Close call for brides and grooms as flood waters nearly spoil weddings in Echo Park

BURLINGTON (CBS 58) – It was a close call for brides and grooms getting married at Echo Park on Saturday with the area flooded.

Echo Park is a popular spot for brides and grooms with a wedding venue just feet away. The venue, Veterans Terrace, had its terrace full of water Saturday morning. Newlyweds Carly and Ian Zelko saw the venue’s terrace flooded, as they were getting ready for their big day.

“I saw at least a foot of water. It was awful, I was so sad because I had just planned my perfect day on the terrace,” Bride Carly Zelko said.

The swollen Fox River was just above flood stage as water reached over 11 feet this morning, enough to cause this aggravation in Echo Park. With a bride and groom ready to tie the knot, Veterans Terrace staff and city workers quickly jumped into action.

“We’ve been pumping all day, and cleaning and power washing trying to make it look nice,” General Manager of Veterans Terrace Beth Reetz said.

They were able to pump all of the water out of the terrace and get it ready just in time for the couple. 

“This beautiful bride of ours it was her dream to always be married outside so we knew we were going to somehow make that happen,” Reetz said.

About two years ago, historic flooding drowned Echo Park and left behind widespread damage. It’s something on the mind of another newlywed who said ‘I do’ in the park Saturday.

“They had lots of flooding around here,” Bride Kayla Muehlbauer said.

It was a close call for brides and grooms in Burlington Saturday and they’re now feeling blessed the floods didn’t ruin their picture-perfect wedding day.

“It was just really magical that they worked so hard all day to pump it out just for us to have the perfect day that we wanted to have out here,” Carly Zelko said.

With more rain expected overnight, the Mayor of Burlington tells CBS 58 News that she’s going to keep a close eye on the water.