Sitting at his wooden Ikea table, I felt overwhelmed by the impossibility of planning the wedding of my dreams with the budget of my nightmares. Matt worked on Excel spreadsheets while organizing our funds and creating reception options. I—on the other hand—sat with my head in my hands and wondered how on earth we would throw a wedding together with nothing more than two nickels and a wish.
He worked for a church, I worked for a church, and neither of us were trust fund babies. Basically, we knew this was going to be an adventure. While Matthew clicked on the keys of his laptop, I grabbed my journal and began jotting down words, cutting out magazine clippings, and writing out prayers. My mother instilled in her children the belief that God, creator of the universe, galaxy, and atmosphere, also cared about our dreams, wishes, and desires. Quick to remember the echo of my mother in the recesses of my mind, I documented the audacious goals of what I wanted for my wedding day.
- A fun party
- Unique venue
- Amazing food
- Gorgeous flowers
- Signature details
The laundry list continued on from the type of shoes I wanted to wear to the style I wanted for each chair. The list filled the entire page with two columns of bullet-pointed details. The final item on the list was something I couldn’t write down for almost two weeks. I read about girls whose aim was solely to get their wedding published in a magazine, but I couldn’t bring myself to believe that our pithy budget and calculated expenditures would even allow something of that nature to occur.
As the months passed by, I began finding the perfect vendors to make my dreams come true. I prayed for favor and blessing to be poured upon them because I knew they did Matt and I a favor by taking on our midweek vineyard wedding… and I knew a published wedding would do just that. I grabbed my journal and scribbled GET PUBLISHED on the lined pages.
The week after my wedding I grabbed a red pen and wrote in the margin of the lined pages each and every prayer that had been answered. From Jacky and I creating unique fans, to Louboutin shoes, to amazing food, and a photo booth, each request had been answered. Except one.
Most published weddings have lavish details and budgets quadruple the amount Matt typed into our Excel spreadsheet. BUT GOD! Mom always said, Keep your eyes focused on the BUT GOD sections of scripture. Whenever impossibilities seemed to linger, the phrase but God proved to be greater than statistics, more powerful than odds, and more blessed than riches.
Today—two years after our wedding—I get to write in the margin of my journal that God answered every single insignificant detail and request for our wedding. I’m so excited to share that our wedding was published in Great Britain’s Wedding Magazine in a glossy four page spread! Gaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!
Special thanks to my wombmate and BFF Jasmine* for documenting this day and allowing my dreams to come true.
To Jacqueline [flowers], Angel [planning], Jeni [rentals], Stephanie [photography], and Chef Bradley Ogden [food], thanks for making my dreams to come!
I’m not asking in a sarcastic way at all or demeaning way, but why is it so important to be published in a magazine? Or, why does it mean so much to you? Once again, asking in a non-judgemental way, just curious! 🙂
ps…you da bomb. xxo
No offense taken 🙂 I totally understand the questioning as well… it wasn’t until I started planning my wedding that I learned about this. However, for Matt and I it had to do more with exposure for our vendors. Our vendors did above and beyond for us and this exposure is like free marketing. More people will learn about this because only well done weddings get published. I just hope they book lots and lots of more weddings because of the photos 🙂 XO
So excited for you!!! God always wants us to have our dreams come true and your faith in him showed that!!!
Always be true to who you are.
Loveyaalots
It definitely looked like a high-end affair. The pictures are beautiful!
How exciting congrats! I believe I saw photos of your day on Jasmine’s blog before! Beautiful!
That is wonderful! I remember looking at the photos when your sis posted them on her blog – so beautiful!
Awww Bianca, you made me tear up. I’m so happy for you and Matt and the kiddos **AND** for getting published!
You said womb-mate. That is all I can focus on.
Beautiful photos. And a great anniversary present! I’m going to have to come up with a very creative reason to justify to my husband why I’m buying a wedding magazine 5 years after we tied the knot! X
*Raising a (imaginary) glass of apple cider*: Here’s to a dream come true! 🙂
Love it when God answers prayers!
Your story is very true to Jeremiah 29:11! 🙂
Congrats to you and Matt! 🙂
Love you.
That’s a great story Bianca!! What a blessing! I am in the same exact boat as you were with the whole “2 nickel budget” thing. Gosh, I feel like I might as well forget about a wedding and just go to city hall. But I know my boyfriend wants a big wedding. He doesn’t even have the money to buy me a ring to propose properly. Our budget is that sorry. I am in constant prayer and ask God if it’s His will then please bless our finances to allow us to have a wedding and be married.
