After a tornado blew their wedding off course, Alex Schilke, 25, and his new wife Sarah experienced a first dance like no other. And it was all thanks to a surprise professional performer, who transformed the evening into a truly whirlwind romance. The couple, who live in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, had meticulously planned their outdoor ceremony at the Grand Geneva Resort, hoping for sunny skies.
Despite a rainy morning, they managed to hold their ceremony during a brief dry spell. But the weather took a dramatic turn just after the family photos were taken, as a storm moved through southeast Wisconsin on Saturday evening. "Almost immediately after family pictures it started raining again as we moved inside for the reception," Schilke told .
"We had just barely touched our dinner when our photographer warned us about incoming bad weather. We rushed outside for some quick photos, and as we ran back inside, it began to lightly rain again." Things escalated further when their DJ informed them of a tornado watch.
"The staff told him that we needed to announce to our guests that they should consider taking shelter in the basement," Alex said. Several severe storms rolled through the southern third of Wisconsin on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Tornadoes ranged in intensity with winds between 75 mph and up to 135 mph.
In 2024, the state has seen more than 30 tornadoes, with 23 in May alone. Rather than heading straight for the shelter, many guests chose to go outside to watch the storm, but .
