Rachel + Seth | Summer Country Club Wedding

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

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

Gretchen + Peter | Autumn in Baltimore

A TLM celebration dusted with gold and Shire-inspired charm, illuminating the Lord’s providence amid the challenges of COVID-19 and military life.

Gretchen and Peter became fast friends as plebes at the U.S. Naval Academy, bonding over a mutual love of Tolkien and Star Wars. During their second semester at the academy, Peter asked Gretchen out, and within a week of their relationship’s official start, asked if she’d consider regularly attending church together.

From the Bride:

Peter was Catholic, but I wasn’t at the time. I was raised Presbyterian and had drifted from my faith in high school, but had felt God calling me to make him more central in my life. I was thrilled, then, to have a boyfriend who wanted to make faith an important part of our relationship. 

Our differences in beliefs became a source of constant discussion and debate as our relationship progressed. I had never met a Catholic who was truly devoted to his faith before, and Peter’s complete confidence in the teachings of the Church was eye-opening. A number of common Protestant misconceptions about Catholicism that I’d held began to fall away as Peter shared his faith with me. 

I ultimately realized that God was calling me to come into the Church after I prayed a rosary for the first time, two years after meeting Peter; I’ve been thanking the Blessed Mother ever since for leading me home. 

I was received into the Church at the Naval Academy’s Easter Vigil Mass in 2019 with my parents, Peter, and his family by my side. 

Peter’s love and enduring patience throughout my conversion process are a testament to what an incredible man he is. He loved me as I was, was never pushy, and always pointed me toward God and the discernment of his will in any moments of uncertainty or doubt about my beliefs or about the future. 

After three years of dating, it was easy to see how powerfully God had worked through Peter to bring me closer to him--and how he had worked through me to do the same for Peter. We had been talking about the possibility of marriage since fairly early on in our relationship, but weren’t sure how to proceed when we knew we’d have to spend our first two to three years after graduation living in separate states for our training (he to be a pilot, me to serve on submarines). 

Ultimately, after many months of praying, talking, and seeking advice, we realized we’d rather face the trials of separation with the graces of matrimony at our disposal. Peter proposed in front of a statue of St. Joseph, in the garden of our local parish, and we got to work planning an October wedding.

When COVID-19 first hit, we held on to our plans for over 250 guests, hoping things would clear by October. Ultimately we were forced to reconsider when our reception venue dropped out two months prior to our date. 

As we discerned what to do next, we realized what we wanted more than anything else was simply to be married, and to enjoy the limited time we had together before the Navy sent us to our separate duty stations. 

We decided to move our date up by 5 weeks and to reduce our guest list to 50 family members and friends.By God’s grace, our church, wedding planner, and photographer were all available on the new date. Our planner was absolutely fantastic and helped us navigate all of the changes in contracts and venues that had to be dealt with. 

Peter and I have had a devotion to the Traditional Latin Mass since we first started attending together at the National Shrine of St. Alphonsus Liguori in Baltimore. My introduction to the rich traditions of the Catholic faith was a pivotal part of my conversion process, and Peter fell in love with the reverence and beauty of the traditional Mass the more we attended and learned about it. 

We knew we wanted to be married in a traditional Nuptial Mass at St. Alphonsus, but we wanted to be sure our families wouldn’t feel alienated by the language barrier or the unfamiliar form--after all, barely anyone in my family had even attended a regular Catholic Mass! We prioritized writing a program that gave our guests a clear idea of what to expect and how best to appreciate the beauty of the Mass. 

Music was another priority for us, as it can be one of the most beautiful aspects of the Traditional Latin Mass. While we would have loved to have a small schola sing polyphonic settings of the Mass, COVID made this dream unsafe. We were permitted one singer and an organist, however, which meant that we were still able to be married in a High (sung) Mass rather than a Low Mass (wherein everything is spoken and there is little or no music). 

On the day of the wedding, my bridesmaids and I got ready in my parents’ hotel suite and were joined by a number of close family friends. My maid of honor, an amateur makeup enthusiast, did all of our makeup beautifully. I was able to check all of the Something Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue boxes: I wore my mother’s wedding dress, which was beautifully preserved and fit so perfectly that we didn’t have to make a single alteration! My veil was new, I borrowed my mother’s pearl necklace, and I wrapped a blue-beaded rosary--a Christmas gift designed by Peter--around my bouquet. 

After arriving at the church, Peter and I did a “first prayer” around the corner of a wall from each other before preparing for the procession. I walked down the aisle with my father to the tune of “Thaxted”--the portion of Holst’s “Jupiter” that is used for one of our favorite hymns, “O God Beyond All Praising.”

Related: A Catholic photographer’s tips for a memorable & seamless First Prayer

In the traditional Nuptial Mass, the first thing that occurs after the procession is the actual marriage of the spouses, so Peter and I were married within the first 5 minutes of the ceremony! Since Peter has Croatian ancestry, we chose to incorporate the Croatian tradition of holding a crucifix while saying our vows (a tradition that we learned about through Spoken Bride!). 

Our priest gave a fantastic, convicting homily about the powerful witness of a Catholic marriage in today’s society; he reminded us that neither Peter nor I should ever think of ourselves before we think of one another again, and helped to explain the traditional readings (the discussion of submission in Ephesians 5 can be rather off-putting to modern ears) in the light of Our Lord’s love and sacrifice. 

Our singer was phenomenal. She chanted the traditional Mass settings with an ethereal beauty, and made some of our favorite hymns (“Ubi Caritas,” “Anima Christi,” and “O Sanctissima”) come alive for the offertory and Communion meditations and the offering of flowers to the Blessed Mother. We received numerous comments from family and friends, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, about how beautiful the Mass was. It was one of the greatest joys of the day to share the beauty of our faith in this way.

We were incredibly blessed to be able to have a small, socially-distanced reception, with dinner and dancing and all we had hoped for prior to COVID. The smaller guest list ended up being a gift--we were able to really spend time with each of our guests, and we actually got to eat our dinner! 

Peter opted to wash my feet instead of doing a garter toss; a number of family members had never seen this done at a wedding before, and commented on the beauty of the practice. Our original dream had been to have a Hobbit party-themed reception, inspired by Bilbo Baggins’ birthday party from The Lord of the Rings. While the venue change made it difficult to fully execute our initial vision, the inspiration shone through in the little details: our cake matched Bilbo’s birthday cake (on a smaller scale and without the candles!), fabric banners and paper lanterns abounded, and the food, joy, and merriment of the night were enough to match any Hobbit’s enthusiasm for a good celebration.

From the Groom: 

As all couples who were married during COVID times can attest, the planning and execution of our wedding were an exercise in trusting God and each other. What at first appeared to be great crosses ended up being great blessings: the reduced guest list allowed us to share more time with our guests, and our reception venue canceling on us prompted us to move up our date by several weeks. This change in particular was a blessing, as we found out shortly after the wedding that Gretchen's military orders had changed and required her to report to her new duty station only two days after our original wedding date. 

Embracing God's challenge by moving up our date allowed us to have those wonderful five weeks together, soaking up the joys of finally being married and preparing for our time apart. Since our wedding, our intimacy has grown, bolstered by the beautiful Nuptial Mass, the prayers of our loved ones, and the grace of the sacrament. 

A friend asked me the day after the wedding if I felt different. It's the same question I've been asked on significant birthdays or at a graduation. But unlike those times, I really do feel different.

Every day, I profoundly feel both the weight of the responsibility for my wife's soul and the graces that enable me to bear it.

Photography: Emily Karcher Photography, LLC & Katherine Elizabeth Photography | Nuptial Mass Location: National Shrine of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Baltimore, MD | Wedding Reception Venue: Gramercy Mansion Carriage House, Stevenson, Maryland | Wedding Coordination: Simply Created Events | Caterer: The Classic Catering People, Owings Mills, Maryland | DJ: District Remix, Columbia, Maryland | Floral Design: Flowers and Fancies, Baltimore, Maryland | Hair: Updos for I Do’s | Rings: Zachary's Jewelers, Annapolis, Maryland | Invitations: Paper in the Park | Bride’s Veil: The Mantilla Company | Maid of Honor Dress: Jenny Yoo Anabelle dress in Cabernet | Bridesmaid Dresses: David's Bridal | Bridesmaids' Shawls: Mia Kraft | Bridesmaid's Veils: Veil By Tradition

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.

Stephanie + Geoffrey | Military Elegance and the Lord's Abundance

Spoken Bride’s Associate Editor shares her and her husband’s journey of radical trust, healing gifts from Therese and other saints, and their Nashville destination wedding--an embodiment of community and life-giving love, planned in less than four months.

