RALEIGH, N.C. -- The coronavirus can be blamed for the cancellations of thousands of weddings across the country. However, one Wake County couple decided to go ahead and tie the knot anyway.

Lauren Lynch and Ryan Jepson's wedding was originally scheduled for May 9 in Pennsylvania. They decided to postpone due to the coronavirus and opted to get married in a small ceremony by a magistrate in North Carolina instead.

When the pair learned the courthouse was not available due to the coronavirus, these two lovebirds became jailbirds of sorts when the magistrate at the Wake County Detention Center performed the ceremony.

It was not the destination friends and family had in mind.

“So when we tell the story, they get a big kick out of it, they think we are joking at first, but we tell them we are being serious, we are getting married at the detention center,” Ryan said.

After nine years of dating, this day was something they both had been waiting for. The couple still found ways to weave their family into the day. 

“We did a FaceTime call with our parents this morning and they walked down the stairs with me to see Ryan while I was all dressed up,” Lauren said. 

While they could have just waited another year, the two knew their desire to be husband and wife couldn’t be detained one day longer.

“We just felt like it was the right time,” Lauren said. 

“I think we are excited to move on with the next chapter of our life,” Ryan added.

A larger vow renewal celebration is slated for next year. The magistrate said on a typical Friday they may do anywhere from 30 to 40 weddings in one day. 

He said the county has conducted 15, maybe 20 weddings tops, over the last three weeks.