“IN GOOD TIMES AND IN BAD…” these words have been spoken by hundreds of thousands of couples on the most special day of their lives. This phrase from traditional wedding vows reminds couples that some days will be better than others. But Brandy Kling and her fiance D’Angelo Dismute of Eagle Grove couldn’t have anticipated that the “bad” would come before they were even united in marriage – not in their relationship, but as a result of the worldwide pandemic known as COVID-19.
Since their engagement in March of 2019, the couple had been planning a beautiful wedding ceremony. It was to take place on May 16, 2020, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge. There was also a reception that was to follow at Fort Frenzy Cardiff Center. They had invited more than 250 guests with a large wedding party of seven groomsmen, seven bridesmaids, three flower girls, one ring bearer, and Kling’s two sons to give her away.
“Our lives were completely turned upside down just a couple weeks before our special day. We were told we were not able to proceed due to the venues we had being shut down and the large number of individuals we had in attendance,” explained Kling. “It took a lot of time and tears to accept the words that had just been presented to us.”
As reality set in, so too did the work that only deepened their sadness. Numerous phone calls had to be made to make new arrangements and let people know what was happening. New contracts had to be signed. Customized items had to be replaced. Even a new ceremony destination had to be reserved due to the church already having an event booked for the couple’s new October 24, 2020 wedding date.
Somehow, someway, this couple, who has been dating since 2011, found a way to stay positive and move forward. Their new venue for their wedding will now be the great outdoors. The ceremony is planned to take place at Kennedy Park in Fort Dodge.
“(Having to reschedule the wedding) gave us time to fix what we felt could have been done differently, and we weren’t willing to proceed without our family because we, especially D’Angelo, is extremely family oriented,” said Kling. “Due to the pandemic, we were beginning to lose some of those that meant most due to not being able to travel. By (Oct. 24) we hope that they will all be in the clear to do so, and we couldn’t say our ‘I Dos’ without those that are most important to us.”
Kling added that she knows postponing their wedding wasn’t the worst thing anyone could go through, but at that moment when they received the news – it sure felt like it.
“Instead we look at it as we would have still been together in October anyway. This just gives us time to grow, and of course, buy more stuff for our special day,” she said lightheartedly.” The day will be so much more special because we will be able to have something to look back on, and say to ourselves, ‘Hey, we aren’t the only ones that had to deal with this. So many individuals in the world are in the same situation we are, or if not worse. We didn’t lose time or life over this, but instead we were able to continue growing over the months we had to wait to become one. If we can get through this anyone can.”
Kling is a 2006 graduate of Eagle Grove High School. She continued her education at Iowa Central, and later went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in Human Services and Psychology at Buena Vista University. She has chosen at this time not to pursue a career within her degree just yet because she “loves” what she is currently doing – working at The Family Table in Eagle Grove, as does her fiancé, who was born and raised in Fort Dodge, graduating in 2010. He too went on to Iowa Central Community College where he plans to finish in the fall. Together they share five children – two boys and three girls.
“I’m not really sure what else to say except understanding how hard this has been on everyone in the world. We are huge on praying everyday – we wake, when we eat, and when we go to bed at night, and we continue to do so for those that need it right now,” Kling said.