Stephanie and Geoffrey met during a college summer, spending hours together and with friends between Washington, D.C. and Annapolis, Maryland. After Geoff graduated, work transplanted him from place to place, and their relationship echoed the theme of constant change, uncertainty, and transition. Yet the Lord is eager to to pour out his gifts, with rock-solid, constant, and unchanging love.

From the Bride:

We were dating. Then we weren’t. I quit my job and moved to California. We dated again. Then we got engaged, married, moved to Japan and started a family. And now we’re here! 

In between those facts from start to present, we were both diving deeper into our own hearts to understand Who am I? and Where is God calling me? We couldn’t articulate those questions then, but retrospect offers wisdom into where we’ve been and how far we’ve come. 

I am a cradle Catholic. I grew up aware of right versus wrong, especially in regards to intimacy with a romantic partner. That knowledge came with a lot of fear. For most of my life, I made decisions to avoid punishment rather than in pursuit of love. Logic and reason kept me safe from emotion.

Dating Geoff tapped into a new area of my heart; all of a sudden, something rustled the desires and passions which had been suppressed for so long. 

Without a real prayer life to know myself and discern all the confusing and overwhelming movements of my heart, I broke up with Geoff. I feared that maybe I was being called to religious life. I heard a lot of voices in my head, had a lot of feelings in my heart and had no idea what was right. 

After we broke up, I was lost until St. Therese came to the rescue. Through a monthly novena and spiritual reading, my heart softened. It was a whirlwind season and I grew a lot. Commitment to Adoration, daily Mass, and continued novenas yielded healing and peace. 

I learned to trust the pure, passionate desires of my heart because God placed them there! I discerned that my love for Geoff, though immature in its origin, was rooted in purity and goodness. 

I was finally consoled when my will aligned with God’s and I took steps to pursue a relationship with Geoff again. 

In the depth of his own sorrow and heartbreak, Geoff also leaned on God in new ways. Eventually, through a number of factors that are still mysterious to me, he discerned his desire to enter the Catholic Church. 

I reached back out to Geoff and told him I was prepared to move wherever the Navy was taking him next. He was (rightfully) cautious, but eventually we both packed our bags for California. 

Our second start was awkward and slow; our friendship picked up where it left off but our dating life was more vulnerable and thoughtful than before. Surrounded again by a strong community of friends, our hearts were thriving and it was time to talk about marriage. 

Once our relationship was solid, talk of marriage was expedited by the military’s timeline--a move to Japan was in our near future. Geoff was clear he would not propose until after he entered the Catholic Church. I was restless, but desired to trust both Geoff and God’s timing. 

In less than 4 months, we planned a wedding, got married, and moved. Fortunately, my sister has an extensive background as a luxury event planner in Tennessee. Since she had the expertise and our family and friends were spread around the country, we planned a destination wedding in Nashville. 

Two weeks after Geoff proposed, we were civilly married to process military paperwork for our international move (we didn’t live as a married couple until after our subsequent Church wedding). Later that day, ironically, I bought my wedding dress. The thought of wedding dress shopping was not exciting to me; it was dramatically overwhelming. 

My roommate surprised me with an appointment at a local bridal shop. I tried on a handful of dresses available to take away that day and found one that felt simple yet special. The low-key dress-shopping process was a perfect fit for me. 

I wasn’t the girl who dreamt about her wedding. Together, Geoff and I decided “classy backyard barbecue” encompassed our ideal aesthetic and environment: beautiful yet comfortable, reverent yet approachable. The bridesmaids wore black and our flowers added a beautiful pop of color.

While my sister organized wedding plans, we focused on our top priorities. Despite the short timeline, we committed to praying a 54-day Rosary Novena leading up to our wedding. Many evenings, the prayers were said with heavy eyelids, but it kept our hearts focused on surrendering our desires and offering our vows to God. 

We found joy in bringing as much personalization and community into our day as possible by incorporating loved ones into different roles; we feel most alive while cultivating authentic relationships!

Friends in California helped create a Japan-themed paper crane backdrop for a photo booth at the reception. My grandmother embroidered our names and wedding date in blue that was sewn inside my wedding dress. My mother-in-law offered her mother’s vintage clutch to use throughout the day.

Our music and wedding program intended to unite our Catholic and non-Catholic guests. Included in the program was a prayer to Mary that Geoff and I wrote to offer a glimpse into our relationship with our spiritual mother. We created a Litany of the Saints to be sung during the Mass, which was probably the most profound moment for me--to be surrounded, spiritually and physically, by the communion of saints. 

Countless friends and relatives shared their gifts of singing, altar serving, reading, dancing, driving, ice cream-making, hair-fixing, cooking, dress-buying and more throughout the weekend. One family friend even loaned us her all-American getaway car. We were surrounded by generosity and God-given talents! 

My immediate family took initiative according to their personal strengths too. My sister’s eye for beauty and attention to detail is extraordinary. My mom created prayer cards as place settings at the reception. She and my dad had traveled to the Holy Land before our engagement, but came home with enough wine from Cana for the Eucharistic celebration during our wedding Mass. (Without knowing, Geoff and I had already selected the Miracle at Cana as our Gospel reading!) Finally, my dad and I had a very honest conversation about our wedding budget, which he had been preparing since I was a little girl. 

Geoff and I share a love language of quality time. With all but two guests traveling from out-of-town, we made an effort to spend time with everyone. Both our families rented houses in Nashville, which allowed our extended families and bridal parties to enjoy meals, late-night chats, and morning coffee together. 

After our wedding rehearsal, thoughtful toasts, and delicious dinner, we opened the restaurant patio for a “meet-and-greet happy hour” for all the wedding guests to visit; this was one of the greatest parts of our weekend.

By the ceremony, it felt like the guests from near and far already knew each other! It wasn’t just a crowd gathered to watch us get married, but a family united in love and authentic relationships. 

In lieu of a First Look, Geoff and I started our wedding day with a coffee date. We were able to sit in the quiet of the morning, before the sun was up, to prepare for the day together. 

We spent additional quality time with the bridal party between the wedding and reception at a bowling alley. We wore our fancy clothes, the photographers followed along, and we played together before being engulfed in the crowd again.

God showed up in big and small ways on our wedding day. He offered tangible waves of mercy, healing, joy and grace for everyone present, while simultaneously whispering intimate praises, just for me and Geoff. 

For example, my absolute favorite thing in nature is clouds. When we saw the Church of the Assumption for the first time to go to confession the week of our wedding, I was awestruck by the relief behind the altar: an image of Mary being assumed into heaven against a backdrop of perfect clouds. In addition, when Geoff became Catholic months prior, he chose Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati as his Confirmation name. On that same day, Geoff noticed the only prayer card of a holy person in the church’s entryway was for Bl. Frassati. 

During the time I was discerning my vocation and spending countless hours in an Adoration chapel back in Washington, DC, I was surrounded by several icons in the small prayer space. Each of them showed up on our wedding day: a statue of St. Therese by the church door; the infant Jesus of Prague and Divine Mercy image in the back of the church, and the pelican in piety image on the back of our priest’s chasuble (this was the most shocking as I’d only seen it once before on the altar under the tabernacle in the adoration chapel). The way God wove my experiences in Adoration into our wedding day is truly unbelievable. 

To describe our wedding itself, pure, beautiful, intentional, reverent, inclusive, joyful, and wholehearted come to mind. Geoff and I have said we just showed up to our wedding day. In many ways, we did. We were constantly amazed that this was our wedding. Yet it would be foolish to deny our commitment to wedding planning--the months of individual preparation and countless acts of mercy that have allowed us to share the vocation to marriage with joy. 

I have since realized in a new way how God takes our desires and magnifies them into abundant gifts and graces beyond our imagining. When the desires of our hearts align with God’s desires for our lives, there is no stopping the powerful movements of the Holy Spirit. 

A lot of people did a lot of work to make our wedding what it was, but the hand of God was the ultimate source of beauty and joy throughout the entire weekend. He provided abundant means as so many people utilized their gifts to create an extraordinary experience of the sacrament which, hopefully, revealed a glimpse of his glory.

Watching countless people do their “thing” brought us joy and increased the beauty of the day. In many ways, the multiplicity of gifts foreshadowed the fruitfulness of living a sacrament to marriage. 

Our relationships with God have shifted in different seasons of life; truthfully, our shared unity with God is still in an infancy stage in our married lives. Almost two years in, and we’re definitely still figuring out how to pray together, how to define our values and how to make our faith visible on our lips, in our home, and in our relationships. 

I am grateful we entered the sacrament of marriage when we were both at a point of spiritual highs. It’s a constant reminder and source of encouragement for what’s possible when we unite our hearts to God’s will. 

