When you know, you know

From the moment Emily laid eyes on Alex, she knew she was gonna marry that man. She had just gotten a position as a long-term substitute at Mount Carmel High School and was getting the grand tour from her sister-in-law, also a teacher there, when she met Alex. There was an instant connection!

A couple of months went by, and their friendship continued to blossom. That winter, Emily was coaching the middle school basketball team, and Alex would come to watch the girls play, always finding an excuse to make small talk with Emily after games. It was at one such match that Emily introduced Alex to her dad, Ron, who had come to give his support to his daughter and the rest of the team.

“Before Alex walked over, I said to my dad, ‘want to meet my future husband?’ My dad looked at me like I was crazy…”

The Meeting

But meet Alex, Ron did. And as it turns out, Emily had called it from the beginning – she would marry Alex, exactly two years (to the date) after he proposed! On July 31, 2020, Emily & Alex exchanged vows on a scenic vista above the Elk River at Bohemia Overlook.

Though the day had not gone as planned, Emily and Alex never lost sight of the most important part of their wedding- celebrating the love that got them there in the first place! Navigating COVID wedding safety, adjusting to impending torrential rain (that was somehow not on the radar AT ALL), calling audibles on wedding logistics, and all the other stresses encountered on a wedding day couldn’t get Alex and Emily down because they had one another through it all. Throughout the day, they found ways to giggle and enjoy little moments together. When faced with a challenge, they leaned on each other and into the unknown with the comfort of being their respective shelters from the storm. As Dr. Barbara De Angelis once said,

“The real act of marriage takes place in the heart, not in the ballroom or church or synagogue. It’s a choice you make – not just on your wedding day, but over and over again…”

Illustrating that very sentiment, our now newlyweds didn’t let the weather, a change in ceremony location, or even a global pandemic dampen the spirits of their most special day. They took each step in stride, smiling at one another through it all. It is for this very reason we know rain or shine, up or down, in sickness or in health, Emily and Alex’s hearts will choose each other over and over again, for the rest of their days. And with that, we wish them the same Irish blessing as read by Anna at the ceremony:

May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Vendor Team

Wedding Day Coordination | Jessica Walker & Jill Garver

Photography  & Videography | MaeWood Photography

Band | Onyx (Washington Talent Agency)

Catering | Crossroads Bistro Food Truck

Venue | Bohemia Overlook

Florist | The Flower Cart

Makeup | Jaclyn Hall

Hair | Anna Kielman