A bride waiting and watching

Katie Wrighton and Kurt Edwards were keeping their fingers crossed that their wedding in Catalina could still go off as planned Saturday on a grassy patch in Descanso Beach. But just in case, they'd loaded the flowers, decorations and wedding dress into Katie's parents' boat, in case they have to move to Newport Beach.

The groom's family arrived at their hotel Thursday but had to be evacuated hours later. They moved into the bride's family's condo and had a party on the balcony Thursday night while watching the fire burn.

Half of the 75 guests are on the island already, and half are still on the mainland with their attendance somewhat in doubt.

"It's pretty scary and we have a wedding to think of," said the bride's mother, Char Wrighton, who lives in Yosemite much of the year. "We're going to go for it."

She and husband Bill said the locals don't want to leave. "When it's your home, you're the last to leave," she said.

Bride Katie Wrighton, 19, didn't sleep at all Thursday night, watching the fire through the sliding glass. But groom Kurt Edwards slept like a log. After working for two years as a hot shot with the U.S. Forest Service, he's used to fires.

-Seema Mehta in Avalon

Comments

[Ben DuPree]

I certainly sympathize. My bride-to-be and I are planning to honeymoon on Catalina after our June 8 wedding. While watching the TV and reading the Times last night, we would often see pictures of our hotel-to-be with the enormous fire in the background. Here's hoping for the best!

Although, in earnest, we're more concerned fir those individuals who live on the island and the animals (Buffalo, Horses at the ranch) that are being affected by the blaze.