Sacramental Marriage: Our Wedding Portraits

On cloud nine from our wedding ceremony, Anthony and I popped into the sacristy at the back of the church for our first order of business as husband and wife—to sign our marriage license! We hugged, kissed, laughed, and cried. When my brother Bart (best man) and my sister Molly (MOH with my sister Tess) joined us to sign as witnesses, it turned into one big happy, crying, hugging love-fest. I'm so glad Cory Weber managed to squeeze in that little room and be a fly on the wall. I don't even remember seeing him, but he captured our realization that we were MARRIED and our reunion with Bart, Molly, and Fr. John so perfectly.

Apparently, we were really in the clouds, because we later found out that we signed under each other's names instead of our own... and no one remembered to grab the license! (Fr. Joe from Holy Childhood came by the next day, handed it to me, and kindly noted, "I think you'll need this.") Note to all brides and grooms: put someone in charge of grabbing the marriage license—it comes in handy.

Immediately after we signed our lives away (in the best way), Cory led us to a spot around the back of the church to spend a few minutes alone together in prayer. This is something we had decided to do since we weren't doing a first look, but whether you do a first look or not, I can't recommend this idea enough. We talked to our photographer about it ahead of time so he could pick out a spot with good lighting and knew to take us there right after the ceremony.

We had heard so many times that your wedding day flies by so quickly, so we wanted to take some time just the two of us to stop and take it in (for those of you that have been following this series, you've heard that a few times by now). The day is full of preparing and celebrating with so many loved ones—and rightly so!—but we wanted to make sure we had a little time to ourselves to revel in the fact that we were officially married. Cory and his sidekick Alex stood from afar with their long lenses while Anthony and I prayed over our marriage, thanking God for this incredible blessing. Truly, they were five minutes in heaven.

Whether you're using the time to pray or say HOLY COW WE'RE MARRIED, these are minutes alone with your new spouse that you won't want to miss. (Bonus: the pictures were some of our favorite couple shots from the entire day—completely candid and filled with joy!)

Right on cue, we knew our five minutes were up when Denise, the church lady from Holy Childhood, came bustling across the lawn. She was worried we wouldn't have enough time to take pictures in the church, but because it was plenty light out, we had decided to take our portraits outside #naturallight. Our families filed outside and took multiple permutations of portraits full of love... and fun! 

After family photos, we we headed to the pier to take bridal party portraits. When Cory asked us how we wanted to get to the Pier, we decided it would be fun to walk through town, to my sister Tess' dismay (her poor feet were killing her). Now we're talking Harbor Springs here, population 1,000, so walking through downtown was literally two blocks—I'm not that evil of a big sister! And although Tess I'm sure would beg to differ, I was so happy we walked those two blocks. Cars stopped and honked, people on the street cheered, clapped, and parted the sea for us. I couldn't stop smiling and waving my bouquet; I felt like we were the main event of a parade! We didn't plan this part, but to all the brides out there, try to go somewhere other than your venues in your wedding dress. Our short little promenade made us feel so special, like the whole town was celebrating our marriage! I love the following photos because they capture the joy we were feeling so perfectly (how many times can a girl hoist her bouquet? #WooGirl).

Taking photos on the pier, I just remember feeling so full of joy. My cheeks were hurting from smiling constantly, but I couldn't stop! I was not the least bit phased that the beautiful scallop on the bottom of my dress (which I was obsessed with) was covered in dirt from our walk through town. Nothing could bring me down.

As much as I thought it might be awkward being all lovey-dovey in front of a camera, I didn't even think about it, which speaks volumes to Cory and Alex. Cory includes an engagement session for all his couples, which is so nice for getting to know the photographer—and for getting comfortable on camera—before the big day. (Additionally, Cory is a northern Michigan wedding photographer, so he has shot many weddings in Harbor Springs, Holy Childhood, and at our reception venue. If you're going with a photographer who's not familiar with your locations, make sure they scout them for good lighting and such before the wedding.) Even more than our engagement session, I felt so comfortable and natural. I felt like Cory was more like a friend sharing in our celebration than a photographer (and my bridesmaids said the same!). Above all, Anthony and I (and our families) were just so overjoyed that there was no thoughts about being on camera or posing; we were just living in the moment!

Finally, we met my mom and dad in our friend Dr. Abood's convertible that he had lent to us for fashionable transportation to the reception. As we drove away, a dad said to his daughter, "Look, a bride!" so I gave my best princess wave to her (thank you, Princess Diaries). 

