Mariah + Ben | Timeless Summer Wedding

A late July wedding filled with simple but meaningful details, a soft color palette, a multitude of family and friends, and the unmistakable peace of the Lord.

During her senior year of college, one of Mariah’s best friends turned to her and said, "I really want you to be part of my family… so you're going to have to marry my brother, Ben." 

The idea of dating her friend's brother was absurd for a number of reasons. To begin, he was younger—and he also happened to live in Grand Rapids, MI, while she lived in St. Paul, MN. 

Not to mention, she had her eyes on someone else. 

When the marriage was initially suggested, Mariah laughed, but five years later she would be doing just that.

In the meantime, as they entered the workforce, both Ben and Mariah began wondering when their future spouses were going to show up.

From the Bride:

About four years after his initial suggestion that I marry his brother, my good friend Rob gave my Snapchat (yes, I know...Snapchat) to Ben and our friendship began. It started with simple, fun snaps back and forth. 

Then it became more about sharing our days with each other, and we began talking on the phone. Finally, after a few months, we decided to meet, not for a date, but just to hang out. 

We met at a seminary of all places. Our matchmaker was currently in formation at Mundelein which was about halfway between us. 

We spent a couple of days walking the campus, making dinner with Rob, and just talking. It was wonderful. 

We left that weekend truly happy. However, neither one of us was convinced that this was it. 

Unbeknownst to each other, we both told the Lord, "Your will be done," and felt completely free. We kept talking—and snapping—and just a couple of days later, Ben simply asked "Will you go on a date with me?" 

A couple of weeks later, I hopped on a plane to Michigan for our first date. I stayed with Ben’s family and enjoyed every moment of my time with him and his family. 

I left that visit as Ben's girlfriend. We only did long distance for three months before Ben packed up and moved to Minnesota. And only three months after that, we were engaged.

It sounds simple and in a way it was. The Lord gave both of us the grace to trust in His will completely. 

As doors opened, we walked through them without fear or doubt. There weren't any major signs of God's will, but the peace we felt was all that we needed. This was what God wanted.

That peace continued throughout our wedding day. Walking down the aisle towards Ben, standing on the altar, making our vows. I had peace through it all. 

This peace allowed us to truly embrace that we were there to give ourselves completely to each other in the presence of God and His Church.

The very first thing we did when planning our wedding day was to reserve the Church. After that, I set out to find my dress. 

I knew I wanted something classic with lace. The general feel we wanted for our wedding was classic, elegant, and timeless. So, I wanted my dress to reflect that as well. 

I tried on quite a few until finally I picked one. However, I woke up the next morning in a panic realizing this was NOT the dress I wanted to wear. The bridal boutique was amazing and let me come back and find a new dress. 

The moment I put on my dress, I knew this was it. I loved how I looked in it. I knew it was timeless. I knew Ben would love it.

For every detail outside of the Nuptial Mass, we strove for simple elegance. We wanted softer colors so went with a slate blue, blush, and gray for our main colors. 

One of my favorite fun details were my and the bridesmaids’ shoes. I chose a unique pair of TOMS for each bridesmaid that I felt reflected their personality.

We have a number of mementos from our wedding day. Ben and I wrote letters to each other to read right before the Nuptial Mass.

I received a small purse from my aunt which was made from the fabric of my grandmother’s wedding dress. 

My grandmother passed away when my mom was only seven years old. Each granddaughter receives such a purse on the day of her wedding. 

It was a gift I had been looking forward to receiving for many years. It was such a beautiful way to feel connected to her.

Our primary goal when planning our wedding day was to make it utterly clear that the highpoint of the day was the nuptial Mass.

In our effort to make the Mass as beautiful and solemn as possible, we asked our presider, Fr. Rob, to chant most of the Mass parts. We were also allowed the use of incense throughout Mass. 

The music, the incense, the chant, all of it engaged every sense and brought us deeply into communion with our Lord.

There were a couple of details that Ben and I chose for our nuptial Mass that were very important to us. First, we chose to memorize and recite our vows. 

Our intention behind this was that our vows were something we wanted to remember every day for the rest of our lives.

Years and years later, we wanted to still be able to recite our vows to one another as clearly as we did on our wedding day. To help us memorize them, we each read them every night of our engagement. 

The second detail we chose to include was to make our vows while holding a crucifix between our hands. We wanted this because we wanted to remember what our vows meant: that we were laying our lives down for one another. The love we want to strive for is the love of Jesus Christ. 

A third detail we included was to have our Godparents bring forward the gifts at the offering. We wanted to include the people who had been present at the moment we became children of God.

Ben’s brother, Fr. Rob, gave the homily at our nuptial Mass. In his homily, he shared:

“It is a crazy thing for Jesus to say to us, ‘I want to share an adventure with you. One shared with joys and sorrows, struggles and victories. One filled with life and full of love. I want to suffer for you. I want to live for you, and I want to die for you. I want to love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I want you. I choose you.’” 

He then shared, “I said that these words were from Jesus, but actually these words were written by Ben to Mariah.” My heart was flooded with love and gratitude as I realized he had just shared the words Ben had written to me the day he proposed. 

Realizing that I had been given a man who was intent to love me as Christ loves me was one of the most poignant moments of my wedding day.

One of our great hopes for our wedding day was to have as many of our friends and family with us as possible. We chose to cut our budget in other places in order to manage this. 

