When I arrived to The Barn at Cranberry Creek, ready to begin the day, Tynaiza and her ladies were having the best time in the bridal suite as their hair and makeup were completed. There was so much laughter and joking around, and everyone seemed so relaxed—there was no stress allowed at this wedding! The rest of the day followed suit, as Devin and his guys arrived and gifts were exchanged. And their gifts to each other were most impressive! Tynaiza gave Devin a Movado watch, and Devin gave Tynaiza the sweetest photo album he designed of their lives together and a spectacular pair of Jordans. It wasn’t surprising that his groomsmen were also decked out in different pairs of Jordan and Lebron shoes. (Apparently Devin has quite the obsession with shoes!) And then the ceremony began. One of the most special and symbolic parts of their ceremony was when Tynaiza and Devin “jumped the broom.” This tradition began during the pre-Civil War era to symbolize the union between and a man and woman and is still a popular tradition within the African-American community.
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I didn’t meet Maura until the day of, but I immediately fell in love with her and Robert and their families. They were some of the kindest, friendliest people I met and welcomed me as one of the family into the AirBnB they had rented for their big weekend. And this AirBnB was the perfect location for an afternoon, mountaintop wedding! The inside was bright and airy, and the porch had just the right amount of space for the 14 people in attendance to sit or stand and a gorgeous view of the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
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Emily and Austin were married at Grace Church in Harrisburg, Emily’s home church, and their officiant was a close family friend and the church’s associate pastor. His entire family helped with the wedding, including his daughter, who played the harp during the ceremony! One of the most beautiful details of their ceremony was a cross covered in gorgeous flowers. I remember Emily’s dad telling us that he didn’t want it to look too pretty—the cross itself was not a pretty thing. He knows his theology! But what happened on the cross was beautiful and represents the sacrificial love of Christ, and I loved that it was a centerpiece to Emily and Austin’s wedding ceremony. The ceremony was appropriately full of music, from the harpist to the songs that the wedding party and guests joined in singing together. Even in the midst of a global pandemic, there were many friends and family members who were able to attend.
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