As we drove the 15 minutes to the reception, my dad smiled and sang the whole way, "Goin' to the chapel and we're gonna get maaaaarried," which had been on the Spotify playlist my sisters made us. It was so adorable. It was another reminder that Anthony and I weren't the only ones on cloud nine. 

All photos by Cory Weber of Weber Photography and flowers by BLOOM | Floral Design

Sacramental Marriage: Our Wedding Ceremony

After a joyful morning getting ready, it was time for our wedding ceremony, our Catholic Nuptial Mass. Anthony and I wanted our ceremony—more than any other aspect of our wedding—to be what people remembered about the day. We didn't want the focus of our wedding to be having a great party, but the act of Anthony and me becoming one. We wanted the meaning and uniqueness of the sacrament of marriage to be honored and experienced—that our marriage expresses the unbreakable bond of love between Jesus and His people. We planned our day in hopes that every aspect would reflect this, and we prayed that our wedding would serve as a means for those gathered to experience God's love for them. We were so touched that our guests commented on, above all else, how meaningful and moving our ceremony was.

Anthony and I were married in the idyllic little white church at the heart of Harbor Springs, Holy Childhood of Jesus Catholic Church. Conveniently, my parents' place is literally a stone's throw away, so after our "no-look first look," I walked across the street with my crew, arm-in-arm with my dad. Once in the bridal room, we sat in a circle, chatting and giggling with nervous excitement. Together with my bridesmaids, Grace, our flower girl, and my parents, we prayed. It was one of the only moments of the day that was not documented on camera, but in a way, there is something so sacred about the fact that only those individuals, whose faith I love and admire, were with me in that moment—my last as a single woman.

Before we knew it, my dear friend and wedding planner Erin of Anchor Events and Design lined up the bridal party! As they processed to Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring—performed by my friend, the incredible pianist, Bobby Porter—butterflies filled my stomach. I couldn't believe it was really happening. As I waited in the back with my dad, I burped under my breath, but Dad caught it. He burst out laughing, eyes closed, head cocked back, stifling through his laughter, "NICE—it wouldn't be Kelsey without that!" That moment was just the comic relief I needed before walking down the aisle. 

After the bridal party had processed, Grace and Charlie, my littlest sister and brother, walked down the aisle, arm-in-arm as our flower girl and ring bearer. It was so sweet hearing the soft gasps fall across the church as they appeared at the back of the aisle, taking their jobs so seriously.

Finally, Yiurma's "A River Flows in You," signified it was our turn. Dad and I rounded the corner, and stopped at the back of the church, looking out. One of the best pieces of advice Anthony and I got—from the hilarious lady at Macy's who helped us register, no less—was to stop right before I walk down the aisle to take in that surreal moment. We actually did this throughout our wedding day (and engagement), but for all the brides out there, this is one moment I wouldn't miss—as eager as you are to get to your groom! I will never forget looking around at all the radiant faces, smiling back at me, and locking eyes with Anthony as he lifted his head to see me and began to cry.

My Grandpa's face in this... so radiant with joy!

When we reached my sweet groom, my dad hugged Anthony and whispered, "I'm so proud of you, I love you." I had done so well up until that point, but the tears leaked out when I heard that. I'm sure that moment wasn't particularly easy for my dad, but the love and admiration he has for Anthony seem to make it a whole lot easier. 

We picked Genesis 2:18-24 for our first reading to elucidate our oneness through God; we were becoming one spirit, one body through the sacrament of marriage. Our second reading, Philippians 1:3-10, Anthony and I chose as a prayer for each other and an expression of our commitment to get each other to heaven. Our short and sweet Gospel reading, John 15:9-12 (which we had engraved on our wedding rings) again signified a sacramental marriage; if we remain in God's love, by His grace, our love will always remain. Regardless if your ceremony is spiritual or not, spending time praying or discerning thoughtfully with your fiancé(e) on which readings/poems to include in your ceremony contributes to the uniqueness of your big day.

After all the readings, came one of the best parts of the whole day: Father John's homily. Almost immediately after getting engaged, we had asked our spiritual director of five years, Fr. John Kartje, to guide us through marriage preparation and officiate our wedding—to which he responded, "If the Pope called me to Rome, I'd turn him down." Having someone who knows you well (and works with you throughout the marriage prep process) officiate the wedding makes it so meaningful and personalized. Having "FJ" as part of our wedding was decided in our minds long before we were engaged, and was undoubtedly one of the best decisions we made for our wedding.

