Megan + John

Megan and John became fast friends in college. John says he immediately knew Megan was the one for him, but was hesitant to risk their friendship. Once they started dating, it became evident the Lord was at work.

From the Videographer:

Absolute and utter joy. 

That’s the best way I could describe John and Megan’s wedding day.

Nothing says it better than when you see John’s face as his bride floats down the aisle toward him: laughter; tears; the sheer excitement and joy at the beauty of this moment.

Megan and John are a beautiful example of two people who are running together towards Christ, and their wedding film captures that story. I loved the words they wrote to each other beforehand--genuine, solid, and self-sacrificing. Their Catholic Nuptial Mass at the Newman Center in downtown Lincoln was an absolute blessing to capture, and I’m so thankful they asked me to witness and take part in their wedding day.

The entire was surrounded with prayer. I found John and his groomsmen sitting together and praying the Rosary before the ceremony. Megan and her bridesmaids shared a prayer together as well, followed by Megan and John’s own prayer time as a couple before the ceremony.. Seeing this couple and their friends take the time to pray in the middle of a hectic wedding day brought such joy and peace--this couple is supported by family and friends who are people of prayer.

One reception highlight was the mashup Megan’s dad, Dan, put together for their Father-Daughter dance, complete with the song “Dawn” from Pride and Prejudice (Megan’s favorite movie) and the theme from The Pink Panther.

One of my favorite moments was John’s reading a letter aloud that he wrote to Megan. Each and every part of both his and her letters was amazing, but the line I lose it at is this one. John said:

“As your husband, I promise to run with you towards Christ. And I know there will be times when that’s a challenge, but when those times come, I promise to put you on my shoulders and just keep running. We both know there will be times when I struggle, too, but I have no doubt in my mind that you’d carry me to heaven and back.”

And lastly, with the words, “It was through spending time with you that I learned so many things about myself,” I remember the exact reason I first fell in love with my husband! It’s a beautiful mark of a good relationship for so many couples, coming to better understand who they are and who God is.

I hope this film is a treasure for Megan and John in the years to come. To echo the words of John’s Best Man, “I can’t wait to see the love they’ve built be shared with the world!”

Nuptial Mass Location: St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center, Lincoln, Nebraska | Wedding Reception Venue : Starlite Ballroom, Wahoo, Nebraska | Videography: Victory Media | Photography: Mel Watson Photography | Florals: Abloom, Lincoln, Nebraska | Catering: ChefauChef, Lincoln, Nebraska | Rings: Nebraska Diamond | Bridal Gown: Beloved by Casablanca, via Blush Bridal | Bride’s Jewelry: JamJewels via Etsy | Hair & Makeup: College of Hair Design, Lincoln, Nebraska | Signage: Maggie Gillis, Love and Letters Company | Wedding Cake: Hannah McQuay, Tiers of Joy, Wausa, Nebraska | Cookies: Eileen’s Cookies | Cupcakes: Truly Scrumptious Bakery, Juniata, Nebraska | DJ: ARC Music and Entertainment, Lincoln, Nebraska

Adelae + Joe | Eclectic Coffeehouse Wedding

A chic, boho style wedding with quaint coffee shop vibes on the plains of the Lonestar State. An international love story with Christ as the architect and the attentive care of Our Lady of Victory.

After meeting at a young adult event hosted by the Capuchin friars in Washington, D.C., Adelae and Joe dated long distance for a couple months, with marathon Skype calls and Joe driving from Toronto to Baltimore to take Adelae on dates. 

But after a few months of dating, it became clear that God was calling them out of the relationship and to go their separate ways. Adelae needed to go on a healing journey after having been very wounded from a prior dating relationship. 

The hardest decision was to say goodbye, but they did so leaving no expectations for a future relationship in order to honor one another's heart and leave each other in freedom. 

They seemingly closed that chapter, losing touch soon after.

From the Bride:

Later that summer after discerning to end our relationship, Joe wrote and recorded an album named "Love Is." In the Fall, I moved down to TX to respond to a call to work in ministry. 

Within weeks of taking the job in a suburban Catholic parish in Dallas, I learned that Joe had booked a stop on his album release tour in my new parish community. 

Unaware that I had moved to Dallas, Joe had avoided MD altogether when booking his shows to help guard our hearts. 

Unbeknownst to either of us, our paths crossed a year later in a state that neither of us called home.

On Pentecost Sunday, I attended Joe’s concert. Of the more than 50 tour dates Joe had scheduled, there were only three free days. 

Though Joe had tried over and over again to book the date after his Dallas concert, he never could. We came to find out that the Lord had a plan for it. 

We spent that free day following the concert together. By the end of the day, we were dating once more. And three months later, we were engaged.

Joe's immigration visa was approved only three weeks before our wedding day, which means we only finalized all the details three weeks before our actual wedding date.

Invitations went out, the venue and vendors were solidified, and flights were booked merely weeks before because nothing was certain before! 

The visa only allowed 90 days for us to get married. He arrived in town in Dallas a week and a half before the big day.

We were married on a Sunday, so our wedding Mass took place between Sunday Masses at the parish. We chose to do our photos before our wedding at the Dallas Arboretum.

Joe and I chose to process into the Church together, as a sign of our free-will choice before the Lord to enter into this covenant with Him and one another. Since my dad didn't walk me down the aisle, he escorted me to Joe for our first look.

Immediately after our first look, Joe's brother gave us a blessing as we embarked on the day together.

During our dating and engagement season, we had begun to notice key saints that we felt drawn to and felt their prayerful support over our journey together. We incorporated these saints into a personalized Litany of the Saints that was prayed right before we exchanged vows.

Our marriage vows were received by Joe's brother, who is a diocesan priest in Canada. His brother, Fr. Francis, gifted us a beautiful crucifix that we placed our right hands on to say our vows. 

The crucifix now hangs over our bed as a sign to us of our fidelity and the source from where our love stems.

Joe, his uncle, and his brother worked together to build a couple's prayer kneeler, which Joe brought down when he immigrated. The kneeler was the place we received the Eucharist together for the first time as husband and wife. 

Today, that prayer kneeler is a formidable part of our family prayer life, where we pray with our son every night.

My pastor and spiritual director gifted us with a gold chalice as a wedding gift. This chalice was used for the first time during our nuptial liturgy. 

The gold chalice remains in our home and is used as a blessing cup for special occasions; namely, it was used once more during the baptismal Mass of our son.

Since our wedding day was a Marian feast day, we felt led to consecrate our marriage to Our Lady. We did a 33-day consecration preparation and prayed our consecration prayer to Our Lady of the Rosary during the Marian dedication after Communion.

For our reception, we rented out a local coffee house that was special to us. It was near the international airport, where we had many reunions during our dating and engagement season. 

We would often find ourselves frequenting this coffee shop to catch-up after time apart, dream about the future, and enjoy a coffee. We became friends with the owners and the baristas, and they were the ones that put on our celebration. (Some even attended our wedding Mass!) 

We are avid coffee enthusiasts; so not only was the cafe itself special to us, but coffee was something we appreciated together—so it seemed fitting.

Joe and I chose an eclectic spread: a taco food truck (fitting for yummy TexMex), a popsicle bar, a charcuterie spread, and coffees on tap—all of our favorite foods thrown together.

Our first dance song was written and recorded by Joe, titled "Rib to My Heart." (It can be found on Spotify, iTunes, etc.)

The title was inspired by a reflection on how Eve is formed from the rib of Adam and how she is meant to protect his heart just as the rib would. 

The lyric, "I'll be your shoulder," was inspired by a reflection on the shoulder wound Christ received from carrying the cross. St. Simon of Cyrene came alongside to shoulder the cross and help bear the burden—so spouses do for one another in bearing one another's sufferings and coming alongside each other to walk through the pain.

Our wedding felt like such a day of victory and triumph! After a 13-month immigration process that was four times longer than estimated, and the third planned wedding date, we walked into our nuptial Mass feeling absolutely surrounded by the grace that had moved mountains, demolishing obstacles for us to be together. 

There wasn't a moment's second guess that this was the Lord's plan for our life and our union. And Our Lady's mantle was all around us.

Our visa was approved while our family was praying the novena to Our Lady Undoer of Knots (to untie the knots of our immigration application process); our clearance to schedule his immigration interview took place the week of the Assumption, after we'd prayed for her intercession during the Assumption Novena; the first immigration interview date available was on the Feast of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary; and Joe was approved that day for his visa. 

Joe received his visa in the mail on the Feast of Our Lady of Ransom, giving him permission to cross the border. (We joke that Our Lady helped ransom him from Canada.) 

We were married on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (formerly celebrated in the Church as Our Lady of VICTORY!). 

I mean, you just can't make this stuff up. Our Blessed Mother’s presence was so evident to us.

Photography: Du Castel Photography | Nuptial Mass Location: Mary Immaculate Church, Farmers Branch, TX | Reception Location: GEORGE Coffee + Provisions | Photography Location: Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens | Bride's Dress: BHLDN | Hair & Make-Up: Pretty on Premises | Music: Dave + Lauren Moore | Videography: Jonathan Hilsden

Emily + Jon | Rustic Seaside Wedding

A quaint white chapel set in the coastal countryside of southern Maryland, with the bride wearing her mother’s wedding gown. Bouquets of bright sunflowers and hydrangeas, the bridal party in cornflower blue, and a waterfront locale combine to create a portrait of summer nuptials.

Jon and Emily met at a friend’s birthday party while studying abroad in Europe together. They ended up on the same trip together traveling to Lourdes, France for Easter that same year. 

From the very beginning, the Blessed Mother played an important role, and answered prayers gave them confidence that the Lord was calling them into a relationship.

From the Bride:

When discerning whether to take the next steps in pursuing a deeper relationship with Jon, I decided to pray a special novena of prayers to St. Therese. I was very specific and asked St. Therese, with the intercession of Our Lady, to pray and ask Jesus for purity in mine and Jon’s heart and for a physical rose to be handed to me by the end of the novena.

After nine very intentional days of praying and discerning, Jon and I were at a classical music concert. That evening, a girl named Mary (who had no idea about the novena) came up to me and handed me a rose simply because she knew I liked them. 

That same night, a girl named Theresa also gave Jon a rose. God has such a sense of humor!

After a lot of worrying and trusting and discerning and worrying some more, God had prompted two women (named after the very saints that I was praying to!), to present roses separately to Jon and I, inviting us to embark on a serious and romantic journey together!

Just over two years after that rose-filled night, we were married in a little white chapel in the farm country of southern Maryland.

The night before our wedding, we had a special Holy Hour prior to the rehearsal dinner. We asked our family and wedding party to be there to pray with us. Jon's sister and his friend led praise and worship and confessions were available.

But later that evening, everything that could go wrong did go wrong—including frozen flowers and stranded family members. At midnight, my maid of honor forced me to go to sleep and said that everything would be perfect in the morning. Sure enough, it was!

The morning of the wedding, the bridesmaids all got ready at my parents’ house. Hair and makeup were all homemade. I had my mother’s wedding dress specially altered to remove the puff and frills of the early 90’s and added little lacy cap sleeves.

My veil had been declared unusable just days before the wedding, but Amazon came to the rescue with a replacement. Free two-day shipping was a lifesaver!

While I and the girls were getting ready, Jon was leading his special hand-picked choir in the music rehearsal for the Mass. Music has always been a big part of both our lives, and Jon asked early on if he could take the reins on the music for Mass.

He carefully chose singers and musicians from both our families and dear friends. Jon formed a choir, emailed out music ahead of time, and held a special rehearsal to make sure the music would glorify God on our wedding day.

He picked a selection of favorite hymns, a friend’s original composition for our hymn to the Blessed Mother, and a favorite contemporary piece for the offertory song.

Looking back, one of the most striking parts of our wedding day was the gift of peace in my heart. I went to bed feeling all the anxious butterflies in my stomach. Yet, I woke up with an incredible sense of peace and joy. 

I was getting married.

That was all. I was going to the one “whom my soul loves," as the repeating anthem in the Song of Songs goes.

Getting ready, traveling to the church, and putting on my dress were all moments of joy. Before the Mass, I prayed the rosary with my bridesmaids. 

Both mine and Jon’s many siblings were employed in all different roles during the ceremony: bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, ring bearers, altar servers and musicians. I could hear all of my friends and relatives entering the church and greeting one another.

We lined up as a wedding party and each paired bridesmaid and groomsman entered one by one, until it was just my dad and I waiting in the church vestibule.

The music changed. I grabbed my dad's arm. I remember only then did I really start to get the butterflies again. 

However, once the church doors opened, I immediately locked eyes with my beloved, and I felt myself beaming with joy.

My eyes were glued to Jon’s the entire way down the aisle. I was aware of everyone watching, snapping a picture or video as I went, but I did not look at any of them. 

The Holy Spirit's gift of peace radiated through every pore in my body and soul as I walked down to my Love.

During our wedding vows, we held together a special nuptial crucifix gifted to us by Jon’s parents.

The ever-present themes of our relationship were highlighted in the details of our wedding day, including entrustment to the Blessed Mother, roses, and a wanderlust desire for travel.

The bridal bouquets were made of white roses, blue hydrangeas, and sunflowers. The bridesmaids were all dressed in Mama Mary blue and carried similar bouquets.

Each of our centerpieces consisted of a specially made slab of wood topped with a bucket of flowers, an empty wine bottle filled with a small string of lights, and a little sign with a quote or Bible verse.

