Today I had the pleasure of shooting one of the most wonderful weddings I have ever shot. It is an incredible story of love and redemption, one of the coolest I have ever heard.  This story is about Houston and Whitney who have been together since she was 17 years old.

A few months ago, Whitney drove past Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Powdersville SC and saw that the church offered free counseling. She called and started meeting with a counselor Connie Styles and began visiting the church. She felt God moving in her heart. She brought Houston with her as well, and he felt God moving in his heart. The Pastor, Johnny Touchet, met with the both of them and shared the gospel with them. Shared with them how Jesus came to earth, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose on the third day…all so that anyone who would believe would be saved. Being saved means that you repent of your sins and that the spirit of God comes into your heart and changes you. Houston and Whitney both knew in their hearts that they needed this change; they needed Jesus. They became believers that very night!  After Houston accepted Jesus as his savior, he wanted to do two things: 1. Be baptized 2. Marry Whitney.  Over the past few months there was a dramatic change in both of their lives. They found that the holy spirit in their lives gave them the ability to love the other with a greater deeper love than they had experienced in almost a decade of being together.

They decided to be baptized and married on the same day. They also decided not to tell many people about the wedding (SURPRISE WEDDING!!!!). This morning Whitney and Houston were baptized by the same pastor that lead them to Christ. It was a beautiful service as the churched played a video of Whitney sharing her testimony and then their baptism. They were both too excited to contain their excitement, and they never stopped smiling.  After the baptism, Whitney went to the bridal room where Nicki Freeman and Molly Rigdon quickly did her makeup and her hair. They were incredibly efficient and transformed Whitney into a beautiful bride. They helped her into her dress with a few minutes to spare.

At the end of the service, Pastor Touchet brought Houston to the front of the church. Told him how much he loved him, and told the church of Houston’s desire to be baptized… AND MARRIED. Then Anna Hood and Emma Shirley began to play music, which signaled the most adorable children to walk down the aisle with baskets of rose petals. Most people did not know there was going to be a wedding, and everyone was so excited as Whitney walked in on the arm of her big brother, Steven.

Everyone was standing and Houston was unable to see his bride, so Pastor Touchet brought him to the side so he could see her. The look on his face as he tried and then failed to hold back the tears was so moving. He was so happy to finally have the girl he loved more deeply than ever walking towards him. The both of them were all smiles as they vowed to love and respect each other for the rest of their lives. As Whitney says, “no take backs.

I am crying as I write this story because it is just so beautiful how much Jesus loves his people, and how a marriage is the representation of Jesus being the groom who loves his bride the church. One day He will come back for his church, and we will be filled with joy like a bride on her wedding day. Today was a beautiful reminder of why God created marriage. I am so thankful to have been part of this wedding and thrilled for Whitney and Houston as they start the rest of their lives as man and wife!