This. Wedding.

Heather & Jack's wedding was truly one of the most joyful celebrations I have ever been to. It was so evident that God was present, & that He was glorified. 

When Heather first told me her & Jack's story, I couldn't help but cry. Sad tears, then happy tears. You see, Heather & Jack are both widows. She lost her husband to war, he lost his wife to cancer. They both had three young kids each. But their love story wasn't finished. God brought them together & helped them love again.

From their wedding program:

We believe marriage is meant to be an earthly depiction of the relationship with Jesus. The true lover of souls. Therefore the soul can have but one mate. Him.

But the heart is another story. The heart can love, break, be mended, & love again. It can grow to capacity unimaginable. 

We have tasted love & watched it die. Yet true love stories never end. They continue because they aren't about the characters in the story...but about the love itself. The Love whose origin is Heaven, sent down to earth to show us true love is.

"By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, & we ought to lay down our lives for one another..." 1 John 3:16

Thank you for joining us as we lay down our individual lives & become one. May the love of Christ fill your hearts as we rejoice with Him today. You have mourned with us, now let us rejoice as He brought joy for mourning.   

Because Heather & her family lived on the east coast & Jack's family was in Las Vegas, I didn't get to meet either of them until the wedding day. They chose Magnolia, Texas, for the wedding so that Heather's granddaddy who lived there could marry them. They joked throughout the wedding about it being a destination wedding. Heather & Jack also made sure to include their kids as much as possible throughout the wedding, especially in the ceremony. What was so precious was that these six kids truly seemed to enjoy one another. 

Heather was thrilled when she found out her florist was able to find olive branches for her wedding bouquet.

Heather & Jack opted to see each other before the ceremony so we could spend as much time as possible at the reception.

They could make each other laugh so easily which made my job easy!

Even the kids got to join in with the vows.

Heather & Jack's first dance turned into a family dance with all of the kids. So sweet!

Then began the talent show, for lack of a better word. Heather & Jack love singing & music (& are both spectacular themselves), so they had a wonderful list of friends & family lined up to perform. Every song was carefully chosen & all spoke of God's love. The highlight was when Heather & Jack sang It Is Well as a duet. If you don't know the story behind that song, go find out & understand why this had everyone in tears, including me.

Venue // Ashelynn Manor
Wedding Dress // tank & skirt by Carol Hannah, belt by Haute Bride
Bridal boutique //  Southern Protocol
Bride's Shoes // Tieks
Groom's Suit //  Hugo Boss
Bridesmaids' & Groomsmen Attire // JCrew Dresses & Suits, & Converse shoes
Rings // Byrnes Jewelers
Flowers // Gerald at Blooms; The Woodlands, Texas
Cake // Lisa Barcelona
Cake Topper // Hatch
Videography //  Matt Meade Media
Rolls Royce // Monarch Limo
Piano // Houston Piano Company
Invitations // Wedding Paper Divas