In addition to traditional table numbers, we placed the name of a city that we had traveled to together on each table. Each card also had a handwritten story of our adventures in that particular city.

For our “guestbook,” we bought a world map and had everyone who attended sign it. The map is currently hanging in our home today!

Jon and I were both in households at Franciscan University. (A household could be considered equivalent to a Catholic fraternity/sorority.) Members from each of our households were able to make it to the wedding, and each group had a special little ceremony to “induct” the spouse with a special song and a presentation of household “gear” (sweatshirt).

This little piece of symbolism was a beautiful acknowledgement of the Christian belief that the two truly become one!

Early on in our engagement, Jon asked me if he could wash my feet at the wedding reception in lieu of the garter toss. Jon had a special silver bucket made with the words “Abide with Me” inscribed on it.

In his first act as husband, He knelt down and washed and kissed my feet. That moment was nothing less than sacred.

While Jon and I were dating and engaged, we had a fun little tradition. Whenever we were on a road trip we would stop at a new restaurant and test out their French fries. We decided to have various types of meat sliders served buffet style and a French fry bar complete with toppings!

My sister is an amateur baker and created a simple, small wedding cake decorated with actual sunflowers. The rest of the desserts included bite-sized cupcakes and cake pops made by various family members.

To finish off the night, Jon had one more surprise for me. He brought together his barbershop quartet from college and had them sing two songs as our last dance of the night.

One location that Jon and I had desperately wanted to visit before our wedding was Lisieux, France. We tried twice to get there while we studied abroad, but both times there were issues with the transportation system, and we were literally turned around on the train mid-trip. 

St. Therese clearly was not ready for us to come visit.

However, two months before our wedding, I was browsing plane flights and saw the cheapest international tickets I had ever seen, and they happened to be from Baltimore to Paris. We were going to Lisieux for our honeymoon!

St. Therese clearly knew what she was doing, and God’s perfect timing ultimately allowed Jon and I to visit Lisieux in the first week of our married lives. The trip also included a visit to Notre Dame, and we were able to dedicate our marriage to Mama Mary, as well as St. Therese and her parents, Saints Louis and Zelie Martin.

Our wedding was rooted in faith, our love of the sacraments and Our Lady, and our love for each other. Every detail was carefully planned and curated to truly be a celebration of our new family.

Photography: Ren Crespo Photography | Nuptial Mass Location: Rustic Chapel at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Solomons, MD | Reception Location: Parish Hall at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Solomons, MD

Mariah + Ben | Timeless Summer Wedding

A late July wedding filled with simple but meaningful details, a soft color palette, a multitude of family and friends, and the unmistakable peace of the Lord.

During her senior year of college, one of Mariah’s best friends turned to her and said, "I really want you to be part of my family… so you're going to have to marry my brother, Ben." 

The idea of dating her friend's brother was absurd for a number of reasons. To begin, he was younger—and he also happened to live in Grand Rapids, MI, while she lived in St. Paul, MN. 

Not to mention, she had her eyes on someone else. 

When the marriage was initially suggested, Mariah laughed, but five years later she would be doing just that.

In the meantime, as they entered the workforce, both Ben and Mariah began wondering when their future spouses were going to show up.

From the Bride:

About four years after his initial suggestion that I marry his brother, my good friend Rob gave my Snapchat (yes, I know...Snapchat) to Ben and our friendship began. It started with simple, fun snaps back and forth. 

Then it became more about sharing our days with each other, and we began talking on the phone. Finally, after a few months, we decided to meet, not for a date, but just to hang out. 

We met at a seminary of all places. Our matchmaker was currently in formation at Mundelein which was about halfway between us. 

We spent a couple of days walking the campus, making dinner with Rob, and just talking. It was wonderful. 

We left that weekend truly happy. However, neither one of us was convinced that this was it. 

Unbeknownst to each other, we both told the Lord, "Your will be done," and felt completely free. We kept talking—and snapping—and just a couple of days later, Ben simply asked "Will you go on a date with me?" 

A couple of weeks later, I hopped on a plane to Michigan for our first date. I stayed with Ben’s family and enjoyed every moment of my time with him and his family. 

I left that visit as Ben's girlfriend. We only did long distance for three months before Ben packed up and moved to Minnesota. And only three months after that, we were engaged.

It sounds simple and in a way it was. The Lord gave both of us the grace to trust in His will completely. 

As doors opened, we walked through them without fear or doubt. There weren't any major signs of God's will, but the peace we felt was all that we needed. This was what God wanted.

That peace continued throughout our wedding day. Walking down the aisle towards Ben, standing on the altar, making our vows. I had peace through it all. 

This peace allowed us to truly embrace that we were there to give ourselves completely to each other in the presence of God and His Church.

The very first thing we did when planning our wedding day was to reserve the Church. After that, I set out to find my dress. 

I knew I wanted something classic with lace. The general feel we wanted for our wedding was classic, elegant, and timeless. So, I wanted my dress to reflect that as well. 

I tried on quite a few until finally I picked one. However, I woke up the next morning in a panic realizing this was NOT the dress I wanted to wear. The bridal boutique was amazing and let me come back and find a new dress. 

The moment I put on my dress, I knew this was it. I loved how I looked in it. I knew it was timeless. I knew Ben would love it.

For every detail outside of the Nuptial Mass, we strove for simple elegance. We wanted softer colors so went with a slate blue, blush, and gray for our main colors. 

One of my favorite fun details were my and the bridesmaids’ shoes. I chose a unique pair of TOMS for each bridesmaid that I felt reflected their personality.

We have a number of mementos from our wedding day. Ben and I wrote letters to each other to read right before the Nuptial Mass.

I received a small purse from my aunt which was made from the fabric of my grandmother’s wedding dress. 

My grandmother passed away when my mom was only seven years old. Each granddaughter receives such a purse on the day of her wedding. 

It was a gift I had been looking forward to receiving for many years. It was such a beautiful way to feel connected to her.

Our primary goal when planning our wedding day was to make it utterly clear that the highpoint of the day was the nuptial Mass.

In our effort to make the Mass as beautiful and solemn as possible, we asked our presider, Fr. Rob, to chant most of the Mass parts. We were also allowed the use of incense throughout Mass. 

The music, the incense, the chant, all of it engaged every sense and brought us deeply into communion with our Lord.

There were a couple of details that Ben and I chose for our nuptial Mass that were very important to us. First, we chose to memorize and recite our vows. 

Our intention behind this was that our vows were something we wanted to remember every day for the rest of our lives.

Years and years later, we wanted to still be able to recite our vows to one another as clearly as we did on our wedding day. To help us memorize them, we each read them every night of our engagement. 

The second detail we chose to include was to make our vows while holding a crucifix between our hands. We wanted this because we wanted to remember what our vows meant: that we were laying our lives down for one another. The love we want to strive for is the love of Jesus Christ. 

A third detail we included was to have our Godparents bring forward the gifts at the offering. We wanted to include the people who had been present at the moment we became children of God.

Ben’s brother, Fr. Rob, gave the homily at our nuptial Mass. In his homily, he shared:

“It is a crazy thing for Jesus to say to us, ‘I want to share an adventure with you. One shared with joys and sorrows, struggles and victories. One filled with life and full of love. I want to suffer for you. I want to live for you, and I want to die for you. I want to love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I want you. I choose you.’” 

He then shared, “I said that these words were from Jesus, but actually these words were written by Ben to Mariah.” My heart was flooded with love and gratitude as I realized he had just shared the words Ben had written to me the day he proposed. 

Realizing that I had been given a man who was intent to love me as Christ loves me was one of the most poignant moments of my wedding day.

One of our great hopes for our wedding day was to have as many of our friends and family with us as possible. We chose to cut our budget in other places in order to manage this. 

We had a beautiful hall which was located at the parish I worked for. We chose a simple, but delicious, caterer, and my maid of honor’s husband did all of our floral arrangements. 

I love flowers, especially peonies, and he made my vision come to life beyond what I had imagined. With the help of friends and family, our wedding reception was beyond what we’d hoped for.

The Lord blesses us when we trust in Him. On the day of my wedding, I looked into the eyes of my groom and promised him everything. He in turn promised me everything. 

How are we able to make such extraordinary promises? Most certainly not on our own. I could not make such promises to my husband if I did not trust in God and His grace. 

That day and all the days since, I have lived in trust that God will continue to give us the grace to live our marriage vows each day. I trust that He will help me to be faithful and loving. 

We trust, and He blesses us.

The joy and peace of our wedding day remains because the joy and peace of that day comes from the love of God and our love for each other.

Photography: Jaimie Lauren Photography | Nuptial Mass Location: Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, St. Paul, MN | Reception Venue: Mother Seton Hall, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Hastings, MN | Bride's Ring: DeVries Jewelry Store | Bridal Boutique: Diamond Bride | Bridal Gown: Colby John | Floral Design: Nicholas Buseman | Catering: HyVee Catering | Bride's Hair: Cole's Salon | DJ: Harmony DJ (Josh McClure)

Brooke + Scott | Whirlwind Pandemic Wedding

When COVID-19 shuttered churches and threatened to delay the sacraments indefinitely, Brooke and Scott made the bold decision to get married almost a month early, with only hours notice, in the presence of only their immediate family members; but later that summer, they finally got their fairytale celebration.

Brooke met Scott on move-in day of her freshman year of college. Scott was a sophomore, and happened to be her RA. The two became fast friends.

A little over a year later—when they were no longer resident and RA—Brooke learned of Scott’s feelings for her after a weekend retreat with a Christian group on campus, and they began dating.

Over the years Brooke and Scott grew in their relationship together and in their individual relationships with Lord.

But when Scott experienced a reversion to the Catholic Church after graduating, Brooke was left feeling confused by a faith they no longer fully shared.

From the Bride:

While greatly troubled and conflicted by Scott’s return to the Catholic faith, I was so inspired by his reverence for the Lord. 

After fervent study of the Scriptures (as well as a vast variety of other writings and resources), mentorship from the priest who would later married us (plus a late-night ice cream trip with a professor and a great conversation with a seminarian), and lots of prayer, I made the decision to leave my Protestant background and join the Catholic Church. 

Before formally sharing this decision with Scott, but after recognizing it within myself, I felt something click between the two of us one day. It changed our relationship and our dispositions toward one another from that point forward and began to mold us into the model set by Christ and His Church.

Just before Christmas that year, Scott and I became engaged in our favorite spot—a string-lit gazebo in Baker Park in Downtown Frederick, following a horse-drawn carriage ride. Then, I was officially welcomed into the Church shortly before Easter. 

We continued to make our home at St. John Westminster, continuing to grow in our love for the Lord and His Church. We had a long engagement due to the processes required for me to complete my Master’s Degree program, acquire my license in occupational therapy, and start a job. 

Scott’s patron saint, St. Thomas More, was helpful to him during this time, inspiring Scott to work hard both at his profession as well as in his preparation to become a loving and devoted husband, centering his work, family, and entire life around his faith. 

Meanwhile my patron saint, St. Monica, inspired me as a patron saint of wives and mothers. She also inspired me to pray fervently for my loved ones and to never give up hope, clinging to my faith in God amidst life’s trials and tribulations.

Leading up to our wedding day of April 25th, from early March onward, there were new COVID restrictions every week. One day the bishop cancelled public Masses indefinitely, with churches open only for private prayer. 

On March 30th, we began texting with our priest to check in about our wedding plans. As I was leaving work, Fr. Andrew informed us that the Diocese of Baltimore had just announced it would be suspending everything beginning at 8:00 p.m. 

We began asking if we could have a private wedding that evening; meanwhile, Fr. Andrew was hearing confessions. By God’s providence, Scott had unknowingly gotten our civil license 48 hours before the courts closed indefinitely. 

Within a span of 30 minutes, we went from learning that churches would be closed to Fr. Andrew informing us, “We need two witnesses, can you bring two?”

We had to make sure we were at the church by 7:00, as it would have to close by 8:00. I had two hours to drive home where I was living with my parents and get ready.

I got dressed in what was supposed to be my rehearsal attire, put on my wedding shoes and jewelry, clipped up my hair, and painted a clear coat of nail polish over my otherwise-unpolished fingernails. 

Scott wore a plain black suit and a tie that one of our readers was supposed to wear in April. I held a bouquet of faux white flowers which were to be a part of the April decor, but cut off one single white rose to be used as Scott’s boutonniere.

We planned to get married in the chapel, but by God’s providence, a staff member unlocked the church, which had already been empty for weeks. Our videographer was able to get there quickly to capture the ceremony. 

My brother live-streamed the wedding on Facebook for friends and family, while Scott and I were married by Fr. Andrew in the presence of each of our parents, our brothers, and a seminarian. 

Our wedding occurred during Lent, with the church decorated with the humble decor of the season—an outward sign of the inner dispositions of our hearts at the time. Fr. Andrew read our previously selected readings and delivered a short homily. 

My father-in-law even held his phone up to the microphone on the ambo to play the processional and recessional songs we had previously chosen.

One reading in particular, a passage from Ephesians 5, was especially important to us. Scott and I had become deeply drawn to this passage during our engagement, and it has served as the crux of our marriage. 

Scott is the spiritual leader of our household, and I strive to submit to and honor him daily. However, all the more, Scott is a constant example of Christ’s sacrifice and servitude, laying himself down for me in big and small ways every single day.

