Brittney + Billy | Downtown Classic Wedding

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Brittney and Bill met through the scholarship program at their university, and met their future wedding coordinators through another wedding they both participated in. They exchanged vows  in the presence of friends and family from a variety of vocations, in rich jewel tones and a timeless, classic setting.

From the Wedding Coordinators:

We were fortunate enough to have coordinated a past wedding where Brittney was a bridesmaid and Bill was a ceremony musician. We had a strong sense that at some point after their college graduation, an official engagement was likely to happen….and it did! 

The program through which Brittney and Bill met focuses on preparing students for leadership in the Church, whether their vocation is religious life or found within being part of the laity. It was no surprise, then, that both of them would go on to take positions working for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis: she as Coordinator of Evangelization and Discipleship at a local Indianapolis parish and he as Pastoral Associate in a nearby small town. 

As they planned their engagement, we were so impressed with how their wedding focused on the Church. Concelebrating the Mass were several priests: the Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis (the groom’s employer), the Director of Seminarians (the bride’s employer), and a Benedictine monk and professor from St. Meinrad Seminary. The wedding party included a novice nun and a former seminary student, plus several recently married bridesmaids and groomsmen, rounding out a beautiful example of the different vocations to which God calls us!

The morning of the wedding was clear and beautiful! The church, St. John the Evangelist in downtown Covington Kentucky, is a beautiful example of German Gothic architecture. For the Mass, the couple opted for a full worship aid-style program to ensure their guests all felt comfortable with the liturgy. 

From the readings that focused on our relationship with God and His with us, to the classical musical pieces, the wedding spoke to the spirit of each guest. The Communion hymn had a very special significance for the bride--it was the theme song for the liturgical leadership conferences where she’d served as an intern in the past. 

The reception was a classic event at the Madison Event Center, a beautifully repurposed Art Deco building in downtown Covington. The ballroom looked like a marvelous supper club from the 1930s, bringing out the wedding colors of gray and raspberry, with white florals and greenery.

This wedding was such a testament to how much fun a wedding reception can be when the bride and groom bring their personalities into the event. Both Billy and Brittney are zealous fans of The Office! They walked into the reception to the show’s theme song, and each of the toasts featured a quote from the show (which was completely unplanned!). 

The best part was the toast from Brittney’s stepfather, with revealed a surprise he had been planning for a while; a hilarious and heartfelt Cameo video from an Office cast member! The dessert table was another big highlight, featuring colorful donuts and macaron towers, Brittney’s favorite. The dance floor was packed all night long--so much so that we broke out our emergency sewing kit more than we have at another wedding! Bill and Brittney also opted for one of our favorite reception traditions, a foot washing ceremony where the new husband washes his bride’s feet in a gesture of humility and care. They closed out the wedding with a bubble exit, on the streets of downtown Covington underneath the streetlights.

Bill and Brittney’s wedding held so many of the elements that make us proud to be Catholic wedding planners. It was so full of joy, representing the future ahead in marriage as they experience the things that will help them bring each other to heaven. The representation from so many different vocations was a testament to how the Catholic community is meant to function. Clergy, professed religious, married couples, and single laity, all there to support the union of new marriage and creation of a family!

This wedding meant so much to us: the celebrating clergy and their connection to St Meinrad Archabbey, the bride and groom having been part of a previous wedding of ours, the wedding party containing bridesmaids and groomsmen that have been in other weddings we coordinated, and of course, the main celebrant being the spiritual advisor of our very own Something Blue Weddings….it just doesn’t get any better than that.

Nuptial Mass Location: Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Covington, Kentucky | Reception Venue: The Madison Event Center, Covington, Kentucky | Wedding Coordination: Something Blue Weddings | Photography: Adam and Keli Photography | Bridal Gown: David’s Bridal | Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Azazie | Men’s Formalwear: Louie’s Tux Shop | Florals: Swan Floral, Erlanger, Kentucky | Hair & Makeup: Refeyeance | Cake: Tina Turner Cakes, Union, Kentucky | DJ: Jeff Heidelberg of Party Pleasers, Cincinnati, Ohio

Joanna + Dan | TLM Vintage Floral Wedding

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A Latin Mass celebration imbued with tradition and romantic, vintage-inspired elements on a Midwestern summer day.

