Baby’s early arrival upends couple’s plans as bride gives birth hours before wedding

A couple’s quick trip to Las Vegas for a chapel wedding turned into a whirlwind day that included the birth of their daughter and their marriage at a hospital.

Kelsey and Dakota Ross flew into Las Vegas to get married at the Little White Chapel on Saturday, but a walk down Fremont Street the night before ended with Kelsey going into labor.

“We go as fast as we can to the front of Fremont, and there’s three sheriffs to the left outside White Castle. So, we ask them, ‘How long for an ambulance?’” Dakota said. “It takes about 15 minutes, but as we go into White Castle, we had an OB-GYN there, off call, to go to her at the table.”

After an ambulance ride to the hospital, the couple’s daughter, Kelbey Willow Sapphire Ross, was born at 3:12 a.m. Saturday. She arrived more than a month early.

“She couldn’t have chosen a better day. Today’s my mom’s birthday. Today’s our wedding day,” Kelsey said.

Twelve hours after giving birth, Kelsey walked down the aisle. Instead of a chapel, the couple’s wedding ceremony took place at the hospital in front of a team of neonatal intensive care nurses and hospital staff. A neonatal doctor acted as the officiant, and the couple’s newborn joined them at the altar.

“It’s been like a dream come true, honestly,” Kelsey said.

“Everything the hospital did today is just awesome. They topped it off more than what we thought we were going to do,” Dakota said.

Their daughter’s early arrival changed the couple’s travel plans. They will have to drive back home to Kansas, but for now, they’re just soaking in the moment.