Marianne & Nathaniel’s April wedding was seriously such a joy to be a part of! They found me by Googling weddings at their church, Holy Transfiguration Melkite Greek Catholic Church, and came across my blog post of Danielle & Max’s wedding from several years ago.

I love the Melkite Greek Catholic wedding ceremony. It is so beautiful and filled with rich traditions that date back hundreds of years. A Melkite wedding consists of two ceremonies celebrated in succession. First, the wedding begins in the narthex, just outside the church, with the Betrothal Ceremony, where the couple receives their candles which represent their willingness to receive the light of Christ into the sacred mystery (sacrament) of their marriage. This is also where the blessing and exchange of rings takes place. The Betrothal starts outside the church to symbolize that the couple’s relationship is still in the world. Following the Betrothal, the couple process into the sanctuary together, holding their candles, representing the transformation of their relationship from something of this world into something belonging to Heaven, all led by the light of Christ.

The Crowning Ceremony then takes place, where the couple is crowned the king and queen of the new domestic church they are creating together. The crowns remind them of their individual—and now united—roles as priest, prophet, and king of their new household, which is ultimately a call to martyrdom: to lay down one’s life for the other. How beautiful is that?

After Marianne & Nathaniel’s wedding ceremony finished, we drove over to The Woodlands at NOVA Parks for their reception. I absolutely loved the vibrant spring colors and textures in their stunning florals, which popped beautifully against the bridesmaids’ deep blue-gray dresses. One of my favorite details of the reception was their dessert table—it might just be the prettiest one I’ve ever seen!

Another favorite moment of mine was when we snuck outside for a few more couple portraits at the end of dinner. I love going back out for a few minutes of photos during the reception because everyone is so much more relaxed, and I can document those carefree moments of joy—which is exactly what happened here!

Marianne and Nathaniel, thank you so much for choosing me to document your stunning wedding day!

Xoxo,
Mary Kate

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A huge thank you to all the other vendors who came together to make this day possible!

CHURCH // Holy Transfiguration Melkite Greek Catholic Church
RECEPTION VENUE // The Woodlands at Algonkian

PLANNER // Weddings by Liz Studio
FLORIST // Floriography
DJ // Ben Kontz (DJ)
CAKE // Signature Sweets by Amanda
CATERING // Mission BBQ
DRESS // Brooke’s Bridal and Ball (Designer: Maggie Sottero)
BRIDESMAIDS // JJ’s House
GROOMSMEN // Various Attire Sources
COFFEE CART // Vintage Views Bar
BARTENDING // Great Blue Heron Catering & Weddings