A couple who flew to Las Vegas expecting to get married welcomed a premature baby girl when the bride unexpectedly went into labor before the ceremony.

Key Takeaways:

• Dakota and Kelsey Ross traveled from Kansas to Las Vegas for a vacation and a planned wedding.

• Kelsey was 34 weeks pregnant.

• While on Fremont Street, Kelsey went into labor, and was rushed to the hospital.

• Their daughter Kelbey was born via C-section, and the couple married in the hospital.

The Details:

The Ross family were excitedly expecting a baby girl, but decided to take a trip to Las Vegas and get married. Kelsey was 34 weeks pregnant at the time, and after the couple flew to Nevada from Kansas, they took some time to do a little sightseeing before the wedding.

The couple was on Fremont Street the night before their planned wedding when Kelsey went into labor.

"I just went to the bathroom and felt like cramps, kind of like period cramps, and then all of a sudden it's trickling," Kelsey said. They immediately rushed to try to find help.

“We go as fast as we can to the front of Fremont, and there's three sheriffs to the left outside White Castle. So, we ask them, ‘How long for an ambulance?’” Dakota said. "It takes about 15 minutes, but as we go into White Castle, we had an OBGYN there off-call to go to her at the table."

They were taken by ambulance to University Medical Center of Southern Nevada (UMC), where Kelbey Willow Sapphire Ross was born via c-section. “She couldn't have chosen a better day," Kelsey said. "Today's my mom's birthday, today's our wedding day."

Zoom In:

After giving birth, hospital staff made sure the Rosses' wedding would still take place.

A neonatal doctor — who is also a pastor and officiant — held the ceremony for them, which was attended by nurses and doctors to celebrate with them. The hospital also arranged for a photographer and invited local media.

Dakota's parents were also able to attend; they had traveled with the couple to Las Vegas to serve as witnesses. "My son just celebrated his 21st birthday a week or so ago," his father, Marc Ross, said. "He was coming for vacation. They were going to get married later today, but Kelby, the baby, she decided she wanted to be part of it."

T most special guest, baby Kelbey, was the flower girl.

The wedding took place less than 24 hours after Kelsey went into labor, and she said she has been recovering beautifully. “I literally had a C-section, and it didn't even feel like I had one,” Kelsey said, adding, “It's been like a dream come true, honestly."

Kelsey wrote on Facebook:

Late announcement. She was originally due September 23rd. But we are proud to welcome Kelbey Willow Sapphire Ross into this world! On August 15th! 4 pounds and 6.9 ounces! She decided to come on our wedding day in Las Vegas!

We are currently still in the hospital. We are looking at being released on Wednesday! And yes we still got married at the hospital and the main director is the one who ran our wedding and married us! And doctors and nurses showed up to watch it. They were so excited to be part of it!

The hospital surprised us with the 3 different news stations to announce Kelbey and our wedding! And also a photographer! It was so beautiful! And Kelbey was also flower girl! We are so very very excited! Our wedding and Kelbey being born went world wide on the news! A moment I’ll definitely never ever forget! We are so proud to be your parents and cannot wait to get you back home!"

The Bottom Line:

The family plans to drive back to Kansas together once Kelbey is discharged from the NICU. In the meantime, Dakota's father had advice for his son: "Just love your wife and love your daughter, and you know, cherish every moment, because she's gonna grow up quick."