Joanna and Dan met at school as teenagers. What started off as a high school romance--one that included a prom proposal in the Adoration chapel!--grew through years together at Notre Dame and even a long-distance spanning from Montana to Rome. 

With certainty and anticipation for the future ahead, Dan secretly found Joanna’s Pinterest boards to help him choose an engagement ring he thought she’d love. On a visit together to his home parish, he invited Joanna to “check out the Adoration chapel.” Once again, before the Blessed Sacrament, he got down on bended knee.

 From the Wedding Coordinators:

Joanna and Dan kept their priorities focused on a beautiful, Christ-centered celebration. A strong devotion to Our Lady made the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary the perfect day for their June wedding! Their invitation suite nodded to Our Lady with a vintage-inspired M symbol, crowned with 12 stars and white and blue flowers. 

Joanna and Dan went back and forth while trying to decide what ways they wanted to represent their faith during the Mass. They decided on a Schola choir from the parish for ceremony music, couldn’t decide if they preferred the Ordinary Form of the Mass (English) for their ceremony, or one in the Extraordinary Form. Eventually, with the encouragement of their celebrant, they decided to jump feet first into a traditional Latin Mass for their most special day.

In the presence of four priests, over half a dozen altar servers, and a church full of family and friends, they exchanged their vows. The bridesmaids dressed in soft sage, which complimented the white and blue accents of the floral and lent a beautiful, timeless early summer vibe. 

To make sure every guest knew what to expect if they weren’t familiar with this form of the liturgy, a customized worship aid in both English and Latin was given to guests as they arrived.

Joanna and Dan’s truly magnificent Mass contained an element we had never encountered before: a solemn blessing under a veil.

While most of our weddings have a Nuptial Blessing as part of the liturgy, we’ve never seen it done under a veil or special piece of material. The veil they used was a beautiful Irish tablecloth with a Celtic cross, leftover pearls and beads from Joanna’s wedding dress, and a St. Joseph medallion created for the couple by their Maid of Honor and Best Man. Talk about a treasure to last a lifetime! The couple recessed out as Mr. and Mrs. to one of the bride’s favorite hymns, “O God Beyond All Praising”. 

The reception was pure summer elegance! Cocktail hour took place on the veranda and moved inside for the remainder of the celebration. Fresh floral centerpieces and candles highlighted each table, while the place settings featured gold and glass chargers. The cake was exquisitely decorated in soft blue flowers. Also on the cake table was a beautiful Marian candle, again bringing in Joanna and Dan’s devotion to the Blessed Mother. 

Prayer before the meal was given by one of the concelebrating priests, a Benedictine monk who traveled from Pennsylvania.

In his prayer, he mentioned the vows often used in the Ordinary Form wedding ceremony, reminding Joanna and Dan that they would be faithful to each other in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health and would love and honor each other all the days of their lives. What a beautiful reminder to all married couples present. 

Both Joanna’s and Dan’s families have strong ties to Notre Dame; towards the end of the reception, all ND alumni were invited onto the dance floor for a group picture with a flag commemorating each of the graduation years of those present. 

When focusing so much time, energy, and money into an event, it can be easy to get lost in the minutiae of wedding planning. Assisting couples like Dan and Joanna, who center their nuptials around their faith and traditions is like pushing aside Pinterest images and Instagram reels to breathe in the scent of incense! A grand exit with sparklers closed out this incredibly special evening.

Nuptial Mass Location: Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Mishawaka, Indiana | Reception Venue: The Blue Heron at Blackthorn, South Bend, Indiana | Wedding Coordination: Something Blue Weddings | Photography: Stacey Harting Photography | Second Photographer: Courtney Rudicel Photography | Florals: Camille's Floral Shop, Bristol, Indiana | Hair: Nicholas J Salon and Spa, South Bend, Indiana | Makeup: Molly Sandler | Cake: Macri’s Italian Bakery, South Bend, Indiana | DJ: ProShow, Elkhart, Indiana | Transportation: Michiana Fun Tours

Rachel + Seth | Summer Country Club Wedding

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A love from which Our Lady never turned her gaze, and a summer celebration with bright shades, military dress & starry surroundings.

