Heather + Jude | Bohemian Bayside Wedding

Heather and Jude met and fell in love in college, where they built a foundation that sustained them through five years of very long distance dating: Heather's career took her to New York City, while Jude was living across the Atlantic in France!  "As difficult as it was, Heather recalls, "I wouldn't change anything about that time in our relationship, because we learned to communicate and appreciate our time together in new ways." When they finally got engaged on a cloudy Sunday morning on a beach in Florida, they had been together for seven years, Heather was on her way to becoming Catholic, and it was clear that the Lord had beautiful things in store for this faithful couple. 

From the Bride: We were engaged for 11 months, during which we relocated to the South to be closer to our families and I attended RCIA in order to be fully received into the Catholic Church. I was actually confirmed on the night of our wedding rehearsal, with all of our closest friends and family present. The next day, we were married in our hometown of Fairhope, AL at the prettiest little chapel called Sacred Heart.

For the ceremony, Roman Street played acoustic guitars as we arrived at the chapel. Jubilee Flowers created a gorgeous garland that arched the doorway with roses and other blooms. My father walked me down the aisle, telling funny jokes along the way, where we met my family, family-to-be, and Father Boni. With a chapel full of loved ones, the ceremony was as personal as it was spiritual. The sun was setting over the bay just as everyone exited the chapel, setting the perfect tone for our casual-yet-romantic reception.

The reception was held at a beautiful event space in downtown Fairhope called The Venue. Jude and I enjoyed our first dance together to the song "Only You" by Yaz while my dad and I shared a dance to Roman Street's cover of "My Girl" by The Temptations. The food was a combination of Southern-inspired dishes with a flair of Creole spice, and the cake was made by local cake artist Jan Taylor. A sparkler exit sent us on our way at the end of the evening. 

My dress was a two-piece ensemble, which included a custom crop top by Kelly Faetanini and silk chiffon skirt by Catherine Deane. My cathedral veil was made by the team at Kleinfeld. My talented cousin Mary of One Suite Day created our custom invitations, programs, and signage and Brad Burckel of Du Castel Photography captured everything through the weekend perfectly.

Heather's spiritual takeaway from her wedding day: Being married traditionally in a church was very important to my husband and me, and I'm so thankful we were able to have a wedding in the way that we did. We put God at the center of our planning process and He blessed us with perfect 75 degree weather, a brilliant sunset, safe travels for everyone who came from so far away, and much more. It's easy to get caught up in all the details of a wedding, but we did our best to focus on our purpose and people, and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

Photography: Du Castel Photography | Nuptial Mass or Engagement Location: Sacred Heart Chapel (of St Lawrence Catholic Church) in Fairhope, AL | Wedding Reception Venue : The Venue in Fairhope, AL | Flowers (bouquet, flower crown, bouts, decor): Jubilee Flowers | Crop top: Kelly Faetanini | Veil: Kleinfeld Bridal | Skirt: Catherine Deane, BHLDN | Earrings: Samantha Wills | Bridesmaids dresses: Jenny Yoo | Groom Suit: The Black Tux | Groom Shoes: Allen Edmonds | Bride’s ring: Anna Sheffield | Groom’s ring: Benchmark from Ware Jewelers | Invitations, Programs, Signage: One Suite Day | Band: Roman Street | Illustrations: Illustrative Moments | Cake: Jan Taylor Cakes of Fairhope, AL

Writing Your Own Prayers of the Faithful

CHRISTINA DEHAN JALOWAY

An audio version of this blog post was featured on our podcast.

Most of the elements of Catholic wedding liturgies are pretty set in stone, as they should be: the liturgy is not a human creation but a divine gift, and the structure and unity of the Mass reminds us of this truth. What many couples don’t realize is that, as long as you keep within certain guidelines, you and your fiancé are permitted to write your own prayers of the faithful for your nuptial Mass. Kristian and I ended up with 21 petitions (What can I say? I love intercessory prayer!), but I don’t think anyone at our wedding minded. In fact, a few guests asked me to share our prayers of the faithful with them after the wedding, so that they could use them during personal prayer.

Yorch Sans Fotografia

If you’re not familiar with the process of writing intercessory prayers, or the idea intimidates you, be not afraid! It’s not as difficult as it sounds, and below you’ll find lots of tips and even examples that you can copy and paste directly from this post to include in your own prayers of the faithful.

Before we get into specifics, there are two things to keep in mind when writing liturgical petitions:

Petitions should not be mini-homilies. Keep them short and sweet, and keep the tone prayerful vs. preachy.

Follow the Church’s preferred petition order: pray for the Church first, then the world, the burdened, the local community, the dead, and your personal intentions.

Let’s break each of those down:

Prayer(s) for the Church.

Every act of liturgical Catholic prayer (including the liturgy of the hours) is the prayer of the entire Church. Thus, it makes sense that we always include the Body of Christ in our general intercessions. The minimalist way to go is to pray a broad and general prayer for the Church, which is fine, but if you want to be a bit more specific, consider including some or all of the following:

For the Holy Father, Pope Francis [add your specific intention for the Holy Father here]...

For Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI [add your specific intention for Benedict XVI here]...

For all bishops, priests, and deacons, especially those present at this Mass [you can name them here]...

For all religious and consecrated men and women, especially [insert name of religious men and women among your friends and family]...

For all lay Christians, that through prayer, the grace of the Sacraments, and acts of charity, we might become more credible witnesses to our friends and family who do not know Christ.

For the healing of the divisions among Christians--that we may all be of one heart and mind as Jesus prayed we would be.

For all persecuted Christians, that they would be strengthened and encouraged by our prayers and advocacy.

Prayer(s) for the world.

As Catholics, we are called to love all of God’s creation, including people with whom we disagree, those we consider our enemies, the poor, the disenfranchised, our government leaders, and so on. For example:

For an end to attacks on human dignity throughout the world, especially human trafficking, abortion, pornography, economic injustice, war, and religious persecution.

For our government leaders...

Prayer(s) for the burdened. This one is pretty self-explanatory, and provides us with the opportunity to honor those who are suffering from sickness or other burdens among our families and friends.

For all of the sick, especially those in our families, that they would experience the healing power of Christ. In particular, we pray for [insert names of family and friends who are sick here].

Prayer(s) for the local community.

This is your opportunity to pray for your guests. Kristian and I focused on vocations, specifically the vocation to marriage.

For all married couples, especially those who are carrying heavy crosses, that they would receive the strength and hope that they need to be visible signs of Christ’s love in the world.

For all couples who struggle with infertility, that they would know of Christ and his Mother’s closeness to them in their suffering.

For all couples who are divorced or separated, that they would receive the grace of healing and forgiveness.

For all of those single men and women who are waiting for the fulfillment of their vocation, that they would receive the grace to live this time well, with the hope that comes from knowing that their lives are in God’s hands. [Note: My friend Anamaria included a petition like this in her wedding Mass, and I was so touched that she remembered her single friends that I made a mental note of it in case I ever got married.]

Prayer(s) for the dead.

This is a wonderful opportunity to honor those in your families who aren’t able to attend your wedding in the flesh. Many couples opt to name all of their loved ones who have died in recent years. Example: 

For the salvation of all of our beloved dead, especially [include names of deceased loved ones here]. May all of those who mourn their loss be comforted by the hope of the Resurrection.

Personal intentions.

This is where you have a lot of freedom to pray for whatever is most dear to your hearts as a couple, such as your family’s role in bringing you to this sacrament, your friends, former mentors, and of course, your own marriage. Here’s what we did:

In thanksgiving for Christina and Kristian’s parents, who gave them the gifts of life, love, and faith in Christ and his Church.

In thanksgiving for Christina and Kristian’s siblings, nieces and nephews, and extended families, whose love, prayers, and support throughout the years have been instrumental in bringing them to the altar of marriage.

For the intentions of the Dehan, Lyons, Jaloway, and Ruhnke families.

For all of Christina and Kristian’s former students, that they would become the men and women God created them to be.

For Christina and Kristian, that they would never tire of loving one another as Christ has loved us.

Yorch Sans Fotografia

We hope this guide is helpful for those of you who want to write your own prayers of the faithful, but aren’t sure where to start; please feel free to share it with all of the Catholic brides-to-be that you know. For those of you who are already married, did you write your own intentions or use the pre-written ones provided by your priest/deacon? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

About the Author: Christina Dehan Jaloway is Spoken Bride's Associate Editor. She is the author of the blog The Evangelista. Read more

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Amy + Jake | Midwinter Mountain Wedding

Amy says she would have laughed out loud if, back in middle school, she’d been told she would marry the shy young man who asked her to dance at their school’s cotillion. But providence delights in revealing to us the most wonderful surprises.

Amy and Jake became fast friends in high school when they found themselves on the same speech and debate team, making each other laugh and offering support through breakups and debate competitions. The next thing they knew, they were dating.

The two attended the same college and same semester abroad in Rome, where their faith and relationship deepened. It was in the Eternal City that the realization hit: their vocation was marriage, to each other.

During Amy’s summer job in Alaska, Jake flew out to visit and brought her to a mountain lake. In true Harry Potter fan style, he presented Amy with a golden Snitch, saying, “since you’re such a catch, will you marry me?”

 From the Bride: The beginning of our engagement was indescribably precious. At the time, I was living with a priest and his wife--they were former Methodists who’d converted to the Catholic faith after marriage. Immediately after Jake proposed, we received a blessing from the priest and were able to worship in the perpetual Adoration chapel at his parish. Throughout our engagement, we prepared through a weekly holy hour and guidance from our college chaplain, who would marry us. We celebrated Valentine’s Day with an Engaged Encounter retreat. Although our 18-month engagement often felt endless, it allowed us to prayerfully prepare every moment of our wedding day.

 When planning the wedding, we knew certain trends related to vendors, timing, and dress weren’t entirely our style. We opted for a morning wedding with a brunch reception in the parish hall, with a wall of windows letting in the daylight. We were married in the same church my parents had met and married at, and which Jake’s grandparents had attended throughout their lives in Colorado Springs. We chose bright colors and shorter bridesmaids dresses, despite the midwinter date.

I knew I would cry throughout the day, but I didn’t realize just how much! It all started when Jake and I met to pray together before the Mass. As I held his hand, behind his back so he couldn’t see me, we both teared up. Fortunately, I was carrying a handkerchief from his grandmother, who had passed away earlier in the year, as my Something Old. My tears continued as my bridesmaids and sister-in-law prayed over me before the Mass, showering me with their love.

As my dad and I walked down the aisle in the glorious morning sun, the truth of the moment hit me: we were finally entering into our vocation. To do so in the church we’d grown up in felt like home, and each part of our liturgy reflected that. We used chalices that were donated in Jake’s grandparents’ names and had family share their musical gifts throughout the Mass. Nothing was more precious than being surrounded by our loved ones as we made our vows--ones I could barely finish through more happy tears.

Two moments from our wedding Mass stand out in my memory. First, as our priest recited the nuptial blessing over us, he asked each attendee to offer up their intentions for us and ask for any graces they wanted us to receive in marriage. I have never felt the Holy Spirit more powerfully than in that moment of silence.

Second, to honor our Blessed Mother, Jake and I offered her roses as my sister sang the Ave Maria. Choking up with tears from the beauty of the moment, we prayed a Memorare to Mary, asking that she bless our life together.

 Along with tears came wonderful laughter throughout the day. As we signed the marriage license, our wedding party was cordoned in the confessional. One of our groomsmen popped a bottle of champagne to celebrate and spilled nearly the whole bottle on the floor, leading to some wonderful photos of our horrified and cracking up bridesmaids.

For the reception, I’d learned calligraphy for invitations and place cards and handmade them with my sister. We painted wine bottles for centerpieces and printed crossword puzzles for guests to complete. Jake’s cousin created a beautiful wooden cake stand with our initials on it, which now sits at our front door.

After Jake’s dad blessed the food, we greeted our guests at the head of the buffet line. I highly recommend this –nobody skips out on food, and this lets you forego a receiving line! Our brunch included our favorite foods: breakfast burritos, crepes, grilled cheese and cinnamon rolls.

