Feels like home
“Home” — the word that filled my mind as I sifted through Alex + Paul’s wedding gallery before sending it to them. And yes, given that the wedding was on the bride’s family property, this could come across as cliché. But that fact is only a fraction of why their photos make me want to play “Feels Like Home” by Drew & Ellie Holcomb all night long. Home was more than the place; it was the spirit of their day. The invitation to not just witness their love but to take part in it — to know them and celebrate the breaking ground of their new family.
The morning began with the girls getting ready in Alex’s house, and there, with everyone seated and watching, her mom presented her with heirlooms that had been passed down for generations on family wedding days. The love that literally created and shaped Alex, the legacy that paved the way, made known to a room filled with friends, family, vendors, and so many kids! I couldn’t help but look at the flower girls, Alex’s nieces, as they played on the piano and think about their future wedding days, and the way these traditions would continue.
Alex and Paul’s ceremony, just a few steps away, was full of guests, yet intimate. The groom’s dad officiated the wedding. The crowd shared soft laughter when the youngest flower girl stopped and dumped all of her petals out in the middle of the aisle. It felt like a family reunion (the kind where you know a few people, but are still connected to those you don’t know yet). The late spring breeze danced in the air, the butterflies flew under the canopy of trees, and the house watched behind in the distance. So light, sacred, and bonding
Under the stars of string lights in the party tent, the reception was fun and familiar. Family photos all around, Alex and Paul’s favorite books on display, and inside jokes shared during toasts (and you KNOW there is no better sign of closeness and camaraderie than having an inside joke). The family dances ushered in the rest of the night with an all-out dance floor, bridal white bounce house, and confetti exit; a reflection of a love that is joy-filled, rich, and playful.
I think there is something to be said about Alex and Paul’s faith being the reason it felt so welcoming to attend their wedding — they love Jesus and His church. Their hearts seek to invite people to the family of God and invest, without partiality, in the well-being of both friends and strangers around them. The hospitality of their event was just an overflow of who they are and the glimpse of Home offered in the Kingdom of God.
