Deb Lucero and Wayne Thompson got married Friday at Haskell Indian Nations University.

It was an unusual wedding.

For starters, about half of the 180 guests wore Hawaiian shirts. The ceremony opened with a recording of Elvis Presley’s “Hawaiian Wedding Song” from the “Blue Hawaii” movie soundtrack, and the groom wore a lei.

For the past two years, Lucero and Thompson had planned to marry this July 26 in Hawaii. They’d saved their money, and paid for their plane tickets. Everything was set.

But last week, Thompson, a Gulf War veteran and reservist in the Kansas Army National Guard, was called up for a year of active duty starting Tuesday.

“In other words, no wedding,” Thompson said.

He and Lucero figured they would just go the courthouse, get a marriage license and forget about Hawaii.

Newlyweds Deb and Wayne Thompson exit the gazebo at Haskell Indian Nations University after exchanging wedding vows. The Thompsons, who are co-workers at Haskell and planned to marry in Hawaii, were forced to reschedule their wedding because Wayne will be activated by the Army Reserves starting Tuesday. The Hawaiian-style ceremony was Friday at the Haskell gazebo.

Their co-workers in the facilities department at Haskell wouldn’t hear of it. They said if the wedding couldn’t be in Hawaii, then they’d bring Hawaii to the wedding. And they did.

“We really appreciate everything that everybody did to make this happen — for all of this to come together in just five days is truly amazing,” Thompson said. “We’re very grateful.”

Lucero’s mother, Judy Allen, was too.

“It was a beautiful ceremony,” she said. “We’re all very happy, but we’re sad, too, because Wayne is going away for a year. We are proud that he’s going and that he’s doing his duty, but we are worried, too. Hopefully, he’ll be safe.”

Afterwards, it was time to eat. The menu? Roast pig, Hawaiian style.

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