Alex + Elijah | Southern Springtime Wedding

A story of saintly intercession and a Louisiana celebration with soft shades and Southern traditions.

Neither Alex nor Elijah remembers their exact first meeting, except that it was through mutual friends in their college campus ministry. Two years later, they became close friends during the summer their jobs kept them in town, bonding over camping, hiking, musicals, racquetball, and their shared faith.

That fall, they planned to watch a musical together, as friends. But Elijah decided their casual hangout should be a date, instead.

He planned on asking Alex to dinner before the musical, and headed to her apartment--except Alex had been in the library, working on an engineering project for hours. By the time Alex arrived home around 3 in the morning, Elijah was there with her roommates. He asked, and she agreed, but later canceled because of her exhaustion the following day. “Thankfully,” says Alex, “he was willing to give it another go!”

The following months were filled with discernment and decision-making for the future as Elijah completed his undergraduate degree and Alex applied to grad programs, hoping they could remain living in the same city. As the possibility of a long-distance relationship became more real, they prayed St. Josemaria Escriva’s Novena for Work--not once, but twice, the Lord provided them the opportunity to work and study near one another, with Alex beginning one of the best programs in the country and Elijah accepting a job offer. They got engaged at the Shrine of St. Francis of Cabrini in Golden, Colorado, near Elijah’s hometown of Denver.

From the Bride: 

Needless to say, St. Josemaria is a big patron saint of our relationship. In order to celebrate this, we included a card in our wedding invitations inviting our guests to pray his Novena for a Happy and Faithful Marriage in the nine days leading up to our wedding. This was so special for us. We got many excited texts from family and friends letting us know they were praying along with us; this was especially meaningful for those who wouldn't be able to physically attend the wedding to still join us spiritually. 

We also have many St. Francis's in our lives: we met at St. Francis of Assisi, attended St. Francis of Xavier while living in Birmingham, got engaged at the Shrine of St. Francis of Cabrini, and St. Frances de Sales has some great writings that have helped us through difficult times. So every night during our prayer time together, there is a litany of Francises whose intercession we ask for.

Our wedding Mass was celebrated by the priest from our college parish, who so willingly drove 5 hours to be with us. The church was in my hometown, and is the church where my parents were married, as well. Apparently it has the second longest aisle in Louisiana, but I can't believe how fast the moment of walking down felt! 

Our family was involved both in the ceremony and the reception. Each of our godmothers brought the gifts to the altar, my cousins and uncle formed a quartet for the hymns, we presented roses our Holy Mother and to each of our earthly mothers, a cousin did our flower arrangements, another cousin made our cakes, and yet another cousin took care of the reception hall.

We did not see one another before the ceremony, but we did meet around a wall to pray the final day of our novena together. Unfortunately, I could not hear a word Elijah said, because the church bells decided to pick that moment to chime for a solid eleven minutes! I couldn’t help but laugh when they just kept going! Additionally, a very noisy train decided to enter town right at the moment when we said our vows.

As noisy as they may have been, these peals and commotions could not disquiet the peace of the day as we were finally joined as one.

After the ceremony, we had a traditional New Orleans second line-- a brass band parade led by the bride and groom and wedding party to the reception.

The day was wonderful and went by so incredibly fast. My favorite part was just being able to talk with Elijah about how each of our mornings went, to reflect on how much love we felt from all of our family and friends, and how much grace we had to look forward to in the sacrament.

I went through quite a time of spiritual attacks, desolation, and anxiety in the second half of our engagement. I have often struggled similarly around times of change or of life-altering decision making because I worry so much about making the "right" decision out of a true desire to answer God's call. 

Discerning and ultimately choosing the vocation of marriage stretched my faith in the Lord in ways it had not been tested before—looking into the unknown future of possible suffering and sacrifices. 

I had to trust that the Lord would not desert us and would continue to provide in those times of trial. I know that as two imperfect humans, we simply do not have what it takes on our own. 

Throughout our engagement, I really learned that the Lord wants to be invited into each and every moment, the mountains and the valleys. We don’t have to have it figured out before we bring it to him--in fact, we can’t! It seems to me that there can't be a single "right" decision. It is truly about asking for his grace to see what is the right decision, right now in each and every moment of our marriage and lives going forward.

Photography: Grace Photography LLC | Church: St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church (affectionately called the Cathedral on the Bayou) in Plaquemine, LA | Reception: Main Hall in Plaquemine, LA | Flowers: Sloane's Florals, Antiques, and Fine Gifts | Hair and Makeup: A Pristine Beauty | Bridesmaid dresses: BHLDN | Groomsman: Black Tux | Videography: Willo Films | Dress: Bella's Bridal and Formal Birmingham