Kyle, TX

Emily and Austin first met in a Facebook group. They were both children's pastors at the time, and Austin (from his home in Georgia) posted a question in the group that Emily replied to inviting Austin to reach out if he had more questions in a private message. Austin kept the conversation going and realized that he wanted to get to know Emily more. They eventually began talking on the phone and then one Spirit Airlines trip from Georgia later, they met in person. As Emily says in her letter, "I think about how God was making you and knitting you together knowing full well that our paths would cross and we would fall in love and get married." Distance couldn't keep these two apart.

We first met Emily at another wedding we filmed in October of 2020. She was the officiant. I remember her deep and thoughtful message, her intentional cadence and how much she knew and cared for the couple who were getting married that day. Fast forward almost a year, and we are back at another wedding with Emily as the photographers and videographers. Only this time, she is the bride and the one getting married.

Their wedding day was bright, warm and full of laughter. Emily and Austin's close family friends were integral to the day, sponsoring different portions of the celebrations and offering their help in arranging and setting things up. It was one of those days where everyone involved knew everyone involved. A deep love of the Gospel and the greater context of Christian marriage permeated their wedding ceremony, and the sounds of celebration resounded late into the night, including the familiar sounds of a mariachi band serenading the couple during dinner.

Austin and Emily opted not to do a first look before the ceremony, so the first time Austin was seeing his bride that day was when she walked across the bridge, down the stone aisle toward him, standing at the altar. The song, “Holy (Wedding Day)” by The City Harmonic swelled and Austin was overcome with emotion as he smiled and cried. Emily choked back tears through her returned smile alongside her father as she walked closer and closer toward her groom. It was a beautiful moment where time seemed to slow.