My Wedding Day

As I write this post, I have officially been married for one month and one day! I’m obviously still a baby wife at this point, but I must say marriage is SO good! I highly recommend it!

As I think back to my wedding day, my mind is surrounded by the very happiest memories. Sometimes, I want to do it all over again because it was so beautiful. Other times, I’m happy I’m on the other side of the wedding, and love looking back at the pictures of our special day and reminiscing.

My husband, Colton, is from Arizona, so the week before the wedding was not only spent in preparing for the big day, but welcoming all the dear people that I can now call my family.  This was followed by a cocktail party where our families officially got to meet each other! The next day was the rehearsal dinner, which was so lovely amidst the bedlam of decorating and unorganized organizing 😉

The morning of the wedding, I woke up feeling refreshed and well rested. It turns out that everyone else was feeling great too! Only my dad was excluded from this, as he was so worried about me sleeping!

My sisters and I gathered our dresses and wedding essentials together and arrived at the venue around 930am.

My sister, Carissa, had offered to do my makeup and she did a beautiful job!  I also have to thank my photographer, Dakota, who stepped in at the last minute to help me with my lashes!

Three of my bridesmaids were my sisters, Carissa, Christina and Charlotte, and my cousin, Kimberly. Hannah, one of my best friends, was the only bridesmaid not related to me. It was because of Hannah that we all got through the wedding day, as she brought us all our favorite coffees that morning! Three cheers for you, Hannah!

Colton’s and my first look was scheduled at 11am. I think it was probably around 12 by the time we were all dressed and ready to get things started! (I’m talking about the girls, here.. wink) If I had been feeling a little nervous this morning, I was way more nervous now!

Dakota has chosen for our first look to be out on the lawn in front of the lake. It was a warm July day, and my dress was at least 6 separate layers of puff, so we were glad for the shade trees.

Colton was shaking like a leaf when I walked up to him. I’ll never forget the stunned look on his face when he saw me. It was such a special moment! He probably stood there for about 2 full minutes before he asked Dakota, “Can I hug her?”

 

I LOVE HIM SO MUCH.

We all had a wonderful time taking family photos together! I am so overwhelmed with how blessed I am to be joining such an amazing family!

And, EVERYONE LOOKED SO DAPPER!

Its been a dream of mine since I was a little girl to have a rainbow wedding. Once I got engaged, I figured the rainbow theme was perhaps a bad idea. My mom talked me back into doing it, and I’m so glad I did. Having multiple colors is SO ME, and honestly very expressive of both of our personalities.

 

Hold on a minute…

Okay, yes, for anyone wondering, those guys up there are just as silly as they look. If not, total goofs! They were so fun to have in our wedding party! (Understatement)

It was now time to go back into hiding until the ceremony started! Me and my girls went back to our lodge, and the guys went back to theirs.

When discussing our ceremony with my dad, we decided we wanted to make it clear that this wedding was for Jesus. We wanted everything we did through the wedding to honor and bring glory to His name. We also wanted the guests to come away having been in the presence of Jesus. And, it was just that! God totally rained down on our day, and especially our ceremony.

The ceremony seemed to fly by. Before we knew it, WE WERE MARRIED!

AHHHHHHHHHH!!!

 

WE. WERE. SO. HAPPY.

Yes, Colton, sorry to drown you in my dress, but we have to look like we like each other! *Giggles

Some rambunctious dancing was to follow and I was so pleased to see all the guests get into it!! Virginia Reel, anybody?

Our first dance song was, “When God Made You” by Newsong. I am still in awe of how perfectly we are made for each other!

And….here is a picture of our lovely cake, just because. CAKE. YES. (And, praise the Lord, it did NOT melt!)

Carissa told me later that our daddy-daughter dance was one of the highlights of the wedding. We danced to “When We’re Together” by Mark Harris. (Played in the movie Courageous) It’s an upbeat song compared to our first dance, and dad had me twirling all over the place. And, I was also told that part of my family in the corner of the room were holding up signs rating my twirls!

We were smiling ALL DAY! I didn’t want the party to ever stop!

We left the wedding amidst a huge cloud of bubbles!!!

I am so thankful to all my friends and family who gave and gave so we could have the wedding of our dreams!

PC: Dakota Nicole Photography

 

 

 

Who am I?

 

Featuring “The Travel Skirt”

---

It has been awhile since my last blog post, so I decided to pop in and give a life update and share some of the things that God has been teaching me! This quarter is college has been a challenge as I adjust to new things, more specifically, that of being married! It has been such a good season for growth in all areas of my life.

The biggest challenge I have wrestled with lately is that of identity. Here I am, a newly married woman, and suddenly my world feels complete. So, I begin to rely on my husband for everything. Emotional support, companionship, and constant assurance that “I am okay.” (pretty enough, smart enough,  good enough, etc!) As healthy as it is to have a good relationship with your hubby, and working on that every day, he cannot be your LIFE.

I think sometimes I thought that if I could just get married, my problems would be solved. I wouldn’t struggle with self image or be worried about my future as long as I solidified my life by getting married. But I tell you, it couldn’t be more far from the truth!

(Let me interrupt real quick to say….marriage is the best thing. The most joyful blessed gift that the Lord has given me was my husband, and I am so thankful for him!)

But marriage isn’t everything. It isn’t the ticket to true happiness and contentment.

Now that things in my life have been set, I truly have to know and be who I am. My husband cannot define me. He is not my source of life. And as much as I expect from him and try to put him before anything else, I will still not be satisfied.

Was I good enough? What was my worth? Why am I struggling with this more NOW than ever before?

I think all girls have struggled with these questions at some point! We need verification. We need to know that we are going to be okay. We need to know what our true worth is. What is our identity? What do we rest in?

And you know what? You don’t find the answers in yourself. You can’t decide one day to “find your inner happiness”. Not even your best friends or loved ones will make you feel valued like the One who made you.

I was sitting in a sermon at church a few weeks ago and the pastor started to preach on identity. It was a simple message, yet SO POWERFUL and important for me in that moment. It was the answer to the question I had been asking for so long. Why do I feel of such little value?

Friends, if we don’t purpose to make Jesus as Lord of our life each and every day, we can’t hope to find fullness of joy. Jesus brings joy and peace that you will find in no other situation. Yes, He is and always will be the answer to heal our tumultuous spirits and confused hearts. We need to make Him our identity. He encompasses all that our souls desire. He fills the hole that no one else can fill.

But you can’t just know that and move on with your life. You have to open the Bible and commune with Him every day, because the devil will try to tear you down more and more the longer you wait. You have to be WITH Jesus to win this battle! You have to be living in His truth!

But that’s the best part! With Him, we DO WIN. And, its AMAZING. God is SO GOOD.

He promises joy: Psalm 16:11 – You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

He promises peace:  Philippians 4:7 – And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

He promises to take away your shame: Psalm 34:4-5 I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.

He says you are beautiful: Ephesians 2:10 – For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

He loves you: Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved.

He will never leave you: Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

He’s always there for you: Peter 5:7 “Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you.”

---

Being able to rest in God has greatly changed the way I see myself. If I allow myself to be defined not by fear, but by the power of God, I am truly COMPLETE.

He can never fail me, so my faith is assured.

Praise God for loving us and being our true identity!!!