LAMPASAS, Texas (KXAN) — For one California couple, the total solar eclipse was a once-in-a-lifetime experience in more ways than one.

While thousands watched the eclipse’s “ring of fire,” the couple exchanged wedding rings.

Clarissa Encarnacion and William Perkins tied the knot during totality at Two Naughty Chickens Ranch in Lampasas.

The couple’s story

The two have been together for nearly six years. Encarnacion said they met as ICU nurses at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, Calif. in 2018.

The two spent a year in Fort Worth while Perkins went to school to become a nurse anesthetist.

After graduating, the couple moved back to California where they work at the same hospital in San Bernardino.

In April 2022, the two got engaged in Big Sur.

The eclipse

Perkins said he saw the eclipse in 2017 and always talked about how amazing of an experience it was.

When they found out it was happening in Texas, they couldn’t miss the chance to see it.

“Texas holds a special place in our hearts. So when we saw that the eclipse was coming through Texas, we were like we have to go,” Perkins said. “We weren’t going to have a traditional wedding. So it was kind of perfect for us and for what’s authentic to us.”

Encarnacion said the two built a van together throughout the pandemic and had some adventures traveling around the country.

They used that same van to make the trip from California to Texas.

“We converted the van,” Encarnacion said. “Throughout the pandemic and leading up to here, we’ve been traveling in our van on and off.”

Both of their parents also converted their vans and agreed to tag along with them to Texas to see this year’s total solar eclipse.

Encarnacion’s sister, Janelle, was among those who made the trip.

“Since I’ve met Will and Clarissa together, they’ve always been having that unconditional love. It’s so unique,” Janelle said. “It’s been really great to share those moments with them.”

Surrounded by their loved ones, the couple said it was an out-of-this-world experience that they’ll never forget.

“A lot of symbolism about the eclipse,” Perkins said. “It’s something bigger than us.”

The ranch

Owner of Two Naughty Chickens Ranch Ashley Kluck said she was more than happy to have the wedding on her property.

“We’ve talked a little bit while they were setting up yesterday, and they seem like a very easygoing, laid back couple,” Kluck said.

Overall, Kluck said they welcomed more than 100 visitors for the eclipse on their ranch.

“We have 18 and a half acres. It is our home. So we live here full time,” Kluck said. “When we moved here, there weren’t any animals on the farm. Now, we have about 18 goats. We have two donkeys. We’ve got a bunch of chickens, guineas and ducks.”

Kluck said some visitors even came from out of the country.

“We do have a charter bus of 35 people from France that flew into Houston yesterday,” Kluck said.

Ultimately, she said hosting this eclipse will help them continue to maintain their ranch. Something they’d like to focus on is fencing their property.

Kluck said that could cost close to $20,000.

“Having this eclipse event, although it’s a lot of work for four days, it’ll help pay for a large portion of that fencing and kind of help us get things a little more situated,” Kluck said.