AUSTIN, Texas — Nataliia Chernenko and Caleb Cohen first met through Facebook dating, with Chernenko being Cohen's only match.
"We kept calling to each other, Facetiming, doing the yoga, watching the movies online," Chernenko said. "Caleb makes any bad day or any bad luck, and he converts it to the greatest memory of our lives."
It was a match that blossomed into love.
"I think what I really fell in love with was just how easy Nataliia makes things, and she really just appreciates the small things," Cohen said.
After dating for four and a half years, marriage was their next step, with plans for a small wedding at Memorial Hermann Park in Houston.
At least, that was the plan – until Hurricane Beryl came along.
"The weather had not improved, the energy had not come back to the grid yet. No power, no A/C. And we were afraid to stay at the apartment," Cohen and Chernenko both said.
Instead of dwelling on their situation, the couple decided to take refuge in Austin by staying with friends. While driving up, they figured they could continue their love story in a city they love so much.
"We love the views of Austin," Cohen and Chernenko said. "You know, what if we just did it here instead of waiting 'til we got back to Houston? And it played out well. We found somebody that was ordained that could do the service for us."
Internet-ordained minister Tyler Fishbone came to the rescue after learning about the couple's story online. He married them on Wednesday night at Auditorium Shores.
"People in need, like natural disasters or something that you know just affects everybody and it doesn't discriminate against different people when it hits a whole area," Fishbone said. "So the idea that I could help out complete strangers was an attractive one to me."
It is a story of being caught up in the storm, only to be swept away by the force of love.
"We just enjoy all of our days together and small moments together," Cohen said. "And when problems come along, you know, [we] find a way to work through them."
The couple said they are thinking about relocating to Austin in the near future, with hopes of buying a home and raising rescue dogs together.