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Local couple shuffles up wedding plans due to coronavirus concerns

Don't worry, Kayla Partch and Nicholas Jones are still getting married tomorrow!

LINDSTROM, Minn. — Coronavirus is making its way into every aspect of our lives, including the big days.

One Minnesota bride says her wedding is still going on, but only with about 15 percent of the people originally invited and a whole lot of Facebook Live.

On a beautiful fall day, Kayla Partch and Nick Jones celebrated the promise of forever. Their engagement photos show the two happily frolicking among bright orange leaves, donning matching flannel shirts.


After their engagement last summer, Partch says she was eager to become Mrs. Nova (Both she and Nick are changing their last names).

"I wanted the wedding to be as soon as possible," Partch said. "I wanted to get married that August of last year but he wanted to have some time between the engagement and the wedding."

So, like many good couples, the elementary school sweethearts compromised. They decided March 21st, 2020 was going to be the day. They picked the day because of the Spring Equinox. Also because it was 3/21-- as in 3, 2, 1 'blast off!' according to Partch. Back then, the idea was great because they had no idea what was headed for them.


"Yeah we had no idea until a few weeks ago when things started to get-- a little...not scary-- but a little strange in the U.S.," Partch said.

Yep, she's talking about the coronavirus. Partch said she and her mother Penny had originally planned a Rochester wedding with around 150 people. When the venue called to let them know they wouldn't be able to accommodate because of coronavirus concerns, the Partches were quick on their feet.


"My mom and dad immediately said, 'oh, you can have it at our house, you can have it in the garage or the yard,'" Partch said. "So we're having it in the loft of the garage with the windows open."

The crowd of 150 has now been brought down to less than 20, immediate family only. The loft of the garage was also large enough to accommodate seats, six-feet apart for different families.

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"We're cooking out-- we're having salad but in paper cups so people aren't touching the same serving spoon and things like that," Penny Partch explained. She also said they are having individual chip bags as well as gloves for people to use. She said the cake was baked by a friend of hers who wore a mask and gloves the entire time.

As for the non-immediate family guests, they are still invited, the Partch family says. However, they'll have to watch the ceremony online, via Facebook Live.

"It's beautiful because we did it and now everyone who is coming is going to love it no matter what," Partch said.

Kayla Partch says the wedding is happening tomorrow afternoon.
She and her soon-to-be husband will do another ceremony, when they get a chance.

KARE 11’s coverage of the coronavirus is rooted in Facts, not Fear. Visit kare11.com/coronavirus for comprehensive coverage, find out what you need to know about the Midwest specifically, learn more about the symptoms, and keep tabs on the cases around the world here. Have a question? Text it to us at 763-797-7215. And get the latest coronavirus updates sent right to your inbox every morning. Subscribe to the KARE 11 Sunrise newsletter here. Help local families in need: www.kare11.com/give11

The state of Minnesota has set up a hotline for general questions about coronavirus at 651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903, available 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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