During Rachel’s study abroad semester at Franciscan University’s campus in Gaming, Austria, Seth came to campus to visit his brother. They met, and the rest is history.

Rachel has a devotion to Stella Maris, Our Lady as Star of the Sea--it’s appropriate, and providential, that she and Seth spent much of their relationship long-distance, first as students, and later during Seth’s career with the Marines. Rachel later chose Stella Maris holy cards as a wedding favor. Distance and travel played a role in their engagement, as well: Seth proposed to Rachel on a private flight as they flew over a field with the words, Marry Me?

From the Wedding Coordinators:

Rachel and Seth’s wedding was visually captivating, with so many vivid colors and mixes of texture. The church, St. Gertrude Catholic Church in Cincinnati, is a modern-style sanctuary full of glossy black and bright gold features. The bride opted for saturated florals in hues of bright purples, pinks, white, with the occasional pop of red or peach for the bridesmaids’ bouquets. Her own bouquet was a stunning creation of predominantly white flowers, with touches of blush among the greenery. 

Rachel’s parish is staffed by Dominicans. The reverent nuptial Mass was concelebrated by two friars, one being Rachel’s parish priest and the other a dear family friend from the East Coast. 

Along with the parish organist and vocalist, Rachel’s good friend from Franciscan, including the Communion hymn, “O Come to the Altar”, followed by “Hail Mary, Gentle Woman” for the Marian Devotion. Seth and several of his groomsmen were in full military dress, which made it all the more moving for the couple to have a grand exit from the church through a military arch. 

The reception was held at Hyde Park Country Club, nestled in a lovely residential area in Cincinnati. To us, a country club reception, especially in the full bloom of summer, says understated elegance. The lush greens of the golf course made a beautiful backdrop to the setting, which gave the entire event a classic, refined feeling. The gorgeous chandeliers were draped with fresh greenery, blooms, and hanging candles. Bold centerpieces of vibrant late summer flowers made a striking contrast to the ivory tablecloth and gold chargers. Tucked into the ivory napkins were menu cards, along with a commemorative Stella Maris prayer card, from Santa Clara Design. 

In keeping with Rachel’s Italian heritage, a dessert table offered dozens of different kinds of homemade cookies, alongside a traditional white wedding cake. Seth and Rachel cut the cake with his military issue saber, which made for smiles and great pictures. They finished out the night with dancing and--of course--a Cincinnati tradition, Skyline Chili!

With all of the personal, family-centered touches like the homemade Italian cookies, the devotional wedding favors, and the sword cake cutting, so many pieces of Rachel and Seth’s wedding show the rich history they have behind--and ahead--of them. 

One of their wedding readings, from Sirach 2:2-11, reads that “you fear the Lord, hope for good things, for lasting joy and mercy.” Seth and Rachel’s wedding testifies that centering your big milestones around the foundation of your family and the cornerstone of your faith will always yield great good things of lasting joy and mercy.

Nuptial Mass Location: St Gertrude Catholic Church, Cincinnati, Ohio | Reception Venue: Hyde Park Country Club, Cincinnati, Ohio | Photography: Laura and Matthew Photography | Wedding Coordination: Something Blue Weddings | Florals: Oakwood Floral | Videography: Sweet Basil Productions | Makeup: Gregorie Styles | Cake: Weiss Baking Company, Goshen, Ohio | DJ: Marc Madama | Transportation: Jimmy's Limousine Service

Jillian + Dalton | Stella Maris Styled Shoot

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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

 
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Vendor Week 2021 | Evangelizing Through Your Wedding Mass

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JOY FOSTER & MARY DORHAUER

 

This February 20-27  is our annual Vendor Week: days dedicated to showcasing the best of the Catholic wedding industry through Spoken Bride’s blog content, podcast interviews, and social media. Everyday this week, we will share wisdom and expertise of some of our talented Vendors to help you in your wedding planning.