Despite over a year of wedding planning, there was something so honest and humbling about walking down the aisle with my dad to an acoustic version of “Be Thou My Vision” without all the glamour, without having even rehearsed it; about wearing simple clothes amidst simple decorations; about being one of 10 people in a great, big, empty church filled with dried reeds and twigs; about leaving the church that evening and not knowing when we would be able to return inside. 

There was something so special about driving back to my parents’ house, receiving a small grocery-store bouquet of flowers, sharing chocolate cake from my in-laws, drinking ordinary red wine from champagne glasses my parents had kept from their own wedding, and then celebrating—just the eight of us—over oven pizza, strawberries, and carrot sticks. 

There was something so exciting about throwing clothes and essentials into a plastic bin so that I could move into the little townhouse with my now-husband that very night, only to go back into work at 7:00 the next morning, a married woman.

In August we were able to gather with family and friends for a renewal of vows and full reception. Due to continued COVID restrictions, we were unable to have our reception at our original location; however, by God’s providence, we instead celebrated at a golf course with miles of green grass, a big gazebo for our guests to enjoy cocktail hour, and a beautiful room with bright windows and a perfect dance floor. 

Scott and I are very traditional, and we incorporated all the classic details of a wedding. We’re also old souls, which was reflected from the entrance and closing hymns during the ceremony to the selection of old music at our reception. (And, of course, Nat King Cole for our first dance.) 

I wanted to feel like Cinderella, and I wore a big white dress and my hair in a twirly updo, and we had a big, white, swirly, three-tiered cake. Our reception was filled with white lanterns, emerald green ivy, white tulle, wooden accents, and string-lit trees. 

We finally got the celebration we hadn’t gotten in March, from walking down an aisle filled with loved ones on either side, to the special father-daughter and mother-son dances we had always dreamed about, and everything in between.

We are blessed, and we are humbled.

My biggest spiritual take-away from our wedding experience is that God is providential and His timing is not our timing; His plans are not our plans. 

As Isaiah writes, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways—oracle of the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, my thoughts higher than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). 

As Scott likes to say, “God writes straight with crooked lines.” 

I spent so long trying to plan every detail of the day, and spent so much time feeling worried and tearful, fearing that Scott and I would not be able to be married for an indefinite period of time, after what was already a long engagement and dating relationship. However, the Lord provides and He takes care of us. 

Photography: I'm Mary Katherine, LLC | Nuptial Mass & Vow Renewal Location: St. John Roman Catholic Church, Westminster, MD | Reception Venue: Piney Branch Golf Club, Upperco, MD | Coordination: Stephanie Day | DJ: Digital Sounds Baltimore | Floral Design: Wendy Carol | Videography: Emmaus Films | Cake: Graul’s Market | Bridal Boutique: Cameo Bridal | Bride’s Dress: Stella York | Bridesmaid Dresses: Morilee | Groomsmen Attire: Tuxedo House

Deborah + Mike | Romantic Backyard Wedding

Sweet blue floral details, thoughtfully accented with touches of ribbon and tulle, elevate a simple backyard setting on a sunlit, Ohio summer day.

Deborah and Mike met at Franciscan University of Steubenville and were friends for two years before they began to see each other in a whole new way. They relied on the guidance of Our Lady throughout their relationship and were engaged on the Feast of the Assumption. 

In planning their wedding, Deborah and Mike joined the ranks of brides and grooms who had their original hopes turned upside down by COVID-19. 

Yet at every twist, turn, and bend in the road on their journey to marriage, Our Lady continued to guide them.

From the Bride:

I had always just thought of Mike as my friend's older brother who was always very kind to me (and everyone) and a Marine Corps Veteran with a good sense of humor and some sweet tattoos. Our relationship deepened gradually and unexpectedly, and neither of us wanted to make things awkward in our friend group. 

It started with being at the library at the same time and unplanned study dates. Then suddenly we were hanging out one-on-one and going out to eat, and we found ourselves catching feelings for one another. 

Neither of us really admitted to it, and I think all of our friends around us picked up on it first. 

Before I knew it, Mike had asked all our friends for their blessing to ask me out on a date. He took me to Chick-Fil-A and then to a live action Marvel show. It was the best date I ever had, and it only went uphill from there. 

Our relationship has always been filled with the presence of Our Lady. Once, as friends, we were walking together, and Mike came with me to go pray at the Marian grotto at Franciscan, diverging from "another commitment." 

As we prayed individually to see what God wanted from us and from what was growing between us, we asked Our Lady for her guidance. 

Dating was new and exciting, but having known each other as friends took some of the nerves away. We didn't know how to be anything other than our true selves around one another. 

We felt comfortable and confident in our relationship, we learned early on how to communicate well with one another. As always, we clung to Our Lady and to the rosary along the way. 

So many rosaries and memorares were prayed at the grotto, where a beautiful image of Our Lady of Fatima stands up high against the stones. 

We both knew that without God and Mary as the foundation of our relationship, things would crumble quickly. We would often find ourselves at the adoration chapel and grotto at crazy hours throughout some difficult moments. 

Mary was always there, patiently and sweetly waiting for our arrival to shower us with love. 

Mike asked me to be his wife in the presence of Mary and Jesus, at the same grotto where it all began, and it was absolutely beautiful. 

I prayed often to Our Lady Undoer of Knots as we battled through many difficult moments that arose, and we were challenged to re-plan our wedding during a pandemic. 

Once again, Mary was there, and I clung to her more than ever as I asked for the graces to be the wife and mother that Mike and our future children deserve.

There is no greater role model than she, our sweet mother—a beacon of joy, love, and hope.

From the Photographer:

During an exceptionally gorgeous afternoon on the last day of July, Deborah and Mike were married in St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Steubenville, OH. They had originally planned on having a May wedding in Georgia, but—like most couples getting married in a pandemic—their plans had to change. 

Although both the location and date had to shift, Deborah still had a beautiful vision for her wedding. She has such a gift for decorating, planning, and putting together such pretty details, which elevated the whole day.

Surrounded by family and friends, and the prayers of those who watched via livestream, Deborah and Mike promised to be faithful to each other through all of life’s ups and downs. 

The nuptial Mass was stunning, and it was such a joy to photograph a wedding in our home parish! Their reception was in Mike’s family’s backyard, and it was the perfect setting for a joy-filled evening. 

One of my favorite details at the reception was a little table filled with images of Deborah and Mike including a watercolor painting of them. Guests signed it, and it will hang in their home as a reminder of their wedding day.

Planning a wedding in a pandemic is certainly not for the faint of heart, and couples are tested in so many ways. Through it all, Deborah and Mike kept their eyes on what mattered most: the sacrament. 

As long as they were married in the presence of God and His Church, they were happy.

Photography: Laura and Matthew | Nuptial Mass: St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Steubenville, Ohio | Bride’s Dress: Hayley Paige | Bridal Salon: Wedding Angels Bridal Boutique | Floral Design: Ed McCauslen’s Florist | Videography: Alyssa Dombrowski | Stationery: Zazzle | Cake: Emily’s Flower Garden | Catering: Federico’s | Bridesmaid Dresses: BHLDN and Azazie | Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse and Dazi

Jillian + Dalton | Stella Maris Styled Shoot

A Marian inspired styled-shoot, with elegantly combined celestial and nautical details, perfect for classic and coastal venues alike.

As Catholic wedding coordinators, Mary Dorhauer and Joy Foster of Something Blue Catholic Weddings always dreamed of creating a styled shoot with a Catholic theme. 

Their vision for a wedding dedicated to Our Lady, Star of the Sea, reflects the sacredness of marriage and the beauty the Lord has destined for us all in our eternal home.

From the Stylists and Coordinators:

As a Catholic wedding professionals, we occasionally straddle an unusual line between trendy pinterest/instagram wedding culture, and the dignified, spiritual side of wedding planning that is the sacrament of marriage. As wedding coordinators, we aspire to help Catholic brides and grooms to make sure they strike the right balance of both. 

Beauty is of heaven, and the Lord is the ultimate beauty, therefore, there is nothing wrong with a desire to have your wedding and photos reflect beautiful things! 

And of course, marriage is a heavenly rite and a mirroring of the Blessed Trinity, and should be treated with the utmost respect. 

It was truly a blessing to be able to create photos that reflect both aspects of a wedding, and to be joined by professionals who share a similar passion to ours; to help couples have the happiest, holiest, and most fulfilling wedding experience that they can create!

We love styled shoots because they’re such a wonderful opportunity for vendors to practice their craft and show off their creativity, without having to worry about the typical boundaries of what is practical for a wedding.

One of the first things we did for this shoot was to select models. We knew right away that we wanted to feature a married couple because there is no substitute for the love between a husband and wife, and we wanted that tenderness to read on camera. 

Jillian and Dalton, a local couple who were married in October of last year, were such an accommodating and charming pair, and really captured the romantic spirit we envisioned for the shoot. 

The theme we chose for our shoot was “Stella Maris—Star of the Sea.” We knew we wanted a Marian theme so that our shoot was automatically dedicated to the Blessed Mother, and chose “Star of The Sea” after reading a prayer penned by Pope St. John Paul II:

“Pray that we will never fail on life’s journey, that in heart and mind, in word and deed, in days of turmoil and in days of calm, we will always look to Christ and say, ‘Who is this that even wind and sea obey him?’ Our Lady Star of the Sea, pray for us.” 

Working from our theme, we crafted a palette that was neither celestial nor nautical, but an elegant combination of both; gold and cream (inspired by the celestial heavens) with accents of rich deep teal and navy (inspired by the sea). 

Our goal for the shoot was to subtly weave in both the sea and sky into every aspect of the shoot, while still creating a luxurious and classic aesthetic. 

The bridal bouquet, created by Eufloric Events, was a vibrant and rich confection of whites, blues, and greenery, with a hint of ocean foam brought in through dusty miller leaves. The gown, provided by Rouge Bridal Boutique, has a simple, flowy silhouette that highlights the grace and poise of our bride. 

For hair, provided by Laura Snyder, and makeup provided by Abby Prather, we opted for a soft and romantic look in order to reflect the natural glow of the night sky.

For our detail shots, we selected a few carefully curated items including a pair of pale seafoam blue bridal heels, a star-inspired perfume bottle, and pearl jewelry (provided by Rouge Bridal boutique). 

Our bride’s rosary, a pale green and pearl, is made from reclaimed seaglass, while our groom’s rosary, silver, is crafted from recycled fishing materials. We also wanted to support small Catholic businesses as much as possible, and featured a Stella Maris print from artist Jen Olson, and a candle from Stella Maris and Co. in their Matrimony scent.

We brainstormed for several weeks while we looked for the perfect location for this shoot, and in the end, we settled on The Allison Mansion on the west side of Indianapolis. It’s a beautiful and historic manor house on the grounds of Marian University. 

We loved the Allison Mansion because of its affiliation with a Catholic university, and—perhaps more importantly for a photo shoot—it’s opulent architecture! Built around 1911, this venue features cream colored marble, a grand staircase, hand carved leather walls, and a beautiful stained glass skylight. 

We were also fortunate enough to be able to shoot at the beautiful St. Mary’s in downtown Indianapolis, the very church in which our models were actually married last year!

The invitation suite and programs, provided by Eileen Adams (owner of Noteworthy Expressions), were a bold and upscale addition to our shoot. Eileen worked with us to craft a custom invitation suite featuring that deep teal we love so much, celestial touches, and an image of St. Mary’s that tied our two locations together beautifully. 

The menu card featuring the traditional meal prayer added a definitive Catholic touch to the formal table, which we styled with an ivory cloth and teal napkins, white and gold china, crystal wine glasses, and champagne hued flatware. 

The table was graced with a natural garland that coordinated with the bridal bouquet, incorporating blue candles and standing gold stars amidst the greenery to complement the elegant place settings. 

The vibrant cake, a small round creation by Taylor Made Cakery, was painted with swatches of blue and gold… and tasted as good as it looked!

Perhaps the most important part of the entire project was selecting our photography team. We were so excited to team up with not just one, but two talented photographers with extensive experience in Catholic weddings. 

Simple Heart Photography features a vibrant and bright style that tastefully captured the autumn colors of our outdoor portraits. Colette M Photography, a new addition to the Indianapolis area, produces a light and airy style perfect for the natural light and marble surroundings of The Allison Mansion’s aviary. 

Additionally, we were thrilled to be joined by Dylan Lee Videography, a husband and wife team who helped us capture the highlights of our shoot on film.

Overall, the shoot was exactly as we envisioned. While the vision of the shoot evolved as we added vendors and details, the final product fit in exactly with our company’s tagline; timeless, romantic, and thoroughly Catholic!

Photography: Colette M Photography

Photography: Simple Heart

Styling & Coordinators: Something Blue Catholic Weddings | Photography: Simple Heart Photography and Colette M Photography | Church: St. Mary's Catholic Church, Indianapolis, Indiana | Reception Venue: The Allison Mansion at Riverdale, Marian University | Gown & Jewelry: Rouge Bridal Boutique | Hairstyling: Laura Snyder | Makeup: Abby Prather | Floral Design: Eufloric Events | Rentals: A Classic Party Rentals | Cake: Taylor Made Cakery | Stationery: Noteworthy Expressions | Videography: Dylan Lee Videography | Models: Jillian Conrad and Dalton Kloeker

Sierra + Patrick | Family-Centered TLM Wedding

A classic summer wedding in shades of blue, filled with faith, tradition, and big band swing dancing.

