People ask you a thousand questions, you make a thousand more phone calls, and make even more decisions. What color dresses? What flavor cake? Who do you invite? Heels? Flats? Long veil? No veil?
Can anyone blame a bride for being exhausted?!
However, there is one question I've gotten asked that will get more of an answer than, "guess you'll have to wait and see!" Zack and I have decided to take an untraditional route and get married in the grove here at Ole Miss. If you've ever been to our campus during the spring time you know exactly why someone might. It's not your typical Saturday covered in tents kind of grove. It's a peaceful place of pure beauty. A place that makes me feel at home 200 miles away. One of the questions we have gotten is "Why not in a church, why on a Sunday?" I guess that's 2 questions...doesn't matter.
Here is my answer. I just recently figured it out, by the way. :)
Let's tackle the Sunday part first. For Zack and I, marriage is not just a must do because you're in love or it's the next step kind of thing. It was created by God, for God. Our sole purpose is to use our relationship to to push each other towards our Heavenly Father and for us, as two becoming one, to bring Him the utmost glory. We want our marriage to be completely centered and focused on Him. We pray that our ceremony will be seen as what it is, a simple act of worship. (My parents would probably laugh at the use of the word simple here!) Now by all means if you get married on a Saturday I am in no way saying you are bringing God less glory. A Saturday wedding just isn't our style. It's not how we envision it. It is our act of worship and everyone has their own way of worshipping.
Now for the non-traditional setting. Yes we are members of a church here in Oxford. It's actually our rain plan. But it's not where my heart wants to be on May 18, 2014. Church is not defined by the walls in which our worshipping is held. Plain and simple. Church is the body of Christ coming together to praise the One who gives us life. For me I feel closet to God, not in Church, but in the midst of His very creation. On my wedding day I want to be in a place where I feel the most connected to His love and mercy. He takes my breath away every time I step outside. I'm overwhelmed with His presence and in complete awe when I see the world around me. On the day that I make my vows to Zack and we make our covenant with God, I want to be immersed in His creation while surrounded by the love of all of those who have encouraged, prayed, and loved us through the beginning of our life long journey. That's why we, or I at least, chose the grove.
The other day I stood in the very spot where I will say "I do," "I will," and "I love you more than I love myself." I will not only be making a promise to Zack but a promise to God saying that I will love both of them with everything I have. With Zack I will serve the One true God until my last breath. I was overcome with joy, peace, hope, and excitement. I was humbled by the thought that just over 24 years ago God sent to this Earth a man made especially for me. Someone who I can glorify my Father with.
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