We had a beautiful hall which was located at the parish I worked for. We chose a simple, but delicious, caterer, and my maid of honor’s husband did all of our floral arrangements. 

I love flowers, especially peonies, and he made my vision come to life beyond what I had imagined. With the help of friends and family, our wedding reception was beyond what we’d hoped for.

The Lord blesses us when we trust in Him. On the day of my wedding, I looked into the eyes of my groom and promised him everything. He in turn promised me everything. 

How are we able to make such extraordinary promises? Most certainly not on our own. I could not make such promises to my husband if I did not trust in God and His grace. 

That day and all the days since, I have lived in trust that God will continue to give us the grace to live our marriage vows each day. I trust that He will help me to be faithful and loving. 

We trust, and He blesses us.

The joy and peace of our wedding day remains because the joy and peace of that day comes from the love of God and our love for each other.

Photography: Jaimie Lauren Photography | Nuptial Mass Location: Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, St. Paul, MN | Reception Venue: Mother Seton Hall, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Hastings, MN | Bride's Ring: DeVries Jewelry Store | Bridal Boutique: Diamond Bride | Bridal Gown: Colby John | Floral Design: Nicholas Buseman | Catering: HyVee Catering | Bride's Hair: Cole's Salon | DJ: Harmony DJ (Josh McClure)

Allie + Jake | Emerald Autumn Wedding

A rustic pandemic wedding, rich with the colors of fall and the love of family.

Jake proposed to Allie before an icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Months later, they knelt before her in the same chapel, surrounded by a small group of family and friends and remembering the loved ones interceding from heaven.

From the Photographer:

Here’s to Jake & Allie! This couple had a huge wedding party filled with a supportive group of friends and siblings. The bridesmaids wore deep green and the leaves were at their peak autumn beauty. 

Allie and her girls got ready in a dreamy Airbnb after stopping at the St. Paul Farmers Market early in the morning for their bouquets. Yes, it was a beautiful day. Yes, it was aesthetically pleasing. Yes, it was even on time!

However, it was the simple things Jake and Allie did to attach themselves to Jesus that really made this day as special as it was to photograph and witness. There were three noteworthy and exceptional pieces I'd like to share:

First, I know most brides are super focused on making sure the day runs smoothly, but sometimes you just have to stop, breathe, pray in gratitude, and appreciate the day for what it is. Before their ceremony, having not spoken to or seen each other all morning, Jake and Allie met on opposite sides of a doorway in the church basement. Jake held his Bible and Allie's hand, and they both closed their eyes and quietly prayed, huge smiles on their faces. Then, Allie's bridesmaids prayed over her. The air was so rich. Hearts were full of love and the Holy Spirit.

Second, they venerated Mary with flowers at their ceremony. This, of course, isn't uncommon. But several months before, Jake proposed at this same church in front of a Marian icon. Not only was this a parish they both treasured and took part in, but it was where they were ultimately able to say their vows. This holy ground was where they were able to walk arm in arm, standing before Our Lady, happy tears in their eyes.

Third, after their first dance as husband and wife, Allie stayed on the dance floor. A subtle feeling of grief washed over the air. Allie's older brother stood in place of their father to dance with her, as their father passed away just a few years prior. Her dad was remembered beautifully through this moment.

There was a palpable sense of unity in the room, and a deep longing for heaven. 

Jake and Allie's entire day was so centered around Christ. It's incredible to witness these kinds of days. They last in our minds and change the world.

Photography: Nikayla & Co. | Nuptial Mass Location: Church of St. Peter, Mendota Heights, Minnesota | Wedding Reception Venue: Outdoor tent on the church grounds | Floral Design: Saint Paul Farmer’s Market | Hair: Catherine Stroh | Desserts: Muddy Paws Cheesecake, St. Louis Park, Minnesota

Laura + John Hill | Elegant Springtime Wedding

A grace-filled wedding day steeped in familial and spiritual significance

Laura and John Hill met in September of 2017 through a student ministry at the University of Minnesota, where they are both pursuing PhDs. It didn’t take long for them to realize that their connection was more than a casual interest, and they began seriously to date and to discern marriage. 

This time was filled with wonder and joy as they grew closer and became more sure of their mutual call to holiness through marriage, but it was also filled with struggle and sorrow, as they helped each other to navigate the burdens of graduate school, mental health ups and downs, and the death of two grandparents. 

Yet in and through it all, God was faithful.

In God’s perfect timing, John Hill brought Laura back to the same square of sidewalk concrete where he had asked her on their first date, and proposed, this time asking her to be his lifelong partner in holiness.

At the same time that they were discerning marriage, John Hill was also discerning the call to come into the Catholic Church, and meeting and falling in love with Laura was the confirmation of that call. 

Throughout their dating and courtship, Laura was consistently amazed by John Hill’s humble devotion to the Lord, his desire for a strong Catholic spiritual community, and his growing love for the Catholic faith. A convert herself, Laura delighted in sharing the faith she loves with the man she loves. 

John Hill made his first Confession, received Confirmation and Holy Eucharist, and entered into the sacrament of Marriage all in the span of four months. “The grace radiating from him was palpable!” says Laura. 

Prayer was beautifully woven into the whole process of preparing for marriage and planning the wedding day. 

From saying Night Prayer together almost every night before parting ways, to praying over each invitation as they were sealed and stamped, Laura and John Hill were conscious of making prayer the hallmark not only of the wedding day but of every day together. 

When the stress of logistics and planning threatened to become overwhelming, they decided to no longer talk about “The Wedding Day” but instead to call it “The First Day of Our Marriage.” 

