Nothing was going to keep this bride from meeting Barack Obama on her wedding day

published 13 October 2015

A very special guest didn't RSVP to Brian and Stephanie Tobe's nuptials but showed up anyway: Barack Obama.

Full story of THIS is on the blog right now! (link in profile) We had a special guest appearance at yesterday's wedding... #POTUS #neverthoughtideverusethathashtag #ialmostpassedout -E #theyoungrens @potus_official @lodgetorreypines @mintweddingsA photo posted by The Youngrens (@theyoungrens) on Oct 12, 2015 at 1:19pm PDT

On Sunday morning, as they were getting ready for their wedding at The Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California, Brian and Stephanie first heard that the president was playing golf in the area. Eventually, they received word that he was at the golf course at their venue, and soon they were "stacked up against the window, looking out as we see him coming down across the green," Stephanie told NBC Los Angeles. Their wedding photographers, Jeff and Erin Youngren, were on the course snapping photos, and when Erin saw a brief opening for the couple to come down and meet the president, she let them know it was now or never. Dressed in their wedding attire, the pair booked it.

So THIS happened at yesterday's wedding... The President (OMGOMGOMGOMG) was in San Diego this weekend at the venue where we were photographing a gorgeous wedding, and we CAUGHT.IT.ALL. I'm writing the full story on the blog right now, but wanted to get this posted ASAP. Stay tuned!!!!! #POTUS #kindafreakinoutrightnow #eeeeeeee! -E #theyoungrens @lodgetorreypines @mintweddingsA photo posted by The Youngrens (@theyoungrens) on Oct 12, 2015 at 8:27am PDT

"I picked up my wedding dress and just started running down the hall," Stephanie said. She darted ahead, leaving her groom in the dust, but "I didn't care," she said. "I just had to get there." She was cleared by security, and the crowd parted as she made her way toward Obama. "I was in a state of complete shock," Stephanie said, and she started to cry. Stephanie and Brian both shook hands with the president, and Obama told Brian "specifically not to step on my dress," Stephanie said. "It was just really nice, totally unexpected. I never thought we'd have a chance in the world to meet him." After all the photos were taken and the president left, the wedding was only delayed by about an hour. Stephanie says she is still in disbelief. "Honestly, I'm normally a pretty shy person, but man, yesterday, for the wedding day and in that moment, I didn't care about anything," she said.

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.