Rosanna + Matthew | Marian-Inspired Wedding

He was from Texas and she was from California, preparing to attend the 2011 World Youth Day in Madrid. The first few times Rosanna and Matt talked over Catholic Match and Skype--starting on Divine Mercy Sunday--Rosanna noticed how full of life Matt seemed, filled with joy for the Catholic faith. Yet she'd been praying for guidance about her vocation. They continued having dates over Skype and in person, and in Spain that summer, Rosanna experienced peace that God was calling her to marriage--quite possibly with Matt.

Shortly after Rosanna returned home, Matt asked her to be his girlfriend at a church in San Diego, feet away from statues of Our Lady. Over the next two years, they dated according to a traditional courtship approach they felt called to and flew out to visit each other as often as they could. But monthly flights started feeling old. After a Tridentine Mass, in a candlelit chapel devoted to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Matt read Rosanna a poem he'd written and got down on one knee.

From the Bride: We got married on the Feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel at my home parish in Southern California, which is run by Norbertine monks. We had picked the date somewhat haphazardly. We smiled, though, when we realized that not only was it a Marian feast day, but a feast deeply loved by my great-grandmother, Dolores, a third-order Carmelite who loved Our Lady of Good Counsel so much that she named one of her daughters "Buen Consejo." I also realized the Marian image in my room growing up was one of this particular devotion to Our Lady. And lastly, I am a marriage and family counselor by profession; what better honor and title of the Blessed Mother to celebrate our marriage? When we went to Rome for our honeymoon, we attended Pope Francis's weekly audience and were blown away to find the topic he addressed was none other than the gift of "good counsel."

Matt and I decided to have a our nuptial Mass as a hybrid of an English and Latin novus ordo Mass. We chose to have a few parts, such as the Creed, sung, as we both love sung liturgy. The Norbertines utilize many traditional “smells and bells” in their Masses, and we were so happy to include those traditions in our liturgy.

Receiving the Lord together in the Holy Eucharist, kneeling side by side, for the very first time as husband and wife was even more exciting than the nuptial vows that we exchanged. Two traditions we incorporated were the Spanish lasso from my Filipino roots and a Croatian tradition where the bride and groom hold a crucifix while saying their vows. After the wedding, by a statue of Our Lady of La Vang, Matt and I shared our first kiss on the lips. It was something we'd felt called to abstain from during our courtship, and was a delightful, fun milestone moment.

The reception venue was the clubhouse at UCI, where my grandfather was a doctor and professor, and where my parents met. We wanted the theme of our wedding to be "Culture of Life." Our cake was inscribed with life abundantly, and John 10:10, with the full verse, "I came that they might have life, and have it more abundantly," on a chalkboard poster behind it. We also designed our own monogram, an R and an M entwined with a cross, in the style of monograms that frequently adorn Marian altars. We peppered the banquet tables, laid so beautifully with coral and pink flowers by our florist, with frames featuring pictures of saints and some of their most inspiring quotes. As Matt and me come from a few different ethnic backgrounds, we chose saints from Italy, Japan, and the Philippines to reflect our heritage. In these simple centerpieces, we wanted to reflect the universality of the church, full of all kinds of people but with one powerful, singular focus: the call to holiness and the worship of Jesus, the Bread of Life. To celebrate our first kiss, we also had a sign inspired by the Song of Songs: "Kiss me, my love, that your name be on my lips. You intoxicate my being with the fragrance of your presence."

Matt washed my feet during the reception in order to symbolize how Christ, the groom, humbled himself and washed the feet of his disciples: his body, the Church. I remember choosing the song "The Spirit and the Bride" by Matt Maher, days before the wedding, to be played during the washing. When I discovered the song, I broke down in tears, realizing the goodness of the Lord, and his love for me in all of my brokenness. To think that I would be marrying Matt in just a few days, my broken self and all, that God had brought so much healing into my life through Matt, and that he would continue to heal and grow both of us through our marriage, just humbled me to my knees.