Sierra and Patrick met at Czech Hall, through mutual friends from the Newman Center, where Patrick asked her to swing dance.

They courted for a year before getting engaged on their one year anniversary.

Throughout their courtship, engagement, and the start of their life as husband and wife, Sierra and Patrick kept their faith in Christ as the firm foundation of their life together.

From the Bride:

Patrick proposed on our courting anniversary after Saturday morning Mass in the church where we would eventually get married.

He went down to genuflect and didn’t get back up. 

We had a betrothal ceremony two weeks later and an eight-month engagement. Patrick and I decided to celebrate our wedding in the tradition of the Solemn High Latin Mass, and said our vows on the crucifix we now have in the center of our home.

There is no better way to start off your lifelong journey with your best friend when you have God as the center of your life. Patrick and I tried to emphasize that throughout our wedding day and relationship.

From the Photographer:

I met Sierra through going to Church at Saint Benedict. We have been friends for over 10 years and have attended various mission trips and retreats together. 

After their engagement, Sierra and Patrick had a betrothal ceremony, during which the couple solemnly pledges to marry one another and becomes officially engaged in the eyes of the Church. 

They received a priestly blessing for their engagement and Sierra’s engagement ring was also blessed! It brought the couple many graces and started their marriage on a solid foundation.

Sierra and Patrick celebrated the sacrament of marriage with a Traditional Latin Mass. In this tradition, the Rite of Marriage happens at the beginning, and is followed by the Mass.

They intentionally planned their wedding to honor God, bless their loved ones, and to make their day memorable. They brought the crucifix that would hang in their new home and said their vows over it. 

They shared their first kiss ever right after their ceremony. It was the perfect way for them to celebrate their new life as husband and wife! 

Appropriately enough, the reception was held in the place Sierra and Patrick first met, with a big band, where they had originally enjoyed swing dancing together. 

While they started their first dance slowly, the band then went crazy and the newlyweds quickly transitioned to a choreographed number. They enjoyed seeing the reactions of their parents and guests to this epic first dance.

The foundation of their marriage and the most important part of their day was incorporating their faith. It was incredibly special to them to be able to truly focus on what mattered most to them for their wedding day!

Photography: Constance Photography | Nuptial Mass Location: St. Damien Catholic Church, Edmond, OK | Reception Venue: Czech Hall, Yukon, OK | Catering: Interurban | Cake: You Need a Cake | Floral Design: Kristy’s Flowers & Gifts and the Center of Family Love | Bride’s Dress: Bella Rose Bridal

Natasha + George | Bridge Between Two Hearts

A love story beginning on the streets of NYC finds fulfillment in a Cincinnati summer wedding filled with military flair.

Natasha and George met for their first date at the Canal Street Station in New York; they walked around the city, chatting easily about life. From the start, Natasha noticed that George would acknowledge each person he walked by, rather than ignoring various passersby as she was accustomed to doing on busy NYC streets. 

What was supposed to be a lunch date, turned into an all-day event, traversing the city and the Brooklyn Bridge, grabbing gelato, and heading to a local restaurant to top off the evening where Natasha eagerly agreed to a second date.

While navigating career moves, long distance, shuttered churches, and a pandemic, Natasha and George held on to the hope of being married in July, before George would be subject to deploy at any time.

God faithfully answered their prayers as they entered the Sacrament of marriage in a beautiful Church surrounded by navy blue hues and bright white florals. They then celebrated their union with their bridal party at the base of another very special bridge.

From the Bride:

I was a journalist at Bloomberg News, and George was a senior at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. On our first date we dove into our faith lives, talking about growing up Catholic, attending Mass with the Pope, and participating in various young adult groups.

I could barely believe it: George was a devoted Catholic, a gentleman, a motivated learner—and not to mention, very good looking!

Falling in love in New York City was a dream. We strolled through Central Park, attended Sunday Mass in the Lower East Side, visited the Met, had a rooftop picnic, saw a Broadway play, and cheered on the home team at Yankee Stadium. I was even able to see George’s graduation from West Point and his commissioning as an officer. 

George helped me move to North Dakota for a short-term job, and he moved to Oklahoma for his first duty station. Neither of us enjoyed long distance, but we tried to make the best of it as we watched movies over FaceTime, cooked new recipes for dinner dates, and prayed together each night before bed.

It didn’t take long for the two of us to realize we wanted our relationship to last forever; in fact, it only took a few months. George asked me to marry him during our first Thanksgiving holiday as a couple. He gave the sweetest speech, ending it with, “Will you marry me?” 

Leading up to Christmas, we prayed a Novena to the Holy Family and began an intensive marriage preparation program. We learned more about our faith, our roles as man and woman, and our responsibilities to each other and the Church through marriage. 

We were able to talk more deeply with each other. I felt very lucky that contraception was not on the table for either of us. 

Although George was worried that would mean we would have 11 kids and counting, I reassured him that through Natural Family Planning we could faithfully plan our family together with God. The actual NFP course reassured us even more that we were doing the right thing for our marriage, future family, Catholic community, and God.

However, planning a wedding during the COVID-19 pandemic really put us to the test. George was quarantined at his duty station in Kentucky for months, and I was an emotional wreck at my parents’ home in Ohio. 

We faced uncertainty and a lot of changed plans surrounding our July 11 wedding date, but we felt this was our one shot, as George could get deployed at any time in the months following. We prayed more, but it was often a struggle, as we both felt distant from God because churches were shut down.

In preparation for our wedding day, we prayed a second Novena to the Holy Family, begging Jesus to keep us and everyone else from getting sick and to bless our marriage. To our surprise, when the day rolled around, everything fell into place.

When George saw me for the first time, walking down the aisle, he cried, and I felt even more assured in that moment that God had led me to the right man. During our wedding Mass, we together sang our hearts out, held hands and prayed, received Communion, and laid flowers before Mary. 

After Mass, in a small room by ourselves, we washed each other’s feet as a symbol of service to one another.

Even with all the uncertainty of wedding planning during the pandemic, I would do it a thousand times over, as long as I’d get to spend forever with my sweet husband, George.

From the photographer:

Natasha and George’s wedding day had so many special moments. During Natasha’s first look with her father, I was privileged to witness firsthand the joy and admiration on his face. The love of a father for his daughter is so tender and special, and this moment was truly priceless.

The couple chose to exchange letters and pray together before Mass. This was such an intimate moment between them, right before they became husband and wife. 

We took bridal party photos at Smale Riverfront Park beside the Roebling Suspension Bridge. This bridge held special meaning for the couple as it connects Ohio and Kentucky—where they each grew up. 

It also happens to have been designed by John A. Roebling, who went on to design the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, the setting of George and Natasha’s first date! 

Despite the pandemic and all of the restrictions, the Lord blessed this couple abundantly. It was so evident how much they loved the Lord and each other. 

Their wedding Mass was the center of their day, and it was clear how seriously they took sacrament. It is always so life-giving to encounter faithful Catholics whose witness provides me with so much hope for the future.

Photography: Laura and Matthew | Nuptial Mass Location: St. Boniface Catholic Church, Cincinnati, OH | Reception Venue: Receptions Fairfield, Cincinnati, OH | Bride’s Gown: Wendy’s Bridal, Morilee by Madeline Gardner | Floral Design: Swan Floral | DJ: Absolute DJs | Cake: Cakes By Mindy At Receptions | Bride’s Hair: Heidi Rogers | Bridesmaid Hair: Kentucky Updos | Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal, Vera Wang | Invitation Suite: Posh Paper

Tara + Sean | Elegant Extended-Celebration Wedding

While wedding planning during a pandemic brought countless challenges, Tara and Sean were determined to be married on the date they originally set, May 16.

These college sweethearts chose to celebrate their marriage on two distinct days, allowing them to fully focus on the different aspects of the celebration. After five years of dating and an 18-month engagement, God provided for them to be joined as husband and wife in the presence of their closest family members and bridal party.

On a sunny day later that summer, they gathered with the rest of their wedding guests to celebrate their union. With months between their nuptial Mass and reception, Tara and Sean learned firsthand that love is patient, and God is faithful.

From the Bride:

Our story is one of faithfulness. A story that stood the test of time and of doubt, fear, and uncertainty. The rainbow at the end of the storm.

Seven years ago, Sean began to pursue me in a way that no other man had ever sought to know me. We met our freshman year of college and were drawn to each other because of our similar beliefs. 

He’ll claim that it was my smile and my faith in God that he was first attracted to. I’d say it was his selflessness and sense of humor.

I knew we were on the right path when he asked my dad for permission to date me. After five years of growing closer to each other and closer to God, Sean proposed during a surprise photo shoot with my family. 

The next day, we felt God’s blessing over our engagement when the readings from the Mass reminded us that, “what God has joined together, no human being must separate.”

In 2020, not even the 18 months of wedding and marriage planning could prepare us for all of the uncertainty that came with the COVID-19 pandemic. 

We were forced to make unimaginable changes, but God prevailed in the end. He sent us the most compassionate priest and allowed us to celebrate our marriage on two days.

After many tears and lots of prayers, we were able to be joined in the sacrament of holy matrimony in the presence of our closest family members and wedding party. 

God protected us that day and allowed us to experience pure joy. A few months later, we finally got to celebrate our marriage at a reception with the rest of our wedding guests. 

Our faith was strengthened through the trials, and the final results were a testament to God’s faithfulness.

The blessing of having two days to celebrate our marriage was that I was able to focus on the two major parts of the wedding. For part one, the emphasis was on the nuptial Mass, and for part two, the emphasis was on the celebration. 

Thankfully, we had quality time with our wedding party to get ready together on both days. This time together meant the world to us after months of being apart. 

We shared gifts with our closest people, and they wrote letters to us. It was the perfect way to start the day with a walk down memory lane of some beautiful friendships and a reminder of our support system. 

Sean and I both come from large, Irish-Catholic families. Being the oldest girl cousin in my family, I knew I wanted some of my cousins to be involved in the wedding. We were so thankful that they were able to be there as our flower girls and ring bearers. 

Our parents received special gifts as well, since these days would not have been possible without them. I will forever treasure the moments of my mom helping me get into my dress and my dad seeing me as a bride for the first time. 

While Sean and I decided to go the traditional way of waiting to see each other until I walked down the aisle, we had a special moment together back-to-back as we read letters to each other. Sean also read a letter that I had written in 2013 to my future husband—just a few days before we officially started dating. 

Just moments before walking down the aisle, one of my bridesmaids offered to pray over me.

Her words of faith and encouragement were exactly what I needed in that moment. After a crazy morning of rushing to get ready, those moments to pause and take it all in were incredibly special. 

My dad and I joked about the first time he walked me down the aisle, which was actually about 20 years earlier when I was a flower girl in my aunt’s wedding. I wouldn’t walk alone because I had just busted my lip moments prior to the ceremony. 

I promised him this time I would be more careful, but he could still hold my hand as he walked with me. 

As the church doors opened, Sean turned around and started bawling. I couldn’t help but smile as I walked towards my soon-to-be husband—a moment that I honestly wasn’t sure would happen during the uncertainty of changed wedding plans. 

The beauty of the Catholic Mass put me at ease. It felt like a ceremony I had attended many times before, but this time God was uniting us in the most holy way possible.

Our family members read some of the same readings that we heard at Mass the day after our engagement. We were reminded of “a still more excellent way” and that He will “allow us to live together to a happy old age.”

During the homily, our priest talked about how our love is so resilient. As a part of our marriage preparation, he had us write letters about our hopes for our marriage in 10 years. 

We didn’t know until that moment that we would read those hopes aloud to our family and friends. We both talked about our commitment to each other, desiring a God-centered family, and growing together as we lead each other to heaven. 

Perhaps one of the best moments of our May ceremony was the opportunity to be extraordinary ministers of holy Communion. Because most churches were still closed due to the pandemic, this was the first time in months that many of our guests had physically received the Eucharist. 

We could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit as we offered the body of Christ to each of our loved ones. 

We left that Mass as husband and wife with celebratory “Mr. & Mrs.” balloons to show for it. 

In August, the rest of our guests came together to witness our final wedding moments. We finally got our first dance together, special dances with our parents, speeches from our loved ones, amazing food from our caterer, ice cream and cake for dessert, and a sparkler send-off as a grand finale. 

Although we had to wait a few more months, it was worth it to have most of our friends and family there to celebrate with us. 

During the planning, I remember focusing so much on the songs, timeline, decorations, and other little details of the day. But when the pandemic occurred, I was reminded that I am not in control. 

It was a lesson of giving over control to the One who is in control. Because in the end, both days came together beautifully. 

While it wasn’t the original plan we had imagined, the love and support that we received surpassed all of our expectations. It was a testimony to God’s plan for us and the ways that He has instilled our trust in Him as He continues to bless our marriage.

Photography: Catherine Rhodes Photography | Nuptial Mass Location: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, O’Fallon, MO | Wedding Reception Venue: Stone House of St. Charles, St. Charles, MO | Rings: Diamonds Direct St. Louis | Floral Design: Petal Pushers STL | Stationery: Rock Paper Scissors | Caterer: Ces & Judy’s | Bride’s Dress: Cleo Bridal | Bride’s Jewelry: Olive & Piper | Bridesmaid Dresses: White Traditions Bridal | Suit Rentals: Savvi | Cake: Wedding Wonderland | Ice Cream: Clementine’s Creamery | Bar: Booze Brothers | Hair and Makeup: Belleza Salon | Videography: Pancho3

Ingrid + Martin | City Glam and Multicultural Traditions

A celebration rooted in community with cultural traditions, a luxe NYC setting, and marriage lived out as mission.