If you are recently engaged, we invite you to browse the Spoken Bride Vendor Guide, specifically designed to connect brides and grooms with planners, photographers, florists, artisans, and more who share the same faith and bring a distinctively Catholic outlook to their client experience.

Your wedding liturgy offers a wonderful opportunity to witness not just the love you and your fiancé share, but also the beauty of the Catholic Church’s teaching on marriage and sacrificial love. There are subtle but profound ways you can evangelize to your wedding guests, all within the guidelines the Church has for liturgy. 

Your guest list likely includes not just practicing Catholics, but also fallen-away Catholics, confused Catholics, Protestant and Orthodox Christians, and those of other beliefs, or even no beliefs at all. 

In fact, your wedding may be the first time someone has set foot in a Catholic Church or their first return in decades, and yet, they are there out of love for you and your fiancé!

With this consideration, make your ceremony a beautiful and welcoming exposure to the Catholic Faith.

Even for a small wedding, having greeters in the vestibule to hand out programs (or direct to a table or stand where the programs or worship aids are) is a nice touch and offers a place in the wedding party for a young teen or a friend that offers to help. Ushers are also a helpful escort, even for a smaller wedding, because some guests may not know where they should appropriately sit in a Catholic Church (many of our weddings utilize the groomsmen to help seat the arriving guests).

For those getting married in the Ordinary Form of the Mass (or having a liturgy of the Word ceremony), you are able to select readings from the Old Testament, Psalms, New Testament, and the Gospel. 

Those selections can vary from country to country, the liturgical season may alter a few options, and if you are getting married on a solemnity, the readings for that day will be your ceremony or Mass readings. 

When it comes to selecting your readings, take time with your fiancé to carefully read over the options. Be intentional with it!

This is a great time to practice some Lectio Divina, as each reading will give you some insight into marriage and your overall Christian life.

Check with your priest or deacon to see how he typically prefers to address the homily. Some priests will write one based on your readings and customize it to you and your fiancé. Others tend to have a “set homily” for weddings, and while they will of course, customize it to be fitting for you and your beloved, it may not specifically address your selected readings. 

This is important to know if you have chosen a reading such as Ephesians 5:22 or 1 Peter 3, as both are often misunderstood or misinterpreted, even among Catholics, and can sound uncomfortable to non-Catholic ears. If you choose either of these beautiful readings, we highly recommend asking your priest to explain and expand on them from a Catholic viewpoint during his homily. 

If one or both of you are recent converts to Catholicism and your conversion caused some serious contention with a beloved immediate family, know that it is perfectly okay to go with some of the more well known and easily interpreted readings like Genesis or Song of Songs, instead of Tobit or Sirach (which are more difficult for a layperson to understand). You know your family the best and a ceremony where the readings are common to both Catholics and Protestants may be the best option for harmony. 

For those marrying in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass or on a Solemnity, we still encourage you to practice Lectio Divina over the Sacred Scripture options for the Ordinary Form Nuptial Mass and include a favorite verse or two on your wedding program or worship aid, just as you would with a message to your guests or a “thank you for being part of our special day.”

Another custom that can be confusing to those outside the Church is a Marian Devotion or the practice of bringing flowers to an altar or statue of the Blessed Mother. 

Asking your priest to give a brief explanation as you prepare may help guests understand the significance of the moment which usually takes place right after the vows or after everyone is seated after Holy Communion. If your priest prefers not to give an explanation on this custom, have it in your program so non-Catholic guests understand that we aren’t “worshiping Mary,” but asking for her heavenly, intercessory prayers.

Pope Saint John Paul II tells us that “All men and women are entrusted with the task of creating their own life; in a certain sense, they are to make of it a work of art, a masterpiece!” Similarly, your wedding may be seen as a work of art to others. 

The church building, with its art and architecture, the beauty of the hymns, and the solemn tradition of Catholic worship, are all a witness to your guests about the dignity and glory found in the Catholic Church. 