I think those few minutes that Matt washed my feet etched a deep meaning into both of our hearts that day. We were saying, in a symbolic way, that we were both laying down our lives for one another; that there was no turning back, that we were "one flesh" in the eyes of God now. It's something I still flash back to when we hit rough spots. Our marriage crucifix, the one Matt and I held as we took our vows, hangs above our bed. Every day, we are reminded of the great sacrament we partake in, and the heights of holiness to which we are called.

Photography: FS Photo Studio  | Church: St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Costa Mesa, CA | Wedding Reception Venue : University Club at University of California, Irvine | Flowers: Blooming Branch | Cake: KH Bakery  | Hair & Make-Up: Make Me Up  | DJ: Ultimate Events

Maggie + Eric | Rustic Denver Wedding

Maggie and Eric met in college at Ave Maria University, where they had many mutual friends and went on a single date before graduation, yet Maggie was hesitant to enter into a new relationship right as her post-college life was unfolding. Eric persisted through her discernment, eventually sitting Maggie down and saying, "You don't have any more cards to play." That night, two weeks before they were handed their diplomas, Maggie and Eric started their relationship and began dating long-distance after school ended.

Eric is a Wyoming native and Maggie is from Colorado--two states whose wild, natural beauty is a big part of their identities. Their shared love of the outdoors led to a devotion to Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati, and Eric chose Frassati's feast day, July 4, to propose. There were fireworks. Literally. 

On the night of July 4th, Maggie and Eric spent the evening watching the Independence Day fireworks over Lake Estes in Colorado. At the end of the show, Eric pulled out a big, wrapped box and said it was a belated birthday present Inside was a beautiful music box handcrafted by Eric, that played "Ave Maria" The music box was empty, but once the song started playing, he knelt and pulled a ring from his pocket.

From the Bride: Eric and I deeply desired that our day focus wholly on the sacramental foundation of marriage, which is so intimately captured in the Mass and has really set the tone for our life together.

The Church where our Mass was held was a call to the beautiful and beyond: the stone, the stained glass, and the sprawling aisle elevated the spirit towards a higher calling. We were also fortunate enough to employ a beautiful choir that truly captured the essence of the liturgy and music. Eric and I really wanted the cello to anchor the music, and it was accompanied by the incredible pipe organ, along with violins and 10+ angelic voices. It felt like a part of heaven came down to earth during that hour in the Church.

We feel so indebted to our photographer, because we are able to remember that day so vividly and through such beautiful lenses. It felt huge that she was Catholic, because she was really able to hone in on the sacrament, the beauty of the church, and the details of the nuptials that might otherwise be missed.

An extraordinary moment for us was when our bridal party surprised us with a commissioned icon of Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati, written by Vivian Imbruglia of Sacred Image Icons. We were able to place the icon on the altar during the nuptial Mass and have it blessed by our priest after the ceremony.

My dress was very simple, and I really didn't spend a lot of time searching for the "perfect" one. I just found one I loved. My mom had remembered a little lace boutique she'd found when she was engaged over 30 years ago. It happened to still be in business, so we decided that my mom would make my veil and add some additional details to the dress. We found some vintage Venetian lace there that we added to the waist of the dress and used for the veil. That is what made my dress so precious to me: my mom spent countless hours (and rosaries) creating my veil and matching it to the dress, making it one of a kind. 

Our reception venue used to be the old steel and ironwork's factory for the city of Denver, dating back to 1897, which added a lot of character and unique detail. One of my favorite parts of the venue was walking into the building as we were announced for the first time as "Mr. and Mrs. Maslak," because all of our guests were looking down on us from the floor above. We started our first dance right away with a little-known Lumineers song called "Falling," and it really set the tone for a fun evening ahead.

We look back with such gratitude on our wedding day, because what stands out to us isn't the details we had spent the majority of our time planning--it was that we gave each other a sacrament in marriage, which has been a comfort and a stronghold for us during our first year as newlyweds. 