 In lieu of a first dance, we chose to include a scavenger hunt and musical chairs game for the wedding party. They competed to determine whether the Maids of Honor or Best Man would give their toast first. As the Best Man and my sisters alternated singing and sharing memories, I couldn’t help but cry again. My sweet sisters stole the show, and our guests talked about their speech for weeks after.

We emerged from the reception to cheers of joy and a shower of confetti, captured perfectly by our photographer. Since we were leaving early the next morning--New Year’s Day--for our honeymoon, we stayed at the hall to clean up and attend evening Mass. What a blessing it was to spend that first peaceful hour after our guests departed in prayer and thanksgiving for the gift of marriage!

Venerable Fulton Sheen writes, “The vocation to marriage is a vocation to happiness, which comes through holiness and sanctity,” something I think about when I’m asked how married life is. It is both new and familiar in ways I never expected. On one hand, it is a natural continuation of our relationship. Day-to-day chores are the same; our relationship and love for each other are not drastically changed. However, there is an incredible intimacy which wasn’t there before. We continue to grow--spiritually, emotionally and physically--together as we’ve developed habits of prayer, tradition and sacrifice, all reflecting the beauty of our vocation to true happiness that began on our wedding day.

Photography: Lionhearted Photography | Church: St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Colorado Springs, CO | Wedding Reception Venue: Julie Penrose Hall, St. Paul Catholic Church, Colorado Springs, CO | Rings: Shane Co. (Bride), Hurdles Jewelry, Boulder, CO (Groom) | Caterer/Cake/Flowers: Bon Appetit Catering | Dress: Leanne Marshall | Shoes: Sseko Designs | Bridesmaids Dresses: Adrianna Papell | Photobooth/Emcee: HEPS DJ and Photobooth

Robyn + Greg | Spring Garden-Inspired Wedding

After a season of not enjoying or feeling at peace on dates, the sound of a man’s incredibly joyful laugh made Robyn pause, listen, and take a deep breath before opening the door to a bonfire and bourbon-tasting party. It would be the night she met her husband.

Robyn and Greg talked at the party that night and continued the conversation over the following weeks, sending each other music and poetry recommendations. But it wasn’t until a month after their first meeting, when they found themselves the only two in a D.C. Metro station on Divine Mercy Sunday, that their friendship moved toward dating. As Robyn descended the escalator to catch her train, she found herself face to face with Greg.

From the Bride: That day Greg and I met again at the station, we spent the next few hours walking up and down the Georgetown waterfront, talking nonstop about everything. F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote, "They slipped briskly into an intimacy from which they never recovered." It's a line that comes to mind often when I think of how our story started. The next week, we had our first date.

 We dated for two years before getting engaged--traveling, camping, wine tasting, dancing, reading--slipping more and more into that intimacy. It wasn't always easy between losing a job, adjusting to new careers, and much self-discovery about how to be the best version of ourselves in a relationship, not just the “best girlfriend” or "best boyfriend” to make each other happy. But it was full of more laughter and joy than I had ever known.

Two years after I stumbled upon Greg in the Metro, he surprised me at the same escalator with his great-grandmother's ring.

We wanted to make sure our wedding celebration expressed our personalities and our stories. Picking the Mass readings was somehow the easiest part our wedding planning. Although both our families are mainly Catholic, we have many friends who don't belong to a church, and wanted this to be a moment for them to hear the Word of God in all its joy. We wanted the readings to not just represent the sacrament of marriage for that day, but to express ideas everyone could relate to. With that in mind, we chose Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 31-31, Psalm 34, and Romans 12:1-2,9-18, and Matthew 22:35-40.

 Our wedding took place the weekend after Easter--Divine Mercy weekend, echoing when we found each other in the Metro. Gorgeous Easter flowers still filled the Church, and the joyful music of the liturgical season reflected that of our wedding feast. Looking back, two of my favorite moments during the Mass were walking down the aisle to "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" with my father, such an important song in my spiritual life, and us receiving the Eucharist together on our knees for the first time as man and wife.

 It was a gorgeous spring day, with a few cherry blossoms remaining in season, and we had such sweet moments alone after the Mass to take pictures. But being quickly whisked away into our huge reception was surreal. Greg and I had both agreed on a large wedding because it was important to us to have all those we loved there, and less important to have the most expensive dress or fanciest reception.

Our first dance song was "Like the Dawn" by the Oh Hellos, a beautiful love song written from the viewpoints of Adam and Eve, and one of the first songs we really bonded over early in our friendship. The opening line is "I was sleeping in the garden when I saw you first." With that in mind we tried to make our reception feel like a laid-back spring garden: large windows around the room, centerpieces I designed with my favorite flowers, and a pie table--our favorite dessert to bake together. The day was overwhelmingly full of joy and tenderness, and hands down the best day of our lives.

At one point during the Mass, about to say our vows, I remember looking out over the congregation and seeing loved ones from all points of our lives, and it really felt like we were in heaven. During our wedding reception, when Greg had the chance to thank my parents for making this magical day possible, he addressed the crowd and echoed my feelings perfectly: that he’d always imagined heaven as a large banquet, and here we all were today at the wedding feast, our own glimpse of heaven.

Through so much of my spiritual life I've focused on planning (and then worrying), achieving and searching. I could never have planned for Greg. I could never have orchestrated finding him on the Metro on Divine Mercy Sunday. Our wedding day was a strong reminder of the joys and mercies God desires to lavish upon us. Having a day to feast with everyone we love most, the many helping hands who made the day wonderful, and even the last minute perfect weather made it feel that creation was rejoicing over Easter and seemingly over us. It was a day, much like our marriage, abundantly full of joy and mercy.

Photography: An Endless Pursuit | Nupital Mass or Engagement Location: St Leo the Great, Fairfax, Virginia | Wedding Reception Venue : Harbour View, Woodbridge, Virginia | Caterer: R & R Catering, Dianna Gilbert | Florist: Twinbrook Florist, Tonya Evans | Transportation: Reston Limosine | DJ: Black Tie, Deon Wilson | Wedding Designer: Be Seated, Janeen Parrott | Dessert: Mom's Apple Pie, Avis

Edith + Bomani | Kenyan Catholic Wedding

Edith and Bomani met in 2008 at Edith's workplace in Kenya and it was love at first sight. They had a long distance relationship for many years, and spent hours talking on Skype and the phone. Throughout their relationship, it was evident that Edith and Bomani were meant to be together. From thousands of miles away, Bomani wooed Edith; Bomani sent Edith flowers and gifts, and would surprise her with occasional visits.

A few years later, they reached a turning point in their lives and had to prayerfully consider the direction in which their courtship was going. They turned to Jesus through the intercession of St. Faustina, the patron Saint of their relationship, and her famous prayer: "Jesus, I trust in You." It was a prayer of intense and complete surrender, difficult to say and even harder to live by, but Edith and Bomani knew deep down that God had a plan for their lives together. And despite some scary moments in their families, it came to pass. Bomani came to Kenya and asked for Edith's hand in marriage. She moved to the United States and they got married in a joyous nupital Mass celebration at St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church in Arlington, VA. 
 

 "When you make God your first person to talk to each and every morning, He protects you from all odds since He owns your life." --Edith

From the photographer: The Wedding Mass of Edith and Bomani was unlike any Mass I have ever witnessed. It was vibrant, celebratory, and full of joy! After making a reverent sign of the Cross and blessing themselves with Holy Water, the groom and wedding party danced their way up the aisle to the front of the sanctuary. The music was a combination of Kenyan Gospel music and Afro-Carribean beats. Since her parents could not be with her on her wedding day (as they live in Kenya), Edith took one emotional walk down the aisle and her Aunt gave her away to Bomani.

After the readings, saying their vows, the sign of peace, Holy Communion (which was not photographed per the Bride and Groom's request), the young Priest presiding over the Mass declared that today was not only a celebration for Edith and Bomani, but also a celebration of the guests' milestones. He asked if anyone was celebrating an anniversary, engagement, birthday, baptism during the month of August, and when we raised our hands (I raised my hand because my birthday was just one week prior to that celebration), the music played and everyone cheered. You could not help but be overwhelmed with tears of joy and laughter! 

The attire the wedding guests was also unique in that it was "white-on-white", both a timeless and seasonably appropriate color for a late summer Afro-Caribbean wedding. Edith had a traditional wedding dress on during the ceremony while Bomani had a traditional Kenyan wedding suit on. At the reception, both Edith and Bomani changed into a more casual traditional Kenyan outfit (black with bold reds, greens and gold patterns) and that contrasted nicely with the white dresses and suits of the wedding guests. 

The wedding reception took place at an historic boutique hotel in Old Town Alexandria, VA, which is a mix of contemporary and colonial decor.The ballroom was the perfect location for a small intimate wedding of 50 people. 

After the bride and groom made their grand entrance (dancing, of course!), they participated in a variety of wedding reception activities, such as cutting and serving each other the delicious 3-tier wedding cake, listening to speeches and well wishes from family and friends, and giving their own speech of thanksgiving and gratitude to their guests and the traditional gift giving ceremony. In Kenya, it is a tradition to not only receive gifts for their wedding, but also to give gifts to each guest that attends the wedding. As the music played, the couple and their guests danced together before posing for a picture and giving each guest their gift. 

This wedding also featured one of the best grand finale photo moments of any wedding I have photographed thus far. We used the curved staircase of the Morrison House Hotel and had everyone go outside for a photo opt: first a traditional/editorial pose and lastly, the "scream and shout" pose where Edith and Bomani shared one of their first kisses (dressed in traditional Kenyan colors) and as Mr. and Mrs. while the wedding guests (wearing white) cheered on!

What is your spiritual takeaway from this wedding? From a vendor's perspective, this wedding brought tears to my eyes. It was encouraging for me to see the diversity within the Catholicism that comes from cultures in the developing world and that it is a gift to share in these traditions. Though we are so different in many ways, we are one Body in Christ and that is something to celebrate and treasure. Edith and Bomani's journey of faith and love also showed me that when you truly surrender your life to Jesus, in whatever vocation you might find yourself in, all things are possible in His perfect time. And when all else fails? Just dance, and make a joyful noise unto the Lord! 

Photography: Laurentina Photography | Church: St. Ann Roman Catholic Church - Arlington, VA | Flowers: Flowers with Love, Arlington, VA  | Cake: Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe, Arlington, VA | Reception & Catering: The Morrison House Hotel, Alexandria, VA

Gabrielle + Vince | Ordinariate Cathedral Wedding

Gabrielle and Vince first became friends at their small Catholic high school while planning a retreat together. At the time, Vince was preparing for Marian consecration and for Our Lady’s intercession in his life.

All along, Gabrielle just knew Vince was the George Bailey to her Mary, the man who would make her a wife. Patiently she waited, in friendship and in kindness, praying for Vince to realize the same. She asked him for guitar lessons, which led to a period of discernment and starlit walks, which led to Vince’s asking Gabrielle to make their relationship official.

By their senior year of college, Vince asked Gabrielle the same question--this time, for eternity. As they concluded St. Louis de Montfort’s Marian consecration a second time, he proposed on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

From the Bride: Our wedding day was large and lovely. We decided to get married at noon, to have our Mass with the sun shining and an early night for guests who traveled. Our wedding did not intentionally revolve around a theme other than our express desire to have a beautiful liturgy. 

Everything was planned during our senior year of college. During exams I was trying on dresses; before class I was addressing invitations; in our college cafeteria we were choosing our wedding readings. It was chaotic and fun, and we enjoyed every minute of a very busy eight months.

Once I did find “the dress,” my Maid of Honor noticed it was made of alençon lace, which is a lace made mostly in Normandy, France. It’s a traditional material preserved in a large part by the craftsmanship work of Zelie Martin. Days after we were engaged, Zelie and her husband Louis were canonized in Rome. My Maid of honor attended the audience and prayed for us there. Throughout our engagement, and now our marriage, Vince and I often turn to Sts. Zelie and Louis as guides and patrons on this journey.

No amount of planning can prevent little hiccups. We had planned to have an hour of Adoration prior to our rehearsal, and only then did the stress and anticipation of what was happening the next day hit me. That evening, lightning and storms raged outside, flights were being cancelled, Vince was running late, and so were my parents and family. My bridesmaid and I stepped into the church at that point, where she comforted me and helped me practice walking down the aisle. This made the wedding appear a lot smaller: like something I could do, something I could accomplish with ease.

