Natalie, thank you so much for taking the time to join us on the blog today! Digging right into the details of your gorgeous wedding, how would you describe your wedding decor theme?
Since I was a little girl I’ve always been fascinated with things of the past: the days of simplicity, the days of old, when people dressed up to go to the grocery store. Of course, this old soul naturally brought that into her wedding almost without even realizing it.
Though we got married in the church my parents pastor in Renton, WA, DJ and I took our photos at the Fairmont Hotel in Downtown Seattle. This hotel was built in 1924 and still has its original look and character. I was a teenager the first time I saw the lobby of this beautiful hotel and fell in love with it. I felt like I had been carried off to the 1920s. With the classic style of my dress, I knew pictures there would turn out beautifully!
From my bridesmaids’ dresses to the décor of the sanctuary and reception hall, it definitely reflected my style and my and my husband’s personality. If I had to define the style of our wedding in a few words, I would say it was a wedding where past met present.
What are some of your favorite or most special memories from your wedding day?
One special memory would be my and DJ’s prayer for each other before the ceremony. We wanted the first time we saw each other to be when I walked down the aisle. Still wanting a time of prayer together before it all began, we found our solution in a doorway. During that time, DJ gave me a handkerchief he’d had since Bible school that he prayed for every day that he would give to his future wife.
Another special memory was my final moment with my parents before the ceremony. I had made them handkerchiefs with special notes on them thanking them for who they were in my life and how they shaped me to meet the man that they had prayed for. It was a perfect last moment together as we just sat and cried together before the wonderful new season of my life began. It was very emotional, but words cannot describe the special moment we experienced.
Last but not least and one of my favorites, was during the ceremony. I wanted my husband-to-be, DJ, to be prayed over by our pastor, Bro. Darrell Johns, as the new priest of our family. In turn, DJ would then pray over me as his new wife and help meet. It was another beautiful moment, and it incorporated what a marriage and family look like when perfectly aligned to God’s Word and purpose.
Were there any funny moments or things that didn’t go according to plan?
Well, my niece Lilly of course stole the show from the beginning with her cuteness, but one thing that was absolutely hilarious and completely unplanned was our send-off. I wanted something unique and fun to send us off with. I used thin glow sticks, and oh, did all our guests have fun with them! By the time we got down the stairs, some of the people started throwing the sticks over at us like confetti or rice. Thankfully, it was all in fun and completely painless, but definitely something that threw me off and definitely wasn’t part of the plan. It also turned into one of our fondest memories as DJ picked them up and threw them back at people.
How did you find the perfect wedding dress?
It was somewhat of a long, stressful process at first. Due to circumstances such as being long-distance, me finishing my last semester at Indiana Bible College, and our hypothetical wedding date being close to September, I secretly got my dress before he proposed. After a failed dress search in Indianapolis, I flew home for a mere 36 hours to try this modest boutique back in Seattle. This boutique was in a lady’s home—quaint, but very successful! The very first dress I tried on was the one. It was perfect, as well as an excellent price.
We got connected to my seamstress through that dress shop so I could have all my alterations done to my dress and veil by someone who had done many modest gowns before. My mom and I were so pleased with her, as she did an absolutely amazing job. God really blessed us with that whole dress experience, especially only being available to go dress-shopping a couple times before May hit! I was so thankful it all worked out!
Any advice you have for future brides?
Get a good wedding coordinator/planner, even if you’re Superwoman and incredibly organized; it’s a lot to think about and create. Having someone that you trust and is organized saves you so much time and stress, especially the last few weeks leading up to the wedding.
I’m thankful for Krysten Dauenhauer, who thought of things I didn’t even think about so that the wedding and ceremony would be as smooth and easy as possible. Don’t try to do it all on your own. Letting others help will let you two enjoy your big day as much as possible. Sometimes it’s hard to delegate when you’ve been dreaming of this day for years, but find someone you work well with and who is able to execute your vision. Trust me, it’s worth it.
Anything else in particular you’d like to share about your wedding or your love story?
Our wedding day was truly a dream come true. And it can be for you—even if your ceremony arch didn’t turn out exactly the way it looked on Pinterest.
Seriously though, if you’re engaged or about to be engaged, I want to encourage you that when God’s hand is in it, He will send little handfuls of blessings throughout the whole process.
For example — the way I found my beautiful, modest wedding gown for so cheap and with the crazy time constraint, how my amazing florist went above and beyond what we paid for, and all the willing and helpful hands we had. When I look back, I can’t help but smile. All the little things He blessed us with showed me that God cares about the details of your life, big or small. He truly loves giving you the desires of your heart, so don’t let the stress of planning a wedding overwhelm you or drown the joy of the process out of you—He’s got you. I’ve seen it time and time again as other girls have shared the blessings God has shown them through their wedding process. He’s faithful, and He will pop up when you least expect it — financially, emotionally, or in the planning of it all. Remember, He’s in the details.
Thanks again for your time today, Natalie! One more thing before we go: We’d love to know who did your beautiful photography.
My photographer was Mark Gauthier. He did an absolutely amazing job on our wedding day. My sister used him for her engagement photos, and I also used him for my graduation photos in high school. He’s based out of the Seattle area and actually is out of an Apostolic church in the area as well. He’s done so many weddings, and every time, his photos turn out amazing. Find him at http://www.markgauthierphotography.com