Photography: Britt Fisk Photography | Videography: OC Media | Church: Holy Ghost Catholic Church, Denver, CO | Reception Venue: Mile High Station, Denver, CO | Flowers for the bride: Plum Sage Flowers | Bridal Party Florals: Trader Joes | Stationary: Designed by the Bride & her sister | Caterer: Three Tomatoes Catering | Bride’s Dress: J. Crew Bridal | Bride's Veil: Handmade by the mother of the bride | Bride's Shoes: J. Crew | Jewelry/Accessories: Francesca's | Rings: Ritani | Bridesmaids' Attire: J. Crew Bridal | Groom's Suit/Tux, Groomsmens' Attire: Jos. A. Banks | Cake Baker: A local friend-of-a-friend | Hairstylist: Julia Sadusky, Pins&Curls | Makeup Artist: Danielle Trujillo (a friend) | DJ: Trevor Karas (a friend)

Rosie + Tyler | Fall Yacht Club Wedding

Rosie and Tyler grew up in the same Florida suburb and were classmates all the way up through their high school graduation, but they didn't get to know each other--or begin dating--until college at the University of Florida. Tyler knew early on that Rosie was the one. After finishing his Masters at the university, Tyler moved back home to work, while Rosie worked on her doctorate. She'd wonder now and then whether Tyler would propose sometime during the final year of her program.

Much to Rosie's surprise, it was during her penultimate year in school that she came to visit Tyler one late summer weekend. He'd decided shortly before her arrival that it was the perfect time to ask Rosie to be his wife, yet hadn't decided exactly how he'd ask. In his nervousness, Tyler accidentally spilled a bottle of blue curacao all over his carpet.

One freshly steamed carpet later and off on their planned weekend trip to a concert, Tyler covered Rosie's eyes around sunset and told her he had a gift for her. When she took off her blindfold, there he was, one one knee, asking her hand in marriage.

From the Photographer: They met in elementary school, attended the same high school, and are now alumni from the same college. When love is meant to be, it will be. 

Rosie and Tyler dreamed of a small, intimate, and elegant wedding day. Rosie has always loved the fall and used the rich colors of the season as her inspiration. The floral arrangements included the most beautiful calla lilies, roses, dahlias, wax flowers, scabiosas, and sunflowers in shades of burgundy, terra cotta, burnt orange, and yellow. Warm, inviting and captivating--the perfect setting for God's love to be shared with family and friends.

Their wedding mass was beyond beautiful. The splendor of God's glory was reflected not only in the brilliant fall foliage and florals adorning the church, but in the sense that the Holy Spirit was truly present.

Both families were so filled with love, radiating what it meant to be united in Christ. But one family member in particular stood out: Rosie's father, whom she obviously takes after. You could just see that his heart was so filled with love, peace, grace and joy on his daughter and new son-in-law's wedding day. As we captured moments of Rosie and her dad interacting, their bond gleamed so brightly. During their Father-Daughter dance, I could feel God saying, "I love you all that much. And more." What a beautiful representation of fatherly love.

Photography: Horn Photography & Design | Church: Espiritu Santo Catholic Church, Safety Harbor, FL | Reception Venue: St. Petersburg Yacht Club, St. Petersburg, FL | Flowers: 2Birds Events Floral Studio | Bride's Dress: Maggie Sottero | Bride's Shoes: Stuart Weitzman | Rings: David Yurman | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bill Levkoff | Groom's Tux: Men's Wearhouse | Groomsmens' Tuxes: Men's Wearhouse | Cake Baker: Bella e Dolce | Hairstylist/Makeup Artist: Lili's Weddings | DJ: Grant Hemond of Grant Hemond & Associates

Maria + CJ | Romantic College-Town Wedding

Maria and Christopher (CJ) were members of brother and sister households at Franciscan University when they met their sophomore year. At the encouragement of their many mutual friends, they started dating a year later...just in time for CJ to spend a semester abroad. During their months apart, they wrote hundreds of letters, spent hours on Skype, and even more hours in prayer for their relationship. CJ proposed the following year.