Photography: Details Nashville | Ceremony Venue: Church of the Assumption: Nashville, TN | Reception Venue: Marathon Music Works: Nashville, TN | Rings: Robbins Brothers | Flowers: Lauren Marie Atkinson | Event Planning: Alison Burry, the bride's sister | Post-Wedding Bowling: Pinewood | Cake: Puffy Muffin | Cake topper: Laster Tree | Wedding Dress and accessories: Luv Bridal | Bridesmaids Dresses: Dillards | Tuxes: Joseph A. Banks | Bridal alterations: The Perfect Fit | Food: Corky’s BBQ | Reception Rentals: Music City Tents | Lighting: Bright Event Productions | DJ: Spangler Entertainment | Cantor: Natalie Plumb | Organist: Albennia Ladieu

Sara + Raphy | Hawaiian Paradise Wedding

Sara didn’t plan on returning to Hawaii after graduation. The friendship she had begun with Raphy looked like it was coming to an end. But when she did come back, and they picked up where they left off, the two friends realized their relationship was turning into something more.

From the Bride: My husband and I met the summer of 2016, but we didn’t start talking and hanging out until December 31, the last day of the year. Shortly after a dinner at the Salt Lake Chinese Restaurant, we coordinated a day to hike the Koko Head Arch and chill at the beach down below--just as friends. 

After the new year on January 14, 2017 I received an unexpected text message from him asking me to dinner, as friends. So we shared spaghetti and meatballs at Buca Di Beppo in the Ward Center. We got boba drinks afterwards and drank them at the Tantalus lookout. And then, on the ride back to my place, we sang Disney songs for the entire drive. 

Raphy walked me upstairs, hugged me goodbye, and then I left for Portland the following day. It was a night to remember, but I thought that would be the extent of our friendship since I didn’t plan to return to Hawaii after graduation. We kept in touch through the occasional phone call and sporadic text messages. 

I ended up coming back home after graduating in May, and on June 2 we planned a day to hang out and celebrate each other's birthdays after being an ocean apart. The day started off with Raphy surprising me with the Disney Aulani Character Breakfast in Ko'olina. In turn, I surprised him by taking him to Moanalua Gardens and dancing hula for him. We ended with worship performed by Jeremy Camp at New Hope. It was another memorable time together.

About a week later on Trinity Sunday my friends threw a surprise graduation celebration for me at a friends’ home in Kapolei. There was so much food and laughter. Raphy even showed up later on, another surprise for me! The celebration went on until there was just seven of us left. There was hula dancing, singing, and guitar playing. Towards the end of the evening, Raphy asked me if I'd like to enter into a courtship with him, and I said, "yes!" 

That October, I took a trip to Europe with my mom, and we explored Switzerland and Italy. I had the amazing opportunity to go inside the Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican in Rome. I knelt down to pray at one of the altars, specifically for Raphy and our relationship. After I was done praying, I saw a small sign at the front; it was the altar dedicated to St. Joseph, Raphy’s confirmation saint. I fell to my knees in tears and knew I was ready to tell him I loved him when I returned from my trip. 

I arrived home in the morning, rested, and then reunited with Raphy for date night and adoration. As we were sitting in his car at the end of the night, he asked to be vulnerable with me for a moment. That's where he professed his love for me for the first time. I professed my love for him too, and this love that we had for each other grew into the love we share today.

The next April, Raphy took me to the adoration chapel at Our Lady of Good Counsel, Aiea to pray a holy hour together. Prayer is the priority and foundation of our relationship, so we always made time to pray together. 

During the middle of our holy hour, Raphy excused himself because of a stomach problem (nerves!) and asked me to meet him at the car after I was done praying. When I approached his car there were candles lit, the bible was open to the story of the Annunciation, Raphy's journal was lying nearby, and one of my favorite love songs played in the background: "We'll Be Okay" by Imagine Dragons. 

The journal entry I read shared how he felt about our relationship and led me to a garden dedicated to the Blessed Mother. That's when he started serenading me with his favorite love song, "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran. After finishing, he professed how much he wanted to love and serve me for the rest of his life. Raphy went down on one knee and proposed. 

With tears in my eyes and a big smile on my face, I gave him my yes! We embraced each other and prayed in front of the Blessed Mother to intercede and guide us as a newly engaged couple. 

In preparation for marriage, we attended a weekend Engaged Encounter retreat in Kauai. After many long and deep conversations about our plans for marriage, we made a formal pledge of betrothal to each other. Becoming betrothed in the Catholic Church is a deliberate, free, mutual, and true promise, externally expressed, of future marriage between both parties. 

We understood that marriage was a sacrament and that we needed to prepare ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually. And so we committed to growing in holiness with each other. One of the boundaries we set was no wedding planning on Sundays, the day of rest.

On our wedding day, Father Peter Dumag, our celebrant, shared with everyone that there is the engagement ring, the wedding ring, and the suffering. On that day we gave our 'yes' to God to live out our vocation of marriage. 

They say the wedding day is the day when two become one, but it is the two of us becoming one in Him. They say when you get married you're settling down, but you're actually elevating! My marriage brings my soul so much joy and peace. This is my path to heaven with my husband, through our Blessed Mother who brings us to her Son, Jesus Christ. We are so blessed for the many family and friends who witnessed our union in the sacrament of holy matrimony.

Photography:  Brandon Smith's Photography | Church: St. Elizabeth’s Church - Aiea, HI | Reception: Bird of Paradise Restaurant - Ewa Beach, HI 96815 | Rings: Honolulu Jewelry Co. | Flowers: Simply Elegant - Hawaii | Invitations: Shutterfly | Dress: David's Bridal | Veil: Amazon | Shoes: Macy’s  | Bridesmaids: David's Bridal | Hair & makeup: Lynn Yee Makeup

Mary + James | Sacred Heart Cathedral Wedding

Mary and James first connected online, and it quickly became obvious that they were both looking for similar qualities in a spouse.

Although circumstances kept them long distance, their relationship remained strong, and the Lord blessed them with an unexpected grace: a wedding on the solemnity of his Sacred Heart.

From the Bride: James and I met on Catholic Match. We were both looking for someone who shared our faith and way of life--the most important things to us. After that, we dated long-distance between Jefferson City and St. Louis for a year and a half.

Before boarding his train back home one day, James asked if I wanted to go visit St. Peter’s church nearby. Next to the statue of Saint Louis, James told me that our time in the city had taught him that the world was not enough. He wanted to give me more than this world could offer, just like Saint Louis himself who lived his life not for this world but the next.

He proposed to me at St. Peter’s in Kirkwood, Missouri. Needless to say, I said yes!

Shortly after getting engaged James left to Army JAG (Judge Advocate General) Training in Fort Benning, Georgia, and Charlottesville, Virginia for five months. During this time, our Pre-Cana classes were put on hold while he completed his training and I finished grad school.

When he returned we hit the ground running with our Pre-Cana courses at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis under the supervision of Deacon Todd.

A month before our wedding we were told it fell on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart. This meant we would not be able to use any traditional wedding readings or psalms. Although we did not realize it when we picked the date, we were now presented with a great opportunity.

It was a chance to show our guests the love of Christ found in His Most Sacred Heart and the reflection of this love found in the marriage of a husband and wife.

Our wedding mass was special in many ways. The biggest grace was celebrating our big day on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart in the beautiful Cathedral Basilica. Another fun and unique bonus was when the Archdiocesan Handbell Choir volunteered to play for the wedding, since I am a member! Hearing the beautiful bells ring throughout the cathedral was such a wonderful gift to us.

Additionally, even though James and I both have big families, we wanted everyone to have a part in the Mass if possible. Every member of the family was either in the wedding party or had a role as a lector, usher, or gift-bearer. Our photographer told us that our Mass was the most spiritual that he has ever witnessed.

Right before I walked down the aisle my bridesmaids and I began to pray, I could not hold back the tears of joy because I was overwhelmed with love and gratitude for the wonderful ladies in my life. As the tears began to flow my future sister-in-law took over the prayer, somehow taking the words right out of my mouth. It was such a special moment I will always remember.

Photography: Mirage Photo | Church: Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, Saint Louis, MI | Reception: The Christy, Saint Louis, MI | Music: Archdiocesan Hand Bell Choir | Reception Music: DJ Connection | Hair & Makeup: New Seasons Hair Spa | Flowers: Carol’s Corner Florist & Gifts

Jessica + Brian | Classic Winter Manor Wedding

Jessica and Brian met at college in 2010. At that moment, they had no idea that seven years later they would walk down the aisle and enter together into the sacrament of matrimony.

