Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — A Tennessee bride ended up heading to work in her wedding dress on her big day when her grandmother was involved in a car crash on the way to the reception.
That's because Sarah Ray is a paramedic, and when she heard that her family had been in an accident, she knew where she needed to be, according to "Good Morning America."
Ray and her new husband Paul were still at the church after exchanging vows on Oct. 3, preparing to head to their reception. Her father and grandparents had already headed over to the reception venue a few miles away when they were involved in a crash. When Ray got the call, she quickly switched into paramedic mode.
"Paul and I are both paramedics and a lot of our groomsmen and bridesmaids are also," Ray told "Good Morning America." "We just knew they had been in a wreck and the car had been totaled. We didn't know any injuries at the time."
I trusted my co-workers to know what they are doing. We were just there to check up on the situation. It doesn't matter if it's your wedding day or not.
–Sarah Ray, bride
Still donning their tux and gown, the couple immediately jumped in the car and headed to the scene of the crash. She arrived to find her father and grandfather walking around unharmed, but her grandmother was in an ambulance being treated for some bruising by the airbags, according to USA Today.
Though the paramedics had things under control, Ray hiked up her dress and hopped on the ambulance to make sure her grandmother was OK.
"The first thing she said to me was, 'Oh Sarah, I'm so sorry I ruined your day,'" Ray said.
After she assured her grandmother that her day was anything but ruined, she hopped out of the ambulance and headed toward her reception.
"I trusted my co-workers to know what they are doing," Ray said. "We were just there to check up on the situation. It doesn't matter if it's your wedding day or not."
Ray's mother, Marcy Martin, also happened to be her wedding photographer. As Ray walked away from the ambulance in her beautiful gown, Martin began snapping photos — capturing her daughter in her element on the biggest day of her life.
"This level of dedication is wonderful," wrote one commenter. "It is also more common than you think! I know several police, EMTs and firefighters who wouldn't hesitate to stop and render aid to anyone in need. Much respect."
As for Ray and her husband, they didn't take any time off the job for a honeymoon. Both went back to work at separate stations on separate shifts.
Ray's boss, Chief Jimmy Edwards, wasn't surprised at all to hear about Ray's actions on her wedding day.
"Professionally, Sarah is an outstanding paramedic and exemplifies what it means to work in EMS," he told "Good Morning America." "Personally, she is humble and compassionate and sets a good example for us all. We are all very proud of her."
Edwards plans to frame the now infamous photo of Ray in his office.