Strive to make your wedding Mass as touching, beautiful, and welcoming to your guests as possible. We aren’t always privileged to know what parts of our lives God has used to affect a change in someone else, and it’s a wonderful thought that your wedding ceremony might not just bring you and your fiance together, but might also bring another person back into the fold of the Church!

About the Author: Joy Foster and Mary Dorhauer are co-owners and wedding planners of Something Blue, a company dedicated to Catholic Weddings.

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Ashley + Luke | Light and Airy Romance

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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.

Spoken Bride Vendors | Spotlight, Vol. 8

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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):

 

Gathered Together Events

Wedding Coordination; serving Michigan and available for travel.

Allison Krcatovich--one of our brides!--grew up watching the film Father of the Bride and dreamed of “being the female version of [the wedding-planner character],” she says. In 2018, after the birth of her son and over six years in the hotel event-planning industry, Allison quit her hotel job and founded Gathered Together Events, her own coordination company.

Though Gathered Together Events serves a range of couples, Allison has a particular love--and brings particular expertise--to Catholic brides and grooms. She cherishes the opportunity to act as a resource and support for couples whose top priority is bringing their faith to the center of their celebration. Allison describes her services--including consultations, day-of coordination, full wedding coordination, and custom packages--as “service-oriented, joy-filled, and intentional.”

Favorite saint: Teresa of Calcutta. Her care for others encourages me in my work. My business logo is blue as a subtle nod to her and to our Mother Mary.

The best place I’ve traveled: Dubrovnik, Croatia on my honeymoon.

I’m inspired by: My family. I want to support my family with a job I am truly passionate about because I know it will make me a better wife, mother, daughter, friend. Seeing each of my couples so incredibly joyful on their wedding day inspires me in my own personal family life. 

Learn more about Gathered Together Events

 

Ashley Eileen Floral Design

Floral Design; serving the Denver area.

As her family mourned the loss of her grandfather, Ashley Krupp realized for the first time “ how florists walk with people for very important moments in life, and how flowers really do impact those occasions.” In those moments, she felt certain the Lord was calling her to use flowers as a gift and service to others.

Ashley soon took floral design classes, worked in several floral shops, and was eventually promoted to lead floral designer. In 2018 she used her earnings from the lead designer position to educate herself in business and design and launched Ashley Eileen Floral Design.

Ashley loves the creative pursuit of transforming her clients’ ideas into reality in the design process, as well as the sheer beauty of wedding florals: “Part of the reason I love doing flowers, she says, “is because they are beautiful and reflect the transcendental kind of beauty. I feel called to work with flowers as my ‘small v’ vocation and to affirm the good, true and beautiful in marriages that reflect God’s plan. 

“I like to say flowers aren’t really necessary for someone to get married--at the end of the day, she’ll be married to her husband and that is beautiful. However, flowers reflect the gratuitous kind of beauty or love that God lavishes on us; the kind of beauty that stirs the heart and draws the couple and their guests more deeply into the sacrament. I think the beauty of a wedding done well (aesthetically and theologically) help to evangelize by stirring people’s hearts.”

On my bucket list: To help with the flowers at the Kentucky Derby and Rose parade, to own property with acreage, and to visit Havana, Cuba.

Favorite books: Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, Heidi, Introduction to the Devout Life, Forming Intentional Disciples, and the Harry Potter series.

How my faith informs my business: Everything I do comes back to God, what He’s blessed me with and my desire to share Him with others. I think beauty is a gift that allows us to know him on a deeper level, because it cuts straight to our hearts. I think a lot of millennials have a keen awareness and appreciation of beauty, and I see this as a subtle starting point to also share God’s goodness and truth with others who might not know him otherwise. I’ve designed my business model to be relationship-based; it's important for me to get to know my couples so I can walk and pray for them in a real way.  

Learn more about Ashley Eileen Floral Design

 

Johnna Wilford, Women’s Wellness Coach

NFP Instruction; serving Lexington, Kentucky in person and nationwide through online education.

