Maria & Tony’s beautiful mid-November wedding was such a pleasure for us to photograph! Their whole wedding day looked like it came right out of a fairytale - from her dress with its little flecks of shimmer to the love they shared, everything had a magical joy to it. They are just the sweetest couple and had an amazing group of friends and family. It was our honor to capture all the smiles, laughs, and tears (happy ones) on their wedding day!

Maria had all the details planned perfectly and everything looked timeless & classic. Included in the details were letters that Tony had written her while they were dating and a hand-made statue of an angel that her Grandfather gifted to her. Furthermore, all their patron saints were present throughout the wedding day in the form of medals, holy cards, and even their reception table numbers (each table was named after a different patron saint!).

Their wedding ceremony took place at Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church & it included a Solemn High Nuptial Mass with the ancient tradition of velatio nuptialis - a white cloth (pallium) is held over the couple during the nuptial blessing. The church was beautiful with stained glass and an arched ceiling. The reception followed afterwards at the Belarusan Event Center. There were so many special moments throughout the evening. During the first dances - each Dad sang out loud to Maria as they danced with her and then when Maria surprised her Mother with a dance, she then sang their dance song to her mother. There was so much love and grateful tears!

Congratulations again, Tony & Maria! Thank you for inviting us to capture these memories!

Details

Getting Ready

First Look (Bridesmaids)

First Look (Father of the Bride)

Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church

First Look with Step-Father of the bride

Pre-Ceremony Prayer

Marriage Ceremony & Solemn High Nuptial Mass

Maria’s mother & stepfather were waiting at the end of the aisle to help hand her off

velatio nuptialis

This is the prayer the priest prays as the veil is held over the Bride and Groom - Let us pray. O God, who by Thine own mighty power, didst make all things out of nothing: who having set in order the beginnings of the world, didst appoint Woman to be an inseparable helpmate to Man, made like unto God, so that Thou didst give to woman’s body its beginnings in man’s flesh, thereby teaching that what it pleased Thee to form from one substance, might never be lawfully separated: O God, who, by so excellent a mystery hast consecrated the union of man and wife, as to foreshadow in this nuptial bond the union of Christ with His Church: O God, by whom Woman is joined to Man, and the partnership, ordained from the beginning, is endowed with such blessing, that it alone was not withdrawn either by the punishment of original sin, or by the sentence of the flood: graciously look upon this Thy handmaid, who, about to be joined in wedlock, seeks Thy defense and protection. May it be to her a yoke of love and peace: faithful and chaste, may she be wedded in Christ, and let her ever be the imitator of holy women: let her be dear to her husband, like Rachel: wise, like Rebecca: long-lived and faithful, like Sara. Let not the author of deceit work any of his evil deeds in her. May she continue, clinging to the faith and to the commandments. Bound in one union, let her shun all unlawful contact. Let her protect her weakness by the strength of discipline; let her be grave in behavior, respected for modesty, well-instructed in heavenly doctrine. Let her be fruitful in offspring; be approved and innocent; and come to the repose of the blessed and the kingdom of heaven. May they both see their children’s children to the third and fourth generation, and may they reach the old age which they desire. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth God.