Tell us about your love story!
How did you meet?
Elijah and I met at church. We both attended the Blessing of Graduates at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. I noticed a girl I worked with talking to him. Elijah introduced himself to me, and we talked for awhile then sat next to each other. During mass we whispered and giggled at little things together. We did not get to talk to each other after mass but started running into each other so much over the following weeks that we both decided to go on a date.
How did you know he/she was “The One”?
Christina: I would not say it was a specific moment but rather it was all the little moments within our relationship. He made just doing simple things such as going to the store or being stuck in traffic fun and exciting. He always knew what to say or do to comfort me or make me happy when I was having a rough day. I always felt comfortable with him to be myself. No matter how weird or crazy I would be, he would always match my energy. We were friends that just happened to fall in love.
How did he propose?
Elijah came back from AIT training one weekend. This was one of the few times he was able to come home due to Covid. We went to Fisher Park where we always walked or just sat down and talked. We have always collected spare change throughout our relationship to save for big things or items we wanted. We were talking and laughing, and he quickly said, “Oh, I have a bunch of spare change for our jar.” While handing the change over, he dropped it. I got down with him to pick it up, and then the next thing I know, he placed my hand in his and held a ring in the other. He stated, “You know nothing will ever change in our relationship. Will you be mine forever and marry me?” I cried and said, “Yes.”
Describe your wedding planning process.
What planning tools did you use?
I quickly contacted Mrs. Swanee Browning almost immediately after we got engaged. I saw her at a few weddings previously, and I loved how she made everything perfect down to the last detail. She referred me to New Braunfels Wedding Guide where I found the venue and vendors we needed.
Who helped with the planning?
It was primarily my grandmothers and mom who helped. I also talked to Barbie Forester as well who helped with details; things I may have been forgetting or had forgotten completely.
Did you have a specific theme?
I wanted it to be colorful fiesta colors since this was the first celebration in years due to the pandemic. Our wedding was close to Día De Los Muertos which is a celebration where your ancestors and family members who have passed come to visit. I imagined they would all visit so they, too, would feel close to the wedding as well.
Where did you save the most?
We saved the most with the cake desserts. My cousin, Joyce, wanted to make the wedding cake and cupcakes for us free of charge. We were not expecting so much from her, but it was amazing how much she made and how beautiful everything was.
Also, I saved tremendously on my wedding dress. I only spent $175.00 on my wedding dress that was priced around $1,000.00 dollars. I found it by happenstance at St. Peter and Paul resale store. We were there looking at ideas on what I wanted and just found it in my size. I tried it on, and it fit perfectly. It just needed to be steamed and pressed!
Why did you choose your venue?
We loved the venue and surrounding property. It was gorgeous, and the hall itself, even undecorated, was beautiful. We liked that the venue also had condos we could rent for our family. Many of our families were from out of town, so we loved the fact that there were rooms available quite literally across the street, so we did not have to worry about people driving such a long way home so late at night.
Did you incorporate any special traditions or sentimental details in your ceremony or reception?
We chose to be married close to Día De Los Muertos because we wanted in some way for our family that had passed away to be there celebrating with us. We set out the candy table and put small relics on it to show our respect and celebration of our family members.
What was your most stressful decision?
Our most stressful decision was catering. We weren’t sure how many people would be coming and wanted to make sure the food was good and that people were fed and full.
What turned out to be your best decision surrounding the big day?
The colors were the best decision for us. We absolutely loved all the colors and how they turned out. I can’t thank Barbie enough for how gorgeous the flowers and decorations looked with our color scheme.
Is there anything you would have done differently?
It was an amazing day, and there wouldn’t be anything that I would change.
Tell Us About
Your dress:
I found the perfect gown by happenstance at the St. Peter and Paul church store. It fit perfectly and was exactly what I was looking for in a wedding dress.
Your flowers:
My flowers were all done by Barbie Foerster. I loved my bouquet and the other floral arrangements.
The food:
The food was amazing. Bill Miller did a wonderful job and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it.
The cake:
The cake and cupcakes were all the rage at the wedding. I still keep getting compliments about them. They were amazing and so beautiful. I am truly thankful to my cousin Joyce for making them.
Recap your big day for us:
What made you laugh?
I think it was my husband just being my husband joking during the ceremony. I also loved laughing with all my friends and family watching their crazy dance moves.
What made you cry?
I don’t think I cried, but I did tear up when I saw my husband cry during the ceremony. I held back tears because I wasn’t sure I would be able to stop.
What were the most memorable moments?
The most memorable moment was when we were seated at our sweetheart table looking at all the people who attended. We looked at each other and said, “We did it! We are finally married!”
Did anything unexpected happen?
It took a bit for the recessional music to start, but that did not bother us. We enjoyed getting to kiss a bit more at the end of the ceremony and letting everyone take more pictures of us at the altar.
What’s the best advice you can give a bride and groom planning their wedding?
Don’t hesitate to reach out to your family and friends. The amount of guidance, wisdom, and help we received was phenomenal.
What did you look forward to most as Mr. & Mrs.?
We were both looking forward to settling into our new house. Due to Elijah being in the military, we were relocating to the Killeen area and getting our first house to furnish as husband and wife.
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