Couple’s home burns down as they get married. ‘The wedding ceremony saved our lives’
Moments after Eleni Vrettos and Tom Davis got married, they learned unfathomable news about their nearby Cicero, Illinois, home.
Vrettos said in a Facebook post her home of 30 years was up in flames on Feb. 15, a result of a suspected gas leak. Inside the home were her four cats, as well as two more that belonged to family members.
“I ran here in my wedding dress, like down the alley, and was watching from a neighbor’s yard,” Vrettos told WGN. “Everything was just smoke at that point.”
Watching was all Vrettos could do, as she was prevented from entering the home to search for her pets.
Vrettos fears the worst for her cats, who remained remained unaccounted for two days later.
“I am scared. I am worried. I am lost. My stomach is in knots,” Vrettos said. “There really isn’t a point in the post other than to make those who care informed of the situation. If by some miracle, my little babies were able to escape, please be on the lookout for these precious fur babies.”
The explosion caused bricks and debris to fly across the road and strike vehicles and buildings, WGN reported. Neighbors described “massive flames and smoke billowing” from the home within seconds.
Fire investigators found the remains of a person who died from the fire and explosion, according to WBBM. The victim has not been identified, but family members said one wedding guest is missing.
Two nearby buildings were damaged in the fire, causing 11 families to be impacted, WGN reported.
As she attempts to put together her life, Vrettos was grateful she was not home when it caught fire.
“Had Tom and I not been married just a few hours ago, we and my family members would’ve been dead because we would’ve been home as normal on a weekend,” she said. “The wedding ceremony saved our lives.”
With nowhere else to go, the newlyweds returned to their wedding reception, where they were met with “love and support” from their friends and family.
Vrettos told WLS the home belonged to her family for nearly 40 years. She had plans to renovate the house and had recently transferred its ownership from her mom to her and her husband.
“Where do we go from here? And however we may rebuild, we’re still without our cats,” Davis told WLS.
The cause of the fire reportedly remains under investigation.
Cicero is a western suburb of Chicago.
This story was originally published February 18, 2025 at 11:24 AM with the headline "Couple’s home burns down as they get married. ‘The wedding ceremony saved our lives’."