This shift in mentality made all the difference, as it transformed the pressure for a single performance-heavy day into an opportunity to witness to the life that Laura and John Hill would start that day.

From the Bride:

The week leading up to our wedding was filled with small graces that made an enormous impact. 

The entire wedding party traveled in from out of town (including my Maid of Honor, who flew in from her Peace Corps posting in Kyrgyzstan!) and the support that they showed in helping with last minute details was inspiring. John Hill describes this feeling of support as like being embraced; everyone’s genuine happiness for us and investment in this day was truly humbling. 

My amazing sister-in-law Ellyn was the mastermind behind the floral for the day, which meant that the house where the women were staying was filled with blooms and life as she whirled around the kitchen crafting the bouquets, centerpieces, and other little touches that went into making the day an offering of beauty.

Because we would be walking down the aisle together in the Mass procession we chose to do a first look in the Church, where I walked down the aisle to John Hill, waiting at the altar. My mom walked me to the door of the church and had me take a moment to collect myself to let this moment be special. 

Yet, in my excitement and my joy, I didn’t want to wait. I wanted to run down that aisle and throw myself into my beloved’s arms. 

And the beauty of that feeling is that it is exactly how the Father wants us to approach Him: with joyful abandon and trust that He will embrace us, no matter how far we’ve had to run to Him.

Elements of family significance ran through the whole day, especially pertaining to those of our family who have gone to their rest. 

In John Hill’s pocket were two tributes to his Papa--his Aggie ring and a small wooden duck from his extensive collection--and tucked into my shoe was the dime that John Hill’s grandmother was married on. 

I also wore my Grandma’ pearl earrings and carried a coin from my PopPop’s collection, while my GrandBob’s rosary was wrapped around my bouquet and my GrandmotherBear’s diamond sparked in my engagement ring. (Fun fact that we didn’t discover until well into our engagement: my GrandBob and GrandmotherBear were engaged in the same church where we were married!)

Because the majority of our family and friends are not Catholic, and many are not Christian, we were very aware of the unique opportunity we had in shaping our Nuptial Mass to be a witness to the truth, beauty, and goodness of our Catholic faith and traditions. 

We chose our readings with the intention of encapsulating the whole of the Gospel message and the place of marriage in God’s plan for the salvation of souls. 

Ecumenism also marked several elements of the Mass, as our Methodist and Anglican siblings did the readings, and John Hill’s reformed non-denomination Best Man offered the Prayers of the Faithful alongside my Catholic Matron of Honor.

One moment of transcendent beauty in the Mass came after communion, when John Hill and I went to spend a few moments in prayer with the Blessed Virgin. 

We had asked our organist to play Schubert “Ave Maria” for this time, thinking he would choose an arrangement for solo organ. To our absolute surprise and utter delight, our cantor’s angelic voice rose over the gentle piano instead. 

This moment was a genuine heavenly gift because it offered a glimpse of how the Father wants to lavish goodness and beauty on His children.

After the Mass, John Hill and I set aside a half hour to simply be. 

As we retreated into the Adoration Chapel, we were overcome with the reality of the sacrament we had just entered into. In these few moments of quiet, John Hill gave me an icon of the Holy Family, in recognition of our devotion to that image and as a symbol that we two are now also a holy family.

The reception was a genuine delight. 

Walking into the ballroom to the sound of our friends and family’s cheering was such a joy-filled moment. There was much laughter, quite a few happy tears, and some excellent dancing that evening. 

John Hill and I chose to have a combined Parents’ Dance, where I danced with my dad while he danced with his mom. We chose Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" for this dance, which ended up being a surprising testament to the beauty that can come through suffering within families. 

Our parents then handed us off to dance our first dance as a married couple to Eva Cassidy’s rendition of "At Last"--an echo of Adam’s love song to Eve in the garden, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Genesis 2:23). At last and always.

Photography: Meagan Elizabeth Photography | Church: The Church of St. Mark, St. Paul Minnesota| Reception:St. Catherine's University | Rings: Arthur’s Jewelers + Buchkosky Jewelers | Flowers: Ellyn Hefflefinger Rothgeb-Odette the Flower Truck | Cantor: Katy Wehr | Stationary: Minted , Mass Program Designed by Bride| Bridesmaid dresses: Azazie | Groomsman: Gen Tux | Dress: David’s Bridal with significant alterations by Ginny’s Fine Fabrics | Cake: Queen of Cakes

Mychael + Adam | Rustic Midwest Basilica Wedding

Mychael and Adam met through mutual friends while attending weekly pop culture trivia nights. From there, a mutual collective knowledge of useless information and a similar sense of humor led to a friendship.

On their first date they attended Saturday Mass together at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. Two years later they celebrated their relationship with a romantic dinner at 4Bells seafood house nearby. A little later, years after that “accidental” first date, Adam proposed on Christmas Eve.

From the Bride: I have a daughter from a previous relationship with profound disabilities. She is incredibly sweet and innocent--but not for the faint of heart.

I knew it was going to take an incredible man, a “St. Joseph” in my life, to open my heart to marriage and to embrace her as his own. Adam rose to the occasion, and I fell madly in love with him.

From the Groom: I met Mychael, as a friend, when I was going through a hard time finding "the one." I knew she was a smart and funny woman, but it was those weeks following our "first date" when I really had to decide whether to take a risk or remain just friends.

