A Massachusetts couple’s wedding day was nearly derailed before it even began, after a thief made off with their car and everything that was packed inside for the ceremony – but the crafty bride wasn’t about to let that happen.

On the morning of Aug. 28, Julia Pallis and Collin Tully were set to leave their Boston-area home for Vermont, where their long-planned wedding would take place. The car was crammed with essentials for the big day — boxes of decorations, drinks, signs, and even Pallis’ wedding gown. In just a moment, as Tully briefly stepped inside after loading up, the vehicle was gone.

The loss could have been devastating. Beyond the irreplaceable dress, the car carried nearly everything the couple had prepared for their celebration. But instead of freezing in panic, Pallis immediately started running through what was inside. She realized her laptop was in the car — and then it clicked. She could track it.

Within minutes, she was in her own car, laptop location pulled up, relaying updates to police as she trailed the thief through Boston’s suburbs. Police described her reports as “live updates,” a steady stream of information that turned a chaotic theft into a traceable pursuit.

Her timing couldn’t have been better. At one point, the stolen vehicle drove right past a police officer on detail, allowing authorities to close in. Officers from Bridgewater and East Bridgewater ultimately intercepted the car, arresting 31-year-old Jason Grossett. He now faces multiple charges, including reckless driving and operating with a suspended license.

When police opened the car, every item was still there. The gown, the decorations, the drinks — all intact, all headed north once more. For the couple, the relief was immeasurable. They weren’t just grateful for the recovery of their belongings; they were thankful for the officer who intercepted the car and for Pallis’ presence of mind in the midst of panic.

Tully, a Boston firefighter, called his fiancée a “rock star” for her composure. Pallis herself downplayed her role, pointing instead to the officer who spotted the stolen vehicle. “We owe her our whole wedding,” she said.

By the end of the weekend, the ceremony went ahead as planned. And after everything, Pallis reflected that the ordeal only deepened her sense of certainty about marrying Tully. Surviving a stolen car and a near-missed wedding weekend, she said, left her feeling more confident than ever: “We’re making the right choice.”