THE BIG DAY

the bride.

Some girls dream about their wedding day and know exactly what they want before they get married. I am not one of those girls. The whole process was a big challenge because I had no idea what I wanted. Months into the planning I realized what I wanted: something simple. And that’s exactly what we tried to go for. I think.

Our wedding day finally arrived and our months of planning & preparations have come to a close (yay). Our lives as a married couple will begin. I wasn’t nervous at all, just really happy. Is this real life? Somebody pinch me. eee!

The girls and I got ready at a nearby hotel before heading over to the venue. It was a full 8 hours in the room for hair and makeup, pigging out on sushi, jumping on the bed, and simply hanging out. All of these ladies are so dear to my heart - they’ve seen me through thick and thin for the past 11 years. I feel so blessed they could share in this moment with me <3.

I spoke with Jonathan on the phone as he wrapped up last minute wedding tasks. He cut 87 sprigs from the bush outside of his house for table décor AND he picked up 2 large bags (big enough to fill the entire length of the backseat) of freshly popped kettle-corn just a few hours before the ceremony. We really wanted something fresh for our wedding guests!

The GROOM.

How did this day come so quickly? Remember DAY 41? All the preparations, the plaster centerpieces, designing the invitations, menu, program, choosing the right fonts, making signs, writing my vows. It has all come together – today. I didn’t quite know what to expect other than to just enjoy. Whatever happens will just happen. Was I nervous? You bet I was. About getting married? No. About the details? Yes. I had to remind myself, it’s not the end of the world.

While we got dressed in the piano room, we put on some music, acted liked we were part of an old-time quartet, it was fun! In that moment, I realized truly how lucky I am to have such great guy friends that I’ve developed deep friendships with over the past couple of years. True I have not known them since childhood, but in the years that I have known them, our friendships have deep roots. They are my best friends and they know me well. I am so grateful to them for their support.

They prayed for me before the ceremony and by the time we finished it was time to go.

The ceremony

JOIE

My parents and I had practiced walking down the aisle the day before, but once the moment came - all my steps jumbled together! I knew all our family and friends were watching but quickly zoned them out and all I could see glancing down, was Jonathan’s beaming face at the very end of the aisle. I couldn’t wait to meet him down there.

Our ceremony started out with a worship song, and at the altar I almost lost it in tears of joy. Jonathan kept whispering to me to stay strong.

JONATHAN

As I watched Joie come down the aisle with both her parents, the mere sight of her in her wedding dress walking towards me was almost overwhelming. I had to say to myself, you’re gonna cry. But DON’T! So I closed my eyes for a split second to control myself. It was surreal. All these guests here to witness something magical. After my cousin started his spiel, the crowd soon faded from view and it was just the two of us declaring our promises to each other. Joie almost broke down in tears in the beginning. I was squeezing her hand and reminding her it’ll be ok…

the vows

JONATHAN

It was probably one the darkest moments of my life that I asked God for joy. Not you in particular, but to be joyful even in the pit. I remember crying out in the night asking God for relief from heartbreak. I did not know what God’s plan for me was in 2012. Though I did not know, God knew and on that Thursday in June, he allowed you to literally walk into my life at 12:46pm. Quite honestly I didn’t recognize what joy looked like at the moment we met, however I did see was that there was something special, a unique friendship even in the first weekend that started to talk. It wasn’t feelings that let me here, though I love you more and more as everyday passes. It wasn’t our work together that led us here either, though we do great work as partners. It wasn’t even our times of traveling together that led us to this point. Though there isn’t anyone else I’d rather eat my way through this world with. The fact is and we both know this deep in our hearts… God is the reason we are both standing right here today. And for that I am deeply thankful for his hand of goodness upon us.

How could I imagine and believe you could exist? Things just fit together, I don’t have to explain my idiosyncrasies, my vision, my desires, my heart. You have become to me a partner, a confidant, an encourager, an Evernote, you have become my heart. I do not know what challenges we will face, what kind of luck we will have, what blessings we encounter, what kind of adventure the future holds for us, but I do know we shall do them together. Today I take you Joy to be my wife and make you these promises. To be completely yours, a companion, a partner, a best friend. To be your ally when there is conflict between us. To be your ear when you complain. To be your greatest fan, even when our team isn’t winning. To be a sidekick to you in our life adventure. To be your caretaker when you are sick or in pain. To honor you with my actions and work. To share in the resources we acquire. To put you before myself. And to always put God before us that He may be the foundation of everything we build together. Today I promise to be a loving and faithful husband you. May our God help me in walking this path.

JOIE

Dear Jonathan, Words can‘t fully describe my feelings, thoughts and comprehension of the cumulation of events that have led us here. But this I know is true and I can declare with confidence, that God is so good and He knows us better than we know ourselves. He has given us this beautiful companionship and has given it so freely. You have brought me joy, love and hope by pointing me to the One who is sovereign above both of our lives. Today I take you to be my husband, I vow to serve you and put you before myself. I promise to be your greatest helper, your lifelong cheerleader and partner, and treat you with upmost respect. I am so excited to see what this new life together will bring, the places we‘ll travel to and adventures we will go on, the foods we will cook at home and new coffee shops we‘ll explore, what new projects we can take on next and even what challenges we will face up ahead. Here‘s to many more dance parties with you in our living room! I am overwhelmed by joy and give thanks for this moment and many, many more! I love you!

SIGNED & SEALED

The kiss that sealed the deal. We have now become Mr. & Mrs.

We walked around the back and “signed” our official documents. Actually, Jenny and Rich were the only ones to sign that day. Jonathan and I had taken care of our stuff 89 days prior at the county clerk’s office. We really just posed to get this picture.

Keeping a Daughter, Gaining a Son

I love Joie’s family. I actually started calling her mom, MOM since we got engaged. I think she was shocked that I would take that initiative. When she came back to the states from Taiwan we got to spend more time together and we would have ‘family’ dinners together with my own parents as well.

Table for 2 and nearly 200

CAKE. CAKE. CAKE.

I thought it’d be nice to add one final touch to the cake by painting the cake-topper. One of the challenges doing this was that I had no idea what Joie was going to wear. Of course I had my guess of what I would choose for her, but nonetheless it would remain a mystery until today. So I painted my first dress with lace detail with a bouquet of flowers, and what do you know, it turned out to be the EXACT dress that she purchased months earlier! I also painted a second option which is the one shown below because that would be my second choice for her wedding dress.

bon nuit

The evening went by so quickly. Dinner was delicious, everyone was full. It was now time to get our DANCE ON. Originally, I had planned for a group dance to this, but the sound wasn’t working so it was scraped. So sad. Then something serendipitous happened on the dance floor… People organically started shuffling in sync to a song and the wedding turned into the dance scene from SHE’S ALL THAT! It blew my mind and I loved it!

it was the best day ever