It only took a couple months of dating to realize their mutual desire for marriage, but different career paths and an uncertain military schedule kept Jessica and Brian apart. This only grew their desire to be united in marriage, and Brian finally proposed to Jessica in March 2017.

On a magical, snowy day in a beautiful chapel, the happy couple celebrated a winter wedding.

From the Bride: Brian and I both attended Mount Saint Mary’s University and were both business majors. We were in some of the same classes during our freshman year, but we didn’t meet until sophomore year in September 2010.

Brian introduced himself after my presentation during one of our business classes, and we spent some time together that weekend. We became quick friends, but he wasn’t looking for anything more than friendship at that time. As for me, I was open to the possibility of a relationship! So we continued to spend time together as Brian prayed and reflected about our future.

Three months after we met, he gave me a letter conveying all he had reflected on and asked me to be in a relationship with him. After only two months of dating, we knew one day we’d be husband and wife.

Over the next six and a half years, our love steadily grew through attending weekly Mass, praying together, and sharing countless memories.

We also identified our lay vocations and began our careers. As Brian started his time in the Marine Corps and I pursued a career in finance, we were separated for months at a time. This transition was extremely challenging, and I leaned heavily on prayer as I learned to trust in God’s plan.

Being separated by geography and Brian’s irregular schedule taught us not to take our relationship for granted. In March 2017, he proposed to me on the front steps of Mount de Sales Academy, my alma mater.

As we began planning, Brian and I wanted our wedding day to be centered on our love for God and each other. And we wanted each of our guests to feel this love coming through every detail.

Our celebrant, Father Thomas Haan, had been Brian’s college lacrosse team chaplain, a close friend and spiritual guide throughout our relationship. He celebrated our nuptial Mass on a beautiful, snowy December day at Mount St. Mary’s in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception.

This was our favorite part of the day: the nuptial Mass and exchange of vows. As Catholics, making a commitment to God and each other in front of our families and friends was very important to us.

We also felt blessed to have our families involved in our wedding day in big ways. Brian’s aunt made the invitations, and my loving godparents provided my entire wedding ensemble. My godfather bought my veil, headband, and dress, and my godmother made my faux fur shawl.

Everything put together made me feel truly beautiful as I married Brian.

From Elizabeth, the Photographer: Shooting a lot of Catholic weddings, I hear a lot of homilies. But every now and then one of them forces me to stop and listen instead of moving around the church wondering what shot I should capture next.

Father Haan nailed it for Brian and Jessica! There was something so personal about his sermon. It was evident that he knew the couple well, and that he and Brian had a great relationship.

He highlighted how the Lord favors their union, specifically through the Blessed Mother's constant intercession for them.

Brian was born in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, and Jessica developed a strong devotion to Our Lady in high school at Mount de Sales Academy. Both Jessica and Brian chose to attend Mount Saint Mary's University. Then on December 9, one day after the feast of the Immaculate Conception, they were married in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at Mount Saint Mary's.

Father explained that it wasn't a coincidence their faithfulness to the Lord and his Blessed Mother was made visible in their union as husband and wife.

It was beautiful.

Photography: Elizabeth M Photography | Church: Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at Mount Saint Mary's University (Emmitsburg, MD) | Reception: Springfield Manor (Thurmont, MD) | Make-up: Autumn Estelle | Hair: Erica Noccolino Thorowgood | Bride’s Veil: Mon Cheri, purchased at The Bridal Boutique | Bride’s Headband: Morilee, purchased at The Bridal Boutique | Bride’s Dress: Stella York, purchased at The Bridal Boutique | Rings: King’s Jewelry, Alexandria, VA | Bride’s Shoes: Tieks by Gavrieli | Bridesmaids Dresses: Dessy, purchased at The Bridal Boutique | Caterer: The Carriage House | Cake/cupcake baker: Kupcakes &; Co. | DJ: Jack Seghetti | Planning: Ida Rose | Flowers: Shelly Black Custom Floral | Videographer: Jon Sham

Finding Your Wedding Style + Planning Your Liturgy: A Look Back on Spoken Bride Weddings

Are you recently engaged and just beginning to identify your wedding aesthetic? Did you know Spoken Bride weddings are indexed by color, style, and state?

Click the tags at the bottom of each wedding feature to see similar celebrations. It’s our honor to be invited into the unique, singular beauty of each of our couples’ special days and to share the distinctively Catholic elements that elevate their wedding days and point their guests’ senses heavenward.

Here, a collection of our past features. For our new brides, we hope they help you find your own style and introduce you to some of our incredible couples whom you might not have encountered before. For longtime readers, enjoy this look through the archives! Wherever you’re coming from we desire above all that like us, you’ll take in these stories and step back with nothing but awe, reverence, and gratitude for the Father’s fathomless love for his children.

Cultural traditions

Maria and Santi’s Buenos Aires wedding and bilingual nuptial Mass | Edith and Bomani’s Kenyan Catholic wedding | Elisabeth and Salvador’s El Salvadorian wedding | Lisa and Steve’s elegant resort wedding ,celebrating the bride’s Polish heritage

For the classic bride

Blair and Jordan’s fireside black-tie wedding | Jamie and Seth’s Baltimore wedding with astronomy-inspired details, designed by the bride | Sarah and Christopher’s Kate Spade-inspired wedding | Maggie and Ryan’s walk from literal blindness to true seeing, and their vineyard brunch wedding

Holiday weddings

Emily and Daniël’s Praise and Worship-filled Christmas season wedding | Christina and Kristian’s Austin wedding, with holiday colors and Christmas hymns | Genevieve and Dalton’s festive celebration at Rock ‘N Bowl | Caroline and Matt’s elegant cathedral wedding, rich with family heritage | Kaitlyn and John’s New Year’s wedding in blue, gold, and white | Becca and Phil’s Christmas picnic wedding

For the vintage-lover

Emma and Mark’s 1920s-inspired Arkansas wedding | Ada and Greg’s Texas celebration with her grandmother’s dress and other family heirlooms

Regional-inspired weddings

Fatima and John’s Tuscan-inspired celebration and Italian honeymoon | Brooke and Tim’s taste of Southern Virginia hospitality | Emily and Bradley’s & Katherine and Jonathan’s Louisiana weddings, inspired by French and New Orleans traditions | Erin and Andrew’s relationship guided by Our Lady of Perpetual Help, their Notre Dame Basilica wedding and reception football game | Cynthia and Chad’s Midwestern traditions and the beautiful significance of the Holy Land in their relationship | Sarah and Joseph’s Chesapeake Bay wedding with preppy and nautical details

For the rustic bride

Emily and Ben’s elegant evening on 40 acres of Nashville farmland | Chloe and Joseph’s winter farmhouse weddings and tips for spending as much of your wedding day together as possible | Jamaila and Andy’s NYC courtship and wedding filled with elements from nature

Ever ancient, ever new: unique Catholic devotions

Joan and Matt’s summer wedding, with original music composed by the bride | Kelsey and Jacob’s personal marriage prayer, and tips for writing your own | Susanna and Brad’s vineyard-inspired wedding and reflections on marriage, the priesthood, and religious life | Beth Anne and Tom’s beautiful alternative to a bouquet and garter toss | Robyn and Greg’s Divine Mercy weekend wedding and the role of this devotion in their relationship | Janae and Ryan’s foot-washing during their first look | Rosanna and Matthew’s Norbertine liturgy in English and Latin | Erica and Chris’s decision to say their vows over a crucifix | Laura and Alexandre’s fully sung Mass at a California mission | Bridget and David’s hometown Mass and decision to memorize their vows

For the DIY bride

Angela and Lucas’s farmhouse-chic Indiana wedding | Katherine and Ian’s handmade floral arrangements and reception catered by family | Amy and Jake’s Colorado Springs celebration with hand-lettered details, homemade centerpieces, and a custom crossword

City weddings

Anna and Mike’s Minneapolis nuptials | Maggie and Eric’s downtown Denver wedding | Chelsy and Ben’s portraits at the Washington, D.C. monuments during the Cherry Blossom Festival | Chelsea and Nick’s Pittsburgh black-tie evening

For the boho bride

Kelly and Peter’s high school sweethearts story and outdoor California reception | Heather and Jude’s transatlantic romance and bayside wedding day

Military weddings

Alana and Stephen’s conversion story and Air Force wedding | Hannah and Jared’s sophisticated Pittsburgh wedding, with the groom in Captain’s dress

Special circumstances and non-Roman rites

Andrea and David’s convalidation ceremony and powerful conversion story | Julia and Francis’s Byzantine liturgy | Dominika and Joseph’s & Gabrielle and Vince’s Ordinariate weddings | Victoria and David’s journey of discernment and conversion | Jenna and Michael’s Italian family-style wedding | Heather and Matthew’s witness to divine love’s healing power and their family-centered wedding with their daughters | Ashley and Ashbee’s black and white WVU wedding and advice for accommodating non-Catholic guests

For the romantic bride

Julie and Rudy’s elegant blush wedding and a love story that began in Fatima | Katherine and Dominic’s hometown wedding and rainy night reception | Elise and Hunter’s long-awaited celebration in the Maryland countryside

Feeling a call to share your proposal or wedding day with our community? Submission info can be found here.