Ingrid and Martin met through Frassati Fellowship, a Catholic volunteer community in New York City. They grew close and fell in love as they worked together planning missions to Peru and Jamaica. 

As they planned their wedding, they sought to invite their guests into the rich community life they’d found in the city, and into the mystery of sacramental marriage. 

In the original cathedral of New York City, celebrating with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, they bore witness to the beauty of the Creator and to their respective heritages.

From the Bride:

Now, more than ever, Martin and I feel so lucky to have been able to have our wedding before everything changed [due to COVID-19]. We really loved having a more intimate wedding by traditional standards, but now we know what a luxury it was to have a wedding with over 100 guests in New York and can’t imagine what couples are experiencing now.

We chose Old Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in SoHo for our wedding Mass. Not only had we done much of our volunteer work there, but the historic landmark has an incredible sanctuary with vaulted Gothic arches, stunning stained glass windows, and an 1868 Henry Erben Pipe Organ. The organ was played during the Mass and the music was led by some of our close friends from the Franciscan Friars. 

The rich music combined with the splendor of the space created for us and our guests a sublime setting where one couldn’t help but be filled with awe and joy. Exchanging vows at the altar will be a moment we will both forever treasure.

We have so many favorite memories from the day; it’s hard to pick just a few. Our wedding captured the reverence and solemnity of marriage but also the pure joy and bliss of a once-in-a-lifetime celebration. 

If I had to pick my favorite memories, they would have to be when Martin turned around during our first look (I cried) and, of course, walking down the aisle with my father.

When we were walking down Mott Street in SoHo, everyone was so friendly when people saw I was in a wedding dress--the drivers didn't even honk when we stopped traffic!

Also, we loved giving our favors--they were custom-made capiz shell votives sourced by my Tita, which is “aunt” in Tagalog, and hand-carried by my mom all the way from the Philippines. I also loved dancing with my niece Isla on the dance floor and being hoisted up on chairs during the reception.

Finally, we loved [all of the personal and cultural details we were able to include in the day]. From the custom invitations, the ceremony programs, the Spanish trio that played at our cocktail hour, the hand-painted escort cards, and all the décor. 

It was incredible to see all the aspects of the day woven together to create such a beautiful experience for us, our families, and our guests. Guests shared how it was both the most beautiful ceremony they'd ever seen plus some of the most amazing food they'd ever had at a wedding. For us to get compliments covering both the spiritual and reception aspects of the spectrum was incredible.

From the Wedding Coordinator: 

The overall design for the wedding was based on Ingrid and Martin’s Filipino and Peruivian backgrounds and incorporated their favorite color, blue--which also showed reverence for Mother Mary. They complemented the deep blue shade with mauve and tan--beautifully fitting for a fall celebration.

The Nuptial Mass included the Filipino traditions of sponsors for the wedding candle, wedding lazo (lasso), and arras (coins). Ingrid and Martin also had a pair of rosary rings blessed during the Mass that belonged to Martin’s mother. They now wear them on their right hands and on mission trips.

Both the Philippines and Peru are known for their textiles, so we pulled inspiration from these nations’ native dress for the attire. To complement these elements, we included natural details like Filipino capiz shells. 

Ingrid wore a romantic dress by Watters and a custom veil. One of my favorite details of the day was her navy velvet Manolo Blahnik heels; they made a beautiful statement against her ivory gown. She also wore her grandmother’s earrings and carried a capiz shell clutch from the Philippines. 

Martin wore a midnight blue pin dot tuxedo and shoes by Jimmy Choo. He also wore mother-of-pearl cufflinks that Ingrid’s mother had purchased in the Philippines. 

Ingrid asked her flower girls to choose a floor-length dress within the color palette, instructing them to pick something “that made them feel beautiful.”

The cultural significance extended to florals, which contained spray garden roses, ranunculus, dahlias, anemone, chrysanthemum, foliage, lisianthus, Lunaria, and privet berries. The bridal and bridesmaids’ bouquets, corsages, and reception centerpieces contained café au lait dahlia, anemone, Jasmine vine, garden roses, and Lunaria, some of which are grown in the Philippines and are very special to Ingrid’s family. The cream, mauve, and soft honey tones matched the season and the elegance of the day.  

The reception in a Little Italy restaurant, with its warm brick interior, exposed kitchen, and dramatic high ceilings, made the gathering of 113 guests feel like one big family dinner. Watercolor imagery and gold accents on the stationery complemented arrangements of vintage bottles and vases on each table, with custom votives and gold candlesticks. The votives were given as favors at the end of the evening.

In place of a traditional guest book, Ingrid and Martin asked guests to sign a beautiful coffee table book about sacred spaces that they'll display in their home. 

Photography: Laura Rose Photography | Nuptial Mass Location: Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, New York, New York | Wedding Reception Venue: Gelso & Grand Restaurant, New York, New York | First Look Venue: The Ludlow Hotel, New York, New York | Wedding Planner & Designer: Desiree Adams of Verve Event Co. | Videography: Filmwell Studios | Bridal Boutique: Our Story Bridal | Bride’s Gown: Shiloh by Watters, Style 3004 | Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Veil: One Blushing Bride | Bride’s Stole: Oscar de la Renta | Flower Girl Dresses: BHLDN | Flower Girl Crowns: Fancy Girl Boutique | Matron of Honor Dress: Jenny Yoo Logan Velvet Dress for BHLDN | Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo Malia Dress for BHLDN | Getting Ready Robes: Jenny Yoo Isabella Robe | Ring Bearer Suit: Appaman | Ring Bearer Shoes: Converse | Floral Design: Ephemera | Groom’s Suit: The Black Tux | Groom’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Groom’s Tie: Tie Bar | Hair Stylist: The Drawing Room, New York, New York | Cake: Pip ‘N Bits, New York, New York | Wedding & Engagement Rings: Tiffany & Co. | Makeup Artistry: Glam Squad | Stationery: Louelle Studio | DJ: Ambient DJs and Greg Hollmann

Abigail + Robert | Downtown Coastal Wedding

A journey of trust and certainty & a family-centered celebration with cool, dusty shades mirroring the Carolina coast.

When looking back on their first meeting in college, Abigail and Bobby both say it felt as though they already knew each other. They began dating after several months of friendship, and Abigail shares that “After dealing with drama outside the two of us, Bobby sat me down and told me he loved me, before we had been on a single date. 

“That night changed everything. We knew quickly after we started dating that we were meant to be, but the next few years of college would put our relationship through many hardships.”

They frequently prayed side by side in Adoration, adopting Saint Joseph as a patron for discernment and purity. “Kneeling side-by-side with him after receiving the Eucharist always gave me such a deep feeling of peace,” says Abigail.

As time passed, however, personal realizations led to a breakup that ultimately lasted six months. Leaning on Our Lady’s intercession, Abigail and Robert both sought growth and clarity, and cautiously began communicating once again. “[I felt hopeful], but still scared of being hurt,” Abigail says. “Bobby proved to me in big ways that he was serious about making us work, no matter what it took. He won back my trust and my heart--which he’d always had.” She secretly anticipated a Christmas engagement, but Robert proposed the following weekend.

From the Bride:

We wanted our wedding day to feel true to us: something special and elegant, but also comfortable and familiar. When choosing the church, we tried to get into the Basilica downtown. When the downtown basilica in our area wasn’t available, we chose to marry at my childhood parish. God knew exactly what he was doing leading us there. The same parish I altar served in as a girl, prayed countless times within, the parish that formed my spiritual connection to the ocean (it is situated right on the beach), and the one my boyfriend-soon-to-be-husband and I attended with my family every time he visited. There really was no better place for us to get married. We did end up choosing the event venue across the street from the basilica for our reception.

The combination of a small beach parish with a rich downtown hall could not have captured our personalities and hobbies better.

With it being a February wedding, the weather could have gone any which way, so I chose colors that were cool but coastal. A dusty blue, gray, and champagne made up the main color scheme, with a lot of creamy white incorporated. Our flowers were gorgeous blue hydrangeas with ivory spray and garden roses, along with succulents that also served as the groomsmen's boutonnières, which were wonderfully masculine. My husband looked so handsome in his gray suit!

Ring shopping is a cherished memory of mine. I remember Bobby really wanted something traditional. He tried on gold bands at first, but they just didn't feel like him. So he really took his time, considering different metals and styles. He settled on a white gold band with a nice edge that looked classic yet modern. It looked so handsome on his hand, and the amount of thought and care he put into choosing it really touched me.

Going dress shopping was a sweet occasion. My mom made me promise not to choose a dress at the first place we visited, because there would be plenty of options. With me were my Mom, my little sister, my aunt, and my cousin. The first place was a local boutique. The dresses I tried on in the style I’d envisioned for myself were not as flattering as I hoped. The second dress was more princess-looking than I wanted, but once I saw myself in the sparkly bodice, all I could think about was how I wanted Bobby to see how special I felt! After trying on more, I put the second one on again with a veil. As I looked in the mirror, my Mom came up to me and whispered, I think you should just get this one! It is still one of my favorite memories.  

Another favorite memory involved my earrings. We were having the hardest time finding the right pair, and eventually brought home two. I wanted my Something Blue to be visible (there was a blue ribbon on my garter as backup). One pair of earrings had a blue stone, but wasn't sparkly enough to match the dress. The other pair was sparkly, but without any blue. My mom eventually found the most beautiful, unique earrings with a light blue stone. They were the perfect accessory to match the dress! My Something Borrowed was a second pair of diamond earrings, which were my mom's--a nice little sparkle behind the show-stopping new ones!

As neither Bobby nor I are "party people", we decided a morning wedding and lunch reception fit us best. Our signature drink was mimosas! The reception was catered by old family friends. Barbeque chicken and homemade sweet potato chips are the two things I remember most.

Our wedding Mass was planned with great care. Bobby's uncle and godfather presided, and a family friend of ours was the Deacon who assisted.

We chose the readings very carefully. I wrote a paper on Tobit in college and was beyond touched by the love story. I had Tobiah and Sarah’s wedding night prayer taped to a "Purity Box" I made in high school.

We chose the Wedding at Cana for the Gospel, because I had lit a candle for us in Washington, D.C. under a mosaic of that mystery when our relationship was at a difficult point. Ephesians was incorporated because it wove together the Genesis account but also stressed important truths about the self-sacrificial role of the husband and wife to make a holy marriage. 

We had a big wedding party to incorporate Bobby's ten younger siblings and my three. The ringbearer, Bobby's godson, had our purity rings tied on his pillow. In Bobby's breast pocket, he had a bonnet I wore when I was baptized. In my shoe, I had a penny my Mom had placed in her shoe on her own wedding day for luck.

We love coffee shops, so we set up a coffee bar at our reception, complete with personalized coffee sleeves. We had a Willow Tree cake topper that reminded us both of ourselves in our early days of dating. And for our first dance, the song was "Without You Here" by the Goo Goo Dolls, because we felt it captured the deeply spiritual (often dramatic) nature of our relationship and efforts to finally be together.

Our little brothers surprised us with a joint toast that we desperately wish we had recorded. Our getaway car was featured a sign my sister drew for us and beer cans my dad had collected when he was a boy. We drove away with "Counting Stars" by OneRepublic playing on the car speakers!

Several guests shared that they felt like they had been invited into an intimate look at our love and relationship. That reception hall was full of so much love, it was overwhelming.

On our wedding day, we could both see our blessings as we witnessed the power of prayer and God's will being done. He knew we were meant to be together and made it happen. 

Not only was our wedding day a beautiful culmination of the prayer and work it took to help us reach the occasion, but also a well of grace to keep drawing upon as we entered our marriage. We are so loved, and so blessed to have been born into strong Catholic families that helped us approach this sacrament with this respect.

Photography: Susie Linquist Photography | Nuptial Mass Location: St. Therese Catholic Church, Wrightsville Beach, NC | Reception Venue: The Upper Room 1871, Downtown Wilmington, NC | Wedding Rings: Perry’s Emporium | Engagement Ring: Kay Jewelers | Bridal Gown: The Wedding Dress Shoppe | Bride’s Hair: Hunter Barnes of Freedom Salon | Bride’s Earrings: Design by Kara, via Etsy | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: David’s Bridal | Groomsmen’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse | Catering: Milner’s Cafe and Catering, Wilmington, NC | Cake: Pink Baking Co., Wilmington, NC | Floral: Fiore Design House, Wilmington, NC | Table Settings, Lighting, & Rentals: L&L Tent and Party Rentals, Wilmington, NC | Décor: Hobby Lobby, Amazon

Dana + Joseph | Intimate Spring Florida Wedding

A May wedding on a sunny Florida day, witnessed by an intimate gathering of guests. Hints of pastel blues accented the celebration, and eucalyptus leaves garnished the joyful reception.

Dana and Joseph navigated a long-distance relationship full of precious travel memories and, eventually, a marriage proposal. But they didn’t expect to plan their wedding during a pandemic—a crisis that changed many of their plans. 

Through the powerful intercession of St. Joseph and trust in the Lord, they still celebrated “a wedding day more beautiful than [they] could ever imagine.”

From the Bride

Two years before I met Joseph, a dear friend of mine, and one of my bridesmaids, told me to pray for my future spouse. I began praying for him that same day, and it became a continual part of my prayer routine. 