Inspired by our friends and college professors, we were married at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham in Houston, where we’d become parishioners long before our engagement. It was Vince planned most of our Nuptial Mass. We saw the Mass as an opportunity to beautifully and intentionally show our families the beauty of the Catholic faith.  

The liturgy was, for us, an intimate moment where as husband and wife we were welcomed into the sanctuary to consume the body of our Lord. We added a few personal touches to the Mass where we could: a small addition to the Commemoration of the Dead within the Liturgy of the Eucharist, for instance, helped us include all who were not present with us as part of the Liturgy. I carried my paternal great-grandmother’s rosary around my bouquet, and wore my maternal great-grandmother’s sapphire ring on my right hand. On the wedding day I didn’t get to spend much time with either of them, and these two pieces helped remind me they are by my side, maternally supporting me with the Blessed Mother. As a gift to us, Vince’s fellow altar servers from college served for our Mass. Our godparents were lectors.

The nuptial liturgy doesn't have a first kiss written in, and we hadn’t planned on what to do. Without thinking, during the Sign of Peace we kissed, as we do every Sunday. This was our first kiss as husband and wife.

My paternal family is Cajun Catholic, and slightly taken aback by the language, special prayers, and gestures within the Ordinariate Liturgy of Matrimony. Many of the prayers are said in Early Modern English (Elizabethan), and prayers from the Anglican Church are added to the liturgy to maintain tradition for those who have converted.

At the reception we featured a table with family wedding mementos, both from those still living and those no longer with us, celebrating the idea that Vince and I have now joined their ranks as members of a married tradition.

We chose to have a live band, which I can affirm was the greatest decision. The band, Danny Ray and the Acoustic Production, was versatile, talented, and fun. They easily filled up the dance floor moments after the meal.

Prior to our wedding, Vince was a best man at our close friends wedding. He concluded his toast with a Celtic Blessing toward the married couple. My father, unknowingly, spoke the same words on our wedding day in his the last and final toast as he asked friends and family to extend a blessing over us:

May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Thank you for everything, Dad.

The story of every wedding is the same story of salvation history: we have made one another family. This encourages daily sacrifice and patience, but also produces the greatest moments of joy and love I have ever felt. Do not be afraid of young marriage! God does provide.

Photographer's Business Name : Meagan McLendon Photography  | Nupital Mass or Engagement Location: The Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham, Houston, Texas | Wedding Reception Venue : Sugar Creek Country Club - Sugar Land, Texas | Band: Danny Ray and the Acoustic Production | Wedding Party Flowers: Nora Anne's Flower Shoppe | Wedding Gown: Ivory Bridal Atelier

1940s-Inspired Styled Shoot

We're excited to share with you our second styled shoot, photographed by Monica Jazmine of Jazzy Girl Photography and featuring one of our Spoken Bride vendors, Sea and Sun Calligraphy. If you appreciate vintage-inspired weddings, the 1940s, or World War II-era love stories, you'll love this shoot. 

Quick engagements and long-awaited marriages were incredibly common following the dark days of World War II.  Among those who found love were Rose Del Mese and Joseph Pizzale, both from Upstate New York.  The young soldier, newly back from the war, found his future in a dark-haired beauty he called Rosie.  They married on November 9, 1945, and were married for more than 60 years. 

To honor that marriage, a re-creation of their wedding day was captured by Monica Jazmine of Jazzy Girl Photography. To make the photoshoot even more memorable, Rose’s wedding gown and veil were worn by her granddaughter, Camarie McBride.

The rosary in Camarie's hands symbolizes her prayer life with God and seeking the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary in her life as as a wife and mother in the Holy Sacrament of marriage. The Annunciation Card a symbol of Rose saying "yes" to her marriage to Joseph, just like Mary said "yes" to God's will in the Annunciation. 

All of the vendors involved in the shoot made sure that the details were in keeping with the 1940s theme: florals and table settings were designed by Annette Callari, and the engraved invitations, dinner menus, and hand-calligraphed envelopes bearing stamps from that era (created by Sea and Sun Calligraphy) added to the nostalgia of the shoot. 

Our model’s make-up and hair design were done by Trina Vigil of Makeup by TREEVG and truly brought to life the look and emotion of that November day in 1945.

The shoot was a beautiful tribute to an enduring love.  Rosie and Joe, no doubt, would be very pleased. 

From the photographer: I was so touched when Camarie McBride asked me to photograph this special tribute shoot in honor of her grandparents' love story, celebrating the beauty of their wedding day in 1945. Prepping for the shoot was a dream, as I got to work with Trina Vigil, whose makeup and hair captured the post-War era glamour perfectly.

Photography: Monica Jazmine of Jazzy Girl Photography | Model: Camarie McBride | Makeup & Hair: Trina Vigil of Makeup by Treevg | Set Designer & Floral: Annette Callari | Cake Designer: Irene's Dessert Table | Calligraphy: Sea & Sun Calligraphy | Handmade Paper & Envelopes: Spurle Gul Studio | Gold Wax Seal: Saint Signora | Stamps: Verde Studio | Ribbon: Honey Silks Co. | Vintage Rental: Oak Tree Vintage Rentals 

Hannah + Jared | Elegant City Wedding

Despite her skepticism, hearing of a FOCUS missionary's success story on the dating app Coffee Meets Bagel convinced Hannah to give the app a try. Within a few days, Jared popped up as a match, and he soon asked her out on a real date, willingly making the trip to meet her from his Army base in Biloxi, Mississippi. At the time, Hannah was studying Theology at Spring Hill College not far away, in Mobile, Alabama.

What started as a simple coffee date morphed into lunch, followed by a stop by Hannah's campus chapel, botanical gardens, dinner, and plans for a second date. When they officially declared their relationship a few dates later, both were struck by the ease of friendship and lightheartedness they shared, making the new feel familiar.

Shortly after, when Jared graduated medical school and was relocated near Seattle for residency, Hannah accompanied him on the forty-five hour drive to his new town. After days on the road, discussing life’s big questions and listening to Catholic radio, they knew their friendship had become real love. They saw in each other the desire for a holy marriage and the qualities of mutual love and respect that could make it possible. Three months later, when Hannah returned to Washington for a visit, Jared got down on one knee. 

From the Bride: A long-distance engagement didn't seem ideal, but it helped us focus on communication and was part of God’s plan for our engagement nonetheless. Thankfully, technology provided us with an opportunity to prepare for the sacrament of matrimony online through Catholic Marriage Prep's program. After six months, our endless planning, prayers, reflection, and support from family and friends brought us to our anxiously awaited wedding day. 

Like most Catholic little girls, I always envisioned myself having an elaborate wedding Mass, and upon realizing God’s call for my vocation was, in fact, to be a wife, the desire remained. Now though, I wanted a wedding mass for different reasons than when I was young--most importantly, the Eucharist. I knew now that if we were to have only a ceremony, there would be neither consecration nor distribution of the Eucharist. The presence of the Eucharist, being the “source and summit of the Christian life,” seemed particularly important for our wedding day.

One potential roadblock to having a full nuptial Mass, however, was that my groom was not yet Catholic, nor baptized. Jared was in RCIA at the time, yet until he was baptized we would not be able to celebrate our wedding as a sacrament. A special request was put into the Bishop of Seattle for an early baptism for Jared. On January 21st, one month before our wedding, Jared's long-awaited desire to become Catholic was fulfilled, and he was fully initiated into the Church!

In a spirit of thanksgiving, we planned our wedding Mass right away. Incorporating our guests was an influential factor--our friends and family in attendance would be from varying faith backgrounds. For some, it would be their first Mass experience; for others, it would be their first time in church after many years away. With that in mind, we wanted the songs and readings we chose to reflect our personal preferences, but more importantly, to reflect our experience of God as a loving and merciful Father. 

We chose John 15 for our Gospel reading, which includes the famous verse, “there is no greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Seeing in this verse the complementary nature between the love of Jesus and the love of husband and wife, it seemed to encompass the perfect ‘love triangle’ our marriage prep had been talking about. The rest of the passage was also a good fit for our congregation, and we hoped it would particularly speak to those who were unfamiliar with the Word of God: “You are no longer slaves if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead I have called you friends, for everything I have learned from my father I have made known to you.” 

The beauty of our wedding also served as a means of evangelization, both for our guests and in our own hearts as the bride and groom. The church itself where we were married, Holy Family Parish, is beautiful yet understated and about a hundred years old. The traditional design and larger-than-life wooden crucifix call one’s attention to Jesus. I had been confirmed in this parish, my many aunts and uncles had also made their sacraments there, including some of their own weddings.

Jared and I strove to dress up as gifts for one another. I'd only tried on a few dresses before choosing the long-sleeved, beaded gown that I hoped would compliment Jared's fancy Captain’s dress uniform. Other small details also had lasting impact: my grandmother handmade a dozen gold bows for the pews; white lilies, my favorite flower, flanked the altar; on top of that, sun poured through the stained glass windows during Mass and despite the February date, the day was warm.

Remembering loved ones who couldn't be physically present at the wedding was also important to us. Jared's father passed away a few years prior due to cancer; his mother had a picture and tribute made for him displayed at the front of the church. We also remembered him during the Prayers of the Faithful, as well as my deceased grandparents who'd attended the church for nearly sixty years. Being able to lift their souls up in prayer was a comfort, as well as a reminder of everyone’s true, eternal home. 

At the culmination of the celebration, we were both joyfully able to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. The hymn, “Here I Am, Lord” was sang during communion, a childhood favorite of mine, followed by “Amazing Grace,” a beloved song to Jared. Once again, the complementary nature of the songs seemed to symbolically encompass our new union as husband and wife, as well as the union of each individual with Christ in the Eucharist. It was truly a sublime moment, one that leaves a lasting impact on the soul.

Time. My only sadness on my wedding day was time. It was the fastest thing to go; I loved every minute of that day. I loved it so much so I wished I could pause the moments, store them away, and walk back into them whenever I wanted. As a finite creature, I know it just cannot be. But as a hopeless romantic, I nonetheless long for an eternal love story.

My wedding helped me realize something my ten-year-old self would gasp at: marriage itself still does not satisfy my deepest longings, which are for God. Upon saying I do, though joyful and full of love, I did not magically feel complete. Perhaps it was the recognition that even spouses and fathers, though dearly loved, are not ours to keep. Time is part of the human condition, and one day God will come calling for all souls, which truly belong to Him.

While I wished to somehow pause our wedding day and make it last forever, I also realized the wedding wasn't the end, but the beginning of something much greater. It was amazing to tangibly celebrate our covenant together, surrounded by loved ones. However, like all earthly things, the cake, dancing, and merriment had to come to an end. We’re left now with each other and the gift of each day. Like our wedding, my greatest desire going forward is that we simply invite Him in, letting the Prince of Peace reign in our hearts and marriage.

Photographer's Business Name: Steven Dray Images  | Church: Holy Family Parish - New Brighton | Wedding Reception Venue: Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh | DJ/Host and uplighting: Kelli Burns Entertainment | Flowers: Blossoms by Jillian | Dress: Justin Alexander | Dress/Veil: One Enchanted Evening, Zelienople, PA | Dessert table: Lauren at Sweet Boots Baking Co., Pittsburgh, PA  | Cake: Bethel Bakery, Bethel Park, PA | Maid Of Honor Dress: Jenny Yoo | Flower girl: Wrare Doll Custom | Bridemaids: Weddington Way | Card box: Steven and Rae

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

Emily + Ben | Rustic Elegance Wedding

Emily and Ben met as teammates during both of their first years as FOCUS missionaries. Unlike most missionaries, who begin serving on campuses right after graduating college, the two of them had both worked outside of the Church for a few years before entering the organization. It wasn’t exactly love at first sight; in fact, they didn’t get along too well at all.

The Father had something else in mind.

From the Bride: Ben and I both came in with more life experience, more years in age and wisdom, and more ego than your average FOCUS first-year. We come from very different backgrounds. He was a Southern boy through and through who was raised in a beautiful, devout Catholic family.   Although he has a loud personality and rebellious heart, he has always known who his Father is and obediently subjects himself to God’s will.  

