Couple’s Wedding Day Saved by Strangers from Craigslist

ne Texas couple never imagined they’d find the answer to their wedding day prayers on Craigslist.
Less than two weeks before his wedding, Raul Martinez, 26, was laid off from his job as a boilermaker in the chemical plant industry.
“I knew I was going to be laid off, but not that soon,” Martinez told ABC News.
After paying bills, the couple only had a little bit of money left for last minute wedding expenses earlier this month.
“We used our last $10 on something we had been needing for the wedding that we were missing,” Martinez’ wife, Savannah Martinez, told ABC News.
Even after making and selling tamales and trying to find things to pawn, they still needed money for the groom’s shoes and the bride’s hair and nails, so they listed their bedroom furniture set and television on Craigslist for sale. They were able to sell their television, but couldn't find a buyer for their bedroom set.
Judy Wehrman, 39, who lives in nearby Missouri City, Texas, said she saw Raul Martinez’ listing every day while shopping for furniture on the site.
“I showed it to my husband and said, ‘Honey, take a look at this ad. I think this guy needs some help. He keeps dropping the price. He’s desperate,’” Wehrman told ABC News.
On Sept. 12, the day before their wedding, Raul Martinez still wasn't sure how he was going to get the money they needed.
“That Friday [my wife] was crying because her aunt and everybody was doing their nails, and I didn't have the money to pay for it,” Raul Martinez said. “I told her I would come up with the money, but I didn't know how I was going to come up with the money because no one was buying the furniture.”
Wehrman said her husband wasn't interested in the furniture but told his wife that they could just give him the money. So the night before the Martinez’ Sept. 13 wedding, Wehrman sent Raul Martinez a text message.
“I said, ‘It’s not really the furniture that we’re looking for, but I was wondering what you need the money for,'” Wehrman said. “I didn't know then that he had just lost his job.”
When she found out that Martinez needed the money for his wedding, Wehrman offered to give him money as a wedding gift if he came to her house.
Raul Martinez said he didn't respond to Wehrman's message until the next day because they were busy setting up the reception hall for their wedding.
“I said, ‘If you still want the gift, you have to come to my house,’” Wehrman said.
“I told my wife, ‘Let’s go!' She said, ‘What if they jack us?’ I said, ‘They know we don’t have money,’” laughed Raul Martinez.
Savannah Martinez said she was scared when she saw the messages, but went along with her husband to wait for Wehrman near her home the morning of their wedding day.
When Wehrman finally arrived, she gave the couple $200.
“I took the money. I said, 'Thank you, we appreciate it,’” Raul Martinez said. “My wife started crying, and she said, ‘Thank you.’”
With Wehrman's gift, Raul Martinez was able to pay for his shoes and for his wife to get her hair done. Wehrman declined an invitation to their wedding that evening.
“Our goal was just to help out,” Wehrman said. “There’s a lot of people that’s blessed that can help others.”
Martinez said he’s currently working little side jobs, and the couple is no longer selling their bedroom set.
“God bless the people that helped us. This comes to show there are good people out there whenever somebody is in need,” Raul Martinez said.
“It’s good to know there are good people out there to help.”