Fr. John's exceptional homily, marked by his dry humor and wit, led perfectly into the next part of our Nuptial Mass: Anthony and I washing each other's feet. We had chosen to add this piece when we washed each other's feet at a Holy Thursday service (a Catholic tradition that reflects Jesus washing the feet of His disciples at the Last Supper). Including this in our ceremony symbolized how, through this sacrament, we would devote ourselves as servants to one another, striving to live out our marriage in Jesus' example. Fr. John, however, added a crucial point in his homily:

"When Kelsey and Anthony wash each other's feet, it will be an extraordinary example of service and what extraordinary servants they are of God's love. But for me when I see them do that, it will be a wonderful celebration of how much they have learned to let themselves be loved. To let themselves really believe that they are a princess and prince, not just because they hit it out of the park in their clothing today, not just because this is such an extraordinary and beautiful occasion—but in the every days of life, when it's Tuesday morning, 16 years from now, they're going to continue to let themselves be loved."

After we finished washing each other's feet to The Servant Song (so fitting and one of our all-time favorites) we exchanged vows. At the beginning of our marriage preparation, Fr. John had recommended we write out our vows, which are set by the Catholic Church, and put them somewhere we would see them every day. Not only would we memorize them that way, he said, but those words would mean more to us, having thought about them each day of our engagement. I told you he was brilliant (did I mention he also has his PhD in astrophysics? #AstroPriest). In addition to these vows, Anthony suggested we write our own vows to each other as wedding gifts, which we read to each other on our wedding night. As a words of affirmation person, that was a pretty perfect wedding gift! 

Following the Rite of Marriage, Anthony's sisters read the prayers of the faithful, which Anthony and I wrote together—another way you can personalize a Catholic Nuptial Mass! As we began the Liturgy of the Eucharist, our Godparents brought up the gifts to another one of our favorite songs, "I will Choose Christ." If you can't tell, Anthony and I loved choosing the music for our ceremony; I tear up when I hear one of our songs played in church! Like the readings, the music makes your nuptials unique, and you won't regret approaching it with thoughtfulness or prayer.

Two kids who just realized they're officially married! 

During the Consecration (yep, there's more—Catholic Masses are long!) the bread and wine are turned into Jesus' living body and blood. During this solemn moment, kneeling so close to the altar, with my brand-spanking new husband by my side, and all of our loved ones gathered around us, I was overwhelmed with awe. I felt the presence of Jesus right there in front of me in that moment like I never have before. The best way I can describe it is it felt like the closest I've ever been to heaven—so surreal and divine. I have such a vivid mental snapshot of that moment, which Cory Weber also caught on camera below:

One of my favorite parts of every Mass is the Sign of Peace. I love kissing, hugging, and flicking peace signs to all my family members—it's one big love fest! But this one was extra special. We had all our family members there to offer and to receive a sign of peace as newlyweds, but it also happened that my moment with my Grandpa Byron was my last. Despite his sickness, he had fought so hard to make it to our wedding. He was not well enough to come to our reception, and died a month later. I remember he looked at me through his teary eyes and Irish-whispered, "This is beautiful, Kelsey, beautiful... I love you, honey." What a moment to be our last together.

Once we received the Eucharist, we watched all our loved ones partake in Communion as "How Beautiful," "I am the Bread of Life," and "Speak Now, O Lord" played. Looking out from the altar, Anthony and I whispered to each other how we couldn't believe that all these people were here for us. Regardless of the type of ceremony, the view that the newlyweds have of everyone they love looking up at them cannot be replicated. The photos are amazing, but only we knew how that unique perspective looked, so Anthony and I made sure to take mental snapshots.

The final piece we added to our Nuptial Mass was a devotion to Mary, Mother of Jesus. We saw this as an opportunity to also honor our own amazing mothers, who are largely responsible for instilling in us our Catholic faith. Like our Mother Mary, our mamas are full of Grace and love Jesus. Arm in arm, the four of us prayed a Hail Mary in front of St. Mary's statue as Elizabeth Cameron sang my favorite Mary song from grade school, "Ave Maria, Hail Mary."

FINALLY (bless you, if you're still reading this) Anthony and I had our first kiss as husband and wife—and we snuck in a second! We walked down the aisle to Ode to Joy, full of joy. 

All photos by Cory Weber of Weber Photography and flowers by BLOOM | Floral Design

Wedding Wednesday: Bridal Shower

Following suit with the "Wedding Wednesday" theme, today kicks off a series of wedding-related posts that will be featured occasionally on (you guessed it!) Wednesdays. After going to a lovely bridal shower this weekend of a longtime family friend, I was inspired to finally share my bridal shower pictures—only 10 months later!