For many years, I, on the other hand, considered myself an independent, motivated woman. I fell into a lazy atheism for a number of years during my college days in California.

After a radical conversion back home to the Catholic Church and into the arms of Jesus, I thought I knew best about how to evangelize our future leaders on the college campus. The funny thing is, so did Ben.  And that is how our story begins.

I could go on and on about our many quibbles or how uncomfortable we made our teammates during meetings when we both fought over who would be “highest on the hill,” or about the time our Chaplain sat us both down for an intervention on how to get along. You’re probably wondering how I got to the point of marrying this man whom I severely struggled to even be around for longer than a few minutes.

Well, that started when Ben asked our team to make our beds as an offering for his sanctity. I committed to a week. Only God knew it would be for the rest of my life. Every morning, first thing, I’d make my bed and offer a prayer for Ben O’Neill, “that he become a holy man…and maybe lose the ego…and that he finally learn that he’s actually wrong and that I’m actually right…and that maybe, just maybe, I don’t even have to see him today…thanks, Lord.” That was how it started but soon my thoughts turned a little more holy and I began to sincerely pray for Ben, my brother. I prayed that he fall deeply in love with Jesus Christ, that he become the best son, husband, and father he was created to be, and that he would be welcomed into heaven. I prayed he would teach me how to be as disciplined as he was and that I would learn to love him better even when it’s really difficult. I think you know where this is going.

Be careful what you ask of the Father, because he will give it in generous abundance! I continued praying every morning for Ben. The Lord not only worked in transforming Ben’s heart, but mine, as well.

By the end of the school year we had learned how to work together, and it was pretty evident that our mutual dislike had been redeemed into a full-fledged attraction.  We had grown to love one another sacrificially; to really desire the good of the other.

From the Groom: That summer, we began a long-distance relationship when Emily was sent to serve at a university in California, while I stayed back with our team in Alabama, at the school where we met. By February we were engaged and by August of that same year, we were married.

Emily and I often laugh when we look back on our story. Our quarrels didn’t stop throughout our dating and engagement, but it’s funny how God used each of our faults to sharpen the other in sacrificial love. It’s like God collided two rough, unpolished blocks of marble with impeccable precision, such that we walked away as two idyllic statues. Each of our gifts became a healing balm for the other’s weakness and wounds.

People know I’ve changed from who I used to be, and they might think Emily loves me because I’ve changed. The reality is that Emily’s love is what transformed me. It’s precisely her love and forgiveness, in times when I was most undeserving of them, during our courtship that healed me and set me free. I need Emily. Her love makes up for my weakness, and mine does the same for her.

It’s amazing how God has designed marriage for the salvation of the spouses: you have the choice to either close in on your selfish tendencies, refuse to serve each other and end up broken and alone. Or you can choose to learn how to place the other first, to serve each other in sacrifice and find happiness. The choice is our own.

Emily and I long to choose the latter, and we are so excited to let our love and our marriage--faults included--be an instrument in God’s hands, a reflection of his very own sacrifice.

Our wedding was not for us.

Christian marriage is a sacrament administered from each couple for the good of the Church. We wanted our wedding to reveal the mystery to which it is directed: the marriage of Jesus Christ, and his Church. Many non-Catholics and non-Christians attended, so we wanted to make our wedding beautiful for their sake. We hoped to inspire many to open up their hearts to receive the gift of the Bridegroom for themselves.

Emily was fully on board. She surprised me when she decided her bridesmaids should all wear white! She wanted to reveal that she was not the only bride in attendance, but that Jesus Christ longs to give himself fully to each one of us as his betrothed.

For our Gospel reading we chose John 14:1-21, which uses the same language as an ancient Jewish proposal. Jesus says to his disciples, “My Father’s house has many rooms. I go to prepare a place for you… I will come back to you and bring you to myself.” In ancient Judaism, a man would propose to a woman by offering her to drink from a chalice of wine. If she accepted his invitation she would take the chalice and drink. Then the man would leave and go to where he lived at his father’s house. He, his brothers, and his father would literally build a new room onto their house where the new married couple would live. Once the room was prepared, the man could return to his betrothed and the wedding feast could begin.

This is the invitation Jesus offers each of us. At every mass, through the priest, Jesus lifts up a chalice and proposes to his Church once again. The voice of the Bridegroom speaks: “This is my body, given for you.”

Do you accept his proposal? “Behold, I will allure her and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her, says the Lord… I will espouse you forever. I will espouse you in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy”  (Hosea 2:14,19)

From the Photographer: The Mass was the core of Emily and Ben’s day. They had a beautiful liturgy at the Church of the Assumption in Nashville. Prior to the Mass, the bridal party and family members prayed over Ben and Emily. The Mass itself was deeply prayerful, charismatic, and joyful. Near the end, Emily and Ben departed from the usual tradition of the couple giving flowers to Our Lady. Ben and the groomsmen went and prayed before St. Joseph. Emily and the bridesmaids went and prayed before Our Lady. They then returned to stand before the cross for the final blessing.

After the Mass, the bride and groom retreated briefly to a little ballroom above the church hall, where they had their first dance alone as husband and wife. This gallery I includes one of my favorite silhouette shots of them dancing in the window-lit room. From there they went on to Drakewood Farm, a gorgeous, rustic barn and farmhouse set on over 40 acres.

The details of the day, from the flowers to the unique crystal at every table, were stunning. Since Emily and Ben have been serving across the United States through their work with FOCUS, their wedding was full of students whose lives they've impacted. The dance floor was alive as hundreds of their friends and students celebrated into the night. Before making a grand sparkler exit to their getaway car, the entire reception gathered around and prayed over Emily and Ben to send off the newlyweds in prayer.

As a vendor who’s photographed many Catholic and non-Catholic weddings, it was so beautiful to see how Emily and Ben put their faith at the center of almost every moment of their day. They placed their love for God and sense of mission above themselves, and I think it served as a testimony to their many guests. And as married photographers who originally met at Franciscan University a decade ago it was really fun for my wife and I to document and tell the story of such a faith-filled wedding. Emily and Ben are just amazingly gracious people, so working with them was a blast.

Photography: An Endless Pursuit | Church: Church of the Assumption - Nashville, Tennessee | Reception Venue + Cake + Flowers + DJ: Drakewood Farm 

Jamie + Seth | Astronomy-Inspired Wedding

Jamie and Seth reconnected at the perfect time in Jamie's life: as she was returning to the Church and rediscovering her relationship with Christ. Through the instantaneous peace she felt on their first date, to the tranquil joy of their wedding day, Jamie experienced, through Seth, the peace that only God can give. 

From the Bride: Peace and calmness. These are not words my friends and family use to describe me, and it was not how my heart felt--until I met Seth.

Christ's plan is always bigger than ourselves, and this is easy for us to forget. In 2013, the Lord began stirring my heart and was slowly guiding me back to the Catholic Church. At the same time I moved back to Maryland and was reunited with an old theatre friend from five years prior. Spending time with him was joyful and encouraging. He made me feel safe and loved from the start. I remember getting ready for our first date and thinking, "Why am I so calm?" Little did I know that God was foreshadowing my wedding day, when my bridesmaid said, "You are the most calm bride I have ever seen."

It wasn't easy getting from that first date to the wedding day, but like any journey that follows Jesus, it made us stronger. I was dating my future husband and re-converting to the church simultaneously, and the processes were surprisingly similar. The confusion and frustration that can be part of a relationship with Christ also comes with a relationship with a spouse. The happiness, enrichment, and goodness that comes as a result of loving the Lord is also a result of loving your spouse. Understanding what loving another person meant helped me to fall deeply in love with Jesus Christ, as well. 

Seth and I began going to Mass every week together, provoking wonderful conversations about the Church. He shed light on so many parts of being Catholic that I struggled with. It is one of the many ways our left brain and right brain balance works so well. Planning for the sacrament of marriage was unbelievably fruitful in learning even more about Christ's love for us and about the Catholic traditions.

When planning our wedding Mass, it was important to us that the entire congregation felt loved. We wanted our love for one another to be a clear reflection of Christ's love for His people. Having many religious backgrounds present at our wedding, we wanted to minimize the confusion of the Mass and enhance the importance of the Mass parts. Upon entering the stunning St. Alphonsus Church, each guest was taken aback by its beauty. I like to think that it is only a reflection of our wonder and awe of Jesus.

Our wedding program was designed in a way that people would feel comfortable with what was happening next. It also had short explanations about the presentation of flowers to Mary and of the Eucharist. Father John truly captured Christ's love for each person in that church during his homily. It wasn't until the reception that we learned how many guests had never been to a Mass before, and truly enjoyed the service. 

The reception began with touching speeches, beautiful dances, and even a special rendition of a Spice Girls song from the Maids of Honor! The rest of the night was vibrant with dancing. Seth loves astronomy; I love art. Those merged together created the constellation theme of our wedding. The fact that God created the planets and stars is a pretty wild thing to think about, and causes us to be continually in awe of Him.

We still pinch ourselves every day when we hear the words "husband" and "wife." Our hearts are fuller after entering into this sacrament together, and each day we continue striving to be more Christ like to one another. 

Photographer's Business Name : Lindsey Plevayak | Nupital Mass or Engagement Location: St. Alphonsus Church, Baltimore | Wedding Reception Venue: Rolling Road Golf Club | Videographer: Frankie Cerquetti | DJ: Glassroom Pro | Photobooth: Charm City Photo Booths | Cake: Bakery Express | Flowers: Blue Iris Flowers | Hair: Brooke St. Martin | Make-Up: Andrea Munk | Dress: BHLDN | Groom Suit: Mens Wearhouse | Groomsmen Ties & Groom Tie Clip: The Tie Bar | Engagement Ring: Helzburg Diamonds | Bride Wedding Band: Zales Outlet | Groom Wedding Band: Northern Royal | Bride Bracelets: Francescas | Bride Hair Piece & Earrings: Amazon

Erin + Andrew | Notre Dame Morning Wedding

Erin met Andrew her freshman year at Notre Dame, but despite their many mutual friends, they didn’t get along immediately--she perceived him as too much of a bookworm! Two years later, though, when Erin’s basketball rec league needed another male teammate, she asked him to join. Their friendship grew, and over Christmas break they both attended a Notre Dame bowl game in New York. At Mass together after the game, Andrew decided he should ask Erin out. Their first date was on his birthday, and it was clear early on that they were called to marriage.

Andrew proposed ten months later and they set a wedding date for the following year, yet shortly before the wedding, they discerned that they should take a break. Though the time apart was painful, it was purifying. Erin and Andrew found themselves together again after a period of prayerful discernment, and on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Andrew asked Erin, for the second time, to be his bride.

From the Bride: While Andrew and I were broken up, I took a trip to D.C. to visit my sister at Catholic University. While there, I visited the Basilica and, where there are many alcoves dedicated to images of our Blessed Mother throughout the world and history. I felt very drawn to the alcove of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. While there, I prayed for clarity and direction regarding my relationship with Andrew.

When we began dating again, I told Andrew about my trip and he mentioned that he had a devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, including an icon of her on his desk at work. We also remembered that the first time Andrew visited my family in Philadelphia, my mom had enrolled us in the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Mass League at the Shrine of St. John Neumann.

As if Mary needed to drop another hint, there was a prominent image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at the front of the chapel where we got engaged. We set our wedding date for June 25, as close to her feast day on June 27 as we could. Andrew and I first announced the date at my grandma's bedside just two days before she died. All of my aunts exclaimed that June 25th was my grandparents' wedding day. Grandma smiled. On the shelf of her headboard cabinet was a tri-fold wooden icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Because of this, we decided to get married at Notre Dame, Our Lady's University, under the arms of the one who has been watching over us in good times and bad, and will continue to be a powerful intercessor for our life together.

