October 19, 2013
It was a cold October morning. The ground was wet with the morning dew as I walked around the wedding site. I had arrived early to clear my head and talk to God before the chaos started. The sun was rising and shining on the spot where Corey and I would become husband and wife later that day. I thought I'd be more nervous and anxious then I was, but even knowing all the things that needed to be done before the ceremony was to start, all I could feel was an overwhelming peace. No matter what happened, if everything went exactly as planned or not I was marrying the man of my dreams and my very best friend. Nothing could bring me down and nothing did.
I was so blessed to have so many awesome people help me set up and make everything look exactly how I envisioned. I loved having a bonfire and scriptures everywhere. There were blankets and s'mores and all the colors just looked amazing. There was a wall of pictures of Corey and I and for cake we had zebra cakes! Yes, the little debbie kind. My wonderful friend Jess came to do my hair and makeup. She did such a beautiful job! It was so relaxing to just get to sit back and enjoy being forced to sit down.
The moment finally came to put on my dress. I'll be honest, I procrastinated doing this because I knew once I was in it everything would feel real. That's exactly what happened. The moment my dress was on I finally felt like a bride! I was getting married and even though everything was falling into place right before my eyes, this was the moment that made it all a reality. I loved my dress! It had pockets and I was absolutely in love with them. I knew as soon as I tried this dress on for the first time that it was the one. There were times after I bought it that I questioned if I had made a hasty choice but having it on, hair and makeup done and jewelry on, everything felt right. It was totally a ME dress and I knew Corey would love it too!
Corey and I did a "First Look". That's right, we saw each other before the ceremony. I wrestled with this decision too but I'm so glad we chose this! It was one of the highlights of the day. As much as I loved spending time with all my wonderful friends and family lets be honest, I was getting ready to marry the love of my life and I really just wanted to be with him. I knew that I would be too nervous if I waited till the ceremony to see him and I knew that if I was able to see him and talk to him I would feel more prepared to be in front of all those people. It was such a special moment that I am completely biased to seeing your groom before the wedding! We got to spend most of our wedding day with each other, and I loved that. We also pre-read our vows to each other. The week before the wedding we were sharing with each other how we were struggling with the fear of giving up our single lives so we prayed about a way that we could really lay down that part of our lives for each other. I felt like God was telling me that our vows were that so I suggested that we read them to each other prior to the ceremony so we could really focus on what we were vowing to each other. It was so special and I love that I actually know what he said.
Our ceremony was the most beautiful experience of my life. I really didn't know how I'd feel but I definitely didn't cry. I was actually all smiles and completely giddy through the whole thing! I have been told by multiple people that I was a very fun bride to watch. Haha, well I'm glad I was entertaining. We wrote our own vows to each other, took communion together putting God first in our marriage and then washed each others feet as a commitment to serve one another just as Christ did. Kneeling down to wash my husbands feet and pray over him was my favorite part of the ceremony. I couldn't have thought of a more perfect way to honor and lay down my life for him. I pray it will always be a reminder to me to honor and serve him all the days of my life.
The reception was fun! It was relaxed and laid back and right at 7 o'clock it began to pour down raining. We didn't get to do all the things we planned and a lot of people left when the rain calmed down but really I could have cared less! The people that stayed had fun with us. The bonfire was still going and Corey and I got to roast a marshmallow together. The kids had fun playing with the sparklers and I was now able to socialize without the obligation that I needed to get to every single table and say hi to everyone! God knows me well and as much as I love every person we invited, if I would have had to say hi to all of them by the end of the night I would have been spent. The night became more of an intimate get together, the sky cleared up and we were able to really spend time with the people that were left. That my friends was the wedding I really wanted, and even if it took a downpour to get it, I got it and I couldn't have been happier! Corey and I were almost the last people to leave our own wedding and we spent the last moments of the night drinking a glass of champagne with the Weir family. It truly was a beautiful day and I wouldn't have done it any different. In the end, I was married to my very best friend and now we are blessed to begin doing life together. I am excited to learn how to be the best wife I can to support my husband. I am so happy to be with him and cannot wait for all that we are able to do together! So here are a few more pictures for you to enjoy! I hope you have been blessed by our wedding and that through our love you have seen the love of Christ! We live to model who He is and it is our prayer that how we love each other would be an example of how God loves the world.
© Photography by Kayce Shoffner
- Sarah Robert
