Newlyweds rescued after spending wedding night stuck in elevator at Grand Bohemian Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina

CHARLOTTE, NC– A North Carolina couple’s wedding night didn’t quite go as planned after they got stuck in an elevator after their reception.

Panav and Victoria Jha’s wedding was anything but typical.

“I freaked out. i won’t lie It’s just like you hear that in movies,” Victoria said.

After their wedding on Saturday night, the couple were boarding the elevator at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Charlotte and heading up to the 16th floor for the after-party when the unimaginable happened.

“We got up maybe five feet and then boom, the doors are kind of stuck,” Panay said. “The door started to open so I could see the concrete wall right in front of me and I could see the concrete wall behind me. I thought that’s not normal.”

Four floors above, instead of wedding bells, they heard the voices of Charlotte firefighters preparing for a rescue.

“Basically, as a last resort, we rebuilt a new elevator system with ropes, rescue gear and ceiling anchors,” said Cpt. said Stephen Pritchard of the Charlotte Fire Department.

Crews rappeled to rescue the bride, groom and four of their wedding guests who were in the elevator with them, WSOC reported.

Victoria was in her traditional Indian wedding dress, clad head to toe in jewels, and climbed the ladder to safety.

“I just had to pick it up and just climb the very narrow stairs one at a time,” Victoria said.

Panav followed and two and a half hours later they took a picture together.

Today they thanked the Charlotte Firefighters for their quick response.

“So just to express my gratitude and appreciation for knowing you got my husband and I out safely,” Victoria said. “And the rest of the team and the way you guys did it, it was safe, efficient and I appreciate you all.”

It’s a story for life, but the question remains, did they make it to the after-party?

“We haven’t,” said Panay. “The bar is closed. We had great friends who hosted us. So they took care of everyone.”

The hotel released a statement saying that both the Grand Bohemian and the Fire Department did everything they could for these guests.

The Jhas are both doctors and are hoping to honeymoon in May.