Their theme was green from start to finish, the details all thoughtfully made. The bride’s favorite color was bright green, and the groom preferred Mountain Dew, so they put a little something in for him too. The all green bridesmaid bouquets popped against the sleek, little black bridesmaid dresses. A unique array of black, white, and bright green ribbons acted as the escort card display. An impressive all-green candy bar was the talk of the reception and after. And, I’ll bet anything that the amazing Rebekah Hoyt Photography, knowing the theme of the big day, chose the pretty green foliage as the backdrop specifically for breathtaking couple portraits. I love every bit of this wedding, from start to finish. I hope you do too.

Thomas and Helen first met at Tabb High School their junior year. Thomas led Helen through orientation as she had just switched schools – for which he was really glad she had. They mutually thought the other was cute when they met, but became nothing more than good friends enjoying sporting events, Young Life, and ultimate frisbee together. Helen really liked Thomas their senior year and was bummed when he didn’t take her to prom (though he was dating someone else at the time).

During Christmas break of their sophomore year in college, Thomas called and asked Helen to go to dinner with him. She thought he was just being friendly, yet she was strangely nervous as she’d just donated 12 inches of her hair. Of course, Thomas thought it was really cute and they had a great time. They consider this as really their first date, though they’d hung out many times before.

One day, a couple of months after their dinner date, Thomas called and told Helen how much he liked her. She liked him too but didn’t think she was ready to date, especially since she was leaving for summer camp in five weeks. But after going to the Greek Festival with him, holding hands, and seeing a GIANT shooting star in the sky, she couldn’t tell him no.

He wound up driving her six hours to camp, dropping her off, and driving six hours back home. Helen figured that he must really like her to have done all that. Especially when she received a letter from him every day she was gone. By the time camp was over, Helen and Thomas were officially an item.

Fast forward…

The night before Helen was supposed to volunteer at church, the girl she was supposed to have lunch with the next day called and cancelled. Thomas immediately jumped up and told her not to make any other plans, that he would figure something out. Helen immediately thought she was getting engaged, then immediately felt silly for thinking so. Little did she know, that was exactly what was about to happen.

After church, Thomas told Helen to head back to his house and meet the other people they were having lunch with, that he had a few things to finish up before joining them. Though she thought it was odd, she didn’t ask questions.

What followed was an epic scavenger hunt to all of the most meaningful and memorable places of their relationship. Thomas had left clues at all the different places leading up to the last place, the beach near where they live. Once there, Helen was told to wander along the beach for something big and green. She couldn’t find it, but what she did find was Thomas, with two dozen red roses. He got down on one knee, told her how much he loved her, that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, and asker her to be his wife. Of course, she said yes!

{From the Bride} Everyone said we would forget the whole day but we remember so many things about it! Our colors were black, white and bright green. It made it ours because Thomas loves Mountain Dew and my favorite color is bright green. It worked out perfectly so we could use a lot of green. Being a graphic designer – I loved the graphic touches and details of the little signs and the candy bar. I had a lot of fun designing everything!

Even though we chose to see each other before the ceremony (and take most of the pictures so we wouldn’t have to worry about them later), our most memorable and favorite moment was the wedding ceremony itself. As soon as I came down the aisle and saw Thomas we both got very emotional. We cried through the majority of the ceremony, especially the vows. It was very powerful and emotional to realize the commitment we were making to each other before God and all of our friends and family.

Our first dance was the same song Thomas played when he told me he loved me, This Magic Moment by The Drifters. The best part of it is that Thomas makes up his own words to the song and sings it to me.

The day was everything we had hoped for and more. We loved every minute of it, dancing and celebrating with our loved ones.

{Advice for Couples} Take time to actually prepare for marriage – spend time together, talk about your expectations, be romantic and enjoy each other rather than spending the majority of the time being stressed out over the details and planning the wedding. In the long run, starting your marriage out this way is SO much better than being overwhelmed and feeling distant from your fiancé, or stressed out because you have taken so much time to plan the wedding.

Congratulations, Helen and Thomas, and thank you so much for sharing your love story with us! We wish you so much love, luck, and laughter in the many years you’ll share together! A very special thank you, also, to Rebekah Hoyt, for sharing their very special day with us today! xoxo