Hannah + Josh | Prayer-Filled Fall Wedding
/A celebration characterized by a spirit of prayer against a backdrop of late November foliage, a grand sanctuary, and an unrivaled sunset. Earthy, red-orange tones, soft blush accents, and simple white roses comprise an elegantly understated fall wedding.
As Hannah and Josh went about planning their wedding during a pandemic, there were more than a few hiccups.
Yet they stayed steadfast in knowing that God would come through for them, as they continued to pray for peace.
This depth and consistency in prayer lasted from the start of their engagement, until the end of their reception, and into their life as husband and wife.
Despite all obstacles, Hannah and Josh never lost sight of what their wedding day was about; what life is about.
From the Photographer:
Hannah and Josh are a beautiful and inspiring couple. Their holiness is evident in the way that they present themselves, in the way that they talk to you, and in the way that they look at each other.
You can just tell when someone is totally in line with God's will; you can almost feel that in their presence.
There were three specific prayerful instances on their wedding day that totally took my heart and reminded me that setting time aside to pray is not just important, but an absolute necessity—and the best way to draw others into Jesus' Most Sacred Heart!
The morning of their wedding, when I arrived at the house where the girls were getting ready, I spoke with Hannah and hugged her. She seemed totally calm and deeply joyful.
I took some of her detail items, including her lovely gown, to the backyard to start taking some photos. When I came back in to look for an item that I had forgotten, I asked the bridesmaids where Hannah was.
They quietly pointed to a closed bedroom door. Hannah was joyfully and dutifully praying in a room by herself.
From the moment I witnessed this intentional time of prayer in the morning, I knew that Hannah and Josh's day would be even more reverent and perfect than I had imagined.
After Hannah had gotten fully ready, with a flower crown sweetly perched on her tight curls, I headed to the church to find the men.
I walked inside the giant, gorgeous Saint Stanislaus doors and within minutes, all of Josh's family and friends had formed a circle around him with hands on his shoulders and even more hands raised in charismatic prayer.
For several minutes, Josh‘s family, groomsmen, and friends took turns praying aloud for him and Hannah and their glorious wedding day to be dedicated to Christ.
The nuptial Mass was truly grand. The sheer size of St. Stanislaus and its arches, pillars, and windows made a space of deep reverence and silence.
As Hannah walked down the aisle, Josh's smile was wide and his eyes were teary. As they met, the genuine love that they have for each other was felt by everyone present.
Music for the Mass was led by a close friend and his acoustic guitar, sweetly singing hymns that directed us to Jesus on the crucifix, even amidst a wedding.
The long walk to venerate Mary after receiving the Eucharist together was as beautiful as you could imagine. Hannah's train lingered behind her as she knelt and Josh put a bouquet into a vase at Our Lady of Guadalupe's feet.
After the ceremony, we visited an orchard that was unnaturally orange and truly one of the most beautiful autumn sights I've ever seen.
The peace of having been married swept over Hannah and Josh's faces as they held hands and walked beneath the orange boughs.
Their peaceful stroll was interrupted when Hannah was stung by a bee, which she bravely walked off (and luckily wasn't allergic to!). Her elegance after that was astounding, and she seemed unaffected after a few minutes of cringey pain and irritation.
We then went across the street to a field with a truly phenomenal sunset overhead, showing off yellow and pink streaks over the entire sky.
We then gathered at a family friend's property for the reception. We made our way to the tent, with lights strung all over the place and bottles of wine placed on each table.
The dads of both bride and groom went up to the microphone to give an introduction to everyone and thank them for their presence. They then asked their guests to raise a hand to pray over the newly married couple.
Everyone bowed their heads, smiling with closed eyes, and prayed for Hannah and Josh again before we all lined up for tacos, churros, and horchata.
As a party favor for each guest, a Miraculous Medal was pinned alongside a prayer. The night was filled with amazing food, dancing for hours, and close friends enjoying time together under the starlit tent.
This was a day more full of prayer than most I’ve seen, and not just by one or two people, but by everyone in attendance. And not just prayer, but deep, joyful, faithful, evangelistic prayer.
Prayer as a couple and at a wedding cannot be overdone. Similarly, God cannot be outdone in generosity.
Any couple planning a pandemic wedding should have a heart ready to go with the flow of life and its changes, and trust in the Lord's timing.
The happiest couples I've seen this year haven't been the ones whose weddings were unscathed by the inconsistencies, cancellations, and troubles of COVID-19.
The happiest brides and grooms were the ones who looked up, even in the midst of a rocky experience planning their big days, and still held on to the joy of knowing that they were about to be united with the love of their life until “death do they part.”
Photography: Nikayla & Co. | Nuptial Mass Location: St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, Modesto, CA | Bride’s Dress and Veil: LaceMarry | Bridal Accessories: LaceMarry | Tuxes: Generation Tux