But once we chose to date each other, I knew I was all in. Mychael was an incredible woman, would be a loving partner and teammate, and I already knew her as an amazing mother. We have said from early on that we are on each others team and are in everything together.

As Robin Williams wisely said in Good Will Hunting, "You’re not perfect, and let me save you the suspense: this girl you’ve met, she’s not perfect either. But the question is whether or not you’re perfect for each other." Mychael and I are not perfect, but we are perfect for each other.

During wedding planning, our priority was the nuptial Mass, making it as beautiful and sacred as the sacrament itself. We spent hours going through music on YouTube and reading Scripture to hand-pick every detail.  This made for some wonderful nights together.

Mychael and I were mindful of all the details, carefully choosing every aspect to reflect how we wanted to enter into marriage, and, most importantly, how we wanted to live out our marriage. We immediately began to book vendors, searching for Minnesota-created and sourced options for our big day. Every detail reflected aspects of our relationship, from the Notre Dame ticket-inspired save the date and “Marry Like a Champion” sign to clover leaves subtly placed in the greenery of our invitations, embracing the Mychael’s Irish heritage and my alma mater. In addition, the Minnesota outline appeared throughout the paper goods and reception details.

From the Bride: My vision for the dress was a blend of Kate and Pippa Middleton's wedding dresses, but I certainly didn't have a princess complex. Rather, I wanted to be an elegant bride for my bridegroom. I didn’t find any style that I really fell in love with or felt reflected my sensibility, so I opted for some alterations. The dress I chose was originally strapless with some tulle across the chest. By my wedding day, it had been altered with delicate lace, short sleeves, and an illusion neckline with a high lace collar.

My gorgeous, flowy long veil was purchased prior to the royal wedding but was nicknamed “the Meghan veil” by my bridesmaids.

My godmother, June, gave me her wedding rings to wear during the ceremony for luck. I wore Adam's maternal grandmother's pearls given to her by her father on her wedding day as a bracelet. She had previously passed in April. A navy blue rosary in my bouquet was my maternal grandmother’s, who passed away a week prior to our wedding.

The ceremony was held at the breathtakingly beautiful and historic Basilica of St. Mary’s and celebrated by the archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Most Rev. Bernard Hebda. It featured the basilica choir and Catholic musicians Tim and Julie Smith, whom I sang with growing up.

We chose a blend of contemporary and traditional music; the Irish Catholic prelude "Be Thou My Vision" and "How Can I keep from Singing.” Our entrance song was "Lord of All Hopefulness" and our final blessing and recessional hymns were "May the Road Rise Up to Meet You" and "Love Divine, All Love Excelling."

It was important to us that prayer in musical form be central to the Mass because sacred music is a large part of our lives. The archbishop was even kind enough to compliment us on how beautiful the music was, and that he expected nothing less!

For the reception, we chose 4 Bells’ rooftop for its unique and stylish characteristics in the space, but also for their craft cocktails and exquisite cuisine. It was an exceptionally intimate planned day for us and our family and friends.

Through it all, Adam and I were both involved in the planning, which made the process far less stressful, incredibly more personal, and the big day all the more celebratory.

The Thursday leading up to our wedding was the Feast of All Saints. We attended Mass together, just the two of us, and were able to celebrate a feast day we both love.

On our wedding day, witnessed by our family and friends, we chose to enter into the sacrament of marriage together. There was no father “giving the bride away.” Rather, we chose to have the two of us enter into the church at the same time, as recommended by the revised Rite of Marriage. It was a sacrament between the two of us and God, and we received so many compliments on this choice!

As we stood behind the grand basilica doors, Adam said he was so grateful that we had come to this moment. We both recognize how wonderful it is that we are able to walk this marriage journey together, because there is no one else I want to be doing this with.

Adam is a wonderful man of faith. He is kind and thoughtful in practical and romantic ways. He is a loving partner and embodies St. Joseph. He challenges me and supports me unconditionally.

We are both mindful that we have not come to this place alone. We have held onto our Catholic faith and our faith in each other to choose marriage. Perhaps it is our Midwest sensibility or Catholics in general, but discussing our faith outwardly does not come naturally to us. And so, our nuptial Mass and wedding was a wonderful and beautiful way for us to show our love for God and our faith to friends and family.

Over the years together we have celebrated and mourned. We have attended friends’ weddings and many funerals. We have laughed and cried. But through it all we remember the lyrics of the song we chose for our first dance, "God Gave Me You:" “God gave me you for the ups and downs, God gave me you for the days of doubt.”

The wedding was one wonderful day. Our marriage will be a lifetime, and we are excited for the journey.

Photography: Rachel Kathleen Photography | Church: Basilica of St. Mary - Minneapolis Minnesota | Reception: 4Bells - Minneapolis Minnesota | Dress: Rebecca Ingram design, heavily altered by Custom Sewing by Heather (the dress was strapless with tulle when purchased from Bella Bridal in Woodbury, MN | Grooms’ Attire: Calvin Klein, Macy’s  | Rings: Bride Continental diamond, Groom Blue Nile
Bridesmaids: Adrianna Papell & Badgley mischka  | Hair: Be Lovely by Amber Ann | Makeup: Beauty by Cort Anne
Flowers: KMB floral  | Invitations & Save the Dates & Guest sign wooden board: A Milestone Paper Co. | Details including Notre Dame inspired “Marry Like A Champion” sign created by the Bride

Natasha + Tim | New Year's Winter Watercolor Wedding

We are honored by the opportunity to walk alongside you in this marriage ministry, from Yes to I Do and beyond, and we love returning to our couples' stories as they continue to unfold. If we've featured your love story in our How He Asked engagement series and you now feel called to share your wedding with us, as well, submission details can be found here.