St. Anne is my confirmation saint and the patron saint of unmarried women, so I asked for her intercession often. I also prayed novenas asking St. Joseph to help me find a holy spouse like him—I had no idea my husband’s name would be Joseph!

Even though Joseph and I attended the same college, we didn’t meet until joining Catholic Match several years after graduation. We immediately connected over our faith, being self-proclaimed bibliophiles, similar travel interests, and shared values. 

Joseph lived two hours away from me, and our first in-person date took place during a weekend in August of 2018. It included lunch, a visit to the local botanical gardens, and dinner. During dinner, I felt an immediate need to visit God in the adoration chapel at my church: Queen of Peace Catholic Church. 

After our date ended, I went straight to the chapel. I felt God’s overwhelming love for me and a peace about proceeding with the relationship beginning to form between Joseph and me. Later, Joseph said he felt God answered his prayers with a rainbow on the drive home. 

He’s told me it was “love at first sight” for him, but I just thought that happened in movies.

By September we were courting and visiting each other almost every weekend. We are grateful to our friends and family who let us stay with them and respected our desire not to stay overnight alone with each other until marriage. 

In October, I traveled to Ireland with one of my future bridesmaids. Throughout the whole trip, I stopped by St. Joseph chapels in churches and prayed for our relationship. One of these churches housed relics of St. Valentine, so naturally I prayed there as well. 

We even had the opportunity to visit the town of Knock, where a Marian apparition included St. Joseph!

In January, Joseph and I began praying a string of novenas to different saints we had a devotion to, alternating who would pick the next novena and saint. We continued this practice throughout our long-distance courtship and engagement. 

Some of my favorite moments together with Joseph have been during our travels. He joined my family for our Thanksgiving and Christmas tradition of enjoying the Christmas lights at Callaway Gardens in Georgia. 

A month before our engagement, we visited Savannah, Georgia for a long weekend trip enjoying history, nature, and food. We stayed in different hotel rooms during this trip, to maintain chastity. And after our engagement, we traveled to Arizona to visit some of Joseph’s family and the Grand Canyon.

Joseph proposed in the adoration chapel of my church, Queen of Peace. It was the same adoration chapel I visited after my first date with him, and it also became the church in which we were married.

During our engagement, we were told several times to expect something to go wrong. But we didn’t expect a pandemic. 

Many of our plans had to be reimagined in a matter of weeks. We relied heavily on our friends, family, and church community to help us through the challenges of getting married during COVID-19. It was also a time to reflect more fully on what was most important: the marriage sacrament, not the perfect wedding. 

In spite of this, I prayed to God for a wedding day more beautiful than I could ever imagine, and it was. When our wedding day arrived, everything fell into place.

Receiving the Eucharist was particularly emotional during our nuptial Mass, as that was our first time receiving communion since the start of the pandemic in March. Our priest, Fr. Mike Foley, blessed our rings and concelebrated our nuptial Mass with Fr. Al Esposito. Fr. Al was our main celebrant, pastor, and dear friend who prepared us for marriage.

On the day of our rehearsal, we coordinated with Fr. Al to have a holy hour of adoration beforehand. We had half an hour to ourselves before guests and family joined. This really helped to center us and chase any nerves away.

Joseph and I also received the sacrament of reconciliation. We highly recommend this to any Catholic couple before getting married!

We chose Mass readings that reflected what we wanted our marriage to emulate: we love because God first loved us. Our first reading was Tobit 8:4b-8. We selected Psalm 128 (“may the Lord bless us all the days of our lives”) for our psalm, Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39 for our second reading, and John 17:20-23 for the gospel. 

Joseph and I also wrote our own petitions and prayed for those who could not be with us, including deceased grandparents, family members, and friends.

We spent a lot of time thinking about the songs for our wedding, said in the Mass of Saint Ann. And we selected some of our favorite hymns:

• Prelude: Laudate Dominum by Mozart and Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach

• Processional: Canon in D by Pachelbel

• Presentation of Flowers to Mary: Ave Maria by Schubert

• Offertory: The Summons by John L. Bell

• Communion: How Beautiful by Twila Paris

• Recessional: The Four Seasons: Spring by Vivaldi

We initially planned to have a string quartet and vocalist, but our church’s choir director sang and played piano beautifully instead. 

The details of our wedding included many small touches of sentimentality. My “something blue” was a navy rosary from the Vatican when I studied abroad. “Something borrowed” was my mother’s pearl bracelet, and my “something old” was a bow from my grandmother’s wedding dress that my mom sewed to my “something new” dress. 

I had a difficult time finding a wedding dress that felt right, until I tried on “the one.” To my surprise, the style was called “Trinity.”

To light our unity candle, Joseph and I used our baptismal candles. And we incorporated the Croatian tradition of holding a crucifix during our wedding vows, to show that through Jesus we are united in marriage. We also presented white roses to Mary’s statue as our first act as husband and wife.

Prior to our wedding, Fr. Al encouraged us to select the variation of the nuptial blessing we preferred. While Joseph and I kneeled during this blessing, he invited our parents to lay their hands on us.

I designed programs that shared the details of our wedding Mass with accompanying explanations for any non-Catholic friends and family. It also included love-related quotes from our favorite saints. 

While I wish our wedding could have been an opportunity to show the beauty of the Catholic Mass to all our guests in person, we were unable to have more than 25 attendees. So I pray the recording of our wedding Mass still shared the joy of our wedding day. And that our vocation of marriage will share the beauty of our faith in daily life.  

My mom and I crafted the reception decorations. I hand-lettered signs and designed table cards that showed Joseph and me at different ages: First Communion, college, etc. We also included wedding photos of our parents and grandparents surrounding our engagement photo. 

Joseph and I wanted our family and friends to have fun despite COVID-19. Our guests who were unable to attend the wedding joined us for the reception on Zoom, and they watched us dance and give toasts and speeches. We were so grateful to a local Catholic-owned restaurant who hosted our reception after we had to change our original plans. 

Unfortunately, both our best man and maid of honor lived out of town and were unable to attend due to travel restrictions. So they recorded their speeches ahead of time, and we played them at the reception. Joseph and I still had our first dance, and my dad and I had our father-daughter dance. 

We had so much fun and surprised everyone with spontaneous dancing throughout the night. For reception music, we put together a Spotify playlist of Big Band era songs with a few modern tunes. Fr. Al was our excellent—and hysterical—master of ceremonies. 

At the end of the night, we had our send-off under glow sticks and bubbles. And despite the pandemic, our intimate wedding allowed us to spend more time with each other and our attendees while being fully present in our new marriage sacrament.

For me, getting married during COVID-19 was a spiritual journey. I’ve learned a lot throughout the wedding planning process; namely, to embrace flexibility, to be open to changes in expectations, to find gratitude in every situation, to focus on what’s most important, and to trust in God as well as our family and friends. 

The biggest lesson has been a deeper understanding that we can’t control our lives as much as we think we can. And letting go of that control and handing it to the Lord brings freedom.

Photography: Jimmy Ho Photography | Nuptial Mass Location: Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Gainesville, Florida | Wedding Reception Venue: Napolatano’s Restaurant, Gainesville, Florida | Day-Of Coordination: Sandy DeTeresa, friend of the couple | Décor: made by the Bride and Mother of the Bride | Rings: The Gem Collection, Tallahassee, Florida; Manly Bands | Flowers: Publix | Cake: Publix | Wedding Program: Made by the bride and printed locally by Alta Systems, Inc. | Invitations: Shutterfly | Bride’s Dress and Veil: OML Bridal | Bridesmaids’ Attire: David’s Bridal | Groom’s and Groomsmens’ Attire: Men’s Wearhouse | Hair: Eden Michele Salon | Makeup: done by the Bride | Church Music: Gary Kneal, Music Director at Queen of Peace | Reception Music: Spotify playlist made by the Bride and Groom | Ice Cream (surprise from a bridesmaid!): Sweet Dreams Homemade Ice Cream of Gainesville

Sadie + Aaron | Traditional English Garden-Inspired Wedding

From the Bride

I was ready to give up on my foray into online dating when I received a message in my Catholic Match inbox. A man was asking about my favorite C.S. Lewis book and football in Texas. Unable to resist explaining my Texan love for football to a Northerner, I began corresponding with Aaron from Buffalo, NY. Unfortunately, he was a 5-hour drive from my home in Hershey, PA. 

Aaron claims that when he saw me, he knew he was looking at the smartest and prettiest young lady he had ever seen, and that our budding romance was too good to be true. 

The following week Aaron asked for a phone call, during which I recounted an embarrassing childhood story involving cats and bar charts. Luckily, this didn’t deter him from wanting to meet in person (in fact, that quirkiness is what Aaron loved most about me). 

After a month of messages, phone calls, and texts, Aaron drove to Hershey and took me out to Chocolate World for our first date. Later, our attraction to each other was solidified when we discovered we were both drawn to traditional practices. And most of all to the mystery and beauty of the Mass of the Ages.

When I invited Aaron to my niece’s 1st birthday party in Texas, I was under the impression he was going to ask my dad for my hand in marriage. But he had other plans. After my niece’s party, I went with my mom to a chocolate bonbon-making class. Aaron and the rest of my family were left watching March Madness. While I was gone, he let everyone in on the secret that he was planning to propose that weekend. 

Upon my return, Aaron led me to a private part of the house, read a poem he had written himself, and asked me to be his wife. In his thoughtfulness, he had ensured we were surrounded by family I didn’t see very often. And in my excitement, I also managed to spill wine on my poem—you can still see the stain to this day!

Looking back, Divine Providence was beautifully woven throughout our meeting and courtship. The first day Aaron messaged me was December 7, the feast of St. Ambrose—the patron of my childhood parish. After that, and before we met in person, he prayed the rosary every day, humbly asking Our Lady for her intercession in our new relationship. 

At the time, I was regularly attending the traditional Latin Mass (TLM), and Aaron happily accompanied me. We consecrated ourselves to Mary, and in the nine months preceding what we thought would be our wedding date, we completed the First Friday devotion in honor of the Sacred Heart of Our Lord. 

Devotion to the Sacred Heart was prominent throughout our engagement. We even had a Sacred Heart cake at our betrothal and engagement party. And little did we know, the Sacred Heart would soon play an even bigger role as the pandemic wreaked havoc on our wedding plans.

We wanted to be intentional with the details of our wedding, in a way that reflected the intentionality of the traditional Latin Mass. This started in the design of our wedding crest:

We included lilacs—the state flower of New York—to represent Aaron, and cotton bolls to represent my family background in cotton farming. We chose the Latin phrase “Semper Veritas et Amor” which means “love and truth forever” to reflect the initials of our monogram. Finally, we decided to have the Sacred Heart burning at the top. 

This was a reminder that our marriage was called to reflect God’s boundless love and passionate heart, set ablaze for all of mankind.

My childhood dream was to plan a May wedding full of beautiful spring blooms. COVID, unfortunately, prevented that dream from coming completely true. We were planning on marrying in Texas, but both Aaron and I were in New York when government-mandated lockdowns took effect. To make matters worse, Texas instituted a 14-day quarantine on travelers from New York. 

Even if we had a small wedding, it would be nearly impossible for Aaron’s parents to make it. Meanwhile, members of my family were urging us to consider postponing. But Aaron and I had already spent our engagement long distance, and we were eager to enter the sacrament of matrimony. Juggling competing interests began to take its toll. 

After many heartfelt conversations, Aaron and I decided that no matter the outcome of the pandemic, we would marry on June 20, the Saturday after the feast of the Sacred Heart.

Postponing for six weeks was a gamble, but Texas began steadily re-opening in May. Bad news struck, however, when we were informed we couldn’t use the parish hall for our reception. In a small town, the parish hall was the only wedding venue available. Luckily, my aunt knew of a large venue in a neighboring small town: a barn where livestock shows were held.

Although we secured a new venue, the uncertainty of the pandemic still left us feeling like our plans could crumble at any moment. Many meat-packing plants in Texas were experiencing COVID outbreaks, resulting in a meat shortage. There probably wouldn’t be any meat to serve our wedding guests. For barbecue-loving Texans, this was quite the blow. But we kept reminding ourselves that our day was about the sacrament, not the celebration. 

While visiting the parish we were to marry in, I noticed that instead of the traditional St. Joseph statue on the left side altar, there was a statue commemorating the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This small sign from heaven was all it took for Aaron and I to decide to entrust all of our worries to His most Sacred Heart.

Finding a church with a high altar and communion rail suitable for the TLM led us to St. Boniface, the parish home of my father’s grandparents. They even have a stained-glass window dedicated in their honor! 

Honoring our familial heritage was important to us; both Aaron and I are of German descent. Marrying at a church under the patronage of St. Boniface, the saint credited for converting the Germanic tribes of Europe, seemed a perfect way to honor the faith and traditions our ancestors had passed down through generations.

While planning wedding details, I came across a medieval tradition of using flowers as symbols of the Blessed Virgin. I wanted our wedding flowers to stem from this tradition. The bouquet we presented to Mary at our nuptial Mass included roses to represent the Mystical Rose herself, as well as “lily of the valley.” Legend says lily of the valley sprung up at the foot of the cross as Mary’s tears fell to the ground as she witnessed the crucifixion. 

