Emily Grace Design

Those were the words that the groom’s father spoke to open their ceremony, and how true those words rang throughout Jared and Sarah’s wedding day.

This wedding day started with the same buzz of every other wedding that I’ve had the pleasure of working. My staff and I were busy running around finalizing details, hanging décor, setting tables, and placing centerpieces. The bride and her best friends tucked away getting their hair and makeup done—laughing, giggling, and enjoying their time together. The photographers and videographers captured all of these special moments as they came and went.

As the day progressed, the sky darkened, the wind started blowing, and we kept on working and adjusting our plans for the day. Cell phone weather warnings began alerting us that there was a tornado warning and touch downs in the area, and moments later we were in the midst of an incredible storm. We rushed to grab as much as we could, save the DJ equipment, and hurry to safety as vases flew across the grounds and visibility was down to what was directly in front of us. As the storm passed through and we could see what we were left with, and we were all left devastated. A tent pole had been snapped leaving the tent unusable, vases broken, flowers tossed everywhere, chairs broken and blown away, branches down all over, and we were left powerless in more ways than just being without electricity.

What happened next was incredible—all of the incredible vendors got to work without missing a beat, and the sun slowly started peaking its way out. It was all hands on deck and no one had a single responsibility. The DJ team was off finding generators and getting them up and running so we could still have music for the ceremony and reception. We became yardmen clearing away fallen moss, branches, and anything in the way. The staff from the venue began collecting broken chairs, and salvaging any décor that they could. It was truly a labor of love.

With just an hour before go time, we were cleaning up and readjusting and coming up with a new plan of how the day would run. We were creating new décor pieces on the fly, and decorating our hearts out all while staying positive and hopeful about what the remainder of the day would bring. What happens when your backup plans for your backup plans fall through? You figure out new ways to make things work!

Though the ceremony kicked off late, the show went on, and it couldn’t have been more special. No, it was not as planned, but it will be in the memories of this couple, their family, and their friends forever. The ceremony happened outside (something I promised Sarah, the bride, that we would figure out a way to make happen), all of the guests stood and gathered close, and as Jared saw his beautiful bride walking towards him for the first time that day I doubt there was a dry eye watching.

“And you never know what the day is going to hold, as long as you hold on to one another, and you hold on to Christ, it won’t matter…”

With all of the challenges that we faced on that Sunday in March, something beautiful still happened. We made lifelong friendships with the vendors, family, and an amazing couple. We pulled off what seemed to be impossible as individuals and as a team. A wonderful wedding took place and a beautiful marriage began.

Life and love will always bring incredible challenge, but if we learn to weather the storm, we will appreciate each ray of sunshine. Jared and Sarah faced their first storm as a married couple on their wedding day, but they faced this day with the most incredible beauty and grace.

How lucky are we to be a part of something so great?!?

The Wedding of Jared and Sarah - Orlando Wedding from White in Revery on Vimeo.

The details were just too much for me to handle, that I decided to share them in a separate post all their own. See more of Sarah and Jared’s wedding here!

(Thinking some images from the video look like they’re from a different day? You’re right! Check out Sarah + Jared’s One-Monthiversary shoot that all of these wonderful vendors came together and surprised them with!)

Oh, and despite what was thrown at us, how incredible did the photos and video come together? Sarah and Jared chose a great team of vendors to make their wedding day happen!