Iowa Couple Ties the Knot at Funeral Home After Officiant No-Show

Rean and Alexis Webb's courthouse wedding plans were derailed, so they moved the nuptials to a funeral home chapel.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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An Iowa couple's plans for a courthouse wedding were derailed when the judge failed to show up. Luckily, the bride's quick-thinking father suggested they reach out to Jody Anderson, the owner of a local funeral home who is also an ordained minister. Within 30 minutes, Anderson had agreed to marry the couple in the funeral home's chapel, and the wedding went off without a hitch.

Why it matters

This story highlights the flexibility and resourcefulness of couples who face unexpected challenges on their wedding day. It also showcases the willingness of community members, like the funeral home director, to step up and help others in times of need.

The details

Rean and Alexis Webb had planned a small, low-key courthouse wedding in Marshalltown, Iowa. However, when the judge scheduled to officiate the ceremony did not show up, the couple had to quickly find an alternative. Alexis's father, Tim Schneider, suggested reaching out to Jody Anderson, the owner of a local funeral home who is also an ordained minister. Anderson agreed to marry the couple in the funeral home's chapel, and within 30 minutes, Rean and Alexis were husband and wife.

  • The couple's originally scheduled courthouse wedding was on February 12, 2026.
  • The impromptu funeral home wedding took place just 30 minutes after the couple contacted Jody Anderson.

The players

Rean and Alexis Webb

The Iowa couple who got married at the funeral home after their original courthouse wedding plans fell through.

Jody Anderson

The owner of Anderson Funeral Homes who is also an ordained minister, and who agreed to marry the couple at the last minute.

Tim Schneider

Alexis's quick-thinking father, who suggested reaching out to Jody Anderson to officiate the wedding.

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What they’re saying

“It goes back to my career as a funeral director ... I mean, you don't say no. You help people.”

— Jody Anderson, Funeral Home Owner and Officiant (KCCI)

“We can make this happen.”

— Tim Schneider, Bride's Father (Times Republican)

“It was even better than we expected because we kind of did get a real wedding in a sense. We're in a chapel. I got to walk down the aisle with my dad. The girls got to be flower girls. My son got to be the ring bearer, and his son got to be his best man. I mean, what more could we ask for?”

— Alexis Webb, Bride (KCCI)

What’s next

The couple plans to have a larger, more traditional wedding celebration with family and friends in the future, but they are grateful for the special and meaningful ceremony that took place at the funeral home.

The takeaway

This story demonstrates the importance of flexibility, community support, and finding joy in unexpected moments, even when wedding plans don't go as originally intended.