It was important to me to include symbols of both joy and sorrow in our wedding day. I wanted a reminder to humbly bear the crosses of this life, to one day revel in the glory of the next. And to remind us that God can always turn our sorrow into something beautiful.

Although it was a hard decision to make, we were so grateful to have an event in which all of our family (including our five nieces and nephews!) could witness our union before God. 

Postponing allowed my nephews to be ring bearers and my young cousins to ring dainty silver bells down the aisle to signal the entrance of the bride. They were followed by my two flower girl nieces, who were gently coaxed down the aisle by their mothers, my matrons of honor, and their fathers, who were groomsmen. 

Postponing our marriage to June, the month devoted to the most Sacred Heart, seemed to be part of our story from the start.

For our reception, I was inspired by the beauty of traditional English gardens. An entire team of people (commanded by my warrior mother who planned and re-planned our wedding twice) worked tirelessly to transform a livestock barn into a secret garden oasis. 

Flowers adorned as many surfaces as possible (even the ceiling), and we rented greenery common in English gardens to surround our sweetheart table. A display of wedding photographs of our ancestors was decorated with lace and vintage wedding veils. And as a nod to our Victorian inspiration, we included a tea bar complete with tea, honey, sugar cubes, cinnamon sticks, and shortbread cookies. 

Vintage teacups planted with miniature ivies graced the tabletops and served as favors to our guests. We also gave away aprons emblazoned with either the Sacred Heart of Jesus or the Immaculate Heart of Mary, made for the men and women who helped serve at our reception.

We kicked off dancing with the German tradition of the Grand March. Then our guests danced the night away two-stepping and celebrating our new marriage—something we had doubted would ever happen!

I want other brides to know that no matter the circumstances, at the end of your wedding day, you and your beloved have still received a beautiful sacrament. Despite many setbacks, tears, and anxieties, Divine Providence (as always) reigned supreme, and the result was a beautiful, grace-filled day. It was a day in which Aaron and I ceased to be two single individuals and were united as one. 

The love, support, and commitment from our closest family and friends to make our wedding happen during such a trying time was a testament to true Christian charity. It was the love and generosity of a community formed by a shared love of God, and our wedding was just one beautiful fruit.

Photography: Kristin Bednarz, Kristin + Camera | Nuptial Mass Location: St. Boniface Catholic Church, Olfen, Texas | Wedding Reception Venue: Miles Young Farmer Show Complex, Miles, Texas | Rentals: Celebraciones Bellas and Joyce Wilde, family friend | Rings: Jared | Stationery: Papel Custom Design | Wedding Crest: Blush and Bloom Art | Florals: Stemmed and Lana Hirt, family friend | Cake: Betty Lehr, family friend | Hair: Janie Rodriguez, NoCo Salon, and Tami Schwartz, family friend | Makeup: Danielle Bradshaw, Posh Salon | Bride’s Gown: Lulu’s Bridal | Bride’s Headpiece: Lena Rom | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Molly’s Bridal Closet | Bridesmaids’ Veils: Rutt Shop | Tuxedos: Jos. A. Bank | Videography: Molina Media

Sam + Michael | Turquoise & Gold Country Club Wedding

Roses in light pastel shades and bridesmaids in soft teal dresses brought romance to this Georgia wedding. The reception was decorated with teal, gold, and glass accents, with muted greenery that added a touch of earthy elegance to the grand country club ballroom.

For Sam and Michael, their love for the Blessed Mother, which began during their relationship, carried through to their wedding day; a celebration with grace abundantly present in both the grand and intimate moments. 

Their photographer describes the experience of photographing their wedding, capturing all the intentional details lovingly planned by the bride and groom.

From the Photographer

Sam and Michael's August wedding was beautiful in so many ways. One example was their love for Mary and their consistent devotion to her throughout their relationship. 

While discerning marriage, Sam and Michael prayed a novena to Mary Undoer of Knots. Then, in 2019, Michael proposed to Sam on the feast of the Assumption, and they were married on the feast of the Queenship of Mary. During their nuptial Mass, they included a beautiful prayer to the Blessed Mother as well. 

From the prayers that Sam’s bridesmaids prayed over her, to the foot washing ceremony, to the lavender toss exit, Sam and Michael’s wedding was full of joy and celebration. 

The bride was married in a gorgeous dress from J. Andrews Bridal and a veil made by Michael's mother. While getting ready, Sam gifted each of her bridesmaids an elegant Stamped and Finch gold bracelet, customized with a specific word for each person. 

They were married in Peachtree City, Georgia, where both Sam and Michael grew up, in a sanctuary just steps from the room where they first met. Their reception featured the sweetest foot washing ceremony and plenty of dancing. Then they departed with a fun (and sweet-smelling) lavender toss exit. 

Sam and Michael are a testament of devotion to each other and their shared faith, and it shone through in every moment of their wedding day. As their photographer, it was a gift to see all the moments that unfolded—each a witness to the holiness of the couple and their families. 

To see God working in the grand, beautiful moments and the small, intimate glances was powerful. I believe every wedding can reflect this divine beauty, if only you invite the Lord in.

Photographer: Maggie Dunn Photography | Nuptial Mass: Holy Trinity in Peachtree City, GA | Wedding Reception Venue + Catering: Flat Creek Country Club | Florals: Arthur Murphey Florist | Invitations: Minted | Hairstylist: Anna Kemp | Dress Shop: J Andrews Bridal | Bridesmaids Dresses: Birdy Grey | Bridesmaids Bracelets: Stamped and Finch

Mary + Dominic | Traditional Italian-American Cathedral Wedding

From the Bride

As healthcare professionals in a pandemic year, my husband and I fought to make our marriage happen. There were so many obstacles during 2020, but we knew immediately who to entrust our hearts to: the Blessed Mother. 

She had brought us together through years of prayer, trial, and sacrifice, and she would see us through to the altar to profess our lifelong love and commitment before God.

You'll see in our pictures the continual appearance of my rosary. It was the same rosary I held on a pilgrimage to Fatima in 2017, when I begged Our Lady of Fatima to bring me the husband God intended for me. Just months after, I met Dominic. And there was no better sign that Mary had chosen him for me than his profoundly Marian name.

It was incredibly important to us to celebrate a traditional Mass with sacred music. It would act as a prayer of thanksgiving for Our Lady and her Son bringing us to our wedding day. 

We chose musical pieces that have stood the test of time, namely "Sicut Cervus" by Palestrina and "Cantique de Jean Racine" by Gabriel Faust. I processed down the aisle to "Oh God Beyond All Praising," in gratitude to the Father for the gift of our marriage.

I had my beloved brother, a seminarian in the Diocese of Alexandria, walk me down the aisle. He has always been a father figure to me, and as he led me to the altar, it was like a symbol of what was to come upon his ordination: him leading his future parish flock to their Shepherd.

Since both of our families come from the Mediterannean coast (Italy and Malta), we decided to have a Almafi Coast-themed reception, complete with lemon trees and garlands of olive branches and rosemary herbs. 

And yet, our love for America is strong, and we also included not-so-subtle hints of our patriotism for this great country--including our gorgeous national monuments cake.

No matter how extravagant your wedding, you'll feel close to your spouse in a way you've never felt before. For me, it was an amazing and shocking realization of the beauty of the union between husband and wife. And how meaningful it becomes when you welcome your faith into your marriage. 

One of the most memorable moments of our wedding day was when a guest took us aside and said they had never witnessed a holier, more sacred Mass. They saw it as an unmistakable symbol of our love for each other and wished they could find the same sanctifying love in another.

I felt like I began to understand the complexities of the sacrament of marriage. 

God is the source, and marriage is an earthly testament of His love for us; a reflection of the love we will experience with him in eternity.

Photographer: Claudia Oliver Photography | Nuptial Mass Location: The Cathedral of St Matthew the Apostle, Washington, DC | Reception Venue : Woodend Sanctuary | Caterer: Main Event Caterers | Floral Design: kate & lilly floral design | Hair and Makeup: Perry Warren Hair & Makeup | Music: The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Schola Cantorum

Alexandra + Aidan | Baltimore Basilica Pandemic Wedding

We are honored by the opportunity to walk alongside you in this marriage ministry, from Yes to I Do and beyond, and we love returning to our couples' stories as they continue to unfold. If we've featured your love story in our How He Asked engagement series we invite you to share your wedding with us as well.

Submit your wedding or engagement story to be featured on Spoken Bride!

From the divine grandeur of the Baltimore Basilica to the intimate, candlelit reception in the bride’s family home, this Maryland wedding exuded the supernatural beauty and joy of the sacrament, despite pandemic conditions.

An elegant cocktail hour and dance floor on a rustic wooden deck. A simple living room transformed into a dining area fit to rival a professional reception hall. Lavish, beautifully plated meals from the family kitchen. 

Alexandra and Aidan had planned their grand May 2020 wedding when COVID-19 hit, devastating all their carefully laid plans and postponing their nuptials. But after much prayer, patience, perseverance, and creativity compromises, their intimate celebration remained “a day that will never be forgotten.”

From the Bride

Aidan and I attended Mount St. Mary's University and officially met while leading a retreat for incoming freshmen, despite knowing each other in passing years prior. During the retreat, we began to notice one another in a new light and started discerning if it was the right time to start a relationship. We decided it was. 

Related: How He Asked | Alexandra + Aidan

One and a half years later, Aidan took me to a beautiful dinner followed by a trip to the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in Emmitsburg. While we lit the same candle we always did, to pray for our relationship (one of our many traditions), he proposed!

We decided to get married on May 9, 2020 at the Baltimore Basilica. Every detail was planned,  and all the vendors were booked. We were going to have a gorgeous fairytale wedding. Then COVID-19 hit, and our plans were shattered. 

We couldn’t get married on May 9th. Aidan and I were heartbroken and, quite frankly, mad at the world. We couldn't figure out what God wanted us to do with our new and difficult situation. Like so many other couples, we were faced with more than a few decisions on how to proceed. 

After much prayer and discussion, Aidan and I decided to move our nuptials to July 11, 2020. What was supposed to be a 130-person grand wedding was downsized to an intimate party of 12 family members. 

The truth that kept us grounded during that unnerving and scary time was the knowledge that we would still be married and enter into the sacrament together--that's the whole point of the wedding day, after all. 

The Mass was our constant in all the change occurring around us, and our devotion to St. Joseph kept our hearts focused on God. It was a 30 day novena to St. Joseph that gave Aidan the peace and confidence to ask for my hand in marriage before he proposed. Now St. Joseph was guiding us to the altar. 

We are both deeply inspired by the Holy Family and want to emulate their holiness in our own family life. In a way, it was only natural that we had such a drastic change in plans, like Mary and Joseph after the Annunciation. It was a constant comfort to remember that God was using a time of stress and change to strengthen our bond to each other and to him.

In the end, our wedding was still everything we wanted it to be. The ceremony was live-streamed on Facebook so our extended family and friends could watch and celebrate with us. And following our nuptials, our small party headed back to my family home to enjoy a cocktail hour featuring a beautiful display of soft pretzels with beer cheese and a charcuterie board. 

Aidan and I even snacked on 7/11 slurpees in honor of our 7/11 wedding date! 

Moving inside after the cocktail hour, our guests were shocked to see the living room transformed into a gorgeous event dining space. The fireplace was the main feature, adorned with dozens of candles and dried florals. The tables were styled with cheese cloth, taper candles, and more dried greenery. We even had a calligrapher write each guest’s name on vellum paper and placed them on each plate. 

After the usual speeches and cake cutting, Aidan and I performed our dances and had a fun exit framed by crackling sparklers. It was a night to remember and a day that will never be forgotten. Together, we took the unfortunate circumstances surrounding COVID-19 and turned it into the best day of our lives.

The most important takeaway from our wedding and the whole planning process was the knowledge that we were preparing for a marriage--not just a wedding. 

When COVID-19 hit, we were distraught and angry and experienced every possible emotion. But after prayer, reflection, and many heart-to-hearts, Aidan and I truly began to understand that God was with us and wanted the best for us, no matter what. Even if we didn't know what his plan was. 

Because of our COVID-19 wedding, Aidan and I were reminded of the most important parts of a wedding day: love and family. All we wanted was to be married under God and to have our family there to support us and celebrate. Amidst the chaos, we still had these things, and so we had our dream wedding.

---

Planning/Design: Betty Lou Events | Photography: M Harris Studios | Florist: Everyday Rose Events | HAMU: JKW Beauty | Stationary/Calligraphy: Steph G Calligraphy | Catering: Hoopla! Catering | Dress: Gamberdella | Cake: Bramble Baking Co | Transportation: Thoroughbred | Groom Suit : Francos | Bridesmaids dresses: Bella Bridesmaids | Rings: Nelson Coleman | Earrings: Olive and Piper | Shoes: Bella

Grace + Jared | Wisconsin Marine Corps Wedding

A wedding set apart by simple, classic beauty. With powder blue accents and a military polish, bride and groom strove to serve both God and their guests, in gratitude for their presence in their story of grace and conversion. 

Grace knew from childhood that she desired a husband who shared her faith. That’s why she never expected to fall in love with Jared, a Marine and devout non-denominational Christian. Their story is one of mutual understanding, refinement, and conversion. In the end, they entered into marriage in a joyful wedding celebration bathed in reverence and beauty. And in another miracle of sacramental grace, seven months after their wedding, Jared converted to Catholicism.

