Advertisement Roseville community gifts homeless couple a wedding Church, businesses donate services for wedding Share Shares Copy Link Copy

C.J. and Danny Dodson's love story was unlike most from the moment it began."There was this guy sort of walking by,” C.J. Dodson said, describing the moment she first saw Danny Dodson. “And (then), he was standing under a tree and a branch fell and just barely missed knocking him out.”"When I met this woman, I almost pretty much died,” Danny Dodson said. “And, we've been together ever since.”The pair learned they had something very big in common: They had fallen on hard times and found themselves homeless -- and on the streets of Roseville -- because of sudden health issues.Danny Dodson was diagnosed with a rare heart condition, supraventricular tachycardia; and C.J. Dodson with chronic strokes."That's how I became homeless, because I came for a job and then you know, ultimately, I wasn't able to go,” C.J. Dodson said. “Life moves on whether I have a job or not.”C.J. said she once worked in real estate.The couple clung to each other in those times and decided to get married at the Community Covenant Church in Rocklin, where they worshipped.One of the first people they told there was Suzi Baxter, an active volunteer with the church."I was like, ‘Oh my goodness. I could give them a wedding,’” Baxter said.Not just any wedding, but the wedding every bride dreams of. Baxter began calling local businesses in Rocklin and Roseville, who were eager to step in.Suddenly, the flowers, the food, the honeymoon suite, were all taken care of. Baxter even got donations from other church members to purchase C.J.’s dream dress.“It tickled me right from the beginning, and I didn't even have to bat an eye,” said Teri Hafvenstein, who owns Abstractions Florist in Rocklin. She donated flowers for the wedding. “It makes me feel really warm; I was able to do something for someone I didn’t even know.”“It’s something you don't see every day. I felt like I needed to be a part of it,” said Thomas Dike, General Manager of Tahoe Joe’s in Roseville, which donated dinners to the couple.When C.J. and Danny Dodson finally saw what the community put together for them, they were brought to tears."It was just so amazing, it was overwhelming and then we had our first dance,” C.J. Dodson said. "I can't put it into words.""I never thought I would meet a woman like this or have a wedding like this or in a place like this,” Danny Dodson said.Baxter said this gesture was the least she could do for a couple who serves their church and brings so much light to those around them."We all go through stuff, I've never been homeless but I've had stuff happen,” Baxter said. “You help when you can so we could help or we could bless them.