The first substantial snowfall of the year hit Minneapolis recently, transforming the city into a winter wonderland. As tufts of white showered down outside my window, I accepted the reality of my snowbound status and channel surfed, finally settling on a two-hour TLC special featuring Mario Lopez’s wedding to actress Courtney Mazza.
I watched as the couple executed an over-the-top event complete with a picturesque oceanfront venue in Punta Mita, Mexico, two designer wedding gowns, an elegant cake made by, "Cake Boss" Buddy Valastro and a full mariachi band.
The lavish affair was in stark contrast to the wedding I attended the night before—an intimate winter wedding featuring a bride and groom who only had the word “simple” on their minds when pulling together the details of their big day. The raw emotion and overpowering love that was displayed in the ceremony, however, was anything but simple. As the minister spoke of abiding in each other and abiding in God’s love, the guests in that university chapel were not admiring the decorations—they were letting those powerful words resonate through that special moment in time.
It’s no secret that I love weddings, but my love for weddings goes beyond the grandeur of a once in a lifetime event. I love love—the tangible, Christ-centered love that I see in couples as they approach the altar, profess vows to each other and God and then walk down the aisle as husband and wife. Even though it may not be considered TV worthy, real love was what was front and center on Saturday night.
I’m sure I’ll be watching next Sunday night as former “Bachelorette” Ashley Hebert says “I do” to J.P. Rosenbaum on their own TV special, but amidst the glitz and glamour of a network-funded event, I’ll be thinking of that simple wedding last weekend where abiding love was the main feature. Isn’t that, after all, what it’s all about?
Former “Bachelor” contestant Molly Mesnick married “Bachelor” Jason Mesnick in a beautiful ceremony later televised on ABC. Click here to read about her journey.
