Our Wedding – Ceremony

I feel weepy just thinking about our wedding ceremony. I think often this part of a wedding day is overlooked and seen as just something to get over with, and quite frankly that makes me really sad. This is the reason the day exists, the joining of a man and woman under God. We wanted our ceremony to be a worshipful celebration. It is a monumental service and we wanted it to feel that way.

We know that a marriage based on grace is not possible without the grace that comes from Christ. That is the same grace that greets us each December as we celebrate Advent and Christmas day. With our wedding being the Friday before Christmas we couldn’t imagine anything else but celebrating the season of Advent as well as the beginning of a new season spiritually and relationally.

Our bridal party came down the aisle to Celtic Carol by Lindsey Sterling. A beautiful soft rendition done by the talented piano and violins skills of friends. I loved the gentle intensity and mix of carols. Can you even handle how cute they are?

We sent 15 (the ones that were walking) of our 21 nieces and nephews down the aisle to a beautiful piano rendition of one of my favorite songs – Once Upon a December from Anastasia! I could listen to it all day.

This is one of my favorite pictures. My dad carried my high heels for me up until the back of the church so that my feet wouldn’t hurt. Right before I walked down the aisle he slid them on me. My dad raised 4 girls. He knows how to win our hearts. I think I kept a death grip on his arm the entire time we were in the back to calm my nerves.

As soon as the doors opened my eyes went right to Dan. That grin that makes me melt day in and day out. The grin that I imagine our hypothetical future boys having. The grin that makes me feel instantly at ease was waiting right there for me.

Throughout the ceremony I held tighter and tighter to Dan’s arm and I’m pretty sure I looked over to him about every 5 seconds.

While we lit our unity candle my sister Audrey and best friend Kirsten sang “Noel” by Lauren Daigle. We had another song planned but at our last rehearsal our pianist said “I heard this song on the way here…”. We listened to it on YouTube and as soon as I heard the words “come and see what God has done” I wept. I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect song.

These pictures make me so happy!!!

I threw on my hunter boots, scarf and gloves and we excited the church as our guests threw fake snow. It was the winter wonderland I had always dreamed of! After a perfectly clear sky all day, there were even a few snowflakes falling as we excited.

Next week…Reception!