Why I do Weddings . . . the courage to “walk that aisle.”

In May of 2006 Rick and I were married. It was my dream wedding. We wed in a small white church out in the country. My bridesmaids wore periwinkle blue tea length dresses and carried one single long stem calla lily. I carried three white calla lilies, symbolic of our union with each other and God. The reception was held at my grandfather’s house, just a hop and a skip down the road from the church. It was wonderful to have all my family and my closest friends all in one place. I will never forget that day and all the hard work that went into making that day perfect.

At the time Rick and I were married I was working at a job that was a good job, but it was not the job for me. We prayed a lot during our first year of marriage about what God wanted me to do. In the spring of 2007 I quit my fulltime, good paying, great benefits job to pursue event planning full time, thus Compliments of You, LLC was formed. So what did this mean? Well, first it meant all of a sudden we had half as much money coming in; second, more money going out to pay for business expenses and third, no great work benefits. I will always look back on this time with gratefulness because of God’s faithfulness to us. God provided additional income for us through my husband by increasing his pay by almost double. WOW! God’s amazing! It was just another assurance that we were in God’s will and following the path He set for us.

It was tiring, but exciting to be running my own business. It was another lifelong dream that at age 24 I never expected to happen. The business was a little slow for the first year and a half. I did small parties and a lot of volunteer work trying to make connections. In 2008 I was approached about coordinating all the weddings at Broadmoor Baptist Church. I was ecstatic; this was it, my first break. I knew this would lead to more work and more connections. And I was right; now 3 years into the business God has richly blessed it. In our secular economy the purpose of a business is to grow and make more money. I want the purpose of my business to carry a little more weight. I desire that God will use me and the gifts He has given me to honor Him. I want to serve my clients and help brides with their weddings, but at the end of this life I want to hear from my maker “well done, good and faithful servant, you were faithful with all that I gave you.”

In the title I mention the phrase, “the courage to walk that aisle.” It took faith to leave the familiar and jump out on my own, not only for me, but also for my husband. When we are praying and actively seeking God’s will we will have the courage to “walk our aisle” whatever it may be.

For every wedding I am privileged to be a part of I realize that it takes courage on the part of the bride and groom to stand before God and a host of witnesses and make a marriage covenant. Walking down the aisle is a big deal and it should not be taken lightly. Let me encourage you with a Scripture verse from the book of John.

“These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33