Audrey + Jacob | Classic Lakeside Wedding

A family-centered Detroit celebration, filled with light and soft details.

Audrey and Jacob attended the same college parish, but remained simple acquaintances for a year, seeing one another at the same Masses, game nights, bonfires, and worship nights. As they found themselves at the same events more frequently, they found common ground and a quick ease in their conversations: “He was easy to talk to and such a gentleman,” says Audrey. “It was clear he was raised well and in a faith-based home.

“As we grew closer, I was amazed by his kindness and willingness to help others. In particular, I remember him sprinting to our community room to light birthday candles for my cousin--whom he had never met--but he was sure on a mission to help me out! She and I joke that was one of the moments I knew Jacob was special.”

Jacob asked Audrey out not long after, and they spent their relationship surrounded by their campus ministry community, invoking Saint Joseph’s patronage (their parish namesake).

They both moved to Jacob’s hometown of Detroit Lakes after graduation, where they began planning their wedding at Jacob’s childhood church.

From the Bride:

Our wedding day was perfect! Despite the challenges of outsider comments and dealing with COVID, our day was more than I could have ever imagined. We had a full Catholic Mass. It was so special receiving the Eucharist on one of the biggest days of our life together.

We really enjoyed picking out our favorite readings. Our First Reading was Genesis 2:18-24, read by my aunt and godmother. The Second Reading was 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:8a, which was read by my uncle and godfather. For the Gospel, we chose John 15:9-12.

We loved choosing our ceremony music, as well. Some favorites on our day were “O God Beyond All Praising,” “Come & Journey With Me,” “How Beautiful,” “How Great Is Our God,” and “Beautiful.” We got many comments on the music selection after the Mass; our musicians sounded like angels singing from heaven!

Something that surprised me about planning and executing the wedding was how close I grew to some friends and family.

I assumed the stress of planning would get to me and those who were helping, like my parents, grandparents, and close friends. However, we were almost always on the same page, and this wedding truly brought us much closer.

In this time in my life, some of my older friendships are diminishing and I was hurt that some closer friends didn't make it to the wedding. However, for the close friends that did, it gave me a new appreciation for each of them and the meaningful relationships I do have.

I decided to include the old, new, borrowed, and blue tradition in my attire. My Something Old and Something Borrowed were most meaningful to me.

For Something Old, I used some bobby pins that had been laying around at my grandma's house for years. We chuckled at how simple and silly it was using them, but they were actually very significant. It was a part of my grandma so close to me on our big day.

For Something Borrowed, I wore my mom's wedding earrings! Surprisingly, they fit perfectly with my theme and all the other jewelry I had already picked out.

Our celebrant had just retired a few months prior to the wedding; however, he came back to marry us. He has been a big part of our lives as we go to church with my husband's family and our friends each week, where this priest says Mass. He also guided us throughout our marriage prep. His kindness and simplicity made us feel comfortable and closer to God every time he was around.

One very touching part of our ceremony included flowers being brought to the front of the church for our grandparents who have passed away.

A few of them had died within the last year. We were so glad that we could honor and remember them, even though they couldn't be there in person. Some of my close cousins offered to bring up the flowers before Mass. It was so touching to have all of these special people in my life together.

Jacob and I have a love for the Detroit Lakes area and being on the water. After the ceremony, we took a ride around the lake on Jacob’s parent's pontoon. It was so fun letting loose with our wedding party and being on the lake where we spent so much time together while dating. During the reception, we were able to sneak away for a few more pictures on the beach as the sun was setting. These are some of my favorites and sum up our love for being outdoors, at the lake, and enjoying each other's company.

My wedding take-away is simple: keep your strong relationships going. Keep up your relationship with God. Stay close to your family. Invest in your friendships. Put each other first.

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Audrey + Jacob | Classic Lakeside Wedding

A family-centered Detroit celebration, filled with light and soft details.

From the Bride:

SPOKEN BRIDE