Our Lady, Help of Christians Catholic Church

Wedding and Nuptial Mass

Ceremony

Monte Sano Lodge

Wedding Reception

Our Wedding

THAT GIRLBorn and raised in Alabama and Tennessee, I enjoy the outdoors, family, and Southern culture. A government pricing consultant during the week, you'll find me baking, learning new knitting or sewing patterns, or reading on the weekends. I look forward to starting a new chapter of life with my future husband in the Rhode Island area! THAT MANBorn in Massachusetts but a forever New Hampshirite. I'm a history buff, competitive pool player, enjoy driving my Jeep, and fresh local seafood. I work in non-destructive testing and radiography supporting naval submarine production. Considered the most amazing, accomplished, and handsome man by my Fiancé, we look forward to the blessing of tying the knot!

About Us

I'll never forget the moment I proposed to her, surrounded by the serene beauty of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Alabama on March 18th. The very next day, we sealed our commitment with the Solemn rite of Betrothal. What made it even more special was the significance of the statue of St. Joseph overlooking us; a statue that held a profound meaning in our journey. You see, the day before she found me on CatholicCourtship, she stood in front of that same statue, pouring her heart out in prayer to St. Joseph, asking for guidance in finding a husband. Little did she know, her prayers were already being answered. Just a week after the platform went live, we connected, and from that moment on, our conversations flowed effortlessly. Our paths crossed on August 17th last year, and as fate would have it, our wedding day is set for the same date this year. But amidst the joy and laughter, there's a delightful twist to our story. Early on, she jokingly asked if I'd been 'ducked' lately, referring to my Jeep. So, when I proposed, I presented her with a duck, a playful nod to our shared humor and the beginning of our inside joke. Throughout our journey, we've been blessed with a similar upbringing and a profound sense of humor, but above all, it's been God's guiding hand that has brought us together. With a bit of romantic planning and a touch of humor, I managed to make the proposal day truly special, all thanks to the intercession of Our Lady and St. Joseph.

In the Words of the Groom

After a moving sermon by my Parish Priest that our prayers should be specific, I decided to pray the miraculous 54-Day Rosary Novena to Our Lady to meet my future husband. One month into the novena, I visited the Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament to pray. In the side courtyard of the church is a statue of St. Joseph, who is dear to me as the protector of the Holy Family and the Church. As I stood praying by this statue, I begged that if it's God's will that I marry, that my future husband has a devotion to St. Joseph. I wondered if my future husband even existed, although I have always felt called to the vocation of marriage. The next afternoon, I saw Jack's profile and scrolled down to see that his favorite saints are St. Michael and St. Joseph! That was a clear sign for me, and immediately sent Jack a message about his Jeep. Since then, I found all my prayers, hopes, and dreams in Jack. Every day we have known each other, I know that Our Lady and St. Joseph brought us together and have guided us through every step of our relationship. From our first meeting when Jack surprised me with a bouquet of the most beautiful roses I have ever seen, I knew God was guiding us together. Leading up to the proposal, Jack dropped many obscure hints but I couldn't imagine how he could propose with starting a new job and moving states. My sister convinced me to take off work to visit the Shrine and as I prayed by the same statue of St. Joseph, a hat drops at my feet! I turn to find Jack standing beside me and he waits until I pick up and accept his hat in commemoration of an old Irish traditional before he drops to one knee. At that moment, the bells of the Shrine rang and I will never forget how Jack asked me to marry him and the overwhelming joy I felt when accepting Jack's proposal. We will be married exactly 12 months after that first message, to the day! We cannot wait to count down the hours until the wedding and celebrate our new life together!