Leading up to the wedding, we invited all of our family and friends to join us in praying a novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. We wanted to include those who’ve played a role in our sacramental journeys in the wedding, so we asked our godparents to be lectors and our Confirmation sponsors to be Eucharistic ministers. The presiding priest was my spiritual director during college, who helped both Andrew and I significantly throughout our engagement. Our ringbearer and flower girls were the children of two different couples who really encouraged us and showed us what a great Catholic marriage can look like. Of course, no one has been a better example of loving marriage to us than our parents and grandparents. I chose to make my headband out of lace from my mother's wedding dress and wore my grandmother's pearls.

Our wedding was at 9:00 A.M., so we had a brunch reception following our nuptial Mass. Despite the time of day, we still included dancing, cake and all the typical wedding traditions. Instead of a garter toss, we had a football toss! In fact, after the reception, all of our family and friends joined us for a game of touch football on the campus quad. Andrew's family has a tradition of playing touch football on Thanksgiving morning, so we wanted to honor that ritual.

When it came to our big day, we were just so excited to get married that none of the details seemed to matter. Throughout the planning process, I would frequently say, "I don't care what happens as long as the church doesn't burn down, and the priest and Andrew show up." It helped us keep the focus on our marriage, as opposed to just the wedding day.

We chose the Gospel reading for our Mass from Luke 1:26-38, the Annunciation. It is not commonly used as a wedding reading, but it held great significance to us for a few reasons. First, we felt it was fitting to honor Our Lady since she has been so crucial throughout our relationship. Secondly, we felt that Mary's fiat was perfect to reflect upon as we began our marriage together. Saying yes to God's will is what each of us are called to. Andrew and I saying Yes to our vocation to marriage is our fiat. Mary's trust in God is something we all can aspire to and she is our perfect example.

Photography: Peter Ringenberg Photography | Nupital Mass or Engagement Location: Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame, Indiana | Wedding Reception Venue : Morris Park Country Club | Flower: Lemler Valley Farm | Bride's dress: Jefre's Bridal | Groom's and Groomsmens' Tux: Mens Warehouse | Make Up Artist: Clearly Clare Makeup  | Cake: Martins  | Music: Acoustic Generation

Chelsea + Nick | Pittsburgh Black Tie Wedding

Nick and Chelsea first met at an interview for a college ambassador program. He was asking the questions, and she a freshman and the interviewee. Nick had been prompted to prepare two "creative" questions to ask Chelsea in the presence of an academic judging panel. First, he asked, if you could bring one person to a party, who would it be and why? Chelsea answered Mother Teresa, a woman who was never afraid to be vulnerable and act courageously; the perfect wingwoman. Second, Nick asked what Chelsea would name her ship if she were a pirate captain. Her response was, "Discovery. Because I hope never to cease my love for life's adventures. You either learn or succeed; you never fail."

Later that school year, Chelsea and Nick talked again, and never stopped. He’d never fail to walk her back to her dorm after spending time together. Their first official date was at a beautiful, tiny Italian restaurant with only six tables! Chelsea spent the entire day with her friends, getting ready, wondering if all the effort was too much. But when Nick walked in from the rain to pick her up, flowers in hand, she took notice of the effort he’d put in to look and be his best for her, in turn. He was constant in those efforts, even running across campus on his way to ROTC lab to visit Chelsea for just a few minutes at the program she ran for special needs students, a cause precious and fulfilling to her heart.

Chelsea met Nick’s seasoned Army family only a month after they began dating, on Valentine’s Day weekend. Prior to the visit, the two had spent significant time discussing religious faith. Chelsea had a strong spiritual life and made it clear from the start that God meant everything to her. Nick’s father was baptized Catholic and his mother was Christian, but they didn’t practice their faith much. Her nerves evaporated when Nick’s parents welcomed her like family.

To their surprise, when Chelsea and Nick sat down with his family to eat, his parents led them in grace. Chelsea knew right then that the Father was with them, and that this relationship was possible.

From the Bride: I remember telling Nick that whoever I marry must understand that the main purpose of marriage is to get each other to heaven. At the wedding, our priest and dear friend Father Mac said this exactly: "It is your responsibility to get each other to the kingdom of God. " Nick and I want to build a life centered around God. This will take unconditional love, a strong commitment to one another, our children, our families, and our faith, and a true understanding that challenges must be looked at as learning experiences, moving us closer to the glory he has in store.

I never knew how to witness to my faith until Nick told me that through faith in action--Mass, daily prayers, and serving the communities around us in need--I had been evangelizing all along. We went to Mass together every week. On Pentecost during my freshmen year, I remember Nick just staring in the eyes of God at the altar. I didn’t know if he was bored or zoned out, but then he told me how incredible the feeling of the Mass and God's love felt around him, like nothing he had ever experienced. This was monumental in our journey of faith, and Nick ultimately made the decision to enter the Catholic Church.

Through Nick’s ROTC and military training, it was extremely trying to attempt going through RCIA. We tried for years, and it was frustrating. Finally, things just truly fell into place, and with an exception granted from the typical RCIA schedule, Nick received all of his sacraments over Labor Day weekend, 2015. We felt sure we were called to marriage, but Nick knew I couldn't get married until he had become Catholic--not for my sake, but for his own, because he loved his faith so much and so fully desired to be married as Catholics.

Growing up, I honestly thought I would marry someone who was already Catholic. My, did God have great plans for me! I thank him every day for the gift of journeying towards faith with Nick. I have learned so much about myself and my own faith in this process. My newfound appreciation for who I am allows me to proclaim my faith as my own, not merely a result of my upbringing; a bond that ties Nick and I together under a truly sacred bond. A sacrament. Nick thanks me for giving him his faith, but I thank him for giving me mine.

We both knew we wouldn’t be truly happy on our wedding day unless our guests were happy, too. We planned a weekend around our favorite things in our city to give people the feeling of a vacation, hoping they’d return home rejuvenated in faith and love. We held our rehearsal dinner at a Pittsburgh Pirates game and our Mass and reception as black-tie affairs.

During our wedding Mass, Nick held the rosary I gave him on his first ROTC training in college. I held the one he made for me at that training out of army string and military beads. I also held scapulars from my dad's dad. It meant the world to me hold a piece of my grandfather, my father, and my husband as we entered into the sacrament.

Everyone deserves love. Nick and I set out to make that truth known through the atmosphere of our big day. We prayed, first, to make everyone feel as beautiful outside as they are inside, and second, to remind our guests through the simple emotions between friends, family members, and spouses that all deserved to feel loved and worthy. Nick and I savored every moment. The images of how our loved ones looked at and admired each other that day is something that will inspire my love for Nick for years to come.

Photography : Levana Melamed Photography | Church: SS john and Paul Roman Catholic Parish  | Wedding Reception Venue : Le Mont Pittsburgh  | Second Photographer: Kristen Vota Photography | Flowers: Gida’s Flowers  | DJ: Andy Booth  | Bride’s Dress: Hayley Paige  | Bride’s Shoes: Nina’s Shoes  | Bridesmaids Dresses: Nordstrom designed by Adrianna Papell  | Groom’s tuxes: Men’s Wearhouse

Kate + Adam | Winter Garden-Inspired Wedding

Unknown to each other at first, Kate and Adam lived a block apart in Washington, D.C. They each lived in community, respectively, with six other women and six other men. The night their roommates planned a Cinco de Mayo party with fajitas and a fire pit, they met for the first time and talked all night next to the fire.

A few years prior, Adam had attended his good friends' wedding at St. Ann's Catholic Church near Dallas. During the Nuptial Mass, he was deeply touched by his friends' witness and prayed his relationship with is future wife would reflect the same beautiful, holy love. As he realized Kate was the answer to that prayer, he made plans to propose in the chapel at St. Ann's, which, incidentally, is close by Kate's hometown. Right after she said Yes, her family was there to celebrate.

From the Bride:
I like simple elegance. We were going for a winter garden theme and incorporated lots of creams, whites, pale pink and greenery for the flowers, with touches of gray and silver throughout the palette.

Adam and I focused our preparation for marriage on the ceremony. As Catholics, we believe the sacrament of marriage is our participation in the love of God, so planning the Mass was the most important element for us. We chose our favorite hymns and Scripture passages—including a reading from the Book of Tobit that my parents, Adam's parents, and my sister each used in their own weddings. My uncle, who is a priest, celebrated the Mass and gave a beautiful, heartfelt homily. 

We chose the Westin Riverwalk in San Antonio for our reception venue--my older sister, Maria, celebrated her wedding over two years prior, and wee knew it was a beautiful location, two blocks away from the cathedral where the ceremony would be, and we already knew and felt comfortable with the staff there.

We wanted a simple and elegant wedding cake. Our good friends at Delice made their famous almond cake infused with Amaretto and topped with buttercream frosting and fondant. Delice's head baker, Susana Mijares is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu and was recently featured on the second season of Food Network's Spring Baking Championship. We also served the bakery's carmelitas–-bars made of oatmeal, caramel, milk, dark, and white Belgian chocolate, and pecans--one of my favorite desserts.

For favors, we assembled boxes of Irish Cream Lindt truffles that said “Love is sweet,” a flavor that reflected our upcoming Ireland honeymoon. We also made wands with bells and streamers, with a passage from the wedding readings: "Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God" (1 Jn 4:7-14).

Seeing the reception room with Adam and my parents before opening the doors to our guests was one of my favorite memories of the night. It was so humbling to see the hard work of our families and friends come together. Getting to eat, dance, and celebrate with our our loved ones is what made our reception so special--it was such a gift to be surrounded by so many people we love from various parts of our lives.

Another favorite memory from reception was the Father-Daughter dance with my dad. We had practiced diligently for over a month, and I so fondly remember dancing around our house together before the big day. Seeing that come together was also beautiful and so special! 

From the Photographer: Kate and Adam are an amazing witness to the love God intended for marriage. With every fiber of their being they radiated his grace on their wedding day, and still do in their married life. It was a true honor to be present; to witness and to capture their sacrament of love. Everyone in attendance was filled with the joy of the Holy Sprit and day was wrapped in the protection and love of our Mother Mary. If you could look into my husband and I that night, you'd have seen our hearts aglow with awe for this blessed and holy sacrament. 

By the way, Kate and Adam they had a life-size cutout of the Pope Francis at the reception! They both love him so much, and decided to include him!

Photography: Horn Photography + Design | Church: San Fernando Cathedral, San Antonio, TX | Reception Venue: Westin Riverwalk, San Antonio, TX | Celebrant: Reverend Pablo Rodriguez, LC | Bride's Dress: Rosa Clara Two | Bride's Shoes: Antonio Melani | Groom's Tux: Men’s Warehouse | Hair+ Makeup: Madame Make-Up & Hair, San Antonio, TX | Floral: Danny Cuellar of Trinity Flowers and Events, San Antonio, TX | Cake: Délice Chocolatier & Patisserie, San Antonio, TX | Wedding Coordinator: Audrey Eichelberger of Timeless Beginnings Wedding Coordinators, San Antonio, TX | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bella Bride Boutique | Invitations: Moon Mippy Stationary and Invitations, San Antonio, TX | Band: Oh So Good! Band, San Antonio, TX

Katherine + Jonathan | New Orleans Traditions Wedding

Jonathan's brother was a priest in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, and his grandfather was a famous local sportswriter. He and Katherine first met at Christ in the City, a night of Adoration and fellowship hosted by the archdiocese, but she didn't think much of their first encounter. A few weeks later, the New Orleans natives met again at a Mardi Gras parade, where they danced together in the street. That night, Katherine started to see him differently and realized how much fun this man was.

Jonathan soon asked Katherine out, wherein they ate charbroiled oysters and listened to live jazz--two beloved New Orleans traditions--on their first date. Katherine noticed right away how secure she felt with Jonathan, and they spent many of their early dating days exploring their city. It wasn’t long before they realized God had brought them to each other. They recognized early on that they were meant to be together for life. 

On October 22, the feast of Saint John Paul II, Jonathan carried out his plan to propose. He knew it was a special day because of Katherine's devotion to the pope, and he also knew he'd have to work hard to surprise her. So he asked the diocesan young adult coordinator to send an email about an event happening in the St. Louis Cathedral in honor of the feast day--to Katherine only. John Paul II visited the cathedral in 1987 and prayed in some of the same spots Katherine and Jonathan frequented.

