Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

Brett and I met on Christian Mingle, neither of us wanted to do online dating but we both felt the Lord directing us to it. For a year or more for both of us we prayed about it but God kept nudging us to it. (Special shout out to those specific friends and family members that new God put this on our hearts and encouraged us to do it. And to Pastor David, thanks for directing me to Christian mingle.)Brett messaged me on January 6, 2024. It was the best message I received. I could see the light of Christ-like compassion in his eyes in his profile picture. However, I wasn’t able to see his profile until the next day.&nbsp;And I found out that our profiles were very similar, just like he said they were in his message to me. I saw on his profile that he had released two albums so I looked them up and had my best friend, Karina, check out his music first. Then, I messaged him back on the 8th&nbsp;and we’ve been talking every day since. &nbsp;On January 19th&nbsp;, Brett asked to meet me for coffee on Saturday the 20th&nbsp;and I said yes. I was in total denial of it being a date because he just said “meet”. For safety I had Karina, and her husband Peter, drive me to Chapel Coffee to meet Brett for the first time, they dropped me off and stayed nearby. Brett and I talked for two and a half hours but I honestly wasn’t sure if it was going to continue after this.I could tell he was a good man though, a real gentleman that opened doors and was considerably thoughtful, he brought an umbrella with him just in case I needed it, it was raining that day. To my pleasant surprise we continued talking through the app Christian mingle and in a few days he did ask to meet me again. Our second meeting was January 28th&nbsp;at Black Bear Diner then Mulligan’s right after where he had shared with me a list of 13 things he liked about me, in his words “a baker’s dozen”. I then invited him to a young adult service that evening at the Rock Church. I was on worship team that night and I was going to need to leave for practice soon. To my surprise he said yes. The worship team welcomed him gladly and after service we walked up to Pastor Landon who clarified something for me with a simple question. He asked how many dates we’ve been on and Brett answered “Two”, forever grateful to you for that Pastor Landon! Otherwise I still would have been under the impression that it was just “meeting” up with each other haha. February 2nd, Brett met my parents for the first time and it went very well then we went to a game night at a friend’s house where he led us in worship on guitar after dinner and it was the first time we sang together.&nbsp;February 7th&nbsp;Brett asked me to be his girlfriend and I said yes. That’s how it began with a lot of prayer from family, friends and our own prayers for each other, years before we even met.&nbsp;May 20th 2024 was our fourth monthaversary of our first date. Brett had gotten me a bouquet of adorable little white flowers, chocolate covered espresso beans and told me he was going to be asking my Dad for my hand in marriage that day. We had talked about it before but I was thrilled he was doing it that day. To celebrate this moment I knew was about to happen decided to make a quick cake. My Dad and Brett went to the office upstairs prayed, talked a bit before Brett asked him for my hand in marriage and my Dad said yes and they prayed and talked some more. Keep in mind I had decided to make a quick cake, well it was done in about 15 minutes they were up there for over an hour. I didn’t know why they were taking so long when I knew my Dad was going to say yes because he liked Brett and knew he was the right man for me. So I texted my best friend Karina and asked her to pray, she sent me a song that described the moment perfectly from the movie Prince of Egypt, “Through Heaven’s Eyes”. Eventually, the guys came downstairs and they both had big smiles on their faces and bright eyes. Brett told me that Dad said yes and then we ate some cake.&nbsp;On June 23rd I was a little bummed out because I had come down with a cold and I knew Brett was going to be taking me to “our spot” in Idyllwild. (A picnic table at a park where he first told me he loved me) After church that morning, my parents and I had lunch and then we went home so I could get ready for Brett to pick me up. (I knew he was going to propose and the cold was not going to stop me from going.) When Brett and I arrived in Idyllwild, he told me he was thinking we’d go to our spot first then maybe hit some shops before our dinner reservation. We got to the park and the lady at the entrance looked at us like she knew something. Brett then suggests that I put on my bug spray so I don’t get bit, knowing that I’m very allergic to mosquito bites. Directly after applying the bug spray he saved me from a red ant that got in my flip flop, the timing was a little funny. As we got closer to our spot, I could see a white tablecloth and the red roses and I was trying to figure out how he pulled that off. I was also trying to keep it together (Trying not to cry) as Brett was telling me it looks like someone is having a picnic at our spot, maybe they won’t mind if we join them for a bit. I looked at him knowing no one else was really set up there and it was for us, even though he was trying to surprise me. We get to the picnic table and I’m so moved by it and I get a glimpse of my best friend’s arm &amp; sleeve peeking out from around a tree. He did it, Brett surprised me by having Karina and Peter there taking pictures and a video of the moment. (They were still “hidden” at this point) Then it happens, he gets the ring out of his pocket, got on one knee and proposed. His proposal went like this. “Emily, I love you from the bottom of my heart and I want to be with you for the rest of my life. Will you marry me?” (I managed not to cry but it was a moment beyond words to express) I said “Yes” then there was a slight pause and he was just looking at me so sweetly, I wasn’t sure if he heard me, so I gently said “yes” again. He then got up and had the brightest smile on his face and glided the ring on my finger. We hugged and then Karina and Peter came out from hiding behind the trees and congratulated us. It was all so beautiful, I was in awe of God in it all. The 4 of us then headed to get iced coffee and tea because it was warm outside. I ordered a Chai Latte, like I did on our first date. We chilled in the coffee shop for a bit before heading to our dinner reservation at an Italian restaurant called Ferro. We had the sweetest waiter, we all had a great time, my dessert was free and the restaurant knew that we were going to be celebrating being engaged so they made a card for Brett and I congratulating us and it had our names printed on the envelope. It was a little special touch to a very special day. God brought us together in His perfect timing, opening the doors that needed to be opened and we walked through them, placing our trust in Him. This whole relationship was written by God and more than we could ever think or imagine. We’ve gotten to do some pretty incredible things since being together, we’ve done worship together at his church and at my house with friends, with a pro life group called Love Life and are now two of the newest members of a band called Parable. In October we’re going to Mexico for missions and do music there too. This is only the beginning, there’s greater things to come and we’re so grateful to have each of you in our lives, for the prayers prayed on our behalf and we pray that this relationship blesses you.

Emily & Brett

Emily & Brett

E&B

Wedding Day