In the Words of the Bride

Meeting & Engagement

We are very blessed to be married in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony according to the ancient Latin Rite of the Catholic Church. Our vows will be the first element of the ceremony, where we profess our commitment under God's law for our union until death. Our wedding rings are blessed with Holy Water to become sacramentals and ceremoniously we place the ring on each other's left hand to signify our giving of each other in the bond of marriage. We are exhorted to live for each other and for God and reminded that we should love each other unconditionally because of how God loves each of us. By the invocation of the Blessed Trinity, we are united together in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony forever. After the exchange of vows and blessing by the Priest, the ceremony immediately turns to the Latin Nuptial Mass. This will be the first action of our married life to pray and attend Mass together in thanksgiving and to honor God as the center of our union. After the reception of Holy Communion, we will enter the Sanctuary to present a bouquet to the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and light a candle by the statue of Saint Joseph. We ask that you join us in prayer as we express our gratitude for all of our blessings. In particular, we thank God for the vocation of marriage and for our marriage to be holy and fruitful all the days of our lives. Booklets with the English and Latin translation will be available in each pew for your use during the ceremony and Nuptial Mass.

Vows & Nuptial Mass

Click the first photo to view the series.

Photos

This dress code is requested&nbsp;out of respect and reverence for our Eucharistic Lord,&nbsp;present in the tabernacle of this church and in consideration of the Holy Sacrament of Matrimony. For the Ladies:Kindly refrain from wearing shorts, blue jeans, tee-shirts, tank-tops, revealing and/or low cut tops, sleeveless or backless dresses, spaghetti straps, or form-fitting clothing of any sort. Please wear dresses and skirts that fall below the knee when sitting. Veils are provided in the vestibule and the hall entrance for those that may not have a veil to cover their hair while inside the church. For the Gentleman:Please refrain from wearing shorts, blue jeans, tee-shirts, sleeveless or sheer shirts. We recommend a suit and tie or dress button-down shirt and slacks to align with the formality of the day. Please observe these guidelines while at the Church:- Please silence your phones and do not text or use your phones while in the church building.- Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the ceremony.- Refrain from talking, eating, or visiting while inside the church. Please observe these guidelines while at the Reception:- Enjoy all alcohol, foods, and fun responsibly.- Please refrain from foul language, inappropriate remarks, behavior or dances, out of respect of any children present and the sacredness of the day. Thank you in advance for your help in preserving our church and reception as a place of prayer, respect, and modesty.

Dress Code

Robert Cummings

Sister of the Bride and mother of the Ring Bearer.

Virginia (Ginnie) Sutton

Nancy Patterson

Joseph Patterson

Elizabeth (Betsy) Patterson

Nathaniel Seder

Albert Edward Patterson V

Nephew of the Bride and son of the Matron of Honor.

Robert (Robbie) Sutton

Niece of the Groom and daughter of the Best Man.

Charlotte Cummings

Maria Patterson

Theresa Foy

Albert Patterson IV

Barbara Patterson

Thomas Cummings

Kimberly Cummings

Nils Christensen

Patricia Christensen

Joseph Abel

Frances Abel

Wedding Party

FAQs

Registry

Hotel room blocks are not reserved, so feel free to stay throughout the Huntsville or Madison area! We recommend the below hotels close to the Church and Reception Venue.

Near Land Trust of North AlabamaMake yourself at home in one of the 101 air-conditioned rooms featuring kitchenettes with refrigerators and stovetops. Complimentary wired and wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming provides entertainment. Conveniences include safes and desks, and housekeeping is provided daily.A stay at Homewood Suites by Hilton Huntsville - Downtown, A

Homewood Suites by Hilton Huntsville Downtown AL

Near Von Braun CenterMake yourself at home in one of the 149 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. Smart televisions with satellite programming provide entertainment, while complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected. Bathrooms have shower/tub combinations and hair dryers. Conveniences include coffee/tea makers and irons/ironing boards, and housekeeping is pr...

SpringHill Suites Huntsville Downtown

In Huntsville (Quigley)Make yourself at home in one of the 120 guestrooms featuring refrigerators and LED televisions. Your room comes with a pillowtop bed. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers.With a stay at AC Hotel by Marriott Huntsville Downtown in Huntsville (Q...

Marie & Jack

Marie & Jack

Wedding Party