From the Photographer: Maria and CJ's nuptial Mass was without a doubt the high point of their wedding day, and it was absolutely beautiful to witness. The Church was filled with their family and friends. The Mass was celebrated with obvious joy by their Bishop and six priests, including three Franciscan friars from Franciscan University.

Both Maria and CJ were active members in their respective households at Franciscan and since they were married in Steubenville, where the university is, most of their household brothers and sisters were able to attend the wedding. It was wonderful to see pews filled with their college friends actively participating in the Mass and tearing up during the most poignant moments of the day--even the men! The bride and groom both received T-shirts from each other's households as gifts. Their reception was elegant yet simple, filled with good food, energetic dancing, and abundant joy.

Maria and CJ left a large amount of time between the end of their nuptial Mass and the beginning of their reception. This allowed us to take all of the family photos in the Church without feeling rushed, and as the photographer, I had significant time to capture beautiful and intimate photos of just the bride and groom. When it comes time to create your wedding day timeline, I highly suggest consulting your photographer. Ask how much time they advise setting aside for portraits, and listen to their guidance. Allowing ample time for portraits is a sometimes overlooked, yet it's such an important part of your timeline!

Photography: Mary Kay Anthony | Dress: David's Bridal | Flowers: Kroger (assembled by the Bride) | Church: Holy Family Catholic Church, Steubenville, OH | Reception: Williams Country Club, Weirton, WV | Videographer: Kelly Butler | Cake: Gus's Goodies | Invitations: Natacha Scherf 

Joan + Matt | Summer Brights Wedding

Joan and Matt had met a few times before, yet it wasn't until Joan's best friend's wedding (the bride was Matt's cousin) that they developed a true connection. The night of the rehearsal dinner, Joan spoke again with the sweet, funny, smart, considerate man who was driving her and the bridesmaids to the dinner. She realized she was in the presence of someone extraordinary, and they spent a good deal of that night talking, dancing, and getting to know each other. They said goodbye that evening without exchanging any contact information, but became friends on Facebook three days later.

A few weeks after becoming a couple, Joan quit her job in North Dakota, found two roommates in the Twin Cities in Minnesota, and moved there to pursue a new job and live closer to Matt. Three and a half months after they'd started dating, Joan was back home in North Dakota, getting a manicure with a friend. Matt was supposedly in Minnesota with family for Thanksgiving, yet by the time Joan's nails were done, her phone rang and there was Matt, holding a flower, a ring box, and some tissues. As he walked toward his future bride, Joan shouted a joyful "Yes!"

From the Bride: Matt and I decided to get married in the parish that had become "ours" in the Twin Cities, where we'd made such a strong connection with our community and priest, instead of my home parish back home in North Dakota. We'd hoped for a summer wedding, and chose a day in July. I purchased my dress with my best friend, and I honestly didn't care for it on the rack, but once I put it on and learned that the style shared a name with one of my closest cousins, I said loved it immediately.

One of our favorite parts of wedding planning was choosing the readings and songs for the liturgy. We spent a lot of time listening to favorite songs and reading Scripture until we finally decided on the readings we wanted shared on our day. I also have always dreamed of writing a song for my wedding someday, so I was honored and excited to compose the psalm sung during the Mass, to the verse of psalm 37's "Find your delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desire." When I heard the song being rehearsed before the Mass, I broke down crying because it was just so moving hearing the words I'd prayed so many times come true for me that day. 

Matt and I had gone back and forth on doing a first look, and I'm so happy we did; it gave us the opportunity to spend more time with each other that day. It also allowed us to take pictures with our wedding party and family before the Mass, so we could arrive at our reception shortly after our guests did. We wanted to spend as much time with our family and friends as possible since many of them traveled so far to be with us!

