Ana + Alex | Marian Shrine Wedding

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Rich fall colors balanced with soft blush tones and gold accents create a portrait of elegance, exceeded only by the resplendence of the setting for their nuptial union.

When Ana and Alex first began to plan their wedding, they kept coming back to two things: their God and their people. 

They wanted their marriage celebration to mirror the wedding feast of the Lamb and witness to the true communion between heaven and earth. 

Under Our Lady’s tender gaze, the awe-inspiring atmosphere of their nuptial Mass fittingly pointed to the heavenly banquet to which each one of us is invited.

From the Bride:

Alex and I have friends and family all over the globe, and so we felt so honored and excited to bring so many of our favorite people together in joy. 

We wanted this day to serve that authentic communion as much as possible.

Even more so, we are so grateful to God for all that He is and all that He has made for and in us! 

God has worked so much in our relationship up until our wedding, and we cannot deny that our love is a gift straight from Him.

Reflecting back on our wedding day, my advice to other brides and grooms is to stay centered on each other and your love! Be gentle with yourself and trust God in the details and in the process. 

You do not have to have it all together before this big day. The flowers don't have to be perfect; you are probably going to break out a little bit (or like I did—a lot!); and our hearts do not have to be perfectly prepared in the way we think they should be. 

There is a wedding feast far greater than anything on this earth. Keep your eyes locked on Christ.

From the Photographers:

Did you know you could get married at a national shrine? We didn't until we had the honor of photographing Ana and Alex's wedding at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa! 

It was a day filled with family and friends, and the ever tender and watchful eye of Our Lady. The shrine was frequented by the brides' family who had a special devotion to this favorite Marian image of St. John Paul II.

Prayer was woven in every part of the day, from getting ready all the way through to the reception.

A significant host of priests concelebrated and bestowed blessings from both the bride's home parish and the couple's alma mater, Franciscan University.

Joy and elegance were in no short supply as the wedding party made their way to the reception.

Guests were met with details such as exquisite florals and—our personal favorite—an artist live-painting the reception space. 

With such a vibrant couple, it is no small surprise that this wedding ended with a massive celebration on the dance floor. It started with a Queen and ended with the Saints (Who Dat?).

Photography: An Endless Pursuit | Nuptial Mass Location: The National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Doylestown, PA | Whitemarsh Valley Country Club, Lafayette Hill, PA | Videography: Emmaus Films

 

Spoken Bride Vendors | Spotlight, Vol. 9

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We are proud to serve you through the Spoken Bride Vendor Guide, the first online resource for distinctively Catholic wedding vendors: hand-selected professionals from around the U.S. with not only an abundance of talent, but a reverence and passion for the sacrament of marriage that brings a uniquely personal, prayerful dimension to their client experiences.

With a range of stories, hobbies, and devotions, it’s our privilege to share who our vendors are and connect them with their ideal clients--you, faithful Catholic couples who are energized by working with like-minded, prayerful individuals. Each month, we’ll be introducing, or re-introducing, you to members of Spoken Bride’s vendor community. We encourage you to learn more through their full vendor listings and reach out!

Our featured vendors this month (click to jump):

 

Emmaus Films

Wedding videography; serving Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

Kevin Lohrmann grew up with a love for camera work, but after graduating from Franciscan University, he chose to pursue a career in web development instead. The following year, as freelance videography opportunities with Catholic organizations coincided with changes at his company, Kevin took his side hobby full time. Emmaus Films launched in 2018. 

From the start, most of Emmaus’ clients have been Catholic ministries, churches, and individuals. Kevin brings his years of experience to a “personalized, reverent” approach with brides and grooms, striving always to highlight the gift of beauty: “beauty in the sacrament of marriage; beauty in the people's stories; beauty in God's creation.”

I root for...the Baltimore Ravens!

Favorite movie: A Beautiful Mind

Love means: The total self gift of one person to another, while expecting nothing in return. I've also heard it as "The willing of the good of the other, as other."