The shower this weekend, filled with most of the same smiles as my own, reminded me of the gift that these family friends are to me. As the bride-to-be summed up so beautifully this weekend, "One of the best gifts my parents have given me is the gift of their friends, whose children have become my best friends." Not only have their children become my best friends and confidants, but my parents’ friends themselves have been a gift as role models, mentors, and now friends to me. My sweet shower was hosted by three of my mom's closest friends of nearly twenty years, and one of their daughters, who happens to be one of my nearest and dearest friends (and the genius behind Anchor Events & Design). Considering their part in helping to care for me as a child, exemplifying strong Catholic marriages, and showing me how to do the often thankless and unglamorous job of being a mother with such love and grace, it was only fitting that the shower was hosted and attended by many of these women and their daughters.  

The three hostesses of my beautiful bridal shower!

Some daughters of the "Church Ladies" AKA "Church Daughters"

My mom and her friends have taught me how to gracefully be a mother, wife, working woman, volunteer, and Catholic. While many of them are “homemakers” or “stay at home moms,” these spectacular women are nothing close to “real housewives.” As mothers whose children attended the same Catholic grade school (St. Franny!), who founded a bi-weekly rosary group that has included women in the area and prayed for their intentions for 10-plus years, who dedicate a work week’s time to countless Catholic charities and pro-life organizations, and who do their best to raise their children with strong Catholic values and faith, we prefer to refer to these holy women as the “Church Ladies.”  While they seem to “do it all” they also do not perpetuate the ever-elusive idea of “having it all” that we women tend to chase in circles. They are strong, confident, smart women who are humbly yet unapologetically proud mothers and wives (many of which have had successful careers). In a world in which women may feel that they are not enough if they are not working outside the home—not contributing financially, not being the “independent woman” that often we are encouraged to be—they are each the true definition of a “girl boss.” These wonderful women see the joy and importance of raising their children and realize the core that the family unit is to society. In a world in which the family seems ever more undervalued, these women help maintain Pope John Paul II’s belief that “as the family goes, so goes the nation and the whole world in which we live.” As I pursue graduate study with hope of someday being a marriage and family therapist, I also realize the power of being a wife, mother, and woman of faith, thanks to the Church Ladies. Their daughters are now young women with their own businesses, pursuing graduate degrees in medicine and health care, working in finance, banking, and digital marketing, successful college and high school students, and fellow kick-butt collegiate athletes. It is clear that the Church Ladies, through their example of hard work and faith, have encouraged their daughters to achieve just as much as men do, yet we, as their daughters, also know we can be proud wives and mothers, like our own moms.

The four Thompson sisters, Grace, Molly, Tess, & Kelsey, from left to right.

More of the exemplary "Church Ladies"

My mother and now "mother-in-love" - both beautiful ladies!

My bridal shower was a ray of sunshine and happiness on a day otherwise fittingly filled with May showers. The gracious hosts blew away any expectations I had for the event, which was done up to the nines. Guests were introduced to the theme when they received their invitations, square cards from Minted with a delicate orange tree atop a pastel background. The envelopes were addressed beautifully above shades of orange hand-painted by one of the hostesses, Erin Brede of AED.

At the shower, guests were greeted by a delicious display of soufflés, fruit, salads, mini desserts, and personalized sugar cookies by none other than Ann Arbor’s Emily Pierce. The orange patterned tablecloths made for a perfect background.

All the furniture had been moved out of the living and dining room (what an effort!) and was replaced by round tables, sporting mason jars filled with bright napkins and silverware at each place setting. For the centerpiece, they had spray-painted mason jars orange and filled them with yellow and orange tulips. 

My favorite detail, however, were the “place cards,” a clementine with the guest’s name held in place at the top by a green push pin — so clever and cute!

To my delight, the hostesses had printed and framed several pictures of my then-fiancé, Anthony, and me and placed them around the house as decor. (We now have these frames hanging in our bedroom!) Knowing that bikes were a part of our wedding theme, they also hung paper bike streamers from Paper Source on the fireplace.

At the front of the room, next to the chair where I later opened gifts, was a fake orange tree that one of the hostesses had apparently hauled up from a HomeGoods in Ohio—what dedication! 

If that all wasn’t enough of a labor of love already, the hostesses divided and conquered, each making a dozen or so loaves of my mom’s famous pumpkin bread! They wrapped each so beautifully in cellophane, tied with an orange polka-dot ribbon, and hand-stamped an orange tandem bike to each label. (I later incorporated this bike stamp into our wedding reception decor. More on that later.) 