Psalm 37 (Lyrics) - Written by the Bride, Sung at the Nuptial Mass

Refrain: Find your delight in the Lord, He will give you your heart's desire.
Verse 1: Trust in the Lord and do good that you may dwell in the land and live. Commit your way to the Lord. Trust in Him and He will act. 
Verse 2: Wait eagerly for the Lord and keep His way. He will raise you up, and you will inherit the land. 
Verse 3: The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord. The Lord helps them because they take refuge in Him. 

Photography by: Bella Galla 

Sarah + Christopher | Kate Spade-Inspired Wedding

Sarah and Christopher first encountered each other on a charismatic retreat at Franciscan University, where they both were students at the time. For two years after that, they were best friends, spending hours watching movies, going to Mass and praise concerts together, and having breakfasts with friends.

From the Bride: Fast forward to the spring of 2012, after a couple starts and stops of not wanting to ‘ruin’ our friendship, Chris asked me to be his girlfriend after the 7:00 AM daily Mass at one of our favorite spots. We should pause our story here to note that this Mass was the end of a 12+ hour third date that included a trip to the ER. We knew from then on that we were in this for the duration. We each moved back to our respective hometowns after graduation a month later. After two years of dating long distance, traversing between Dallas and Dunedin for weekend visits, Chris moved to Florida. Ten months passed, we added Bosco the husky to the mix, and Chris proposed.

Back on that retreat where they first met, Chris had given Sarah her first brown scapular, a sacramental given to St. Simon Stock, a Carmelite priest, by Our Lady. He proposed on the Feast of Mount Carmel.

From the Photographer: For Chris and Sarah, the Mass was the most important part of their day. Our Lady of Lourdes in Dunedin, FL, where the ceremony was held, is Sarah's home parish where she currently serves as the Director of Faith Formation. It is a more modern church with a lot of natural light, which added to the airy feel of the entire day. The two priests who presided at the wedding are close with both the bride and groom. Sarah and Fr. Chuck became friends on a retreat a few years back, and he actually made the kneeler that Christopher and Sarah used during the Mass as a wedding gift. Fr. Chuck also delivered a touching and personal homily and presided over the vows. Fr. Gary, who serves as the pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes has a tradition of taking a selfie with his couples...and Sarah and Chris were no exception! 

Sarah and Christopher are both from close-knit families with five children each. All of their siblings were included in the wedding party. Sarah and her sisters are particularly close, sharing matching tattoos even! Both of her sisters were honored as the Maid and Matron of Honor. Sarah also wore her older sister Mandy's pearl earrings.

Sarah has a love for bright colors and the Kate Spade brand. Her natural choice for a wedding day scent was Kate Spade's Live Colorfully, and she also wore sequined Kate Spade Keds that Chris gave her as a gift. She donned her signature bright red lipstick, which made her beautiful blue eyes pop against her fair skin. This couple has style for miles! Chris wore a slim fit gray tux from J. Crew to compliment Sarah's timeless dress from Athena's Bridal. 

In between the mass and the reception, the wedding party explored downtown Dunedin for photos. We stopped at Rosie's Tavern, a favorite watering hole for Chris and Sarah, as well as the marina and park off of Main street. 

At the reception, Sarah and Chris incorporated a wealth of personal details, including their own wedding coloring book and custom caricature cookies of themselves! For place cards, they alphabetized guests' names on post cards with some of their favorite destinations, including various towns in Florida, places in Chris' home state of Texas, and Franciscan University, where they met.