Read more here for the story of Natasha and Tim’s engagement story, previously featured on the blog. 

Community is an essential part of the celebration of marriage. Although it is a sacrament conferred between two people, marriage is always meant to point outward, to be open to life and service in a myriad of ways, and to become the foundational unit of the larger community.

Natasha and Tim celebrated this communal aspect of marriage by intentionally inviting their friends and family into the preparation. Whether it was wearing her aunt’s fifty year old wedding dress or teaching her family the art of watercolor for the invitations, Natasha and Tim’s love ignited the joy of their community.

May all engaged and married people embrace this beautiful sacrament that calls the bride and groom to always serve the other as well as their community of love around them.

From the Bride: Tim and I met junior year at the University of Minnesota, through the Catholic community of Saint Paul’s Outreach. Our time spent as friends during undergrad was filled with a lot of discernment and growth in our personal relationships with Christ.

Looking back, it is exciting to see how God was preparing our hearts as singles in ways that were going to allow us to be more "free" in a romantic relationship.

A strong theme throughout our relationship has always been community. We have been blessed with a community of faithful friends and family that Christ used to guide us through this initial period of discernment.

We officially started dating two and a half years after we met, right before I left for grad school, so the majority of our romantic relationship was long distance. Even though the distance was difficult, it forced us to be intentional with our relationship, and the time spent as friends gave us the confidence to pursue marriage. We had to become quite creative with ways to invite Christ into our relationship such as praying together over the phone nightly.

A little over a year into dating, Tim asked me to marry him over-looking the central square of our alma mater on New Year’s Eve.

We must have a thing for romantic events in the freezing cold, because almost exactly a year later on December 30, 2017, we said our vows.

The high temperature on our wedding day was an aggressive 14 degrees below zero. Such is the gamble with a New Year’s wedding in Minnesota! But despite the cold, we had an amazing, Christ-centered day with those we love--and everyone’s cars started the next day.

We were fortunate enough to do a majority of our marriage preparation with Father Mike Schmitz, and one of the ideas he brought up early on was how marriage and holy orders are the two sacraments that are intended to be sacraments for “others."

He challenged us to take this to prayer, and it sparked a larger conversation between us about what it meant for our marriage to be something that was to be shared with others, to help reveal something about Christ to the world.

We felt Christ was placing on our hearts the importance of community and marriage as a unique mission field for evangelization. As a result of this conviction, we spent a lot of time discerning unique ways in which we could invite our guests into the celebration in an intentional way.

To start, we saw the personal touches the Church allows couples to incorporate into the wedding liturgy as an opportunity for our guests who were either not Catholic or fallen-away from the Church to be welcomed and invited to witness the beauty of our faith. As Saint Pope John Paul II says, the liturgy would be our “profession of faith.” Father Mike was able to provide us with a really great template for our wedding programs to help explain the Mass to our guests and encourage participation.

Tim’s parents are both music teachers, so it was an easy choice to have his family create a choir that did a phenomenal job setting the tone for the liturgy and leading the congregation in participation with hymns. As it was the octave of Christmas, the bridal party and myself processed in to “O Come All Ye Faithful” and we recessed to “Joy to the World.” It was such a joy to see guests with their hymnals open, belting out a favorite Christmas hymn. I felt like they were singing my dad and I down the aisle!

Continuing in the theme of community, we wanted our guests to feel welcome and enjoy the reception. For us, this meant hiring a great DJ who shared our faith and vision of the day, but who could also MC well, inviting our guests into the celebration.

We chose a round head table for us and our wedding party that sat in the center of the room among our guests. It was one of my favorite elements because we felt surrounded by those we loved rather than set apart from them. One of our favorite memories of the reception was dancing the night away with our guests, many of whom stayed until the final song!

I was able to design our invitations, programs, table numbers, and place settings. I even got to teach the ladies of my family about watercolors as they helped me finish all the invites. My mom and mother-in-law are crafty too, so I set them to work on the flowers, and together we created all the bouquets and the gorgeous fern chandelier that hung above our round head table.

My mom baked the wedding cake, and a family friend made over three hundred cupcakes in our favorite flavors for the guests. Meanwhile, my aunt sewed all the bridesmaids’ custom robes for a comfy gift the morning of the wedding, and my sister did my hair and make-up. It was such a joy to stay in my pajamas for as long as possible on such a cold morning!

My wedding dress was my aunt's, who celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary with my uncle this year. She was so honored to have me wear it, and it was truly my dream dress. My mom, who is a handy seamstress, helped to make it my own with a modern take on the back.

Some advice I would give to other Catholic brides is to use your resources well. Don’t sweat the small stuff, and don’t believe the lie that you have to spend a ton of money to have a beautiful wedding. Find centerpiece items at thrift shops or trade expensive favors for a creative, late-evening snack bar (we brought out popcorn halfway through the evening as an inexpensive dancing snack that the guests loved).

Use the gifts and talents of your friends and family--they are itching to help, and you will make some beautiful memories. It is also a great way to foster community and share your faith by showing others the beauty and depth of the marriage sacrament.

Above all, have confidence that if you and your fiancé are focused on the right stuff (Jesus Christ), your friends and family who understand the true purpose of your day will create an environment where you feel loved and everyone is having a good time.

