There are a few things Keilah Redman knows for sure about her wedding. One is that despite the fact she's from Michigan and her fiance, Jeremy Havener, is from Iowa, they want to wed in Galena, the Yukon River community where they met four years ago. She also knows that she's going to get married at 3:14 p.m. on March 14. That date happens to be Pi day, a celebration for the high school math and elementary physical education teacher at Galena's Sidney Huntington School. The date (3.14.15) matches the first five digits of Pi (3.1415).
But one thing she didn't know, at least for a few days, was where she might get hitched. Despite her having rented the Galena Community Center for her wedding reception, plans became a little tricky when she learned that the Iditarod reroute was coming through the town of 470 around the time Redman, 32, and Havener, 30, planned to marry.
The community center generally serves as the checkpoint headquarters when the race travels through the community in even-numbered years. But with warm weather forcing the race start north, the Yukon River community found itself on the race route for the second consecutive year.
So for a few days following the announcement, the city discussed whether the checkpoint could move, ultimately deciding to go from the community hall to the Galena Interior Learning Academy on the other side of town.
Galena mayor and musher Jon Korta said the new location, about 3 miles from the community center and near the airport, is not as centrally located and may make it more challenging for the community to reach. However, the new arrangement has a dorm-like setup for mushers, including beds if racers choose to use them.
"It'll be plush," said Galena Mayor Jon Korta. "Maybe too nice."
Even with the extra hoopla, Redman said she's excited to have her wedding during the Iditarod. The couple has family coming in from Outside, including Redman's 5-year-old nephew and 3-year-old niece who, she said, are excited to ride "sleds pulled by dogs."
Redman would have been willing to move her wedding location if need be but she was happy with the outcome.
"It never got to the point where I got super stressed," she said. "There's a plan out there, whether I know it or not."
The Hawk Highlights, the Galena Interior Learning Academy's student newspaper, first reported the news of the possible impact on the nuptials.