Johnna first heard of NFP as she converted to the Catholic faith during her marriage preparation--in fact, she says, “I actually think NFP is one of the things that helped me decide to become Catholic! NFP is so empowering, and such a great tool for communication with a partner, so I quickly became very passionate about it.” A serious runner and women’s health advocate who already owned a fitness business, Johnna became certified in NFP instruction and made it an additional pillar of her business.

A recent bride herself, Johnna has a unique, particular passion for viewing women’s health holistically, teaching clients about the relationships between hormonal and reproductive health and physical fitness. She loves walking with her clients as they consider their fertility, fitness and wellness before marriage--”not,” she says, “simply in a ‘fitting into the wedding dress’ way. Women’s Wellness offers in-person and online coaching in fitness, fertility awareness, and reproductive health.

I root for...the Alabama Crimson Tide. Roll Tide! It's sort of hard not to be a fan when you went to college there!

Ministries I’m involved in: I am a member of a local social justice ministry that works to improve policies in the city. This year we are working on improving the drug problem in town, working to improve education, and decreasing  gun violence in the city. I am also an NFP teacher for the Marriage and Family Office in my diocese.

Favorite Saints: My patron saint is Joan of Arc, not only because of the name similarity, but because I have a passion for fighting for what I believe in! I also love Mama Mary and try to pray the rosary every day.

Learn more about Johnna Wilford, Women’s Wellness Coach

 

Something Blue, LLC

Wedding Coordination, serving the dioceses of Indianapolis, Lafayette (Indiana), Evansville, and Fort Wayne-South Bend; available for limited travel in neighboring states.

While sitting at the same reception table at a wedding, friends Joy Foster and Mary Dorhauer discovered they shared a common dream: establishing an event planning and coordination business. As they talked, they wrote down a vision for a Catholic wedding planning business on the spot, hoping to create a service that would “help couples plan a most reverent and beautiful liturgy, along with a really great party; witness the beauty of our Faith and the beauty of the Catholic view on marriage to their Catholic and non-Catholic guests; and be a joyful ministry to brides and engaged couples, so that they and their families could be fully present and enjoy their wedding day, instead of worrying about whether things were getting done or not.”

Joy and Mary’s dreams took root in 2018, when Something Blue, LLC was founded. Along with general inspiration and reception planning, Something Blue specializes in helping Catholic couples plan their nuptial liturgies and personally supports them through the gift of prayer: “Our love of the liturgy and the beauty of marriage inspires us to share that love with couples and their families,” Joy and Mary say. “We customize a novena for each couple and begin it so Day 9 is prayed the morning of the wedding. We offer copies of the novena to the parents of the bride and groom, along with the wedding party, church hostess & clergy, and any vendors that we know are Catholic, should they wish to join their prayers with ours for the couple. We see Something Blue as a ministry, in addition to a business.”

The best part of working on weddings: The joy!  It’s a chance to share in a little slice of someone else’s happiness. Being able to watch the bittersweet moments as fathers tearfully embrace their daughters one last time [during the procession]. Smiling at the triumphant grins on the faces of grooms as the newly minted Mr. and Mrs. exit the church for the first time. Witnessing families come together to celebrate a fresh branch of their family tree. Most of all, the moment during a Nuptial Mass when the priest elevates the Holy Eucharist, with the eyes of the bride and groom upon him, the Body of Christ. It gives us goosebumps every time! 

Favorite wedding-day memory: (Mary): On our first date, my husband and I went to Mass and then covered the car of a mutual friend in Post-It notes. It was revenge for a joke she played trying to set the two of us up. I guess she got the last word though, since we got married and now have two children! 

When planning our wedding, I told our priest I wanted to go straight from the church after the recessional to the Adoration chapel, spending our first minutes as a married couple in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Our priest insisted we walk from the church to our car and drive down the chapel. We went back and forth on this, with me getting more and more frustrated, until I grudgingly gave in. When we emerged from the church, there was our car, covered in brightly colored post it notes spelling out I Do!

We take our coffee: (Joy): black. (Mary): I wish I could say I take it black like a hardcore adult, but the truth is, I need sugar and cream and lots of it. 

Learn more about Something Blue, LLC