The decor wasn’t the last of the details and dramatic flare. In the living room I found our own personal pianist (who just so happen’s to be Grace’s teenage piano teacher) all dressed up and playing live music. Just as we sat down for brunch, one of the Church Ladies, “Lady Di,”  appeared in a robe with curlers in her hair, as the pianist changed his tune to match hers, right on cue. Leave it to Lady Di to be the entertainment for the day, she performed a full song and dance (who knew she had such pipes?), complete with props, putting on makeup, and finally landing a big smooch on a fake Anthony. 

Getting a hoot out of Lady Di's performance!

The final surprises of the day certainly proved to save the best for last. As I finished opening gifts, everything became quiet, and suddenly, my handsome, smiling groom walked around the corner with a blue tandem bike, sporting a basket chock-full of picnic-in-the-park goodies! Anthony lived in Chicago, whereas the shower was in our shared home town of Ann Arbor, MI, and I had no idea he had sneakily driven into town the night before. It was such a sweet and thoughtful surprise, organized and executed by the lovely hostesses.

With Anthony and me both there, my sisters—my maids of honor—announced there was one last gift. They had us close our eyes, while they carried in the gift. We opened our eyes to find a two by three foot banner with letters and pictures hand-cut out of fabric and sewn onto the cloth. It read, “Just get me to the church on time…” with a groom running toward a little white church—identical to the church we were to be married in.

My parents had a very similar banner hanging from my grandparents’ house on the day of their wedding, and I had been determined to find it and re-use it. Despite combing through the attic at Christmas and asking my aunts and uncles about it, it was nowhere to be found. Knowing this dilemma, sisters arranged to have one of my best friends since grade school (another Church Lady’s daughter), who also happens to be an extremely talented and multifaceted graduate of University of Michigan’s Art School, craft a replica of the original banner. All they had to show her was a small picture of the banner from my parents' wedding album, yet the two banners could not have been more similar (aside from the respective churches). I was thrilled to use the meaningful banner not only at my wedding, but someday at all my siblings’ weddings. Maybe, just maybe, we will even keep track of it so our own children can use it someday… 

Erin Brede, one of the hosts, a dear friend, and the mastermind behind Anchor Event & Design (with her brand new babe!)

Caili, of Dilly Dalian, who made the banner!

Two dear high school friends from Ann Arbor

Thank you to all the lovely women who contributed to the joy that was my bridal shower! As you can see, I loved every aspect of it, and so appreciate all of your efforts.

With a little grace,

                           Kelsey

Love + Red Dresses

As my last two posts have been a bit heavier, I thought it was time for something a little more fun and light-hearted. In honor of St. Valentine's Day tomorrow, what better excuse to share our professional engagement photos—wearing a classic red dress nonetheless?! Our photo shoot took place in my beloved Harbor Springs, MI (where we were married in July) and we were photographed by the incomparable Cory Weber (the man behind the lens for many of the stunning professional photos on this site). I could not think of a better occasion or outfit to showcase another major aspect of this journal—classic, graceful style.

the red dress: I decided to wear a classic red dress for the occasion, not because it was near Valentine's Day or Christmas (though those are both perfect for donning the festive color), but because I believe in a red dress's potency and power. Red is a color many women feel uncomfortable wearing because it attracts attention or they feel the color doesn't flatter them. However, I believe red is a striking color that oozes confidence because it stands out against the blues, blacks, and neutrals in the room or in the landscape. I also firmly maintain that red does look good on everyone—it just depends on the shade! Think you could never wear a cherry red like my dress? Try a burgundy or marsala color that is more neutral, or a more tomato red (orange undertones).

stylist tips!

• unsure which shade of red looks best? Pick a color similar to your favorite shade of red lipstick. If it looks good on your skin as lipstick, the color is bound to flatter you as a dress
• uneasy about wearing such a striking color from head to toe? Start with pops of red in your accessories such as shoes, handbags, jewelry, or a belt (like mine, which I added to the ensemble), or of course red lipstick!
• Red is an attention-grabbing color, something to keep in mind when selecting the style of the dress. I chose a dress with more coverage (higher neckline, cap sleeves) and looser fitting (A-line so it didn't hug my curves) to compensate for the color's strong qualities. I do love its V-back though—it shows just the perfect amount of skin!
• Red is a good base color for neutral accessories: black or nude pumps, a blingy or pearl necklace, and gold or silver jewelry. I also love to wear this red dress with a leopard belt (instead of a matching red one) for a more fun + edgy look.

While my dress and coat are both vintage Banana Republic, check out similar styles currently being sold (or available for rent)! I added various shades for various skin tones + preferences.

With a little grace,

                        Kelsey