Images by Spoken Bride Vendor Horn Photography & Design, seen in Melissa + Antonio | Springtime Ballroom Wedding

Alana + Stephen | California Air Force Wedding

Alana and Stephen met through a mutual friend during their college years in San Diego. They quickly fell in love, though with a major difference between them: Alana was a Non-Denominational Protestant, and Stephen was Catholic. The Lord was about to draw them into his heart.

From the Bride: Throughout our relationship, I prayed asking God what to do and--if Stephen was the one--how would our interfaith marriage work. I ended up finding a book written by a Catholic Priest, Robert J. Hater: When A Catholic Marries A Non-Catholic. It answered so many of my questions and I was even able to contact Fr. Hater! He became my spiritual counselor, and later that year I converted to Catholicism.

My faith has grown immensely since converting and having Stephen by my side to answer any questions and support me has only made our love for each other grow. We became engaged on December 23, 2016 and later found out Stephen's report date for pilot training moved up for the Air Force. We had a short engagement, yet God was looking out for us and provided us with a church and reception venue.

When we found an available church, we fell in love. Not only was it beautiful and in a great location, but we had a priest, Fr. Mark, who was a family friend of Stephen's. My mother-in-law is involved in Opus Dei and told us amazing things about Fr. Mark. We met with him once before the wedding and told him of my conversion story and more about our relationship. During our wedding liturgy, he gave an amazing homily that nodded to Stephen’s Air Force career, comparing flying to marriage.

For the readings, we wanted to include our family. Since I don't have grandparents, I asked Stephen's father's mother, and Stephen asked his mother's mother. It was such a lovely moment seeing both grandmothers holding hands up as they walked up to the altar. My only uncle and his family offered the gifts, and I loved including them even though they are not Catholic. Stephen's uncle, who had sung at each of Stephen’s sibling’s weddings, did the music.

We had decided early on that we would have a moment to thank the Virgin Mary during the Mass. I realized right before that I didn't have the flowers to offer her! Stephen, being the nice man he is, didn't want to go over there empty-handed. He squatted down and grabbed the large pot of flowers that were by the altar! Everyone got a little laugh out of that! He thankfully put them back down and we saw that the flowers were already there by Our Lady. I don't think anyone will ever forget that moment.

We wanted to start a tradition at our wedding. Stephen received a sword from his commissioning for being the top of his class, and we cut our cake with that sword. We hope to pass it down to our children.

It is also a family tradition that "Rain King" by the Counting Crows is played at weddings. I think you have to know all the words before becoming a part of Stephen’s family!

God always has a plan. When we started planning our wedding and Stephen’s report date changed, it really took us for a spin. But God provided for us with a church, venue, and priest. The day that I had to move out of my studio apartment was the day before our wedding--that's providence right there!

Early on, we struggled so much with being different faiths and spent so much time concentrating on the negatives. Little did I know that God brought us together to make us better Christians. Without Stephen, I would've never been exposed to Catholicism. I think for him, growing up Catholic was seen as a routine. Through my conversion, he was really brought to the basics and fell deeply in love with his faith all over again.

Photography: Kelli Seeley | Nuptial Mass or Engagement Location: Church of Santa Maria, Orinda, California | Reception: Orinda Country Club | Rings: Exclusive Diamonds by Carter  | Flowers: Clayton Sonset Flowers | Dress: BHLDN | Tux: The Black Tux | Cake: Susie Cakes | Catering: Orinda Country Club | Invitations and table signs: Minted |  Guest Sign In Book: Artifact Uprising

Chelsy + Ben | Feast of the Annunciation Wedding

Chelsy and Ben were both newcomers to Washington, D.C. the night a mutual friend introduced them at a Mass in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Their first conversation didn’t take place until, that same evening, they waited for a table at dinner with friends. Chelsy sensed a spark and invited Ben to the upcoming housewarming she and her roommates were hosting. In the weeks that followed, they got to know each other on several more occasions in groups.

For their first official date, Ben took Chelsy hiking, followed by lunch at his forever favorite, Chick-fil-A.  It was a perfect casual day that gave us plenty of time to get to know each other as we both tried not to twist an ankle,” says Chelsy, and a few months later, after a weekend ski trip with friends that involved Ben assisting Chelsy down the bunny slopes, they were both left thinking they might have found the one.

Within about six months, they knew it was love, and the desire to share one life grew continually stronger. “When you look forward for Friday night grocery shopping dates,” says Chelsy, “you know you’ve found the person you can spend your whole life with. We continued to pray and discern, but the Lord revealed His will in subtle ways as it became harder and harder to imagine life without each other.”

A year and a half later, on the backyard swing where he’d first asked her out, Ben popped the question on Chelsy’s birthday.

From the Bride: The night before our wedding, following our rehearsal dinner, we gathered with family and friends for a special Holy Hour. One of the Deacons serving at our wedding Mass led the hour of prayer, while our celebrant was available for confession. Ben's uncle generously led us in song, and we were both able to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation. We spent much of that hour in silent prayer preparing our hearts to enter into marriage together. It was such an essential time to reconnect with one another and our Lord in the midst of all the craziness of wedding week. We both still had long to-do lists to accomplish, but for that hour we were able to refocus, put all our tasks aside, and remind ourselves of the reason behind the whole celebration.

The morning of our wedding we arranged to have gifts delivered to one another. In the Lord’s providence, we both had chosen to gift each other a crucifix. Ben gave me a delicate, golden crucifix to wear around my neck, the most perfectly unplanned wedding day accessory. I gave him a nuptial crucifix that now hangs on our bedroom wall. We both wanted to acknowledge that in marriage we were giving our lives to one another: pouring out our very selves in sacrifice for God’s glory, as Christ has done for us. The sanctuary of our parish Church is dominated by a gorgeous crucifix, under which is written, "As I have done, so you must also do." These words, such an important reminder during the weeks and months of preparation for our wedding day, were the perfect backdrop as we made our vows to one another.

Before the Mass began, we took time to pray together. As is the case for most wedding days, things hadn’t gone exactly according to plan that morning. But all the worries and anxieties melted away when I was finally able to hear Ben’s voice and join our hands in prayer.

Our wedding Mass took place on March 25, the day the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Annunciation. This has long been my favorite Marian feast day, having great significance in my spiritual life. To begin our marriage on the day the Church celebrates Mary's sweet fiat, and the Incarnation of our Lord himself, had such profound meaning for us and for our future family.

In taking one another as husband and wife, we were indeed giving our own fiat to the Lord, allowing Jesus to be incarnate in our marriage. It was such a powerful lens through which to view the marriage covenant.

We chose to have the Mass celebrated ad orientem. For those unfamiliar with this liturgical custom, ad orientem is a Latin phrase meaning "to the East," symbolizing the Church’s waiting in joyful anticipation of Christ’s coming.

The main difference in this celebration of the Mass is the orientation of the priest. During parts of the liturgy in which the priest and the congregation are joined in prayer addressed to God, the priest and the congregation all face the altar together in unified prayer. Alternatively, when the priest is directly speaking to the congregation, he turns and faces them, addressing them directly. This practice serves as a visual reminder of the moments we are united in prayer to our Lord and highlights the unity of the priest and the people. We found it so incredibly moving to celebrate our wedding in this ancient orientation, with all our family and friends gathered together, joining us in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

We presented a bouquet of roses to Our Lady before the Mass concluded. We honored her on the feast of her great fiat which changed all of human history, asking her intercession as we began our life as husband and wife.

Since Ben and I met, dated, fell in love, and would start our family life together in D.C., it was really special to be able to celebrate our wedding in the place that has very much become home for us. Ben serves in the Air Force, so like other military families we will call many places home, but we know D.C. will always be a special place for us. Our family and friends came from all over, and it was such fun to share with them a place we love so much. Since it was Spring, the city was really showing off as the Cherry Blossoms were in peak bloom! The location and season definitely contributed to our classic, Capitol-inspired wedding and reception. Our entrance into the reception was marked by an Air Force saber arch, and aviation-inspired details were sprinkled throughout, including gliders for all the kiddos--and kids at heart.