Photography: Elizabeth Mahon | Church: Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Dunedin FL | Reception: The Conmy Center | Florist: Carrollwood Florist | Stationary: Minted | Catering: Delectables Catering | Bride’s Dress/Veil - Athena's Bridal | Bride's Shoes: Keds x Kate Spade New York | Jewelry/Accessories - Something Borrowed-Sister's pearl earrings, Tiffany's pearl bracelet (gift from Chris), Something Blue - Godmother's Ring | Rings: International Diamond Center | Bridesmaids' Attire: David's Bridal | Groom's Suit: J. Crew | Groomsmen Attire - Combatant Gentleman | Cake Baker- Publix Bakery | Hairstylist: Jenna Donovan | Makeup Artist - Jessica Montalvo, Makeup by Jess | DJ: Grant Hemmond Disc Jockeys

Emma + Mark | Edwardian-Inspired Wedding

Emma was living in Philadelphia, waiting out the final week of a six-month online dating subscription on CatholicMatch, when she received a message from a handsome man from New York City. Their first in-person meeting began shortly after, the day Mark stepped off a train into Philly's 30th Street Station. They soon began dating long-distance, and ten months later, Mark got down on one knee in the middle of the station.

From the Bride:

Deciding where to tie the knot was tricky. We’re adopted East Coasters with friends scattered from Pacific to Atlantic. We ultimately chose rural, quirky and historic Eureka Springs, Arkansas--an hour away from my parents--for our semi-destination wedding.

Mark is a convert who was drawn to Catholicism through the beauty of the traditional Latin Mass. Our wedding mass was in English, but we were able to find a schola choir nearby to chant parts of the liturgy in Latin.

The Crescent 1886 Hotel, where we held our reception, claims to be one of the most haunted hotels in America. This was not a deal breaker for us! It happened to be situated within walking distance of a quaint, historic Catholic Church, itself a rarity in the South. We wanted a moody, vintage and romantic feel for our wedding, and the entire area made me think of an Edwardian ghost story come to life. 

I was initially afraid planning a wedding out of state would make including personal touches impossible. However, we ended up with more DIY projects than anticipated, and found many ways to reflect our style and talents. Mark and I are both graphic design savvy, for instance, so we created & printed our Save-The-Dates, invitations, programs, place cards and all other wedding signage ourselves. 

Antiquing is a passion in my family. Every time I come home to Arkansas, my mother and I scour area junk shops for oil lanterns with hurricanes, antique medicine bottles, and authentic vintage mercury glass. I showcased some of our finds for the reception, and ended up following some online tutorials and creating additional mercury glass votives and vases. 

Our wedding favor was a small jar of home-infused mint & blueberry tequila (Combine 4 cups tequila, preferably 100% agave, 2 cups blueberries, and 1/4 cup mint in a sealed container for 4-7 days, then strain). I made something similar as a gift for Mark on our first Valentine’s Day, and home-infusing has since become a bit of a shared passion. We infused & bottled it over the space of a few weeks, assembly line-style, in my kitchen. A caravan of friends driving to the wedding transported the bottles from Philadelphia to Arkansas for us.

Choosing vendors off the internet was a bit challenging, but easier than it could’ve been in the age of video chat and peer-reviews. We went with less traditional retailers for our wedding party’s attire and were pleased with the overall ease and quality. And we hit the jackpot with our photographer, Kinsey Mhire, whom we met in person for the first time on the morning of our wedding!

I found all the tropes and hackneyed sayings people spout about your wedding day to be maddeningly true. It does go fast, you won’t get to spend the quality time with each guest that you might like to, and definitely don’t forget to eat. I woke up early, made some coffee and spent some quiet time on the porch by myself, praying and reflecting about the solemnity of our vows and what lay ahead. I’ll repeat some more tropes and say that the day winds up being special not because of the details you have planned, but because it seals you & your beloved in a covenant.

Photographer's Website : Kinsey Mhire  | Nupital Mass or Engagement Location: St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church | Wedding Reception Venue : The Crescent 1886 Hotel | Rings: Marisa Perry Atelier  | Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal | Bridesmaids Dresses: Azazie  | Groomsmen’s Suits: The Black Tux | Music: Twin Lakes Radio  | Ceremony Music: The Gregorian Schola of St. Joseph Parish | Donuts / Cake: Rick’s Bakery | Day-Of-Coordinator: The Vintage Soul | Invitations & Stationary: Created by the Bride www.emmadallman.com