Learn more about Emmaus Films

 

Fenix Photography, Design, & Events

Wedding photography; based in Virginia and available for national and international travel.

 Maria W. and her fiancé Dayton have pursued a variety of creative hobbies since their childhoods. When they first learned photography and realized the emotive power of visual storytelling, they were hooked. “Photography is not point-and-click or copying Pinterest poses, it's about creating an environment where you can capture your client's best self, and creatively capturing authentic moments that they will treasure for the rest of their lives.”

 “Our business motto is "God writes the story... we just document it." because we believe that we are just the people who capture the deepest form of love that He can bestow on two people.  We do our best to help our couples keep perspective throughout the wedding planning that even though all of the wedding details are very important, ultimately the joining of them in marriage is the most important part of the day.”

Our coffee order: We prefer Arnold Palmers!

Favorite saint: Kateri Tekakwitha

The best part of working on weddings: Since we spend so much time together on the biggest day of their lives, we love building a relationship throughout [our] couples’ engagements so that by the time of the wedding we are not vendors, but friends. This relationship is what builds trust so that the only thing they need to worry about is being in the moment with their spouse. For us, there is no greater feeling or "rush" than having the honor to capture the exact moment that God joins two souls for the rest of their lives.   

 Learn more about Fenix Photography, Design, & Events | Read Maria and Dayton’s insights into preserving memories beyond social media

 

Handmaid Home

Custom wedding quilts and bridal party gifts; handmade in North Dakota and available for nationwide shipping.

Kathleen Causapin’s first sewing projects were handmade bags. Years later, she learned the art of quilting and fell in love.

 There’s something special about wedding gifts that don’t stay tucked away for special occasions, but that become a daily, visible part of a couple’s life together. On the couch or hung on a wall, a wedding quilt becomes just that. According to Kathleen, “I see a quilt as a tangible reminder of that special day, with the unique ability to travel with the couple as they enter into the day-to-day life of marriage.” Handmaid Home specializes in quilts and cosmetics bags--the small bags are an ideal bridesmaid gift--with custom colors, designs, and your wedding date.

Favorite prayer: I have a special devotion to the Miraculous Medal.  It was part of our uniform at my high school and we each received a gold Miraculous Medal at graduation, which I still wear and even tied to my wedding bouquet!  Visiting the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal in Paris, where Mary appeared to St. Catherine Labouré, was an incredible spiritual experience. 

Best places I’ve traveled: Jordan is one of my favorites. There is so much history there and because it is relatively untouched, you really feel a part of it. It was incredible to look out from the top of Mt. Nebo and see the Promised Land that God showed Moses. I also studied abroad in Ireland and have been back several times, so it will always hold a special place in my heart.     

 Favorite book: I read Death Comes for the Archbishop, by Willa Cather, two years ago and have been telling basically everyone I know to read it ever since! I think knowing that Cather wasn't Catholic, yet still wrote with such beauty about Catholicism, makes it even more powerful. 

Learn more about Handmaid Home

 

Prolific Services

NFP Instruction and Fertility Education; based in Texas, with online instruction available worldwide.

From the start of her first NFP class as a bride-to-be, Nia Husk knew she would one day teach it. Captivated by God’s design for the body and the scientific knowledge that illuminates it, Nia became a certified Creighton FertilityCare Practitioner and founded Prolific Services in 2015. 

She and her team offer NFP Instruction according to the Creighton Model, NaPro Technology consulting, and fertility awareness talks. Prolific Services specializes in online instruction, making their services and education available no matter its clients’ locations. Now several years into her business, Nia says, “I'm still loving this way of serving him and my sisters and brothers in Christ as they begin to build their own families.”

On my bucket list: Raise all my kids to be able to defend their faith beliefs, experience Alaska, and try American Ninja Warrior with my hubby. 

Favorite Saints: Edith Stein, JPII, Mama Teresa, Peter Claver, Agnes of Rome, and Padre Pío.

Love means: Willing the good of the beloved.

Learn more about Prolific Services | Watch Nia’s Instagram takeover from Spoken Bride’s Vendor Week