A Boston Police Department patrol boat recently escorted a stranded groom from the Boston Harbor to his wedding destination on Thompson Island after his ferry transport broke down.
The patrol boat responded to a call to rescue the groom and other members of the wedding ceremony after their ferry was stalled in the Boston Harbor and needed to undergo last-minute repairs.
Meanwhile, the bride-to-be was anxiously waiting on Thompson Island and had no idea what was going on at the seaport.
“Yeah, I was in a little bit of a panic,” groom Patrick Mahoney said. “They always arrive on time. If you miss it, you’re going to ruin your wedding.”
The bride, Hannah Mahoney, immediately became suspicious when she stopped receiving texts.
“And then we didn’t hear anything by 1:00, and I was like, ‘Maybe a vendor is late, maybe something is going on,’” she said. “Then it’s like 1:15 [p.m.], and I was like, ‘OK, I think something is really wrong.’”
Realizing the urgency of the situation, officers stepped up to escort the stranded wedding party to their destination.
Boston Police Officer Joseph Matthews with the Harbor Patrol Division, fortunately, had a boat ready.
“The call was the ferry had a scheduling conflict, but they had a wedding. There was a groom in distress,” Officer Matthews recounted.
The boat was large enough to escort the entire party across the bay just in time for the ceremony.
“The officers quickly responded to assist, but when they arrived to escort the groom, they realized that the situation was dire, as several other members of the wedding party were also without a means of transport, in addition to the photographer, D.J. and all the decorative flowers for the ceremony,” police said in a press release. “The officers took it upon themselves to ensure that all parties involved, as well as the floral arrangements, made it safely to their intended destination out in the harbor.”
Thompson Island is one of the largest harbor islands and often hosts weddings during the summer season.
Boston Police Officer Joe Matthews returned to the island after the ceremony to congratulate the newlyweds before they returned for their reception.
The couple and officer even posed for a light-hearted photo.
“It feels good. My wedding day was the best day of my life. Hopefully, this will give them something to remember, getting around on a police boat is kind of special for their big night,” Matthews said.
“We thank our officers for going above and beyond the call of duty to make sure [the couple] could enjoy it together,” the police’s statement read.
