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

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

Sarah + Jacob | Flawless Fall Wedding Amidst Pandemic

A marriage celebration among the rolling hills of a country farm, awash with golden autumn sunshine and a kaleidoscope of colorful blooms.

After attending the wedding of a close friend, Sarah began praying for, and writing to, her future spouse. However, she never expected to meet her husband, Jacob, due to a home improvement project gone wrong.

While an Ohio wedding was not what the couple originally had in mind, their chapel ceremony and outdoor reception provided the perfect beginning to their new life together. 

The dusty blue hues of the bridal party’s attire supplied a stunning backdrop for the brightly colored florals to truly shine—and not even a pandemic could darken their joyful rays.

From the Bride: 

It was a brisk summer day in a small Oregon mountain town. My best friends were getting married there that weekend. 

As we began the rehearsal, the bridal party lined up to practice their walk down the aisle; however, my groomsman counterpart had yet to arrive. 

I would need to make the 100-yard trek alone. At the end of the aisle stood my spiritual father, Fr. Nathan, smiling as I made my way. 

As the rehearsal progressed, and the bridal party began to exit our rows, I was still partnerless. Fr. Nathan looked at me, took my arm and started walking with me down the aisle. 

He whispered, “You will find your St. Joseph one day.” Thus, I began praying to find my St. Joseph.

Three short months later, I sat frustrated in my room journaling to my “future St. Joseph” about my failed attempt at hanging new shelving. 

My unsuccessful efforts had left numerous holes in the wall. I dreamed of the day I would have the man I wrote to there, helping me to hang those shelves just as St. Joseph the carpenter would have done.

Defeated, my roommate kindly asked her brother to help.

Little did I know that as I watched this man help hang those shelves and patch the holes, my St. Joseph was standing before me.

Jacob and I were married on September 26th in Christ the King Chapel with a smiling Fr. Nathan standing at the altar.

Now, Jake and I are currently remodeling our 120-year-old home. Some joke that he is the “Chip” to my “Joanna”. 

I do not see it this way. Because each day I am reminded more and more of the words whispered to me in a small church in Oregon: “You will find your St. Joseph one day.”

From the Photographer: 

Imagine the most perfect early fall day, the warm sun shining, some passing clouds and ending the day with a cool breeze. Now, picture a beautiful farm in the country, a large white tent lit with string lights, filled with your dearest friends and family. 

The sounds of laughter, music, and dancing filling the air as the sun sets over the rolling hills. That is just a taste of the beauty of Sarah and Jacob’s wedding day in Steubenville, Ohio.

Though they were originally planning on a west-coast wedding, their plans changed due to the COVID restrictions in California. They decided to keep their wedding date, but move the location.

They were married in Christ the King Chapel on the campus of Franciscan University. Sarah and Jacob originally met in Steubenville and plan to continue living there, so it was fitting that they were married in the place it all began.

Everything about their day was picture perfect, from the gorgeous details at the beginning of the day, to the stunning BHLDN gown and veil. But the detail that stole the show were the florals; everyone was talking about them! 

Flowers have the ability to elevate a wedding in a way that no other detail can. The bright pinks, lush greens, and happy oranges provided stunning pops of color throughout the bouquets, centerpieces, and even the cake! 

Even though Sarah and Jacob’s plans for their wedding day had to change drastically and many beloved family members watched via livestream, God blessed them with a joyful and beautiful wedding. Their focus was on the Lord, the sacrament, and the beginning of a lifelong marriage together.

Photography: Laura and Matthew | Nuptial Mass Location: Christ the King Chapel, Franciscan University, Steubenville, OH | Wedding Reception Venue: The Sunnyside Country Retreat, Amsterdam, OH | Bride’s Dress: BHLDN | Wedding Planner: Jeannene Lillie Events | DJ: Brandon Michael | Videography: Meredith Munro | Floral Design: Rachel Lash | Cookie Table and Cake: Family and friends of the couple | Hair and Makeup: Legal Hair | Catering: Cooked Goose Catering | Bridesmaids Dresses: Lulu’s + Called To Surf | Groomsmen Attire: Macy’s + The Tie Bar | Stationery: Minted | Rentals: All Events Rental

Spoken Bride Vendors | Spotlight, Vol. 7

Are you recently engaged and ready to book your wedding vendors? Newly married or attending a wedding, and in search of gifts that affirm the vocation to marriage?

