Many brides say their wedding day flew by too fast—the I do’s melted in with the receiving line, the first dance quickly faded into the final song of the night and in an instant, the months of emailing and coordinating, praying and dreaming were over as quickly as it took to say “yes” during the proposal.
Looking back on our wedding day, I can still feel the ribbon around my bouquet, the delicate beading on the bodice of my wedding dress and the cool metal surrounding my new husband’s ring finger signifying our union. I can see the joy in our parents’ faces, the bubbling champagne glasses raised high and the warm smiles as we swayed to “Love Never Fails” for our first dance.
I was thoroughly calm and completely present, relishing in the indescribable feeling of being a bride. I felt more complete than ever in my life, brimming with joy, and as I walked purposely down the aisle on my father’s arm toward my groom, I felt like my rhinestone peep toe heels never touched the aisle.
Dreams really do come true.
Immersed in a culture feasting on the glamour of weddings, my CatholicMatch husband, George, and I prepared for a marriage that would last a lifetime. We let the simplicity and the power of the Catholic wedding Mass flow through us and our guests calling us all to love deeper and give of ourselves to one another. We showed reverence for our faith in front of more than 200 guests from all religious backgrounds as we said “I do” to each other and to God.
And we were excited. Countless people commented on our genuine excitement to start our lives together, and I consider our pre-wedding choices—not co-habitating, learning Natural Family Planning and focusing on the sacrament—as the true reason why our guests saw something else in George and me that day. Our excitement came from years of walking the broken road of relationships yet keeping our eyes focused on God’s master plan, which was far better than what we could have dreamed for ourselves.
That’s why the CatholicMatch Institute is so important—our culture needs the tools, the resources and the encouragement to build the foundation for successful marriages. We need a community to support us as we navigate the dating scene and discern each of our vocations. In a society filled with broken homes and relationships, we need a resurgence of life-giving, fun, loving marriages and that begins with each of us.
“Marriage is a school of gratitude, in which husband and wife are thankful for the gift of each other. They express their joyous gratitude in giving themselves completely to each other.”
- A Pastoral Letter by the Catholic Bishops of the United States
When George and I returned from our honeymoon—glowing from the Aruban sun and newlywed bliss—we began a new life together in the fullest sense. We registered as parishioners at a nearby Catholic community, waited diligently at the Social Security office to change my last name and humbly filled the cabinets and rooms in our new home with wedding gifts.
The excitement around our big day carried on beyond our wedding because we had prepared for a life, not for a day. I always knew I wanted the white dress, the photographer and the decadent cake, but I truly longed for the day after my wedding when I would become a wife, a best friend to my new husband and a strong, loving partner ready to create a faith-filled family. And that’s what I’ll strive to be every single day from now on, using my gifts and becoming the wife and future mother that God calls me to be.
Whether you are single, engaged or married, you can share in the excitement about the gift that God has given us through the sacrament of marriage. Discern. Pray. Grow. Learn. And most importantly, actively prepare with joyful anticipation for the one God has prepared for you.
Now that’s exciting.
Photo credit: Michelle Huber Photography
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