Right after receiving the email, Katherine forwarded it to Jonathan, telling him they should go. His plan worked! When they arrived, there was no one at the cathedral except the two of them. They walked down the aisle towards the altar and knelt. Jonathan proposed there before the tabernacle, where just months later they'd make their vows and kneel before the Lord for the first time as bride and groom. Jonathan's brother, the priest, exposed the Eucharist afterwards as they took time to rejoice together before the Father. 

Every year on the anniversary of their first Mardi Gras parade, Katherine and Jonathan celebrate the first of many times they danced together.

From the Bride: The night before the wedding, Jonathan and I decided to have our rehearsal dinner filmed. Words of Affirmation is a shared love language of ours, and we knew there would be a few speeches from the night that we'd want to cherish. 

It was so important to both Jonathan and me to be peaceful the day of our wedding. We knew there would be so many things going on, but we both just wanted to focus on how we were entering our vocations that day, with Christ as our goal. So I started off the day in Adoration while Jonathan went on a quiet run. This helped both of us truly focus on what was about to happen. 

The day was June 5, and it was absolutely beautiful. Granted, it was June in New Orleans, so it was pretty hot. But the sun was out, there was joy and anticipation in the air, and it felt like the weather knew exactly how to showcase this. My bridesmaids and I got ready at my childhood home. This was really special to me; this home was my family's since I was two years old, even enduring total destruction and renewal during the time of Hurricane Katrina. Jonathan had worked at the cathedral since he was in high school, and he and the groomsmen were allowed to utilize the rectory as their place of preparation. This made for incredible groomsmen pictures in St. Anthony’s Garden behind the cathedral. 

Jonathan and I wrote wedding-day letters to each other which were delivered by our siblings. In addition to a letter for me (addressed to Mrs. Finney, my married name!!), Jonathan gave me an incredible gift: he took the time to type up and put together a bound book of all of our text messages, from our first ones to the ones right after we started dating. My tears flowed abundantly when I received it. I was overwhelmed with emotion, looking back on when we first started talking to each other to where we were that day: about to start our married life together. It was truly one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received, and it came to me on the perfect day. 

The bridesmaids and I took our time getting ready, as the wedding wasn’t until 7 in the evening. It was such a beautiful day full of prayer and laughter.

When we got to the cathedral, everything went so smoothly and prayerfully. My father and I walked down the aisle to a song called “I Give Myself Away,” which was sung by my high school students. They did a fantastic job. It was so meaningful having them there to sing such an important song, as I prepared to give myself away to my groom. In addition, so many of my students came for our ceremony that almost the whole center of the church was full. This truly touched me, because it reminded me that as a married woman, I can be a witness to the goodness of God. 

When I approached Jonathan, I saw that one of his glasses lenses was fogged up because of how much he was crying. It was precious! Our Mass was absolutely beautiful. I couldn’t have imagined it being more prayerful and special. Father Peter, Jonathan’s brother, was the main celebrant, and he gave such a personal and well-written homily about how our steps together lead us to our ultimate goal--union with God in heaven. 

We said our vows holding a crucifix to represent the reality that we are taking up our cross through this marriage, and we want to bring each other to where Jesus is. 

The chalice used at our wedding was used by and donated from St. John Paul II when he visited New Orleans in 1987. Receiving the Eucharist was the most emotional part of the wedding for me because not only did I receive Jesus from such a meaningful chalice, but I was deeply aware of the fact that Jesus is my one true love and that Jonathan is here for me so that Jesus can love me through him.

Jonathan and I prayed before both a statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor (meaning “quick help”--she is the patroness of New Orleans) as well as St. Joseph. We thought it was important to pray not only before our Blessed Mother but also her spouse, since both she and St. Joseph have been a major influence on our relationship. 

Jonathan and I walked down the aisle together as man and wife to a beautiful rendition of Charles-Marie Widor’s "Toccata.” This was significant for Jonathan, since it was the same song to which his mom and dad processed out of the church at their wedding.

The reception was so much fun! We had a live band and wanted to represent tons of New Orleans traditions. One of those traditions, a common one in the South, was a groom’s cake. Jonathan's groom’s cake was a three-tiered king cake, a dessert eaten in New Orleans during Mardi Gras season. The first tier was purple and gold for LSU, Jonathan’s alma mater. The middle tier was black and gold for our favorite football team, the New Orleans Saints, and the bottom tier was purple, green, and gold to represent Jonathan’s favorite time of year and the time we fell in love--Mardi Gras. I made the cake topper out of modeling clay and paint, and it represents Jonathan as a doctor and myself as a high school religion teacher, holding the Catechism.

Another New Orleans tradition is to have cake pulls at the bottom of the wedding cake for the bridesmaids. The pulls have charms on the end to represent something for the bridesmaid--for example, who’s going to have the next baby and who will get married next. I used New Orleans symbols--a streetcar, pelican, saxophone, and others--as the charms for my cake pulls, and adapted them to take on traditional meanings.

Lastly, one of our favorite New Orleans traditions was having a second line out of the reception to end the party. Traditionally, a second line refers to the people or crowd that marches behind a brass band as they process out of a church after a funeral. More recently, New Orleanians have adopted “second lines” for weddings as part of the reception. Just before our second line, Jonathan and I changed into our “going away” outfits and danced the last few songs before the second line started. Once the second line was over, we made it to our getaway vehicle and drove off towards our honeymoon.

The night was everything we wanted it to be--prayerful and peaceful, but also extremely fun. Overall, Jonathan and I wouldn’t change a thing about our wedding day, since it was a day that celebrated perfectly our sacramental love with Jesus at the center--and a whole lot of dancing at the end!

It is only when we realize Christ is the one who can really fulfill us that we can be truly happy. Our wedding, for me, was a depiction of this idea because it centered on God as our one true love--the one from whom we came and the one to whom we're going. I believe we gave our guests an opportunity to witness this reality through the beauty and prayerfulness of our liturgy. 

Since God is a God of joy, and everyone wants joy, we wanted our wedding celebration to be filled with lasting joy. By focusing primarily on Christ and setting the stage for the night with our liturgy, we were able to enter into a time of great joy, dancing and celebrating at our reception. We celebrated a God who gives joy through dancing and carrying out classic New Orleans traditions that were special to us.

Photography: Sabree Hill Photography | Church: St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans, LA | Wedding Reception Venue: Arbor Room at City Park, New Orleans, LA | Florist: Crystal Vase Flowers | Invitations: Hand-painted and formatted by the bride; Shutterfly Custom Invitations | Reception Band: The Boogie Men | Bride's Dress: Town and Country Bridal | Bride's Veil: A Busy Mother via Etsy | Bride's Shoes: Aldo | Bride’s Hair Comb for Reception: Allure Wedding Jewelry via Etsy | Bride’s Going Away Dress: Modcloth | Bride’s Going Away Blue Shoes: Charlotte Russe | Bride’s Going Away Veil: Marisey Accessories via Etsy | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Weddington Way | Bridesmaids’ Earrings: J. Crew | Groom’s Suit: J. Crew | Groomsmen’s Suits: Tuxedos To Geaux | Wedding and Groom’s Cakes: Haydel’s Bakery | Hair: Perfect 10 Salon, Metairie, LA | Makeup: Lauren Fowler Rodas at Up’sa Daisy Hair Salon | Rehearsal Dinner Videographer: Reed Between the Lens | Videographer: 63 Films

Janae + Ryan | Texan Summer Wedding

Back in 2012, Janae was a high school senior applying to schools, while Ryan was a college sophomore discerning a transfer to a different university. Both ended up at The University of Texas at Tyler, where they met on the tennis team. Neither had a firm reason as to why they were supposed to attend Tyler, but knew it was where the Lord had called them.

During Janae's freshmen year and Ryan's junior year, the Lord drew them both into deeper relationship with him. No longer surrounded by her parents and friends, Janae had to take ownership for her faith. At times she felt alone, but it was in times of loneliness that she discovered her helpmate in God. That same year, the Lord was working in Ryan's heart, as well. He began to follow Christ with his whole heart and felt his life transform. Their individual faith journeys landed them in the same Bible study.

After two years of pursuing the Lord and of countless tennis matches later, Ryan asked Janae to be his teammate for a lifetime through the vocation of marriage. 

From the Bride + Groom

In Janae's Words: Ryan and I chose to do a first look before the Mass so we could still get all the photos we hoped for with our tight timeline. It gave us a chance to break away from the craziness of the day and just be together. During that time, we washed each other’s feet to reflect on Christ’s example. Jesus exemplified humble service by washing the Apostles' feet. He showed us that true love looks like dirty feet: we have to bend down, bear burdens, forgive, love, and serve. It is our hope and prayer that our marriage reflects this call to serve, and that we daily embrace the messiness and beauty hidden in the vocation of marriage. 

We got married in the parish where I grew up. It's where Ryan was confirmed into the Catholic Church and where I received all of my sacraments. I thought the church itself looked beautiful, so we didn’t do much to decorate; we just wanted it filled with as many as of our family and friends as possible. Because many of our guests were not Catholic, we provided a guide explaining the Mass. Ryan learned a lot during his time in RCIA and wanted to help others understand there is so much beauty and deeper meaning behind what may seem like repetition and rituals. Our hope was that all our brothers and sisters, no matter their denomination, could have a wonderful worship experience during the ceremony. 

One of my favorite moments of the day accompanied the readings. We chose Tobit 8, the story of St. Raphael, Sarah, and Tobias. A few weeks before the wedding I stumbled upon an old letter I'd written before college. It hit home with this reading.

When I decided on UT Tyler, I joined their Catholic Campus Community Facebook page and saw a prayer that really resonated with me. After reading it I felt a huge sense of peace about my decision to attend, and I wrote this letter:

July 2012
To my future husband,

I pray about you and for you all the time. You are important to me, and I’m learning the value of prayer for the big things and the small things. One of the really big things I have been praying about lately is UT Tyler. I leave next month to college and I’m looking for a strong Christian support group. In doing that, I joined Tyler’s Catholic Campus Community page on Facebook. This is the first post I saw:

"Saint Raphael, in all confidence I ask your guidance in the task of planning my future. Obtain for me through your intercession the light of God’s grace so that I may decide wisely concerning the person who is to be my partner through life… Find for me a helpmate in life, the person whose character may reflect some of the traits of Jesus. May he be upright, loyal, pure, sincere, and noble…

Saint Raphael, friend of the young, be my friend, for I shall always be yours. To your special care I entrust the decision I am to make as to my future spouse. Direct me as you did with young Tobias and Sarah to the person with whom I can best cooperate in doing God’s holy will, with whom I can live in peace, love and harmony in this life and attain eternal joy in the next. Amen.”

I love that prayer. The words are exactly what I want to say and the prayer was reassurance that Tyler is where God wants me to be.

Praying for you.
Janae Warren

At the end of his homily, our deacon read my letter aloud. I had tears in my eyes as I heard those words I wrote exactly four years prior and was able to see so clearly God’s providence. 

I am all about the details so I had so much fun planning a wedding. Before the rehearsal dinner we had an open Adoration hour for anyone who was in town. This was a special time for us to slow down, reflect, and invite Jesus into the center of all we were doing. 

I love to DIY, so I did the calligraphy for the seating chart, made the invitations, and created a photo booth back drop. I used the sleeve of my mom’s wedding dress to wrap my bouquet, wore my grandmother’s earrings, and used a box my grandfather carved to hold our rings. My cousin made us a custom kneeler that we will use to pray together for years to come. Our flower girl wore her mom’s flower girl dress.

Since Ryan and I are both tennis players and a lot of our wedding party was from the tennis team, we exited the church through a tunnel of our wedding party holding vintage tennis racquets. I love peaches, so we had peach-themed wedding reception.

Our guest book was my parents' family Bible that they gave us as a gift. We had our guests highlight a verse that was meaningful to them and leave a note or advice for us as newlyweds. Our moms made a lot of the desserts. Ryan and I are both Texas kids, so our first dance was to a good two steppin’ song, "She's Like Texas." We had a last dance, “God Gave Me You,” with just the two of us on the dance floor while our guests headed outside for our exit.