We began our honeymoon by celebrating Easter in the Eternal City. On Holy Saturday, we stood in St. Peter's Square as the Holy Father celebrated the Easter Vigil. The bells rang out and the whole square was filled with overwhelming light, proclaiming the Resurrection of Christ.

In marriage, we accept the Cross and all its sacrifice, knowing that in doing so we are promised the joy of the Risen Christ! That promise had never felt so real and so new as it did standing in the square that evening as newlyweds. A few days later we were present for the Papal audience to receive the sposi novelli blessing, and were able to personally greet the sweet Holy Father. The rest of our honeymoon was spent journeying through Rome, Venice, Bavaria and Austria, visiting the most gorgeous Churches and asking for the intercession of each Church's patron, and those of its altars and artworks, all along the way. It was like one giant, geographic Litany of the Saints!

When I think back on our wedding day, I am consistently drawn to our vows and to the parallels between the marriage covenant and Mary’s great yes that led to the Incarnation of Christ.

When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary as a young girl, she--much like a young bride--had been preparing for her vocation. Mary may not have known she would be the Mother of God, but by nurturing an intimate relationship with the Lord, she had been preparing her heart to receive this great honor.

When she was told she would bear Christ, the Son of God, as a child in her womb, she couldn’t have known exactly what her acceptance would entail. She asked, “How can this be?” clearly knowing there would complications explaining how she—a virgin—was with child, all while betrothed to a man. Not only was it complicated; it could actually cost her her life. Yet she embraced all the possible suffering that lay ahead with her faithful response: “May it be done to me according to your word.”

In that moment, Mary may not have foreseen Calvary, but she trusted God to provide for her through whatever trials were to come. In much the same way, bride and groom cannot know the challenges and sufferings that await them in marriage. While they may have an idea, they don’t know what their specific Cross and Calvary will be, yet they enter a covenant—“for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health”—for love of the other and love of Christ.

They say yes to one another, trusting in God’s plan, willing to sacrifice their very lives. Through this dying to self, the spouses come to know the joy of life with Christ. For Mary, it was only through her embrace of the Cross that she came to wear her Crown and reign as the Queen of Heaven. As spouses, we pray that our marriage will sanctify one another and lead us to experience the joy of Heaven—and even begin to taste its sweetness while here on Earth.

Photography: KT Crabb Photography | Church: St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, Fairfax, Virginia | Reception: St. Francis Hall at the Franciscan Monastery, Washington, D.C. | Bride's Dress: Stella York | Bride's Shoes: Betsy Johnson | Groom and Groomsman Attire: Jos. A. Bank | Cake: Wegmans | Rings: Personal Touch Jewelers | Stationary: Vistaprint

Anna + Mike | Downtown St. Paul Wedding

Anna and Mike met in ROTC early on in college, but didn’t become friends--and begin seeing the truth of one another’s hearts and character--until a few years later on a camping trip with mutual friends. In the months that followed, Anna felt herself falling hard for Mike, but didn’t think he was interested.

On her friend’s advice, Anna offered her and Mike’s relationship back to the Lord, asking that whether as spouses, friends, or even mere acquaintances, their interaction glorify Jesus. “The day I finally felt myself relent and let go of how I wanted the relationship and accepted what God had in store,” she says, ended up being the very day Mike expressed his romantic interest, and they began dating.

From the Bride: We dated for two years, including two long-distance summers--one of which was “letters only” while Mike attended field training. These months were trying, yet truly beautiful and formative times in our relationship. Marriages in which both spouses are members of the military present a unique set of challenges--these summers provided a taste of what such a marriage could like. We clearly saw our relationship was something special and worth defending.

We discussed marriage early on. By God’s grace, Mike and I had both spent a considerable amount of time as single individuals prayerfully considering the type of person we’d like to marry someday. As the months passed, it became more and more clear the this relationship fulfilled both of our desires.

I expected Mike would propose around the start of our senior year of college, but as the school year started with no signs of one, I began getting disheartened and frustrated. By a stroke of luck, I found myself at a Praise and Worship event at our campus parish one Sunday night after Mass. On a whim, I met with one of the religious brothers there and offered my relationship back to the Lord. Walking home, I felt overcome with a wonderful sense of peace. No matter what happened, I felt confident of the Lord’s presence in my life and knew I had no real reason to fear. The next day--our anniversary--Mike proposed. I was caught completely off guard and absolutely thrilled.

Mike and I envisioned our wedding day being a gift of joy, love, and excitement for as many people as possible. I pictured a wedding aesthetic that would be unique, but also timeless and classic.

I spent the night before the wedding with my bridesmaids. I was nervous for the big day, and it was such a comfort to be surrounded with wonderful, loving, generous, women; dear friends who had prayed with and comforted me back when Mike was just a long-shot crush of mine. One of my favorite memories was showing my bridesmaids my dress, which I’d kept secret, for the first time.

We invited many non-Catholic, and even non-Christian, guests, and felt it was important to portray the essence of the Church through our nuptial Mass. We knew that for many, this would be their first--and maybe only--glimpse of the Church and aimed to utilize our readings and music to describe our faith to the wedding guests. Tobit 8, Romans 12, and John 15 painted a picture of the love we will strive for in our marriage and our lives as Catholics. The opening song we chose, Here is My Life by Ed Conlin, powerfully describes the gift of self we were humbly offering that day. Remembrance by Matt Maher during Communion helped convey the holiness of the sacrament to guests unfamiliar with the Eucharist.

We honored dear family and friends throughout our nuptial Mass. Mike’s mom, a talented musician, wrote the music for the Psalm. Friends served as lectors and Eucharistic ministers, and a married couple who mentored us through our engagement were gift bearers, along with their son. We honored deceased family members in the Prayers of the Faithful.

The Mass was filled with special moments, but the homily was particularly moving. To hear our priest, Father Jon, say he was proud of us and would be there for us throughout our marriage was profoundly humbling and touching. Such statements, made by a man standing as the representation and authority of Jesus, carry a deep implication: that God himself is pleased with the relationship that has brought us to this point, and he will stand by us through every trial we will face.

After the Mass, we had a receiving line, which I definitely recommend to couples who will Once the reception starts, it is much more challenging to keep track of everyone and interact with guests individually.

Our reception was held at the Minnesota History Center in downtown St. Paul. It is a beautiful museum with soaring ceilings and enormous windows, with a lovely terrace that was perfect for the outdoor cocktail hour we both wanted, and a two level dinner-dance location that provided the element of uniqueness I had been hoping for.

My mom came up with the idea of paying tribute to our relationship with nature-inspired centerpieces featuring letters Mike wrote to me during his field training. The wood and vines nodded to our love for the outdoors and the camping trip that started everything, and the letters were a way to share our journey to the altar with our guests.

Our first dance was like a dream. Looking around, surrounded by flashing lights and loud music, and seeing people from every community we are a part of: family, church, college, the military, childhood…it was sort of bizarre, but in the best way possible! Since we’ll probably never have all those people in the same room again, it was important to just be present in the moment and acknowledge how special it was.

One of my favorite parts of the entire day was taking portraits with Mike. Our relationship has often conveyed more through expressions and body language than through speaking. Taking portraits was a delightful, private time for us to be physically close and revel in the emotions of the day. We genuinely felt so close to one another in those moments, and I’m blown away by how well our photographer captured that feeling. I vividly remember the feel of Mike’s arms around me and am grateful for such a powerful sensory memory of our wedding day. We said more to one another in those embraced than we probably ever could have in words or letters.

The love the Lord calls us to is a sanctifying love. While beautiful and awe-inspiring, this love is also self-denying and at times, terrifying. Preparing and fully giving the complete gift of oneself is not easy. Yet it isn’t necessarily meant to be easy; it’s meant to draw us deeper into a relationship with the person of Jesus. Beautiful gifts are often hard-earned.

It is, as St. Teresa of Calcutta said, a paradox: when you love until it hurts, you’ll find the hurt stops and you’re left with only love. I’d encourage every bride and groom to pursue sanctifying love in their relationships. Surround yourselves with people who will call you on to the Church’s mission of love, and be brave in the face of the new ways the Lord asks you to love your partner and those you encounter each day.

