Faces of the Wedding, Part 3: Funnies

Having fun Joe?


"Man, some guys with their cell phones..." (Peter and Stephen)


Caleb


Hear ye! Hear ye! (Stephen)


Talitha


"Huh, what? Why are pointing that camera at me?" (Matthew)


Carissa, what did you put in that cake?...


Mr. Vangelder


"Well, I was just trying to find the middle ground between formal and casual" (Jesse)


"You meant to do that"


"Did you say c-a-k-e?" (Josiah)


"Maybe if I can't see the camera, it can't see me..." (Jeremy)


"My little brother's such an angel, I know" (Jeremy and Matthew)


"Now you smile Anna. No, not like this..." (Anna Lynn and Jessica)


How to say "hi" Stephen-fashion

Faces of the Wedding, Part 2

Stephen


Christopher, Sarah, and Hannah


Talitha


Caitlin


Jacqueline and Priscilla


Caleb and Peter


Jessica and Daniel (no he's not that big, it's the perspective :)


Ammanda, Carissa, and Jessica


Christopher


Daniel B.


Daniel B. ;)


Peter and Stephen


The Sturtevant and Bittner girls talking with Mom


Joe


Rebecca and Sarah

I've got a lot more shots, but I don't want to cram them all in one post, so keep visiting!

Faces of the Wedding, Part 1

Having taken over 300 photos of people at the reception I have a lot to share with my readers. Children were a welcome part of the celebration, and they enjoyed every minute of it. I'll do my best to remember everybody's names, but don't expect too much (and don't laugh too hard when I do get someone wrong)... :)


Maria


Anna Lin


Heather, Jessica, and others


Josiah?


Aimee, Christianna and friends


Gabriella


Naomi?


Alainna (watching the dancing)


Felicity


Charlotte


Rebecca


Mercy


Hannah


Naomi, Hannah, Esther


Naomi


Josephina


Nathan and Jeremy




Peter


Keith


Rebecca


Zach


Keith


Christianna


Isaac


Aimee

Father and Daughter

Mother and Son

Husband and Wife

Generations

“Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments"--Deuteronomy 7:9

My first dahlia bloomed last Saturday.


How appropriate.

Scriptural Symbolism

Ever since Jonathan and Chelsea seriously began planning and preparing for their wedding day, they had a vision--admittedly one that developed and grew along the way--but they wanted the celebration to go beyond themselves and focus on their Creator. They discussed and deliberated what each element of a wedding means traditionally and what it should mean Biblically.

Their marriage was a multi-generational milestone and they knew it, so when Mr. Tuck gave away his daughter it was deeply meaningful, when the grandparents of the bride and groom lit 4 of the candles and the parents lit the two highest candles they were recognizing God's covenant to their children and their children's children. Jonathan and Chelsea then took the two candles lit by their parents and together lit a single candle to symbolize their unity in Christ--they are no longer two but one.

After the ceremony concluded, all the guests were invited to a true "wedding feast" generously hosted by the vanGelder family, where over 100 pounds of grapes adorned the tables symbolizing "the fruitful vine."


This was certainly the most self-consciously symbolic wedding I've ever been to. Scripture has a lot to say about how the marriage relationship reflects Christ and His church, and it is our role as the people of God to see that our weddings are clear and outspoken symbols of salvation.

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”--Revelation 19:7

"And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband."--Revelation 21:2

"For as a young man marries a virgin, so your sons will marry you; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so your God will rejoice over you."--Isaiah 62:5

"I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."--Isaiah 61:10

The Friends of the Bridegroom Rejoice Greatly

“He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice."--John 3:29

On Friday evening Jonathan and Chelsea invited the wedding party out to eat at the Golden Tent Mongolian grill where we enjoyed a final hurrah with friends and family before their union. I left the camera at home this time, so no pictures, but I just want to once again wish them well and thank them for their wonderful example, generosity, friendship and support throughout the years. You two are great! We have hardly stopped partying since last Monday. :)