In Ryan's Words: Our wedding ceremony had so much meaning thanks to my bride. Janae is more creative than I am, and can come up with wonderful ideas, including ones for our Mass. Of course, the Mass is always special because we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus. One of my favorite parts of the Mass, and a moment that was very special to me, was communion. Janae came up with the idea of us being the extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist. It was special because our first act as a married couple was an act of service to those who love and support us, and we were able to give them the best gift--the body of Christ! We pray that we continue to bring Jesus to those around us every day.

The biggest piece of advice I can give is to communicate! This is person is going to be your best friend through life and it is important to establish that open line of communication. We are only a few months into marriage, and we are already seeing the joy and intimacy that came as a fruit of these conversations. It may not always be pretty or easy, but it is important to talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly! Also have those completely weird and random conversations. Express your hearts to each other often! Jesus works in those words.

Janae has been supportive and loving to me. She forgives me right away every time I make a mistake and acts like it never happened. Through this, I realized every time I sin I hurt God and the world. Yet he always forgives me. I always thought I couldn’t make it up to him or work for it to be right. But for some reason, Janae’s love has helped me truly start to understand God's forgiveness. I cannot pay God for all the wrong I have done. It’s pure love and mercy. Marriage has helped me understand this love. 

Photographer: J. Violet Photography | Videography: Ryan Barry Productions | Church: Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, New Braunfels, TX | Reception Venue: The Springs, New Braunfels, TX | Cake: Sweet Dreams Bakery | Bartender: Margarita Madness | Hair + Make Up: Meaghan Pavuk, Style by Meaghan | Stationary + Invitations: DIY | Caterer: River City Catering | Rings: Ernesto's Jewelry  | Photobooth: DIY | Groom's and Groosmen's Tuxes: San Anthony Jewelry & Formal  | Bride's Dress: Ventura's Bridal | Bridesmaids Dresses: RenzRags

Becca + Kyle | Mediterranean-Inspired Styled Shoot

We're pleased to share with you our first styled shoot today, courtesy of Spoken Bride Vendor Sinikka Rohrer of Soul Creations Photography.

We're also beyond excited to include in this piece something that's not always evident in picture-perfect shoots: the story of a love hard-won, refined by holy fire and filled with constant unveilings of the heart. Becca and Kyle, newlyweds and the models for this shoot, have learned firsthand that purification is painful. Yet like the Cross, there is a sweetness--and victory--in suffering for love's sake and in losing yourself to find yourself.

Becca and Kyle were engaged long-distance and planned most of their wedding over the phone. To stay connected, they'd pray together each night before the first of them went to sleep--whether the other was with friends, at the gym, or making dinner. Prayer was their stronghold. They also read Thomas G. Morrow's Christian Courtship in an Oversexed World, Dr. Gregory Popcak's Holy Sex, and Eric and Leslie Ludy's The First 90 Days of Marriage during their engagement.

Three weeks after the wedding, Becca went, as had been planned months ago, on mission to the Philippines with no wifi. Kyle worked back home in Indianapolis and prayed his wife was safe.

From the Photographer: When Becca got home from her mission, life really started. Kyle finally learned what life was like with “ever-present Becca,” and Becca faced working through every buried expectation she'd had about marriage prior to the wedding. Before marriage, she never realized she was so excited about the big picture of her vocation to be Kyle's wife that she'd overlooked about the small details of actually living as a wife. Details like making decisions for two, washing dishes, being intentional about healthy eating, and creating a harmonious environment to come home to.

Their first year of marriage brought challenges, but had Becca and Kyle both thinking constantly of how they can show Christ's love to each other. That passion and desire has brought them together while they grow in Christ, seeing his intangible love in each other. They walk to Mass every day from their shared office building.

This chic Mediterranean styled shoot was inspired by the Soul Creations Photography brand and made possible by the incredible vendors involved with the Indianapolis chapter of the Rising Tide Society.

Soul Creations Photography has just launched a new brand fully focused on serving the Christian bride, which sparked the desire for a styled shoot able to paint the picture of a holy wedding: full of spiritual decor, Middle Eastern dishes, Israeli florals, and a Christ-centered bride and groom.

With the help of local artists and wedding vendors in the Indianapolis Rising Tide group, this dream theme turned into an elegant Mediterranean reality at Emerald Acres Wedding Barn.

The bespoke wedding gown was chosen to evoke a goddess-like feel, with lace details at Becca's shoulders and expertly crafted embellishments gracing her hips. Her real life Maid of Honor, Tristin, was also adorned in a Bella Bridesmaid gown, whispering of Spring in all its glory.

Rebecca and Tristin’s hair and makeup were intended to reflect the essence of tame, yet powerfully beautiful women, with soft, windswept locks accompanied by natural makeup.

The handcrafted florals were full of greenery and flowers found in the Holy Land, including lavender, eucalyptus, olive branches, and heather. From these options, The Zionsville Florist Company created a table runner, bouquets, tabletop displays, boutonnieres and a decorative arch.

To take full advantage of the venue’s brick-lain floors, we collaborated with A Handcrafted Affair, owned by an incredible artist out of Fishers, Indiana. With owner Nakia’s help, each place setting, from gold-rimmed plates and red wine glasses to gold chargers and a hand-stitched tablecloth, exuded the rustic elegance of a Mediterranean dinner table.

Our buffet included lamb cutlets with mint, goat cheese on crostini, and figs stuffed with mascarpone,items that would all be found at a wedding in the Mediterranean. The ‘naked’ cake we chose was decorated with fresh heather and lavender to fit the theme.

As a photographer, my goal was to capture the truth: a relaxed, spiritual story reminiscent of Becca and Kyle's real wedding day. With the help of our incredible vendors and models, the truth of what it looks like to have a Christ-inspired wedding was captured in the most indescribable way.

When recounting a memory from their first year of marriage, Becca told me that Kyle once asked how she was doing as they put away laundry. She really was not okay. Immediately, Kyle threw down the clothes, held her and listened, affirming her along the way. From her own words, if it was normal life, he would never throw down his shirt… and he did it for her! She said, “If we can heroically love one another and God, then love won’t be work anymore.” 

I pray you make every moment with your beloved and those around you extraordinary, because Becca is right. We are called to heroic love. Becca and Kyle's relationship shows that overcoming challenges and trusting Christ with our life's steps is what we've been made for in our call to love.

Videography by Unique Heart Productions

Photography: Soul Creations Photography | Photography Assistant: Chloe Luka Photography | Venue: Emerald Acres Barn, Indianapolis, IN | Coordination: Sparkles & Lace Events | Videography: Unique Heart Productions | Models: Kyle and Rebecca Kovert, Tristin Martin, Rajan Sra | Paperie: Athena Street Creative | Hair + Makeup: Megan Logsdon Hair & Makeup Artistry | Catering: Jaquie's Gourmet Catering | Decor: A Handcrafted Affair | Bride's Dress: Sophia's Bridal | Groom's + Best Man's Tuxes: DC Tux | Maid of Honor Dress: Bella Bridesmaids | Cake: Classic Cakes, Carmel, IN | Florals: Zionsville Flower Company 

Andrea + David | Convalidation Ceremony

Today, it's our honor to share with you a different variety of wedding. Thirteen years ago, David was a sous chef at a P.F. Changs and Andrea was a server there, awaiting the results of her bar exam. They started dating that winter, and when David was promoted and relocated from Ohio to Iowa, Andrea--a non-practicing Catholic at the time--came with him and they moved in together. Four years later, they were husband and wife.

In all things grace abounds. This is the story of Andrea and David's journey to the Catholic faith and the day they had their marriage convalidated by the Church.

From the Bride: This isn’t going to be your traditional Catholic love story. Not even close.

The Lord sure is funny. The way our stories are intertwined into a one great tapestry; one we can only hope will be fully revealed to us on the glorious day we are reunited with Him. He certainly has a grand sense of humor.

In fact, that’s all I could think about when an early ultrasound one year ago revealed that there were 2 little bouncing beans hanging out in my womb. Again.

Twins happen twice. That’s my new favorite hashtag. After a pretty harrowing birth at 28 weeks, our newest babes are now approaching their first birthday. It was quite the journey to get to this place and to be at peace with all the blessings the Lord sees fit to give us.

Against all odds, David and I were married in a beautiful, intimate outdoor ceremony on September 22, 2007 that was officiated by my Uncle Tim, a Christian pastor.

We discovered we were pregnant in December 2007 and one month later, much to our complete and utter shock, learned we were expecting twins. With no family history of twins and no assistance through fertility treatments, this unexpected twin pregnancy was quite the surprise.

Our first set of beautiful twin boys were born on June 20, 2008 at 28 weeks gestation due to complications from HELLP Syndrome

Their birth day was extremely traumatic and I very nearly lost my life. Hayden and Logan were 2lbs 6oz and 2lbs 5oz at birth. After 71 days in the NICU, they finally joined us at home.

While my physical scars from their birth healed relatively fast, the emotional scars took much longer to mend. A deep fear of another HELLP-related pregnancy and fear of death led me to choose an IUD for contraception shortly before their discharge. For all intents and purposes, my husband and I were finished having children.

A series of events that can only be described as divinely inspired led us to Arizona in 2009.

In order to be closer to my parents, we decided it was the best place to be with our growing boys. David was able to secure a lateral transfer with PF Changs, we sold our home in less than 30 days, and we found a rental home five minutes from my parents.

As you are reading this, you may be curious as to why there is no mention of God throughout these experiences.  The answer is simple.

God didn’t matter to me, and he hadn’t mattered for nearly 13 years.

My family converted to Catholicism when I was 14 years old. And while I faithfully attended Mass each weekend until I left for college, I never really got it. I didn’t understand the beauty and the magnificence that is our Catholic faith. I had no passion for the Lord and certainly had no relationship with him.

So it should be no surprise, given my ambivalence, that when the Mormon missionaries came knocking on my door during an extraordinarily self-destructive period in my life, I let them in.

In August 1998, I abandoned my Catholic faith and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. My conversion served its purpose and I fully believe the Lord used this to save my life. I was an active practicing Mormon for one year, and then I just wasn’t. There was no big break up, no dramatic exit; I just stopped going. I continued to identify as Mormon for a couple years and then began to label myself as a Christian.

Despite many attempts over the years to bring me back to him and His Church, it was the death of a young Catholic wife and mother whose online journal had me re-thinking everything I thought I knew about Catholicism, life, death and suffering.

On September 11, 2011, during a normal morning coffee and Facebook scroll, the world as I knew it ended when I saw these words:

RIP Robin Fugate Evernham.

A brief Google search revealed Robin's journal, where I learned she had passed away from a rare form of cancer. Only 32 years old, my former law school classmate, a faithful Catholic, a wife and a mom of two girls was gone from this world. Her journal shook me to the core.

After reading through it, I knew immediately that I had to return to the Catholic Church.

I scheduled my confession and began attending Mass. Because I wasn’t quite brave enough yet, each Sunday morning my husband worked and I'd drop my three-year-olds off at my parents' and go to Mass alone. I would gaze longingly at the families I saw and would always tear up when the kids were dismissed for Children’s Liturgy. Occasionally, David would join us. I felt very blessed the Sundays we were together at church as a family, even though I never thought he would become Catholic.

My physical return to the Church was relatively easy, but my acceptance of her teachings was not.

I struggled deeply on many issues, specifically artificial contraception. It took a lot of prayer, and what I can only describe as a lightbulb moment of clarity, for me to comprehend the teachings, and to ultimately become open to life again. Despite this clarity and certainty, it still took well over a year and a half for me to overcome my fear of death and pregnancy and to finally have my IUD removed.

My husband, well, wasn’t exactly on board with the decision to stop using artificial contraception. As a matter of fact, he was adamant that if I chose to remove the IUD then a vasectomy was his next move. He was fine with my return to the Church and attended with us whenever his work schedule permitted. But he was not okay with more kids, simply because he feared I would not survive another pregnancy, leaving him behind to raise our children without a mother.

It was during these discussions with my husband that convalidating our marriage began to weigh heavily on my mind. About eight months after my return to the Church, our family’s sacramental journey began with the baptism of our twin boys. I knew we should have our marriage convalidated, but I had been putting off the discussion. One day, I just took a deep breath and asked. I explained what it was and why it was important to me. Much to my surprise, David said yes and the process began.