We are proud to serve you through the Spoken Bride Vendor Guide, the first online resource for distinctively Catholic wedding vendors: hand-selected professionals from around the U.S. with not only an abundance of talent, but a reverence and passion for the sacrament of marriage that brings a uniquely personal, prayerful dimension to their client experiences.

With a range of stories, hobbies, and devotions, it’s our privilege to share who our vendors are and connect them with their ideal clients--you, faithful Catholic couples who are energized by working with like-minded, prayerful individuals. Each month, we’ll be introducing, or re-introducing, you to members of Spoken Bride’s vendor community, and we encourage you to learn more through their full vendor listings.

Our Vendors for This Month (click to jump):

Saving the Date
Fire and Gold Photography
Quiet Light Creations
FertilityCare

Saving the Date

Wedding Planning, serving the Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin areas.

 After years of planning collegiate athletic events and corporate conferences, Savanna Faulkner’s friends began seeking her expertise as they planned their wedding days. Before long, Savanna says, “I was planning strangers’ weddings.” She began pursuing wedding planning as a business, and Saving the Date transitioned from side hustle to full-time work in 2017.

A love for the Catholic faith infuses everything about Savanna’s client experience, both visually and behind the scenes. “Love is so beautiful,” says Savanna, “and easily the reason why I am so passionate about people. I love to make people feel seen, heard, and understood.” Inspired by the rich sacred art and sensory beauty of the Church and liturgy, she finds design inspiration in her faith and carries it into her couples’ weddings.

Favorite movies: Top Gun and 27 Dresses

Ministries I’m involved in: The pro-life movement is a huge part of my life. In fact, my parents became so convicted in their pro-life beliefs they adopted two foster kids! I enjoy volunteering my event-planning expertise to local non-profits for their fundraisers. 

The best part of working on weddings: Being with people. I love working [hard], just to hear how happy the bride and groom are. Also, the gravity of involving me to be in charge of one of the biggest days of someone's life is incredible. I love that I can portray confidence and peace to the couples who decide to put their big day in my hands. 

To learn more about Saving the Date, click here.

Fire and Gold Photography

Photography; serving Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Western New York. Available for nationwide travel.

Laura Schaefer fell in love with photography in high school and worked on developing her skills during college. Inspired and fortified by the image of gold being refined by fire, making God’s children “stronger and hopefully holier” after a miscarriage, Laura founded Fire and Gold Photography in 2017 and shoots weddings alongside her husband, Matthew. 

A Franciscan University alumna and resident of Steubenville, Ohio, where the university is located, the Catholic faith permeates all of Fire and Gold’s work and relationships: “I am a Catholic photographer,” Laura says, “and those words are in that order for a reason. Catholic first; photographer second. My faith is my way of life and it informs every choice I make. [Matthew and I] both love the writings of St. Josemaria Escriva, and I would say that this quote captures how we view our work as photographers: ‘If you seek sanctity in and through your work, you will necessarily have to strive to turn it into personal prayer.’” 

I take my coffee...Laura: I wish I could say black but let's be honest, I love creamer. Matthew:  Black.

We’re most inspired by: [how God] takes delight in the beauty of His creation. We love photography and running our business because it’s how we get to create and capture beauty. We see it as participation in God’s own creation of beauty. He is Beauty itself, and we honestly see my work as a form of prayer. 

Love means: Sacrifice. To love as Christ loved. To give of yourself fully and completely, without reservation or strings attached. 