So happy to hear that someone like you was in the same position I was in and ended up having the wedding of her dreams. God bless. =)
Thank you for your encouragement, and reminding me God cares for the desires of our hearts.. We wanted to renew our vows for us.. God showed us 2 cor 5:17 therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.. He showed us that for our marriage as well, our marriage is new and the old things have passed away… With our small budget and daughter going to college next year we didn’t think it was possible… I feel God is giving us the go, but my budget tells me no.. I feel this was for me thank you for pouring your heart out on this blog..
Oh my gosh, you just encouraged my soul more than you know!
How cool!
“But God”. Love it!
God does want to give Good Gifts to His children. He does want to BLESS us above and beyond “just our needs”.
After nearly 2 years of off and on unemployment for my husband, we could hardly even dream of any type of vacation to celebrate our 30th Anniversary. I thought a nice dinner out would “call it good”. But. No. We are leaving in 2 weeks for an 8 day trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico . . . . staying in a Restored Spanish Villa a block from the beach. Yes. We. Are. ” . . . but God.”
What fun to have your wedding published. Even if not for the free marketing for the vendors . . . God did it to BLESS YOU. YOU alone are worth it.
Hugs, my friend.
Mama D. 🙂
I so want to believe your statement that God cares about our dreams, wishes and desires…I ache deep inside to believe that…
Thank you for real, live evidence that this can happen…
The photos and wedding are awesome…
C
Hi B,
I have a very special prayer request. I am facing an impossible situation. I want to get a an M.A. in Occupational Therapy.
I want: A+s in every single prerequisite class (5 total), I want to get into Texas Tech’s program, I want a nice/safe apartment in Texas to share with women who love Jesus, and I want to be the hands and feet of Jesus and to walk in the good works that my precious Jesus has for me. I want people to come to know Jesus through this experience and I want my job as an OT to be blessed and used by Jesus on a daily basis.
Please pray for me. I need Jesus to do the impossible.
Thank you.
-Ana
This all seems so superficial. It teaches women to have unreal expectations of Men. So what if you don’t have a big or luxurious wedding or if you’re can’t afford a big ring. None of those things will matter during the ups and downs of a marriage. It’s the Love that each have for God first and their spouses second that will determine the success of thier marriage. Yes God can and will bless but then what do you say to all those Christians in other countires that are being persecuted for their faith? There are christians that are being killed and beaten and jailed for their faith. Yes God wil give us the desires of heart as long as they align with his will for our lives and not our dreams of grandeur. I think Christians in other countries that are worried about their lives would look at this and greive for the superficiality that American Christianity has become. It is not wise for women to pur burdens on their fiance’s with all these extravagant requests when the economy is in the gutter. Let’s be good stewards of our money and not wasteful for earthly things.
These stories always inspire me to trust more. I so thank you for that, and I’m glad your prayers were realized 🙂
It’s like a little kiss from heaven and a reminder that God sees you. Plus it’s SO FUN!!! Always knew you belonged in a magazine. A real life princess, you are. Thanks for sharing!!
This is beautiful news! Thank you for sharing that no matter what the idea or dream that lingers in our minds, to write it down…and placing “but God” at the end of each thought.
This has taught me a lesson and has reminded me to keep God as the focus. 🙂
The pictures of your wedding day are absolutely STUNNING! It was beautifully done! So happy that your prayer request came to pass. God is amazing and His time is always perfect! Much love. Scarleth (:
Oooh, nooo! Now you’re going to be one of those people in magazine I hate for getting to have the perfect wedding and being all beautiful and happy. The worst part? No airbrushing! I am a green-eyed monster and my name is envy!
Just kidding, praise God you got to have such an amazing wedding! 😉 Oh you Americans and your extravagance!
Thank you for your heart. I always read your blog I try not to miss one. I remember when you wrote this post in September. Since that day I started praying psalm 37:4 and for every detail as you did. I told God I will wait on Him if it happens thank you Lord and if it does not thank you Lord. Well about two weeks ago with prayer and God providing we decided to move forward with our renewal of vows. He has answered my prayers by providing many of the request on my list some I am still waiting. Truly He cares for the desires of our hearts. Again you touch, encourage people more than you know. I am sure you will get a huge crown in heaven. Thank you for your transparency and love you share with your readers.
Much love, Jessy! Thanks for your comment 🙂