ELIZABETH + TJ WEDDING

Technically they met in grade school, although TJ didn’t remember her.  On one of their first dates he asked where she’d gone to high school and she responded “With you!!”
Even if TJ didn’t initially remember Elizabeth, he was smitten from the very beginning.  TJ had asked Elizabeth out multiple times, but she had always declined. But on a whim one day, she decided to say yes. He picked her up and the two went out for dinner and margaritas. After dinner, they decided to keep the evening going when TJ’s nephew called him. Elizabeth ran the After School Care program at the school that his nephews go to, so she already knew them. (In fact, his nephew had actually tried to set them up multiple times before.) They met TJ’s nephew and family at the river to watch a band play.  The moment he saw how great she was with his nephews, TJ knew she was the one.

A little over a year later TJ had just moved into his new house. Elizabeth spent the day with him helping him move in and get organized. After organizing all day, the two joined her family for dinner. Before leaving, Tj pulled her dad aside and showed him the ring, asking for permission to marry his daughter. After getting his approval, the two went for a drive like they use to when they first started dating. He then took her to his grandma’s farm to the same spot where he asked her to be his girlfriend. After parking his truck, he told her that he needed to grab something and got out of the truck to walk around to her passenger door. He opened the door, grabbed her by the hand, led her out of the truck, and got down on one knee. When he pulled the ring box out, neither said anything.  They both just smiled and teared up. After being on one knee for about 30 seconds, TJ finally asked, “Will you marry me?” and of course, she said yes!

The two originally planned for a wedding with 500 guests. Obviously, COVID restrictions wouldn’t accommodate those kinds of numbers, so the ended up having 65 of their closest friends and family at the ceremony and reception. They were still able to get married at the Catholic church and moved the reception into a small meeting room rather than the large KC Hall. Since they had bought enough decorations for a huge hall, they were able to lavishly decorate the smaller venue.

We’ve seen it for ourselves, couples are enjoying a smaller event wholeheartedly.  No one wanted COVID to come in a ruin their wedding plans, but the fact is – nothing can ruin a wedding day!!  If the worst thing about your wedding day is that you were only able to have the guests that are the closest to you in attendance then let’s face it – that’s a blessed day to treasure.  We can attest that couples are so thrilled in hindsight that their day turned out the way it did. TJ and Elizabeth said it best – ” The day turned out so much better than we could have imagined. We think that we enjoyed the day much more than we would have if we had the whole guest list. It was so intimate and fun! We didn’t have to “host” for very long. We truly got to spend the night with the people closest to us! It was wonderful! TJ was sharing with someone the other day that had asked how the day went that he recommended just doing the small wedding anyway because it was so great.”

And it was so great.  When you are in a smaller gathering you feel more.  You see more.  You feel part of something great.  We couldn’t be more honored to have been one of those few people who were able to be part of this day!  Enjoy a look at Elizabeth and TJ’s wedding day!

Even though the masks were not something the two – or anyone for that matter – had hoped for on that day, they do tell the story of the time.  It may feel out of place in wedding photos because we aren’t used to it, but there is still something beautiful about people loving one another so much that they are willing to take every precaution required in order to be there.

It was the moment he looked the most forward to, and his favorite memory of the wedding day. “Seeing Elizabeth in her dress for the first time, and greeting her at the altar was my favorite part. “ TJA birds-eye view of a socially distanced ceremony.This was the moment Elizabeth looked the most forward to. “Walking back down the aisle as husband and wife, and having a wonderful and memorable day with my loved ones! My expectations were surpassed. The day couldn’t have been more perfect!”  -ElizabethThe two made time to go visit TJ’s grandmother who couldn’t come to the ceremony.  We loved that they still wanted to make her feel part of the day and make sure she knew she is loved.Pretty much sums up 2020, doesn’t it? lol
This is TJ’s nephew that worked hard to get these two to start dating.  If he’s such a great matchmaker now, just think of the potential for love stories in the future. 

What were the biggest challenges when you knew your date would not be how you initially envisioned?

What was your favorite moment of your day?

In hindsight, what were the blessings/unforeseen gifts that covid restrictions provided?

Any advice for future bride/grooms?

Who did you work with to make your day spectacular?. Please give us any of the names with web address of the businesses you want to share!