The Orchard

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

Our story is quite unique. It all started at Bible Study on a normal Friday night in 2022. Our Pastor, Benz Eslava, was led to start a Bible Study for young adults. During that first study, I first met Nathaniel at Pizza Hut in Perris. Our Pastor introduced us and that was when a small spark ignited between us. But it was not love at first sight. We barely talked to each other for a whole year. I thought he disliked me for some reason, but it turned out he was just reserved towards new people. I was really good friends with Nathaniel's sister, Natalie. After church, I hung out with Natalie while Nathaniel largely ignored me. He would grab a cup of coffee, talk to Natalie, then walk away as if I didn't exist. It was both awkward and infuriating. But over time, I started to have a small crush on Nathaniel. Little did I know, he also had a small crush on me. In 2023, we slowly started to talk to each other. The more we talked, the more we realized we had so much in common. But neither of us confessed that we liked each other yet. However, God had plans to change both of our lives. On a warm July Friday night, the Bible Study group went to Palm Thai in Perris. It was an amazing time of fellowship. Towards the end of the study, everyone started to leave. Me, Nathaniel, and one of our Bible Study friends were the last ones to leave. I was waiting for my parents to pick me up. Nathaniel decided to wait with me, such a gentleman. We got to talking and that's when God spoke to Nathaniel about our future. In a still small voice, He said, "she is the one I have planned for you." Although the Lord had spoken, Nathaniel was caught off guard and questioned if he had heard God's command correctly. He spent a full week debating if asking me out was really what God wanted. After multiple confirmations, he understood that God had called us to be together and fully acknowledged that he fancied me. Just one problem, Nathaniel didn't think I fancied him back. However, we had exchanged phone numbers that Friday night and we began to chat. At first the topics were mundane, but later we talked about our hopes for the future. One day, I decided to give him a few very blunt hints. I flirted with him, and he reciprocated. After going back and forth, he admitted his feelings for me, revealing what God had told him to me. And through a flurry of emotions, I accepted. Ever since then, we have been inseparable. Funny enough, my parents had suspected that Nathaniel would be my future husband and had simply kept quiet. Nathaniel's parents were surprised, but it was easy to win them over. Natalie never suspected a thing and was shocked when Nathaniel told her about our relationship. The Bible Study group also went ballistic. Reactions aside, we decided to court instead of date, diving into this relationship with marriage at the forefront. We focused on becoming best friends, learning about every aspect of each other. Even when times were tough, we persevered and sought to lift each other's walk in the Lord. In February 2024, we sealed the deal. Nathaniel took me out to brunch at a Black bear diner after Sunday Service. From there we drove out into the California wilderness. We did a short hike, reaching a foothill overlooking Canyon Lake. Then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I excitedly said yes. Our union is not an end to this journey, but merely another beginning. We hope you will be able to join us as we embark on this new chapter!

The Beginning of Forever

Our Story

Photos

Alexis Barrera

Daisy Barrera

Natalie Tanaka

Joshua Barrera

Jacob Barrera

Joshua Edwards

Aria Mares

Samantha Barrera

Wedding Party

Q + A

Fairfield Inn & Suites Menifee

Courtyard Temecula Murrieta

Hampton Inn & Suites Murrieta Temecula

Travel

This is our favorite restaurant. It's also the place where God whispered to Nathaniel I was intended for him. God also revealed this truth to my parents (Abigail) as well.

Nathaniel & Abigail

Nathaniel & Abigail

N&A

Wedding Day

5:00 PM–5:30 PM

Ceremony

6:30 PM–10:00 PM

Reception