California Groom Gets Stuck In Elevator Just Before Wedding

CLOVIS, CA — Getting trapped in an elevator is in itself an anxiety-provoking experience. But for a Clovis man on the way to his wedding, multiply that times infinity.

On Saturday, Brandon Valdez was in an elevator at the Best Western Clovis Cole with his groomsmen, on his way to the altar.

"As soon as we go to leave and get into the elevator just to go down from the third floor, about halfway down - a jolt. We knew immediately something was a little bit off," Valdez told ABC7 News.

He texted family and friends to let them know he was stuck, but no one wanted to upset the bride, according to reports in ABC7 and KSFN. Eventually, the officiating priest assured Misty Valdez that it was the hotel elevator, not her groom, who had gotten cold feet.

Minutes later, the Clovis Fire Department was able to extricate the groom and six groomsmen, and the wedding went off, albeit a bit later than expected: Brandon was reportedly an hour-and-a-half late to the altar.

Now, the new couple is asking that the hotel compensate them for the trying experience. In addition to the anxiety, the couple had to skip family photos at the reception, according to KSFN.

“This was the most important day of our lives, and we missed some of that time that we’re not going to get back,” Misty Valdez told ABC7.

Hotel management has reportedly told the couple that the problem was out of their hands, but offered them a discount on future stays. As Clovis locals, the couple isn’t interested.

For now, all Brandon and Misty have is a good dinner party story, and hope that the adage “The worse the wedding, the better the marriage” is true.