From the Bride 

Having grown up with a father who rediscovered his Catholic faith a decade or so into marriage, I was taught from a young age that I should prioritize marrying a man who shared my faith. That is, if I was called to marriage, and it was always an “if.” My dad never missed an opportunity to remind me that a vocation to the religious life was a wonderful option!

So I prayed for my future husband all throughout childhood, and upon entering college I was convinced I’d meet the wonderful Catholic man God had intended for me at my campus parish. Instead, I met Jared in a constitutional law class junior year, and we began dating just before our senior year. And while he was indeed wonderful, he was also Protestant.

But God blessed our relationship from the beginning. Jared was a non-denominational Christian who firmly believed couples should attend church together, so he attended Mass with me nearly every Sunday. We also had a standing Eucharistic adoration date every Wednesday, which he rarely missed. 

Our difference in faith nearly caused a break-up once or twice, but my saintly mother and St. Cecilia (on whose feast day Jared was born) always managed to smooth things over. She reminded me that Jared’s support of my faith and his own love for Christ were the most important things to focus on.

Not every interfaith relationship leads to a strengthening of faith or marriage, but we tried to be very intentional in ours. While we dated, I spent many hours in front of the Blessed Sacrament, praying for our relationship and for Jared’s eyes to be opened to Truth. 

And Jared, knowing how important my Catholic faith was to me, also prayed daily for Truth, heeding the wise advice of my mother: “Jared, ask God what he wants you to believe about these things.”

The most spiritual growth came after our engagement, however. Jared is in the Marine Corps, and the fall after our senior year of college he moved from Wisconsin to Quantico, Virginia for six months of training. During this time apart, I developed a love for the rosary, praying it daily for him. Meanwhile, he joined a program called Adopt a Marine, where families of faith around Marine Corps bases spiritually “adopt” single Marines. 

Instead of selecting a Protestant family, Jared chose to enter a Catholic family. He regularly attended Mass with them and joined them for family dinners, learning more and more about the faith. 

Our discussions on theology and faith became less tense and caused fewer tears on my side. He began to develop a deep love for the Blessed Virgin and St. Cecilia. And he taught himself to pray the rosary. As I watched both his faith and my faith grow, I began to truly appreciate God’s plan for my vocation.

During our eleven-month engagement, Jared and I had ample time to discuss what elements of our wedding day were most important to us. As a young religious couple, our ceremony took precedence over the reception, which we viewed as a giant “thank you” to all our friends and family who invested in us throughout the years.

The Catholic Church recommends a wedding ceremony without the liturgy of the Eucharist for interfaith couples, to focus on unity instead of division. This prompted a strong desire in us to fill the ceremony with as much reverence and beauty as possible, to make sure our day was visibly focused on how God had blessed our lives--not just on the romantic, “Hallmark-y” elements of marriage. 

Jared and I chose to walk down the aisle together, to symbolize the offering of both of ourselves to God in the vocation of marriage. The choir sang “All Creatures of Our God and King,” and later my little sister led the congregation in Psalm 148, reminding all present where our hearts and minds should lift their praises. 

Despite the mixed religious bag that was our guest list, Jared and I decided to offer a bouquet of flowers to Mary during our ceremony, to thank her for all she did for us while we dated. Two friends, both members of our city’s opera, sang a beautiful duet of Schubert’s “Ave Maria” with such power and beauty that our eyes welled with tears.

When asked about his favorite part of our wedding day, Jared always responds without hesitation: “the wedding vows.” 

Months prior we were struck by a dear friend masterfully projecting his memorized vows so not only his wife but the entire congregation could hear, and we elected to memorize them as a result. Jared and I wanted to say our vows with equal strength, witnessing to the permanent, powerful, and sacrificial nature of Christian marriage, without any fear or hesitation.

I can honestly say my favorite part was the entirety of the ceremony, but my second favorite part is so close a second it must be mentioned with the first. Exactly 364 days prior to our wedding, Jared received his commission from the United States Marine Corps. He promised that day to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America with everything he has, including his life. 

One day less than a year later, he promised himself in marriage to me, promising to die to himself every day, and I promised him the same. I promised I would be faithful to him in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love and to honor him all the days of my life. 

A few minutes and one recessional hymn later, I walked with my new husband through an arch of swords under a promisingly bright and sunny sky. I then promised Lieutenant Smith--with a kiss and a sword to the derriere--that I would be with him in deployment and shore duty, in Okinawa and San Diego, and in all the other ups and downs of military life. 

Hearing the words, “Welcome to the Marine Corps, Mrs. Smith!” was a close second to our wedding vows. To me, that was what finalized my commitment. Inside the church I said “yes” to Jared and to God’s vocation for us. Outside the church I said “yes” to the Marine Corps and to all the joys and insanities the years ahead would bring us.

Our wedding reception followed at a golf club near my hometown. Throughout our engagement, we had worried very little about the details of the reception, insofar as they pertained to us and to our likes and dislikes. We viewed our reception as a way to thank the people who had travelled to witness the beginning of our marriage. While this did not mean we put in any less effort, it did mean we felt significantly less stress.

Social media glamorizes perfect receptions, but we were free to focus on the comfort and delight of others. This removed any disappointment if things weren’t “perfect,” or if a song we really wanted to dance to wasn’t played. It wasn’t about us! 

This attitude of centering the reception on our guests allowed Jared and I to have an incredible time, so incredible that we were the last to leave! We waved our guests off as they left, walking to our car with the DJ.

It can be tempting to view a wedding as an event that excuses, or even condones, selfish behavior from the bride or groom. As Catholics, we know selfishness is just another snare laid by Satan to rob us of the joy Christ seeks to give us, and that is never more apparent than in wedding planning. 

By focusing the ceremony on the greatness, majesty, and love of God, and the reception on expressing our gratitude to friends and family, it was possible to have a day devoid of the stress that modern weddings seem doomed to cause. By intentionally planning our day around the true meaning of marriage, Jared and I had the space to simply enjoy the goodness of God’s gifts to us. 

And as an extraordinary example of God’s continued generosity and grace in our married life, 7 months after our beautiful wedding day, Jared entered the Catholic Church.

Ashley + Luke | Light and Airy Romance

Romantic, muted tones and love in every detail: a testament to the Lord’s delight in revealing his gifts of providence.

Ashley, an Oncology nurse, and Luke, a pharmacist, met the summer they worked together in the same Louisville hospital. They developed a slow friendship, and the following spring, Luke asked Ashley to be his girlfriend.

From the Groom:

When I got to know Ashley, it became more and more apparent that this girl was an answered prayer in my life. God had provided what I hoped for most in a woman: that she would be as faith-filled as my sister, and as selfless and loving as the other most important woman in my life--my mom.

The Lord continued to surprise us with the providential similarities and coincidences he’d willed in our lives. For instance, Ashley drove the same car as my mom. Her parents drove the same Honda CRV as my parents. We had even both traveled to Tena, Ecuador with Timmy Global Health at different times in college. On our separate mission trips, we’d stayed in the same huts in the same village. We had met the same yellow shaggy dog and had many of the same experiences nearly 3,000 miles away in South America.

God is a God of love. He always hears us and provides. Mother Angelica once said, “Patience is adjusting our timing to God’s timing.” This is what I’ve learned.

Looking back, he gifted us so many signs. He painted the path to marriage in providence for me, and held my hand all along the way. In reality, he holds all of our hands.

Some of us are running, and not walking with him. Some of us don’t realize he is holding us. But he is there.

He is always there. He is listening; he is ready for us. And he will embrace us and run to us, if we just turn to him.

From the Wedding Coordinators:

Ashley and Luke’s every decision and touch for their wedding was viewed through the eyes of two people who live out the joy of their faith and want to share it with the world. 

They chose November 16th as their wedding date to honor, remember, and most importantly, pray for those who have passed. This day is the feast of the St Gertrude the Great, a 13th-century Benedictine nun with a great love for the Holy Souls. It was only fitting, then, that Ashley and Luke offered their Nuptial Mass for the souls of their departed loved ones.

They created their own wedding website to reflect their Catholic beliefs, complete with a page to submit prayer requests, and they chose a Catholic photographer and wedding coordinators from Spoken’s Bride’s preferred vendor list.

The Nuptial Mass took place at Luke’s vibrant family parish where his close friend, Father Richard Doerr is the pastor.

Having a Holy Hour of Adoration the evening before the wedding was very important to the couple, as was being able to pray the Rosary together prior to the ceremony. They planned to see one another for the first time that day as Ashley was walking down the aisle in the procession.

With a little creativity thanks to a screen and back-to-back chairs in the parish library, they were able to pray the Rosary hand in hand before the Mass.

Later, their guests would take home blessed Rosary bracelets as favors.

Instead of an instrumental piece for a processional song, Ashley and Luke opted for a gathering hymn of “God Who Created Hearts to Love”, which allowed the guests to begin taking part in the liturgy from the very start.

The readings they selected highlighted the attributes of a godly wife and focused on the great mystery of marriage--the relationship of Christ and the Church. They also selected John’s Gospel account of the Wedding Feast at Cana, recalling Jesus’ first public miracle and the way our Blessed Mother’s direction leads us to her Son.

Choosing the Litany of Saints as the hymn during Holy Communion tied in beautifully with the feast of St Gertrude and the connection to the Holy Souls.

In a nod to social justice and the dignity of work, Ashley and Luke were very intentional in the wedding vendors they worked with, including locally sourced florals, ethically made goods, and support for another Catholic parish as their reception venue. 

The bridal party wore shades of blush and dusty blue, lending things a light, airy, and romantic feel. The bouquets and boutonnieres coordinated beautifully, featuring blush dahlias, peach, yellow, and blush roses, white anemone, blue thistle, eucalyptus, and and dusty blue succulent. The airy feel extended through the reception décor with gold accents and watercolor images of the saints atop each table. 

Ashley and Luke have a devotion to Saint Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower, and brought their love for her into the little details: yellow petals thrown during their church exit, the socks on the groomsmen, and a statue at their sweetheart table. Everything was selected with love, care, and an intentional simplicity. As the sign by their exit stated, “If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness.”

There were so many beautiful things about Ashley and Luke’s wedding day, but perhaps the most inspiring thing is that they didn’t minimize faith for fear of being “too Catholic.”

Instead, they treated theirs like a gift they could share with those they love.

It was so lovely to watch guests pick up their blessed Rosary favors or admire the saint centerpieces. If all of us emulated that attitude, and shared our faith with the same joy, the Catholic faith could spread like wildfire.

Photographer : Fiat Photography | Wedding Coordinators: Something Blue Catholic Weddings | Nuptial Mass Location: Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Carmel, Indiana | Venue : St. Alphonsus Liguori | Make-up: Jessica Winchell with J. Marie Professional Makeup Artistry | Hair: Tangled Up Salon | Florist: Eufloric Events | Catering: Big Hoffa’s BBQ | Cake: Annie May’s Sweet Cafe | Ice Cream: Graeter’s | Reception Music: Troy Miller with DJ Sound Solution | Linens: A Classic Party Rental | Table Decor: Saint Script by Ali Towle | Men’s Socks: Sock Religious

Katie + Ted | Classic Southern Summer Wedding

A Georgia celebration expressing the joy of personal encounter, with specific nods to Christ and Our Lady...and to the sweetness of rereading your old texts.

The Father is never outdone in gifts and goodness.

Katie and Ted first met through their roommates, who began dating each other during the semester Ted studied abroad. After his return stateside to Washington, D.C., Katie’s friends tried to persuade her into a game of flag football. She jokingly replied that she would, if they set her up on a date with Ted.

Ted’s brother set the wheels in motion and Ted agreed, sending his brother a text that read, You owe me! The conversation that followed made it clear this was the start of something special. To Katie and Ted’s surprise and laughter, those texts between the brothers were read aloud during his brother’s reception toast. 

Surrounded by his bride, family, and friends, it was abundantly clear Ted had been more than repaid.

From the Photographers: 

Katie and Ted each got ready on their wedding morning alongside their siblings and closest friends, with the bride dressed in a draped bodice gown topped with a lace bolero and the bridesmaids in Marian blue. Katie and her father did a first look, and then it was time for a first prayer with Ted!

Related: a photographer shares 3 tips for your First Prayer

Ted stood facing the altar, his eyes fixed on Jesus, as Katie approached from behind. They exchanged letters, then prayed aloud with each other. And then it was time.

The Mass was beautiful; filled with faithful Catholic friends and family. Many of the guests knew Katie and Ted through LifeTeen and through their college campus ministry, with friends leading the worship as musicians.

Katie and Ted chose the Mass readings, and they also chose to serve as the Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist. As each guest came forward for holy communion, he or she received Jesus directly from the couple.

The reception was beyond joy-filed, with a packed dance floor all evening. As the celebration came to an end, guests lined up outside with bubbles to send these to amazing humans off on their new adventure!

What a life-giving witness this day was to us as vendors. Katie and Ted’s nuptial Mass was filled with holy hearts praising the Lord and praying for their marriage, and their reception with wedding was filled with joy and community. Each aspect of the day was thought out through the mindset of bringing honor and glory to God.

The Holy Spirit always writes the best love stories! Stories of freedom, adventure, and love that prevails in spite of life’s obstacles.

Photography: Horn Photography and Design | Ceremony Venue: St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church, Roswell, Georgia | Reception Venue: Taylor Lodge at St. Benedict Church, John’s Creek, Georgia | Catering: Zoës Kitchen | Reception Bar: Fire’s Bartending | DJ Entertainment: DJ Ron