Shelby + Allan | Candlelight and Greenery Wedding

A journey of discernment and Divine Mercy, and a celebration invoking the purity and natural beauty of the Garden.

Shelby and Allan first met at their parish during Shelby’s middle school years, bonding over a shared love of board games, Boy Meets World, and their Catholic faith. Game nights often stretched into long conversations, and their friendship progressed to a dating relationship.

While on a group pilgrimage to Krakow, Poland for World Youth Day, Allan heard the Lord prompting him to consider the priesthood. When he and Shelby arrived home, he ended their relationship to discern his vocation. 

“In the time spent apart,” says Shelby, “we were both given the space to bring wounds to Jesus and ask for healing. We consider this time apart the most fruitful period in our relationship though it was accompanied by great trial and sacrifice. Through prayer and discernment, we ultimately heard the Lord call us towards the vocation of marriage. We were further convicted that entering into this vocation together would both sanctify us and fill us with great joy.”

Allan proposed on the weekend of Divine Mercy Sunday after reading Shelby a poem he’d written on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. As they drove home, overwhelmed with joy, Allan said he needed to drop something off at their home parish--the one where they’d met years before. In the church were their family and friends, singing “Lord Prepare Me.” Alongside their loved ones, Shelby and Allan knelt before the tabernacle to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and celebrated with a potluck dinner. 

From the Bride:

As Christ’s love with his church is a gift extended to all, Allan and I also hope that our marital love will not only be a gift to each other but to the whole world. 

There was a special sweetness in so many of our friends and family participating in the liturgical and wedding traditions of the day. The cantor of our wedding liturgy was our dear friend Erika, whose voice lifts all people up to heaven. Our celebrant, Fr. Raymond Cook, was a priest who accompanied us on our pilgrimage to Poland. Another dear friend graciously served as our DJ and emcee, and our spiritual mentees Kaitlyn and Kevin served as our lectors. Our cakes were baked by our favorite local baker--and close friend--Marissa. 

Our wedding theme was garden-inspired, full of greenery to symbolize the original unity of Adam and Eve with God in the Garden of Eden.

Our friend Madeline Hill of Full of Grace Designs graciously brought this vision to life with dozens of eucalyptus bunches, golden votive candles, and hints of dark wood in the décor and centerpieces. The greenery and wood, combined with the golden candlelight, created the most beautiful reception space. The surroundings recalled how in the garden, light from the Lord poured out on the world’s first union of man and woman. 

Our wedding attire was focused on details. My engagement ring was custom-made with blue and red side stones representing our devotion to the Divine Mercy, 55 small diamond stones to represent the beads on a Rosary, and an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. My wedding band is thin and covered in diamonds, with Mary’s Most Immaculate Heart engraved on the side. 

My bridesmaids’ bouquets featured a handmade rosary with a particular saint pendant chosen for each woman’s personality and devotions. My bridal bouquet was wrapped with a silver rosary from Italy, gifted to me by our friend and lector Kaitlyn.

My wedding dress was beautifully crafted, covered in floral lace that fit with our garden theme and made me like I was entering into something new, beautiful, and abundant. 

As we consecrated our marriage to Divine Mercy, we hoped to invite others into the Lord’s great mercy. Prior to the nuptial Mass, the lectors led our guests in a Divine Mercy Chaplet. I also made Divine Mercy prayer cards that were available to guests at the reception. 

Deepening the prayerful tone of the day was a journal Allan gave to me: a collection of letters he had written every day as he journeyed through Exodus 90. This journal, plus the most radiant beauty my bridesmaids emitted, and the appearance of my spiritual director during college, Sister Celestina of the Apostles of the Interior Life, led to many tears throughout the day

Our Liturgy was celebrated at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Houston, Texas. We chose this church as it is stunning, grandiose, filled with natural light, and has a beautiful surrounding campus. It truly invites others into the glory and magnificence of the Lord. 

Our reception began with our first dance to the song “Bones” by Penny & Sparrow. The song speaks of the growing love of a man and woman and has been special to us for several years. 

While I wanted a garden-inspired cake, Allan wanted St. Michael’s image to be the featured on his. St. Michael is Allan’s confirmation saint, and we also have a fun story we like to tell about him: Allan once gifted Chance the Rapper a St. Michael prayer card and he has now referenced the prayer card in three of his songs, as well as on Instagram. This was a tidbit we added to the “Fun Fact” napkins we had printed!

Along with the napkins we desired to reveal our individual and shared loves in other wedding details. At the reception, Allan changed into a barong, a traditional Filipino garment, and we served lumpia (Filipino eggrolls) as appetizers to celebrate his heritage. Our wedding favors were simple bags of hand-filled, local Texas coffee to represent our great dependence on caffeine! I also hand-lettered acrylic signs of our favorite quotes from Scripture and the saints. 

The idea of a guest book became a very important detail to us. This was the space where those we love most deeply would sign their names as witnesses to our marriage and companions along our journey. Mirroring Jesus’ first miracle the Wedding at Cana, we had guests sign burgundy strips of paper and drop them into “stone” jars. A sign explained how wine is a symbol of new life and expressed our excitement to share this new life with our beloved guests. 

The reception included a group of men tossing Allan up in the air, flipping guests, and the Aggie War Hymn. The night ended with us dancing in the middle of our guests to “Sunday Candy,” a favorite of ours and our friends, and running out to a petal toss to continue with our garden theme. Allan and I left in his own car and passed by Whataburger before journeying to our new apartment together, where Allan had lit Christmas lights lit and hung a “Welcome Home” sign.

Reflecting on our wedding day, we marvel and rejoice in the great providence of the Lord. He wove our paths together, provided us the grace to journey together in the dry and joyful seasons, and most generously gave us the most loving community to share this day with. 

The words community of love repeated in my head throughout the day. We pray that our marriage extends the same gifts we have received from our friends and family as they have shown us great hospitality, generosity, and pure love. As in the garden, we pray that the seeds sown in our hearts on our wedding day continue to bear fruit, and that everyday we strive to mirror Christ's love for his bride.

Photography: Kristin Manson Photography | Church: St. John Vianney Catholic Church (Houston, Texas) | Reception: Bridal Oaks (Cypress, Texas) | Groom's Ring: Chasing Victory Wooden Rings | Bride's Ring: Custom Made with Robson's Jewelers | Flowers: HEB Blooms Design Studio | Invitations & Signs: Handmade by the Bride | Bride's Dress & Veil: Ventura's Bridal Fashions  | Jewelry: BHLDN | Bridesmaids Attire: Tulle & Chantilly / Shawls from Etsy | Cake Baker - Marissa Martir  | Hairstylist & Makeup: Bespoken Beauty | Music: Cantor Erika Erwin (friend and cantor at Church of marriage) | Decorating: Madeline Hill (Full of Grace)