Photography: Leslie Larson Photography | Church: St. Lawrence Catholic Church Minneapolis, MN | Wedding Reception Venue: Minnesota History Center St. Paul, Minnesota | Rings: Brilliant Earth, Avenue Jewelers, and King Will | Flowers: Family friend | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Caterer: D’Amico Catering | Bridal dress: David’s Bridal | Bridesmaid dresses: David’s Bridal | Groom’s tux: Men’s Wearhouse | Groomsmen tuxes: Men’s Wearhouse | Cake: D’Amico Catering | Hairstylist: Taj Salon and Spa | Make up: Taj Salon and Spa | Music: Northern Lights DJ | Pre-marital counseling: Quo Vadis Therapy Center

Six Tips for Catholic Military Spouses

SOPHIE WHEELER

If you know anything about military life, you know it can lend itself to a lot of time away. We’ve been lucky that thus far in our relationship, my husband Daniel has never been deployed. But I can tell you that within the four and a half years we’ve been together, there have certainly been large chunks of time spent apart. This was the first Easter in three years, for example, that we will be able to spend together. And we are grateful for this, because it also happens to be the first Easter with our baby.

Daniel and I met as the result of a mail mix-up. My family and I had just moved to the area, and Daniel’s family lived two streets down. The new high school I was attending sent a welcome package that ended up in the hands of Daniel’s mom. At the time, his youngest brother attended the same school, and we can only assume the mailman made an honest mistake. So our moms swapped mail, met for coffee and a year later I was offered a summer job from his dad. Daniel and I finally met, and the rest is history!

Everyone’s experience with marriage is different, and it’s no different for couples in the military, with maybe some added roadblocks. And a few moves. Daniel and I have been apart at critical times in our relationship: the summer we started dating, he was away for six weeks, with limited communication aside from a few short letters here and there. A few months before our wedding he was sent across the country. He was thankfully able to come back for our wedding and a five-day honeymoon, but we were separated soon after since I had to finish up my degree.

If your other half is in the military, distance and time apart is commonplace. Planning a wedding while apart, with sometimes little to no communication, is not the best scenario, but these are the types of struggles military families--and families-to-be--work through. We had to prepare for marriage while apart, and to navigate our newfound status as husband and wife in the same way. All difficult, but not impossible.

Here are a few things that helped us:

Communicate.

I know this comes up on every relationship advice listicle ever. But no matter how much we read about it, it’s still not always put into practice. Communication is key in every relationship, but its importance cannot be emphasized enough—especially in relationships involving stressors beyond your control, such as inconsistent schedules and extended time apart. Military life lends itself to all these things.

If you don’t put effort into talking to your spouse on a daily basis, or however often you’re able while he or she’s away, about even everyday occurrences, things can quickly deteriorate and you’ll end up with a pile of misunderstandings and frustrations. Try sharing even mundane moments with your spouse. For example, I usually text Daniel whenever I leave the house to go to the grocery store, and text him again once I am back home. Not that it’s necessary for him to know exactly when I go to the store, but it often results in further conversation about our days that wouldn’t come about otherwise. Daniel does the same for me whenever he goes out, which helps keep my day running smoothly and shows me that he's thinking of me and being considerate of my time.

You don’t have to fight.

This is something that has helped our marriage immensely. We have never fought. Please don’t misunderstand and think that we don’t ever disagree! We do. But we have never allowed our differences to escalate into a fight, despite numerous people telling us throughout our marriage prep that “You need to fight! It’s unhealthy if you don’t.”

Every couple has different personalities, but it’s not that we don't fight because we aren't confrontational. My husband and I both have tempers (our families can tell you that). The reason we don’t fight is because our goal is always to control immediate emotional responses, not to suppress our thoughts or feelings--that would be useless, and would achieve the opposite effect. Many times we do this by acknowledging the situation and allowing each other time and space before continuing the conversation.

I want to be extremely clear about this: we would never have made it through two and a half years of dating and more than two years of marriage if we were were in the habit of ignoring our thoughts and feelings simply in favor of not fighting. There would have soon been an explosion.

Don’t talk badly about your spouse.

This is a favorite piece of advice from my mom. It helps in so many ways. Because of Daniel being in the military, most of our time spent apart has been both involuntary and with limited communication.  If you have to spend time away from your husband or wife, the tension only increases when you vent your frustrations to your friend or family member about every little annoying thing that your spouse does.

Instead, spend your time away from each other reflecting on your marriage and thinking of ways to make the most of your time together, while serving one another. This advice most definitely applies even when your spouse is not away. It gives your thoughts room to breathe before you choose whether or not to voice them.

Make sure your spouse has a good connection with your children.

 My grandmother should be given an award for the amount of patience and kindness she has managed to keep after years and years of being married to a military man (if you haven’t deduced this already, our family is going 3 generations strong in making military families). In any case, what this point means is don’t pass off the punishments to the parent the kids rarely see. Don’t make them the bad guy. Make time for children to bond with their parent. After my grandfather came back from a long time away in Okinawa, he and my grandmother spent two days together to reconnect while their children were looked after by family friends. After they got back home, they set up a candlelit dinner for the two older children to enjoy time with their dad, without the littler ones. The day after, the littles got the same chance.

Always do date night.

 Well…whenever you can anyway. Why wouldn’t you want to? Date night refreshes your relationship, especially when you have children. It gives you the chance to communicate in a different setting than your usual day-to-day, gives you something to look forward to together, and will likely lead to joyful conversations about past dates.

Trust.

Through all of our experiences Daniel and I have repeatedly learned the lesson that we should always trust in God’s plan and timing. This is especially important when it comes to all of the seemingly ill-timed training away from home or possibility of upcoming deployments. These situations are the best reminder of this fact: you have little to do with what happens in your life, but you have everything to do with how you deal with it.

Feeling like you have no control over your life or plans comes often in the military, and the only solution is to trust.

Trust God and trust your spouse. Lean on each other, even while you are apart. Maintain loving and encouraging communication when it's possible. When it isn’t, pray for each other and your marriage.

Photos by Spiering Photography.

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About the Author: Sophie Wheeler is a wife, mother and artist. She grew up in a military family and as a result has lived in five different countries: the United States, Panama, Spain, Argentina and Venezuela. After settling back in the U.S. and finishing high school, she graduated from George Mason University with a BFA in Arts and Visual Technology. She now runs The Anchor Theory, a freelance graphic design and illustration business. She lives with her husband, Daniel, and their 8-month-old son in North Carolina. 

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Hannah + Jared | Elegant City Wedding

Despite her skepticism, hearing of a FOCUS missionary's success story on the dating app Coffee Meets Bagel convinced Hannah to give the app a try. Within a few days, Jared popped up as a match, and he soon asked her out on a real date, willingly making the trip to meet her from his Army base in Biloxi, Mississippi. At the time, Hannah was studying Theology at Spring Hill College not far away, in Mobile, Alabama.

What started as a simple coffee date morphed into lunch, followed by a stop by Hannah's campus chapel, botanical gardens, dinner, and plans for a second date. When they officially declared their relationship a few dates later, both were struck by the ease of friendship and lightheartedness they shared, making the new feel familiar.

Shortly after, when Jared graduated medical school and was relocated near Seattle for residency, Hannah accompanied him on the forty-five hour drive to his new town. After days on the road, discussing life’s big questions and listening to Catholic radio, they knew their friendship had become real love. They saw in each other the desire for a holy marriage and the qualities of mutual love and respect that could make it possible. Three months later, when Hannah returned to Washington for a visit, Jared got down on one knee. 

From the Bride: A long-distance engagement didn't seem ideal, but it helped us focus on communication and was part of God’s plan for our engagement nonetheless. Thankfully, technology provided us with an opportunity to prepare for the sacrament of matrimony online through Catholic Marriage Prep's program. After six months, our endless planning, prayers, reflection, and support from family and friends brought us to our anxiously awaited wedding day. 

Like most Catholic little girls, I always envisioned myself having an elaborate wedding Mass, and upon realizing God’s call for my vocation was, in fact, to be a wife, the desire remained. Now though, I wanted a wedding mass for different reasons than when I was young--most importantly, the Eucharist. I knew now that if we were to have only a ceremony, there would be neither consecration nor distribution of the Eucharist. The presence of the Eucharist, being the “source and summit of the Christian life,” seemed particularly important for our wedding day.

One potential roadblock to having a full nuptial Mass, however, was that my groom was not yet Catholic, nor baptized. Jared was in RCIA at the time, yet until he was baptized we would not be able to celebrate our wedding as a sacrament. A special request was put into the Bishop of Seattle for an early baptism for Jared. On January 21st, one month before our wedding, Jared's long-awaited desire to become Catholic was fulfilled, and he was fully initiated into the Church!

In a spirit of thanksgiving, we planned our wedding Mass right away. Incorporating our guests was an influential factor--our friends and family in attendance would be from varying faith backgrounds. For some, it would be their first Mass experience; for others, it would be their first time in church after many years away. With that in mind, we wanted the songs and readings we chose to reflect our personal preferences, but more importantly, to reflect our experience of God as a loving and merciful Father. 