It can sound like an academic answer, but we have learned to live this in our marriage and actually living it out takes it from the classroom to the real world. Loving in the good times and bad; loving until it hurts. Loving even when the other person isn't acting lovable. Calling each other on in holiness and becoming the best versions of ourselves. Loving our children and teaching them virtue. Pouring yourself out completely for your family yet always being filled through the grace of the sacrament. 

To learn more about Fire and Gold Photography, click here.

Quiet Light Creations

Gifts; ships nationwide and internationally.

Angela Marinelli, a longtime jewelry and rosary maker, always prays while crafting religious items. One day while praying over a rosary she was creating, overwhelmed with a sense of “darkness in the world” that she’d been hearing on the news, Angela heard the whispers of a call to share her gifts in a fuller capacity. Quiet Light Creations, founded on a love for Our Lady and the Saints, offers handmade rosaries, chaplets, and bracelets that become instant heirlooms when chosen for a couple’s wedding day.

Angela still prays for the recipient of every item she creates, with a hope that through her work, the Catholic faith is shared in an authentic, simple way: “A quiet light is easily overlooked, but once it catches your eye and you pause for a minute to think, it makes you wonder. The quiet light of the tabernacle candle points to someone so much greater, just like the quiet light our Blessed Mother embodies points to someone so much greater. 

“The simplicity draws you into the mystery of faith without the temptations of being known or being acknowledged for our good works. I hope that my shop will share the message that we are all striving saints, we are not perfect, and the trap of comparison even in holiness is not what we are meant for.”

I root for... the Pittsburgh Pirates, Penguins, Steelers and the Chicago Cubs, Blackhawks, Bears. Family loyalty!

Favorite music: James Taylor, The Head and The Heart, George Ezra, Matchbox Twenty, and Twenty One Pilots.

Love means: Trusting that another soul will return the love you give, so much so that the thoughts and worries about yourself being taken care of are cast far out of your mind. Love is choosing another continually and consistently, always showing your love for them more than saying it. Love means being attuned to all the little things they do for you and for everyone else, and doing those things for them. 

A sure sign of love is feeling at peace and at rest. Authentic love casts out all anxiety and fear. To love means to offer that place of rest in yourself where others can dwell in peace.

To learn more about Quiet Light Creations, click here.

FertilityCare

NFP and Fertility Education; offering in-person instruction in the Miami area and long-distance services nationwide.

Sarah McKeown was first introduced to the Creighton Fertility model during her engagement. As a nurse, she found herself particularly drawn to the medical science behind the method. Within several years, Sarah had discerned and answered a call to pursue NFP education more fully. She began accepting and teaching clients the Creighton FertilityCare Model in 2016.

Sarah’s call and conviction have only continued to grow as she’s served her clients; many, but not all, are Catholic, and she loves the opportunity to “[teach] people about the beauty of their fertility; the way God created women's bodies and how we are called to live our marital sexuality in a responsible and generous way...I think having NFP instructors available long distance helps fill a need for many couples who may not have access to someone in their city or don't know how to get started.” She describes her business as “marriage-centered, empowering, and insightful,” and says, “have felt more called to teach NFP than I have with any other job, including being a nurse.”

Favorite wedding day memory: The priest celebrating our mass was Fr. Mike Schmitz, who is amazing! At one point during his homily he said, "this couple doesn't know what the future holds, and they will have difficult times ahead, but even so, you look at the other person and say, you're worth it." 

And at the same time Fr. Mike said those words, my husband looked at me with tears in his eyes and mouthed, "you're worth it". It was so beautiful; I don't know how he knew Fr. Mike was going to say that, but it was such an amazing, grace-filled moment.

On my bucket list: Have as many kids as God will give us, visit one of those resorts in the South Pacific where your little bungalow is on stilts over the water, and become a saint!

The best part of my work: I love to see women become confident in their ability to tell fertile vs. infertile days of their cycles. Couples feel so much more freedom to enter into marriage without the need or use of birth control. They can learn to love each other freely, totally, faithfully and fruitfully the way God intended.

To learn more about FertilityCare, click here.