St. John Paul II discusses the importance of community and the mission of marriage in his exhortation to the family when he says,

“The celebration of the sacrament of marriage is the basic moment of the faith of the couple. This sacrament, in essence, is the proclamation in the Church of the Good News concerning married love. It is the word of God that "reveals" and "fulfills" the wise and loving plan of God for the married couple, giving them a mysterious and real share in the very love with which God himself loves humanity. Since the sacramental celebration of marriage is itself a proclamation of the word of God, it must also be a "profession of faith" within and with the Church, as a community of believers, on the part of all those who in different ways participate in its celebration.”

One of my favorite memories of the wedding ceremony was singing "Tantum Ergo" shortly after communion as Tim and I knelt in front of the cross. The entire church, filled with people of all faiths and from all elements of our lives, was oriented toward the cross with us as we prayed together, and Tim and I's love for one another had brought them there! It felt like a precursor of what Heaven may be like, standing at the foot of Jesus, praising him.

I glanced over sideways at Tim and had to fight back tears at the realization that this man wasn't just willing to bring me to the cross, but kneel with me humbly before Jesus. It was in that moment that no amount of stress or seating charts or color swatches could have ever mattered.

Tim and I were saying “yes” to a lifelong mission of walking toward the cross together and reminding each other of our true identity as a son and daughter of God when we forget. We are building a foundation in which we can bring Christ to any person we encounter along our journey.

I cannot wait to see what God does with our “yes.”

Photography: Sarah Ascanio Photography | Mass: The Church of Saint Mark, Saint Paul, Minnesota | Reception: The Pavillion at Lake Elmo, Lake Elmo, Minnesota | Bride's Engagement Ring: Shane Co. | Wedding Rings: Etsy | Bride and Bridesmaids bouquets: Bloominous | Table Flowers, Boutonnieres: Bought in bulk from Hy-vee Floral | Invitations/Stationary/Programs: Handmade by the Bride | Bride's Dress and veil: Family Heirlooms, Aunt's dress/Sister's veil | Bride's Earrings: Edina Jewelry Store | Groom and Groomsmen attire: The Black Tux, The Steinbeck Outfit | Bridesmaids' Attire: Revelry Dresses in Better Together Blue and Lavender Colors | Bridesmaids' Jewelry: Target | Cake: Homemade by Mother of the Bride | Cupcakes: Homemade by Family Friend | DJ Services: DJ Bill Lage | Rehearsal Dinner Food: DarBar Indian Restaurant | Rehearsal Dinner Location and Beverage: Bad Weather Brewery

Danielle + Jeff | Latin Mass Fairy Tale Wedding

We are honored by the opportunity to walk alongside you in this marriage ministry, from Yes to I Do and beyond, and we love returning to our couples' stories as they continue to unfold. If we've featured your love story in our How He Asked engagement series and you now feel called to share your wedding with us, as well, submission details can be found here.

Read more here for the story of Danielle and Jeff’s engagement, a tale of patiently growing attraction after Jeff discerned out of the seminary during their time in grad school.

Shortly after celebrating their first anniversary as husband and wife, newlywed Danielle reflects back on her wedding day with her husband, Jeff.

She says, “The memory of that special day is never far from my mind. I still recall something that our priest said during the homily at our nuptial Mass, which was, "Take this early time, this time in which despite whatever fears and anxieties you have, most everything that you dream of seems possible. And cherish that time."

For Danielle, the whole day felt like a fairy tale come true.

From the Bride: It was finally here! Friday, August 4th 2017. The day I had prayed and waited for my whole life, and it was such a beautiful day, with sun rays beaming brightly through the windows.

The bridesmaids and I got ready in the basement of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, in Vermillion, Minnesota. The girls donned floor-length dresses in a rose-violet shade. My wedding dress was a pure white ballgown with a layered tulle skirt. It had a sweetheart neckline, overlaid with lace, and was cinched at the waist with a crystal belt. I had help fastening my cathedral-length veil and jeweled comb in my hair. The bridesmaids put on their veils and said a silent prayer over me.

Since Jeff and I were having a Solemn High Nuptial Mass, it was fitting for the ladies to also wear a veil, according to the reverence and tradition that we wanted to uphold.

The Extraordinary Form had become something special for Jeff and I throughout our relationship, and it was exceptionally meaningful for us to have it for our nuptial liturgy.

Throughout the morning, my soon-to-be-husband and I made sure we didn’t see each other before the wedding. We wanted to save that moment for the time I approached him walking down the aisle.

At 3 PM the choir chanted Atténde Dómine (Hear Us, O Lord) for the procession of the clergy, and the organist played Canon in D for the entrance of the wedding party. Just before my turn to walk down the aisle, the ushers closed the giant double doors that led into the church.

When the doors swung open again, I saw everyone. The church was incredibly grand and beautiful to behold. I stood there with my blusher draped over my face, holding onto my bouquet of white roses with Grandma Rother’s rosary wrapped around it.

This rosary was special because Jeff’s grandmother received it from her husband. She walked down the aisle with it on her wedding day, just like I was about to do.

My dad and I started walking down the nave of the church, and I saw Jeff standing at the end of the aisle. As we got closer, his smile turned into tears of joy. When we approached the end of the aisle, my dad lifted the veil from my face.

I took Jeff’s hand, and we ascended the stairs into the sanctuary to take our vows. In the tradition of the Latin Mass, the vows are said at the very beginning of the ceremony.