We chose John 15 for our Gospel reading, which includes the famous verse, “there is no greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Seeing in this verse the complementary nature between the love of Jesus and the love of husband and wife, it seemed to encompass the perfect ‘love triangle’ our marriage prep had been talking about. The rest of the passage was also a good fit for our congregation, and we hoped it would particularly speak to those who were unfamiliar with the Word of God: “You are no longer slaves if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead I have called you friends, for everything I have learned from my father I have made known to you.” 

The beauty of our wedding also served as a means of evangelization, both for our guests and in our own hearts as the bride and groom. The church itself where we were married, Holy Family Parish, is beautiful yet understated and about a hundred years old. The traditional design and larger-than-life wooden crucifix call one’s attention to Jesus. I had been confirmed in this parish, my many aunts and uncles had also made their sacraments there, including some of their own weddings.

Jared and I strove to dress up as gifts for one another. I'd only tried on a few dresses before choosing the long-sleeved, beaded gown that I hoped would compliment Jared's fancy Captain’s dress uniform. Other small details also had lasting impact: my grandmother handmade a dozen gold bows for the pews; white lilies, my favorite flower, flanked the altar; on top of that, sun poured through the stained glass windows during Mass and despite the February date, the day was warm.

Remembering loved ones who couldn't be physically present at the wedding was also important to us. Jared's father passed away a few years prior due to cancer; his mother had a picture and tribute made for him displayed at the front of the church. We also remembered him during the Prayers of the Faithful, as well as my deceased grandparents who'd attended the church for nearly sixty years. Being able to lift their souls up in prayer was a comfort, as well as a reminder of everyone’s true, eternal home. 

At the culmination of the celebration, we were both joyfully able to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. The hymn, “Here I Am, Lord” was sang during communion, a childhood favorite of mine, followed by “Amazing Grace,” a beloved song to Jared. Once again, the complementary nature of the songs seemed to symbolically encompass our new union as husband and wife, as well as the union of each individual with Christ in the Eucharist. It was truly a sublime moment, one that leaves a lasting impact on the soul.

Time. My only sadness on my wedding day was time. It was the fastest thing to go; I loved every minute of that day. I loved it so much so I wished I could pause the moments, store them away, and walk back into them whenever I wanted. As a finite creature, I know it just cannot be. But as a hopeless romantic, I nonetheless long for an eternal love story.

My wedding helped me realize something my ten-year-old self would gasp at: marriage itself still does not satisfy my deepest longings, which are for God. Upon saying I do, though joyful and full of love, I did not magically feel complete. Perhaps it was the recognition that even spouses and fathers, though dearly loved, are not ours to keep. Time is part of the human condition, and one day God will come calling for all souls, which truly belong to Him.

While I wished to somehow pause our wedding day and make it last forever, I also realized the wedding wasn't the end, but the beginning of something much greater. It was amazing to tangibly celebrate our covenant together, surrounded by loved ones. However, like all earthly things, the cake, dancing, and merriment had to come to an end. We’re left now with each other and the gift of each day. Like our wedding, my greatest desire going forward is that we simply invite Him in, letting the Prince of Peace reign in our hearts and marriage.

Photographer's Business Name: Steven Dray Images  | Church: Holy Family Parish - New Brighton | Wedding Reception Venue: Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh | DJ/Host and uplighting: Kelli Burns Entertainment | Flowers: Blossoms by Jillian | Dress: Justin Alexander | Dress/Veil: One Enchanted Evening, Zelienople, PA | Dessert table: Lauren at Sweet Boots Baking Co., Pittsburgh, PA  | Cake: Bethel Bakery, Bethel Park, PA | Maid Of Honor Dress: Jenny Yoo | Flower girl: Wrare Doll Custom | Bridemaids: Weddington Way | Card box: Steven and Rae

Chelsea + Nick | Pittsburgh Black Tie Wedding

Nick and Chelsea first met at an interview for a college ambassador program. He was asking the questions, and she a freshman and the interviewee. Nick had been prompted to prepare two "creative" questions to ask Chelsea in the presence of an academic judging panel. First, he asked, if you could bring one person to a party, who would it be and why? Chelsea answered Mother Teresa, a woman who was never afraid to be vulnerable and act courageously; the perfect wingwoman. Second, Nick asked what Chelsea would name her ship if she were a pirate captain. Her response was, "Discovery. Because I hope never to cease my love for life's adventures. You either learn or succeed; you never fail."

Later that school year, Chelsea and Nick talked again, and never stopped. He’d never fail to walk her back to her dorm after spending time together. Their first official date was at a beautiful, tiny Italian restaurant with only six tables! Chelsea spent the entire day with her friends, getting ready, wondering if all the effort was too much. But when Nick walked in from the rain to pick her up, flowers in hand, she took notice of the effort he’d put in to look and be his best for her, in turn. He was constant in those efforts, even running across campus on his way to ROTC lab to visit Chelsea for just a few minutes at the program she ran for special needs students, a cause precious and fulfilling to her heart.

Chelsea met Nick’s seasoned Army family only a month after they began dating, on Valentine’s Day weekend. Prior to the visit, the two had spent significant time discussing religious faith. Chelsea had a strong spiritual life and made it clear from the start that God meant everything to her. Nick’s father was baptized Catholic and his mother was Christian, but they didn’t practice their faith much. Her nerves evaporated when Nick’s parents welcomed her like family.

To their surprise, when Chelsea and Nick sat down with his family to eat, his parents led them in grace. Chelsea knew right then that the Father was with them, and that this relationship was possible.

From the Bride: I remember telling Nick that whoever I marry must understand that the main purpose of marriage is to get each other to heaven. At the wedding, our priest and dear friend Father Mac said this exactly: "It is your responsibility to get each other to the kingdom of God. " Nick and I want to build a life centered around God. This will take unconditional love, a strong commitment to one another, our children, our families, and our faith, and a true understanding that challenges must be looked at as learning experiences, moving us closer to the glory he has in store.

I never knew how to witness to my faith until Nick told me that through faith in action--Mass, daily prayers, and serving the communities around us in need--I had been evangelizing all along. We went to Mass together every week. On Pentecost during my freshmen year, I remember Nick just staring in the eyes of God at the altar. I didn’t know if he was bored or zoned out, but then he told me how incredible the feeling of the Mass and God's love felt around him, like nothing he had ever experienced. This was monumental in our journey of faith, and Nick ultimately made the decision to enter the Catholic Church.

Through Nick’s ROTC and military training, it was extremely trying to attempt going through RCIA. We tried for years, and it was frustrating. Finally, things just truly fell into place, and with an exception granted from the typical RCIA schedule, Nick received all of his sacraments over Labor Day weekend, 2015. We felt sure we were called to marriage, but Nick knew I couldn't get married until he had become Catholic--not for my sake, but for his own, because he loved his faith so much and so fully desired to be married as Catholics.

Growing up, I honestly thought I would marry someone who was already Catholic. My, did God have great plans for me! I thank him every day for the gift of journeying towards faith with Nick. I have learned so much about myself and my own faith in this process. My newfound appreciation for who I am allows me to proclaim my faith as my own, not merely a result of my upbringing; a bond that ties Nick and I together under a truly sacred bond. A sacrament. Nick thanks me for giving him his faith, but I thank him for giving me mine.

We both knew we wouldn’t be truly happy on our wedding day unless our guests were happy, too. We planned a weekend around our favorite things in our city to give people the feeling of a vacation, hoping they’d return home rejuvenated in faith and love. We held our rehearsal dinner at a Pittsburgh Pirates game and our Mass and reception as black-tie affairs.

During our wedding Mass, Nick held the rosary I gave him on his first ROTC training in college. I held the one he made for me at that training out of army string and military beads. I also held scapulars from my dad's dad. It meant the world to me hold a piece of my grandfather, my father, and my husband as we entered into the sacrament.

Everyone deserves love. Nick and I set out to make that truth known through the atmosphere of our big day. We prayed, first, to make everyone feel as beautiful outside as they are inside, and second, to remind our guests through the simple emotions between friends, family members, and spouses that all deserved to feel loved and worthy. Nick and I savored every moment. The images of how our loved ones looked at and admired each other that day is something that will inspire my love for Nick for years to come.

Photography : Levana Melamed Photography | Church: SS john and Paul Roman Catholic Parish  | Wedding Reception Venue : Le Mont Pittsburgh  | Second Photographer: Kristen Vota Photography | Flowers: Gida’s Flowers  | DJ: Andy Booth  | Bride’s Dress: Hayley Paige  | Bride’s Shoes: Nina’s Shoes  | Bridesmaids Dresses: Nordstrom designed by Adrianna Papell  | Groom’s tuxes: Men’s Wearhouse