Sudden Monsoon Hailstorm Interrupts Couple’s Wedding Reception, Forcing Guests to Seek Shelter

Kimberlee SpeakmanFri, August 14, 2026 at 5:02 PM UTC

20

A monsoon hailstorm suddenly disrupted a couple’s outdoor wedding reception in Dewey-Humboldt, Arizona

Guests sought shelter under small tents while some used creative items like trash can lids to shield themselves

The bride and groom stayed dry in an SUV, but the storm destroyed the reception venue and decorations.

A sudden storm nearly ruined one bride and groom’s big day.

Newlyweds in Yavapai County, Arizona, had just finished their Aug. 8 vows and were ready to party when a monsoon hail storm swept through the area, forcing them and their guests to seek shelter, according to a Storyful video.

The video shared by Skyla Higgins showed several empty tables and chairs at the outdoor wedding reception in the Dewey-Humboldt, as quarter-sized balls of hail dropped down from the sky.

A group of guests huddled tightly under a small orange tent with lights while attempting to seek cover from the storm.

A group of guests seek shelter under a tent amid the hailstorm.Credit: Skyla Higgins via Storyful

Another group of guests huddled together in a nearby small tent while waiting out the storm. Several people could be seen taking photos and videos of the event while waiting for the storm to stop.

The video also showed some people who seemingly didn’t make it under the tent in time. One person could be seen holding what appeared to be a circular trash can lid above their head, as other guests ran over trying to get under it for shelter.

At least one wedding guest seemed unfazed by the hailstorm, as a man in the video smiled with his hands in his pockets and didn’t seem rushed to find shelter.

Advertisement

“Thankfully, the bride and groom ran into an SUV that was close by,” Higgins told Storyful.

While the bride and groom were able to stay dry, Higgins told Storyful that their decorations and reception were ruined.

“After 45 minutes of this, we were all soaking wet, the venue was destroyed, and we felt awful for the family,” she said.

Guests at the wedding hide under a trash can lid as hail rains down.Credit: Skyla Higgins via Storyful

The bride and groom aren’t the only recent newlyweds who have had bad luck with the weather on their big day. Last month a wedding couple in New York, who planned to exchange vows in their backyard, had their own nuptials interrupted by hail.

— sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Video after the storm captured its destruction, showing downed trees and broken branches on top of parked cars and a wedding tent that collapsed under the pressure of two trees that collapsed directly on top of it, according to local outlet WHEC.

The couple and their loved ones took shelter in their home for safety, and the couple ended up getting married in the living room, per the outlet.

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Breaking”