It was very special to be in the sanctuary. Traditionally the sanctuary is reserved for the clergy, but during the sacrament of holy matrimony the bride and groom are permitted to enter beyond the altar rail.

In that moment I felt so close to God.

Once we exchanged consent, Jeff and I joined our right hands, and he made his vow to me. We were asked to release our hands and then join them together again. Then I made my vow to him.

This act of joining, releasing, and joining hands again signified that our vows were made individually. We each had our own responsibility to the other.

At the completion of the sacrament, Fr. Byron Hagan, our celebrant, prayed over us and sprinkled us with holy water. The ceremony continued with the Mass after the Rite of Marriage, and it was absolutely breathtaking.

After the Gospel reading, Fr. Hagan gave an excellent homily and made powerful points about how society has made our generation fearful of marriage; that people today are not rising to the occasion to live out God’s calling in the sacrament of holy matrimony. They fear it is too much of a weight to bear.

“I want to tell you something today,” Fr. Hagan said.

“It is not too heavy for you.”

“Because you are Catholic, because you are confirmed, because you have been living your life with the Church’s faith, in penance, obeying the sacraments, and humbly confessing your sins before God.”

“You now have the power to do something which otherwise cannot be done: which in the deepest heart of hearts all of us desire, and increasingly in our time feel too weak to even approach...This power now is attached to you because of the sacrament.”

He continued, “Danielle, your task is to, in virtue of the priesthood of your baptism, help prepare your husband to see God...And Jeff, you have the responsibility, in a priestly way, by virtue of your baptism, to help prepare your wife to meet God. To help mediate the Lord Jesus Christ…This is your test for one another.”

While he acknowledged that the married state would bring challenges for us, he reminded us we must always remember the Divine Third in our marital union: God Himself.

The Mass continued with chanting and incensing of the altar. During the consecration the priest faced the altar and said the words of consecration silently over the host and chalice.

It was completely silent now in the church except for the bells that were rung three times during the elevation of each of the sacred species.

In keeping with the tradition of the Latin Mass, the altar rail was used for the distribution of Holy Communion. The communion hymn we choose was Adóro Te Devóte (I Adore You Devoutly), written by St. Thomas Aquinas and used as his private prayer during Eucharistic adoration.

After Mass, we got in the car and drove to the reception venue, a golf club.

The day before, our family had gone to the venue and decorated the tables with mirror and bud vase centerpieces. All of our guests had a stick of bubbles by their place setting, which was a fun and interactive way for them to participate in the grand march and the rest of the evening.

The final moment of the night was our first dance. During our engagement, Jeff and I had practiced for hours to master the waltz. And even though we had done it many times before, I was nervous having all eyes on us.

Jeff and I looked at each other intensely, counting the beats of the music in our heads. All of a sudden, the music intensified, and we were off. It was like I was floating on air, even though I was just trying to stay balanced in my high heels. I had never danced in my wedding dress before either, so it was quite a new experience.

But it was magical. It twirled around me gracefully across the dance floor, and I truly felt like a princess.

After dancing for a few seconds, I realized we were actually doing it. All of those hours of practice had paid off. We were dancing a beautiful waltz, and everyone applauded. It only increased their desire to get out on the dance floor later that night.

Although there were a few things that could’ve gone better, the vast majority of our wedding was a fairytale-come-to-life. It was a dream come true!

To all single women out there, waiting for their prince charming, please remember that this story is a testimony of years and years of prayers finally answered. God hears your prayers and knows the desires of your heart. He will answer them in his, time in a better way than you could ever possibly imagine.

In our first year of marriage, we developed a special devotion to Blessed Emperor Karl of Austria and his holy wife, Servant of God, Empress Zita. We look to them for their intercession in our marriage and for all married couples.

A quote we both appreciate from Blessed Karl was when he told Zita on the day after their wedding, "Now, we must help each other to get to Heaven." I am very blessed and thankful to have found a husband who also desires to lead me closer to Christ each and every day.

Blessed Emperor Karl and Empress Zita, ora pro nobis!

Photographer: Amy K Photography | Church: St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Vermillion, Minnesota | Reception: Dakota Pines Golf Club in Hastings, Minnesota | Rings: Gittelson Jewelers in Minneapolis, Minnesota | Flowers: Flowers For All Occasions by Ginny Majeski in Hastings, Minnesota | Wedding Attire: Raffiné Bridal in Woodbury, Minnesota | Invitations / Save-the-Dates / Wedding Program: Created by the Bride, Danielle Rother | Caterer: Nicole Sindelar with Rudy’s Redeye Catering in Rosemount, Minnesota | Wedding Attire: Raffiné Bridal in Woodbury, Minnesota | Designer for Bride’s Dress: Stella York | Designer for Bridesmaid Dress: Kenneth Winston | Designer for Groom & Groomsmen Tuxedo Attire: Savvi Formal Wear | Bridesmaid Veil: The Veiled Woman | Cake / Cupcake Baker: Emily’s Bakery & Deli in Hastings, Minnesota | Hairstylist: Michelle Wilcox | Salon for Manicure and Pedicure: Spalon Montage in Woodbury, Minnesota | Disc Jockey: C & C Sound

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

Bridget + David | Summer Picnic-Style Wedding

David and Bridget grew up in the same town, lived in the same neighborhood, and went to the same high school. They met during a high school theater production of Little Women, but didn’t fall in love until several years later. Once these two decided to date, the common response from friends was, "FINALLY!"

