling to attempt to discover flights. We clearly couldn’t get anybody on the telephone. We truly went to the Las Vegas airport to attempt to speak to an agent to see what we may do.
“It’s insufferable for lots of people,” she stated. “And it’s very, very disappointing. I’ve defended Southwest for therefore lengthy and been a loyal buyer of theirs for therefore lengthy, and the way in which we had been handled on the airport — they had been so impolite and disrespectful and had completely no regret for something. It’s very upsetting.”
Romano was in a position to get her mother and father on a scheduled flight out of Milwaukee for Sunday morning at 6 however discovered at midnight that even that flight had been canceled, as properly.
Aside from Hlavaty’s mother and aunt, who had flown to Las Vegas earlier within the week, the couple didn’t have any household current. Her mother and father watched by way of FaceTime as their daughter walked down the aisle.
“Service was spotty as a result of we had been up within the mountains and all the pieces, however my mother stated that she was in a position to see most of it,” Romano stated. “She couldn’t hear something however she may see most of it.”
Over 2,000 miles away from residence
The couple thought-about suspending the marriage, however her mother and father inspired them to proceed.
“We had been backwards and forwards on it about what to do,” she stated. “However then, this was what we had been working so laborious for. That is what we had saved for therefore lengthy for.”
Not having her household current on her wedding ceremony means was heartbreaking for Romano. The newlyweds plan to have a good time once more after they return from their honeymoon, however she stated it received’t be the identical.
“There’s truthfully nothing that they (Southwest Airways) can try this’s going to make up for what’s already been misplaced, what’s been taken from me, primarily,” she stated. “You understand, these are reminiscences that may’t get replaced by simply having one other.”
She nonetheless needs an apology.
“I’m positive that I’m not the one one that’s been vastly inconvenienced by what occurred over the weekend,” she stated. “I’m searching for a honest apology extra so than the rest. Cash’s cash. Cash doesn’t convey reminiscences again.”
The pair are in California proper now and have plans to make their means again to Chicago by automobile subsequent Tuesday.
