Our imperfectly Perfect Wedding Story

December 7, 2018

Daniel proposed!

And.... the wedding planning began!

**Side note: one thing I've grown to realize about myself is 1) I love to be organized.... and 2) I love making plans. I am typically not a person who procrastinates. I like to be ahead of the game. I'm the task is already done before you even ask me to do it type... so with weddings, I knew how hectic they can become... so logically I decided... let's start early and get all of it done so no last-minute stress!

We visited wedding venues, food tastings, wedding cake tastings, figuring out the theme, colors, guest list, rehearsal guest list, honeymoon, bridal party, groom party, wedding dress, bridesmaid dresses, groomsmen tuxes, wedding schedule! (all you girls know what I'm talking about!)

Everything was going great! 200+ guest list . . . check! Venue . . . check! Food catering . . . check! Cake . . . check! Dresses and tuxes . . . check! DJ . . . check!

Everything was done by 2019! no stress, no procrastination, no worries!

Then. . .

BREAKING NEWS:

COVID -19

March 30th, 2020

We were notified that the venue was not allowing more than 10 people due to the Virginia stay-home order.

Frustrated. Devastated. Heartbroken.

Two months until May 30th.

Had no idea what to do. Start from scratch? Only have a 10 person wedding? Cancel the wedding?

With lots of tears and a lot more frustration. . . we decided to continue to move forward and have the wedding. We had a small sentimental wedding at Daniel's parent's pool. My brother who is a pastor officiated the wedding, Daniel's mother and son-in-law sang for our first dance. . and it was -

absolutely perfect!

We had our family, friends, and saved lots of $$$$

At the time. . . we did not realize how much more our wedding would mean to us having it so different from your traditional weddings at a venue, looking back now, everything was perfect.

The situation was definitely not ideal. imperfect. For sure.

But, it was perfect all at the same time. Everything was perfect.

How many times do we row through life, thank the Lord for providing, coming in clutch this time, and move on?

we are made for so much more than that. We aren't called to row through life.

We are called to grow through it ~

To learn from our mistakes and trials > growing to trust our father more in the next trial > less doubt in the next trial > less fear in the next trial > less questioning his goodness in the next trial

From holding our mustard seed in our hands ----- > to putting it in the dirt, watering it, fertilizing it, and watching it grow from a tiny mustard seed to a huge tree!

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”

Mathew 13:31-32

Our trials and triumphs are stepping stones in growing in our faith

When we overcome an obstacle our lack of faith and trust in that trial should gear us in preparing for our next trial, "He helped me through it last time, I know he can do it again". That's how you grow in faith.

Friends, that's how we grow to where our trust is without borders!

After our wedding, I learned. I learned that I needed to worry less and trust more. I learned that I need to let go and let God more. I learned that he is in front of us before we even go through it more.

See. . . I knew it, but I didn't fully understand what I knew until I learned, embraced, and sought to put what I knew into practice. [read again: tongue twister]

For when the next battle came. . . (future story!)

I looked back and reminded myself "he brought me through that... I know he will guide me through this next one too!"

{ Let's grow together in Christ }