On May 18th, 2013, our convalidation ceremony took place. It was a beautiful, holy day full of blessings and graces. My husband, though not fully understanding the importance of it, said Yes to me again, and I to him.

Only one week prior I'd had the appointment to remove my IUD. Just that day, David again reminded me that if I did this, he would be getting a vasectomy. I went to the appointment filled with anxiety and fear. Because I had specifically chosen a Catholic OB/GYN, peace overcame me and when the PA offered to pray with me, I begged the Blessed Mother to cover me with the peace of Christ and offered at least 30 Hail Marys during the appointment.

After our ceremony, we began our Natural Family Planning journey, which I only half-heartedly embraced. I kept waiting for David to tell me that he had scheduled his vasectomy. I was waiting all the way until October 2013, when I saw that little plus sign on the stick signaling new life.

Our daughter Olivia Grace was born on my birthday, May 27. When we discovered we were pregnant, I shared with David my concerns about going to Mass alone with two six-year-olds and a baby and asked him to arrange his work schedule so that he'd be able to attend with us each week.

So after Olivia's birth and 2.5 years after my return to the Church, one of my deepest hopes had come true: my entire family was together during Mass each Sunday.

Only three months after Olivia's birth and one month after her baptism, they announced the upcoming RCIA program at our parish. My husband looked at me and said, “I think I might do that.” He left me completely and utterly speechless for the first time in my life.

On Saturday, April 4, 2015, my husband was welcomed into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church through the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.

Since David hadn't been baptized at the time of our convalidation, our marriage wasn't yet a sacrament--although it became one, praise God--at the moment of his baptism. And while we didn't receive any sanctifying grace that day, the actual grace was abundant. I have no doubt the Holy Spirit began working on my husband’s heart. He may not have understood the reasoning behind the ceremony, but he surrendered out of his love for me and for our family, thereby allowing the seeds of his conversion to be planted. This grace also stopped the quest for a vasectomy in its tracks and began softening David’s heart to the possibility of more children.

And although my second deepest fear was realized with the premature birth of our second set of twins and their 53-day NICU stay, the journey was far more peaceful and grace-filled than our first journey. The Lord was with us every step of the way and I relied on my husband’s strength and faith when my own was lagging. A faith that began on May 18, 2013.

Church: All Saints Roman Catholic Parish, Mesa, AZ | Pastor and Officiant: Father Robert Caruso | Photographer: Annelise Jensen Photography

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Andrea Boring is a happy Catholic wife and mama to five little people, including two sets of twin boys and a two-year-old in the middle. Designing pretty websites for fabulous women is her professional jam. You can also find her blogging about her faith and family, launching a new podcast or speaking nationwide. WEBSITE | PODCAST | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

Emily + Daniël | Christmas Season Wedding

From us to you, happy Feast of the Epiphany! At the close of this Christmas season, our prayer for you is grace and fortitude as you journey closer each day to your own Bethlehem: to the deep joy, the silent, indescribable riches of the heart, and the pure wonder that flow forth from married life. To celebrate the last day of this sacred time, we're thrilled to share an additional post this week, featuring Emily and Daniël's amazing love story, Praise and Worship-filled wedding Mass, and holiday-inspired details!

Emily is a full-time speaker. On her first-ever European trip--to the Netherlands for a youth and music ministry conference--one of the conference presenters, named Daniël, picked up Emily and her colleagues from the airport. What followed was the start of an international romance that would almost seem improbable, were it not for the Father's infinite wisdom, mercy, and providence.

From the Bride: There’s one truth that stands from the beginning of my love story: if God designed it to happen, he will make a way. God always makes a way.

On the first day of my trip, where I'd be singing and speaking at the conference, the others in the group had meetings to attend. I had the time free, and Daniël was given the job of taking me to sightsee around Holland. The first place he wanted to show me was his favorite basilica in a nearby city. If you have not been to Europe, you must know…the churches will take your breath away every single time. We walked into Mary, Star of the Sea Basilica and I was totally floored by its beauty. We walked in and Daniël asked me if I wanted to pray in their chapel. We prayed together for the first time that day. Unbeknownst to me in that moment, we would end up praying together every single day after that.

Daniël and I spent time getting to know one another throughout the weekend of the conference, and I was incredibly moved by what a strong, generous, faithful, giving, and kind man he was. When I returned home to America, I knew God was doing something big. But I was clueless as to the extent of the adventure that was beginning.

Daniël sent me a letter expressing the same things I was feeling – that somehow, He knew that God was calling him to pursue me rightly, even from 6,000 miles away. A man in the Netherlands pursuing a woman in California…a scenario only possible for God. He always makes a way.

We began calling one another on Skype, getting to know each other, and praying about what God was calling us to. We later discerned that it was best for me to make a return trip to Europe to explore what God was doing. I returned two months after we first met, and after Daniël took me on a few dates--even though the prospect of dating across an ocean was overwhelming--we decided to begin formally dating.

Daniël pursued me from half a world away, on a 9-hour time difference, for 2 years. Our relationship was beautifully blessed, but a very challenging road. We had to learn to show the other love with only words and prayer. Date “nights” on weekends meant spending time on Skype on my Saturday morning and his Saturday night, always finding new things to talk about. God’s hand made way for every visit (about every 2 months), and our dedication to keeping Christ at the center of everything was what carried us on with hope and deep purpose in our relationship. We committed to walking the road together daily.

God continued to make a way.

Daniël secured a graduate school internship in Laguna Beach, California, so that we could discern marriage in the same city together. We continued to fall in love, and Daniël continued to show me his heart of deep goodness and his firm foundation of faith and virtue. He never ceased to impress me by the core of who he was and the way he honored me. Daniël proposed in February 2015, and were married on December 30th of that year.

I now look at my sweet husband across the dinner table from me, and reflect on how we are a living, breathing sacrament together. We are living in the center of God’s promise that nothing is impossible for him. We are living the fulfillment that comes with dedicating our life and love to God--living the fulfillment that comes with our waiting for one another--the fulfillment that comes from professing a vow and trusting Christ to give you the strength to abide by it.

God made a way for us, and he makes everything beautiful in his perfect timing and perfect power. True love is possible, and it is alive and well in this world. May we celebrate, believing in the goodness of true love and the power that it has to change this world."

From the Photographer: It has been a gift working with so many faith-filled couples, documenting the beauty of the sacrament of marriage. This is a day I will always remember. As Emily and Daniël's wedding day unfolded, I was in awe of their total, self-giving love. A love that is playful, childlike. A love that gently whispers truth. A love that patiently waits on God’s timing. A love that we are all called to.

These two have spent their lives running toward Christ and leading so many young souls to his Heart. Their courage to enter into marriage as a shining light in the darkness is truly inspiring. After journeying through the daily sacrifice of a relationship continents apart, the whole day was spent in joyful disbelief that this day had finally arrived. As Emily and Daniël were each covered in prayer by their closest loved ones, the Father’s grace was just overwhelming.

One of my favorite aspects of their wedding Mass took place after Communion. The whole church was worshipping the God of the Universe at the top of their lungs with thankful hearts, to the song "How He Loves." There was no rush, just basking in that moment, praising him together. This is a marriage that is focused on the treasures of heaven.

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Photography: Elissa Voss Photography | Videography: NOK Productions | Church: Our Lady of Grace, Encino, CA | Reception Venue: Verandas Beach House, Manhattan Beach, CA | Ceremony Music: Ike Ndolo | DJ: VOX DJs | Catering: Stonefire Grill, Los Angeles, CA | Bride's Lace Bolero: Polina Ivanova 

Rosanna + Matthew | Marian-Inspired Wedding

He was from Texas and she was from California, preparing to attend the 2011 World Youth Day in Madrid. The first few times Rosanna and Matt talked over Catholic Match and Skype--starting on Divine Mercy Sunday--Rosanna noticed how full of life Matt seemed, filled with joy for the Catholic faith. Yet she'd been praying for guidance about her vocation. They continued having dates over Skype and in person, and in Spain that summer, Rosanna experienced peace that God was calling her to marriage--quite possibly with Matt.

Shortly after Rosanna returned home, Matt asked her to be his girlfriend at a church in San Diego, feet away from statues of Our Lady. Over the next two years, they dated according to a traditional courtship approach they felt called to and flew out to visit each other as often as they could. But monthly flights started feeling old. After a Tridentine Mass, in a candlelit chapel devoted to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Matt read Rosanna a poem he'd written and got down on one knee.

From the Bride: We got married on the Feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel at my home parish in Southern California, which is run by Norbertine monks. We had picked the date somewhat haphazardly. We smiled, though, when we realized that not only was it a Marian feast day, but a feast deeply loved by my great-grandmother, Dolores, a third-order Carmelite who loved Our Lady of Good Counsel so much that she named one of her daughters "Buen Consejo." I also realized the Marian image in my room growing up was one of this particular devotion to Our Lady. And lastly, I am a marriage and family counselor by profession; what better honor and title of the Blessed Mother to celebrate our marriage? When we went to Rome for our honeymoon, we attended Pope Francis's weekly audience and were blown away to find the topic he addressed was none other than the gift of "good counsel."

Matt and I decided to have a our nuptial Mass as a hybrid of an English and Latin novus ordo Mass. We chose to have a few parts, such as the Creed, sung, as we both love sung liturgy. The Norbertines utilize many traditional “smells and bells” in their Masses, and we were so happy to include those traditions in our liturgy.

Receiving the Lord together in the Holy Eucharist, kneeling side by side, for the very first time as husband and wife was even more exciting than the nuptial vows that we exchanged. Two traditions we incorporated were the Spanish lasso from my Filipino roots and a Croatian tradition where the bride and groom hold a crucifix while saying their vows. After the wedding, by a statue of Our Lady of La Vang, Matt and I shared our first kiss on the lips. It was something we'd felt called to abstain from during our courtship, and was a delightful, fun milestone moment.

The reception venue was the clubhouse at UCI, where my grandfather was a doctor and professor, and where my parents met. We wanted the theme of our wedding to be "Culture of Life." Our cake was inscribed with life abundantly, and John 10:10, with the full verse, "I came that they might have life, and have it more abundantly," on a chalkboard poster behind it. We also designed our own monogram, an R and an M entwined with a cross, in the style of monograms that frequently adorn Marian altars. We peppered the banquet tables, laid so beautifully with coral and pink flowers by our florist, with frames featuring pictures of saints and some of their most inspiring quotes. As Matt and me come from a few different ethnic backgrounds, we chose saints from Italy, Japan, and the Philippines to reflect our heritage. In these simple centerpieces, we wanted to reflect the universality of the church, full of all kinds of people but with one powerful, singular focus: the call to holiness and the worship of Jesus, the Bread of Life. To celebrate our first kiss, we also had a sign inspired by the Song of Songs: "Kiss me, my love, that your name be on my lips. You intoxicate my being with the fragrance of your presence."

Matt washed my feet during the reception in order to symbolize how Christ, the groom, humbled himself and washed the feet of his disciples: his body, the Church. I remember choosing the song "The Spirit and the Bride" by Matt Maher, days before the wedding, to be played during the washing. When I discovered the song, I broke down in tears, realizing the goodness of the Lord, and his love for me in all of my brokenness. To think that I would be marrying Matt in just a few days, my broken self and all, that God had brought so much healing into my life through Matt, and that he would continue to heal and grow both of us through our marriage, just humbled me to my knees.

I think those few minutes that Matt washed my feet etched a deep meaning into both of our hearts that day. We were saying, in a symbolic way, that we were both laying down our lives for one another; that there was no turning back, that we were "one flesh" in the eyes of God now. It's something I still flash back to when we hit rough spots. Our marriage crucifix, the one Matt and I held as we took our vows, hangs above our bed. Every day, we are reminded of the great sacrament we partake in, and the heights of holiness to which we are called.

Photography: FS Photo Studio  | Church: St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Costa Mesa, CA | Wedding Reception Venue : University Club at University of California, Irvine | Flowers: Blooming Branch | Cake: KH Bakery  | Hair & Make-Up: Make Me Up  | DJ: Ultimate Events