Cohasset police officer & new wife share first dance with family and friends in church parking lot

Instead of saying ‘I do’ in front of all their family and friends on April 26, they tied the knot in a socially distant ceremony at Saint Anthony Parish with only their immediate family members present.

The newlyweds got quite the surprise as they walked out of the church though. Dozens of their family and friends had gathered outside to congratulate them. The couple ended up having their first dance in the parking lot.

Rudy and Katie had been planning a beautiful spring wedding since their engagement in September of 2018, but as the coronavirus outbreak worsened in March, they knew they had to change their plans.

“We were just heartbroken,” Marsh told Boston 25 News. "We knew we most likely wouldn’t be having the wedding that we wanted. "

Getting a marriage license for their quaint church ceremony turned out to be their biggest challenge. With town halls closed, Helbock turned to his boss, Cohasset Police Chief William Quigley, for help.

“I asked him if I could reach anyone in Cohasset’s Town Hall,” Helbock said. “I got in touch with the Town Clerk the next day. It all worked out.”

The newlyweds still plan to celebrate their marriage with family and friends during a ceremony in late August. Their new invitations show how they’re taking everything in stride.

“We put a roll over toilet paper on it,” they said. “It said 'roll with it” just to keep it a little lighthearted and put a little fun into it."

Even after having their wedding upended at the last minute, the couple still considers themselves extremely fortunate.

“We’re also very heartbroken for all the other couples who had to go through this,” Marsh said. “We’re lucky.”

“A lot of people aren’t as lucky as us and they’re just canceling everything outright, so in a way it’s kind of a blessing,” Helbock added.