I walked out in a dress I didn't buy, to a wedding banquet I did not plan, and married the man I deeply loved. My Cinderella moment, a dream come true!
Would you be willing to have a surprise wedding on a date you didn't even know? We're not talking about proposal. We're talking the actual WEDDING! We've NEVER heard of a couple's story so crazy as the one of Ryan and Sarah. Check out their highlight video retelling their veeeeery unique journey into marriage...
(Radiant [Film & Photo] had the honor of capturing their wedding reception, which took place a couple months after their surprise wedding!)
Insane, right?! Wow. We were literally jaw dropped hearing their story when we first met this incredible couple. And there's even more to the story!
I asked Sarah when she knew that Ryan was "the one"...
I think a part of me knew early on when we first met and were becoming friends, but my eagerness needed to be tempered by time, patience, and waiting. We remained just friends, and I thought that would be the extent of our story. So when Ryan came to me four years later and asked to pursue me, I was shocked!
Cinderella was my favorite Disney movie growing up, and the 2015 remake used to make me cry every time. Hang with me here. Cinderella's transformation from an invisible, lowly servant girl to the desire of the prince's heart spoke so deeply to me as a woman.
I think God created us with a desire to be seen in our lowest, darkest places and to be loved from there. But I also think that movie spoke to me because it was to be my story in a very real way!
Ryan and I desired to have a surprise wedding as a display of Christ's return for His Bride, the Church, on a day and hour only the Father knows. As representation of the Bride, I could not know my own wedding date, much less plan for the wedding!
Here's how it came together: One of my closest friends (and former roommate!) saw pictures of the dress and shoes I imagined myself wearing on my wedding day, and she secretly ordered them online. Ryan planned everything with the help of our close friends, who decorated, planned, and coordinated to bring together a dream wedding.
So the evening that Ryan announced, "Guess what! We're getting married!" everything was already in place. My dress and shoes fit perfectly. My hair and makeup were done earlier in the day for our "engagement photos", and our friends had arranged for cake, flowers, candles, and the most beautiful chuppah. I walked out in a dress I didn't buy, to a wedding banquet I did not plan, and married the man I deeply loved. My Cinderella moment, a dream come true!
Don't despise the "little things" God asks you to do as you wait. There is an acceleration into marriage that is wonderful and difficult at the same time. Looking back, I can see how all those "little things" were preparing my heart for the acceleration and transition into marriage in very practical and purposed ways.
Venue: The Majestic Metro
Planner: Chardae Renee
Cake: Moeller’s Bakery
Desserts: Macarons by Patisse || Tiny’s Milk & Cookies
Catering: Nette’s Cravings
Bar: P’s & Q’s
Rentals: Any Occasions
We'd love to hear your love story!
If you're still on the search for a wedding photographer or videographer in the Houston area, we would love to be considered! Feel free to check out our wedding packages, submit an inquiry, and we can go from there!
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