Friends and local businesses rally to give Erica and Darrell Meyers a dream wedding.
HAMILTON -- "Is this really happening?"
That's what was swirling through Erica Meyers' mind as several people and companies rallied to give her and her fiancee a wedding in just two days earlier this month after learning her mother was dying.
"It was surreal," the Hamilton resident said. "All these people who I don't even know stepped up. It was amazing."
After learning her 61-year-old mother was dying of ovarian cancer and only had weeks - maybe days - to live, Erica Meyers and her now husband Darrell Meyers rushed to plan a simple civil ceremony in Hamilton March 3 - a Thursday.
"I was worried because she is really weak," Erica Meyers said.
Meyers, who works as a secretary at Capital Health Medical Center - Hopewell, said she told a nurse at the hospital about her plans the Monday before her courthouse wedding date.
Nurse Rachael Hammer decided to reach out to her brother and his wife - photographers with Abigail Gingerale Photography - to see if they could at least take pictures of the couple on their big day.
Hammer's brother Andy Lydick said he and his wife Abigail Lydick immediately agreed and reached out to the couple the Monday night before the wedding.
"I'm such a mush," Andy Lydick said to the Meyers, reminiscing a few days after the wedding. "When Abigail called you and you started crying on the phone, we both started crying."
Andy Lydick said he and his wife discussed the Meyers' situation that night and decided they wanted to try to pull a real wedding together for them in just two days.
After reaching out on Facebook to all of their connects - the couple regularly photographs weddings - Andy Lydick said he, his wife and Trenton's Pearl Event Planning were able to secure absolutely everything from the makeup artist to the minister to the caterer for Thursday March 3.
"We pretty much had the bulk of everything done by Tuesday afternoon," Andy Lydick said.
Instead of city hall, the Lydicks arranged for the couple to marry at The Rose Garden in Hamilton, who like all the other businesses that participated, donated their services.
Donations of wedding services came in from all over New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
"It didn't cost them a dime except for your tux and your dress," Andy Lydick said to the Meyers.
Erica Meyers said the only items they spent money on were the ones they already needed for the courthouse wedding anyway.
"We didn't know we were going to have an aisle," Erica Meyers said. "We didn't know we were going to have a limo. We didn't know we were going to have a wedding."
One week later, Erica Meyers thanked everyone involved through tears.
"We only did what we hope anyone would do for us in your situation," Andy Lydick said speaking on behalf of himself and his wife.
Erica Meyers said she and husband Darrell Meyers have two children together, a 3-month-old daughter Alicia and 9-year-old son Dereon. They also jointly raised Erica Meyers' 15-year-old daughter Tazabrie.
The two met in 2001 after a friend set them up but Erica Meyers said they did not start dating until 2003.
"I was happy because her mother got to see her get married," Darrell Meyers said. "That's what she really wanted, for her mother to see her."
Erica Meyers said her mother - currently living at her sister's house - is unable to get out of bed.
"I was worried that morning (of the wedding) that she wasn't going to make it," she said. "But she pushed through. I would look over and see her smiling when we were doing our first dance, cutting the cake. I just kept glancing over. She did it."
The Meyers said they are grateful for all the other businesses that made their wedding possible: Mitch The Minister, Pearl Event Planning, Kelly Zeichner, Simply Shire, DJ's Raul and UltraFonk, Cat Limousine, Katie Brown, DDS Goodies, Maureen Nevins, Quality Plus Catering, Carly is Inspired, Underground Artistry, Caitlin Lafonte, CupcaitsAndCakes, Bloomer 'n' Things, Events to Perfection, Kelly Zeichner, Emma Zeichner, Noah Zeichner, Rachael Hammer, Lisa Pinaire, Erik Lydick, Earth Goddess, Necessities of the Heart, T.G.I. Fridays, Outback Steakhouse, Parris Chique Boutique, Homewood Suites by Hilton, The One Eyed Turtle.
Lindsay Rittenhouse may be reached at lrittenhouse@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.