On June 27, 2015, David proposed to Bridget by incorporating one of Bridget’s favorite plays, The Jeweler’s Shop by St. John Paul II, and a little over a year later, the couple was married in the neighborhood where their love story began.

From the Bride: During the year of planning, David and I intentionally focused on the preparation for our marriage. David was in his senior year of college and living in household with Saint Paul’s Outreach, and I was in my first year of my master’s program and had recently joined events with the Catholic Advance Movement through Pro Ecclesia Sancta. Due to our busy schedules, we had limited time and wanted to use it well to spiritually prepare ourselves for marriage, but we still participated in half-day retreats once a month for engaged and newly married couples, which introduced us to a wonderful parish community and friends. We looked forward to the meetings each month and watched the Beloved DVD series by the Augustine Institute, which was very helpful in our preparation.

I put together a document of resources and information that I found online for us to do as a couple. We read books together and would go out for coffee to discuss and check in with each other, prayed together, and generally tried to do more than the basics of marriage preparation.  

In planning the wedding, we took care of the details with input from our parents, who were a tremendous help and so understanding throughout the process. David and I wanted to have a beautiful Mass to highlight the importance of our vocation and a fun, relaxing ceremony that everyone could enjoy. We decided on blush, light green, and gold for outfits and decor. We were blessed with generous family and friends who offered their time and help in putting together everything so we could stay on budget. The wedding flowers were faux and put together by my mom, aunt/Godmother, and sister. My bridesmaids' dresses were purchased at Target. One of the bridesmaids mom’s purchased beautiful pearl jewelry on a trip to gift to all the women, which matched everything perfectly. The men wore black suits and ties and were gifted with fun-colored socks to add some pizzazz to their outfits and photos. Music was done by a friend of ours. The cake was purchased at Byerly’s, and the topper was from a local artist on Etsy. David and I tried to find local artists and venues to purchase items and kept everything simple for the day.

On the morning of August 20, 2016, David and I were both nervously pacing our childhood homes as we excitedly got ready for our wedding. My friend Andrea graciously offered to do my hair and that of the bridal party; she did a stellar job! Everyone did their own makeup and helped each other with the finishing touches.

As I put my dress on, all the ladies present gathered together, including my aunts who came to help, to pray over the bride and to join together in faith. It was such a beautiful moment that brought tears of joy and hugs.

David got ready with his brothers and family, enjoying his final moments as a single man in his childhood home.

We met our photographers at Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (which is right across the street from my house) and it was raining. It’s said that a rainy wedding day is good luck! We did first look photos in the church and took photos with our family and wedding party.

David and I wanted intentionally involved family and friends in the preparations of the wedding, Mass, and festivities of the day. The Mass involved friends and family in readings, music, handing out programs, bringing up the gifts for Holy Communion, and ushers. One of our friends organized the decor at the reception hall and my girlfriends helped in putting together the space. It was absolutely stunning and couldn't have been accomplished without all of their help! 

We were blessed with seven priests on the altar. The priests involved in the wedding had touched our lives in many ways, and we were grateful to have such holy men on the altar to celebrate and share our vocation with our guests.

David and I wanted to be sure to have three elements added to their ceremony: roses for the Blessed Mother, the Litany of Saints, and the blessing of a crucifix from Jerusalem. The Mass was beautiful and we memorized our vows. It was an absolutely beautiful and humbling day for both of us!

After the wedding Mass, we held a reception line and greeted our many guests. It was so incredible to see individuals from so many facets of our lives and to and share our joy with so many neighbors and friends David and I both grew up knowing.

The reception was held at Silverwood Park, which is also in our hometown. It is a beautiful wooded park that boasts a gorgeous events facility, grounds, and lake. The sun was shining by the time the party arrived and photos were taken with all the guests. After photos, the grand entrance took place with a little help from Justin Timberlake (“Can’t Stop the Feeling!”). The meal was blessed by Fr. Alvaro Perez, a dear priest and friend from our current parish, Saint Mark’s in Saint Paul. The meal was catered by The Lookout Bar and Grill and was picnic style, with burgers, brats, beans, chips, coleslaw and fruit.

The evening consisted of beautiful speeches by family and friends, a sweet video that David put together for me, dancing, drinking, and long conversations. The reception hall had an outdoor space with a bonfire that allowed guests to chat outside while others could be dance indoors. David and I stayed until it was time to clean up and danced and talked with family and friends; it was a beautiful night!

The biggest thing I have learned is that you can prepare and know so many different aspects of marriage, but it is in surrendering and entrusting yourselves to God to and the mystery and graces of marriage that you begin to enter into the vast love and deep knowledge that this vocation brings.

Photography: Dan Zeller Photography | Church: Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Saint Anthony Village, MN | Wedding Reception Venue : Silverwood Park, Saint Anthony Village, MN | Wedding dress: The Wedding Shoppe, Saint Paul, MN | Belt: Etsy | Shoes: DSW | Bride's Jewelry: Grandma's pearls | Bridal party dresses - Target | Rings: Wedding Day Diamonds (bride), Etsy (groom) | Hairstylist: Andrea Stalewski | Cake: Byerly's | Cake top: Etsy | Invitations: Online invitations designed via Paperless Post | Caterer, bartender: Lookout Bar & Grill | Music: Mitchell Gutenberg | Decor: Emma Strub, Mary Pokorny

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