Despite having rescheduled because of Covid, and despite the projected day-long thunderstorms, and despite a kidney stone for the father-of-the-bride, this wedding day was a dream; filled with joy and with peace and anticipation and celebration of what God was doing. Julia and Christian were so calm and peace-filled and excited– their long awaited wedding was FINALLY happening!
We arrived at the bride’s house with some light rain showers that continued until we arrived at the church. The rain stopped just in time for the bride to enter the church, and unbelievably, held off for most of the rest of the day. Christian and Julia shared a “first touch” under a beautiful tree on the back of the property. The exchanged letters, and there were lots of tears. Christian included a special gift– a rosary he’d bought years prior at the Vatican, a nudge he had that he’d one day gift to his wife on their wedding day. They had a precious and sacred time of prayer, committing their day and their marriage to the Lord. The ceremony was beautiful! The couple exchanged vows and a kiss and then sun came out just in time for their dried lavender exit!
During our week of wedding phone call, Julia shared that she has prayed for years for golden hour photos. We even prayed for the weather together that day!! OUr forecast leading up to the wedding wasn’t looking too promising, so we were thrilled with any non-rain that we had. It came time for sunset, and thick dark clouds had rolled in. We decided to take a few photos anyway, and as we were wrapping up, the sky turned a beautiful cotton candy pink! Not golden hour, but breathtaking, nonetheless. We got inside, and within moments, the torrential downpour began.
Julia remarked how she’d never forget that day… She found out right before the father/daughter dance that her dad had been battling a kidney stone all day, but had gone on as though he was perfectly fine, not wanting to detract from the day in any way. When the rain began pouring down as soon as pictures were finished she said that the love of her earthly father and the power of her Heavenly Father had been on display so clearly— the self-sacrificial love of her dad to hide his pain and be there for Julia, and the power of God, to even hold off the rain until the exact moment we were done.
There were so many tears sprinkled throughout the whole day– the bride hugging her sister for the first time in months, the first look with her dad, Julia and Christian reading letters and praying before the ceremony, etc. etc.– but they were tears of JOY and gratitude. Julia and Christian are so in love with one another, were so thankful for their families surrounding them, and so grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves them and has carried them throughout this wild season. I am so excited for these two as they begin their lives as husband and wife!
