Wild Wohlstein Wedding

 

    You may notice a whole host of changes to the website, that is because I got a new last name! On April 20, 2022 I married my best friend in the whole world. We promised to build a life together on love and adventure. We had our wedding prayed over by our minister for the wedding and long time friend, Sam. It was a small wedding but so beautiful, we had our close friends and family there to stand with us. Everyone hiked up a mountain for this and I appreciate the effort on their part since my side of the wedding party is used to the flat land of Illinois. Parker's brother, Zachary, did a lot of camera work for us and put together a beautiful slide show. 

     Our wedding was planned nice but also pretty thrown together since money was very limited for us. We had such a fun, and honestly hectic, morning for the girls and I to get ready. But it all worked out and everyone arrived around the same time to head up the mountain together. We chose the spot where Parker first kissed me, where he proposed to me and that is now the place we got married. Its a beautiful spot, Auxier Ridge in Red River Gorge Kentucky. Everyone pitched in to carry wedding supplies up the mountain; Parker carried the arbor he made all the way up and people joked that he was carrying his cross, it is the one you see in the first picture. A bunch of other stuff was DIY like how we made the bouquets together of ferns and tulips.  When we got up the mountain we had a very quick rehearsal - it was the first time we had everyone even meet each other, but our families hit it off very well. After the first and only rehearsal  (😮) we took pictures. Literally before we knew it people were showing up, and I had to go to the little cove of trees I would walk out from. We had the bridesmaids walk out to the song Southern Nights, and I walked out to the Last of the Mohicans song. Sam had everyone pray over us at the very beginning, then we went through all the wedding stuff which is all a blur now. Then the vows, which was hard to get through without bein emotional, after that we did a cute handfasting thing that symbolizes binding us together in the colors we chose (ex. green for our shared love of nature). Next thing you know it was all over and our families and friends were all around us congratulating us. 

    We stayed in the most beautiful cabin for our honeymoon. It had a hot tub and this amazing fire pit that was a very short hike from the back door of the cabin. It was in a cupped out side of a rock cliff and it was almost like being in a little cave in the mountain with a fire going at the mouth of it. From there we could see the hills and mountains in the distance. It all ended really fast. During that time we had our Kentucky reception, which was exactly what we wanted. It was a small event, very informal and just filled with so much joy. We had all Parker's friends and family there to eat the coolest looking cake I ever saw, and just share in our joy which was really special to both of us. Parker's parents and his siblings, Zac and Lexie, helped so much in the decorating and preparing food for the event. All his friends made a toast to us and how happy we are which was extremely sweet of them.

    The ceremony we had in Illinois was equally as special to me. I am so thankful for everyone that showed up to celebrate our union. We held it at my Uncle's church. So many good memories are in that church. My best friend, Nicole, made a fantastic cake and my Dad cut us some redbud sprigs because we wanted some edible native plants on the cake to make it more of a "wild" wedding. My Aunt and Grandma, and especially my Mom put in a lot of work with the food that day. Our friends and family are so wonderful for coming together for us and showing us so much love and support. 

    If there is anything I wish, is that everyone could experience the provisions of God. I know that when you follow God's path (as uncomfortable and as hard to do as it is) it is the BEST for your life. I got Parker from following God's path. I keep getting provisions and it is the best of anything I could dream for. I figured for this blog, to make you feel like you were at the wedding ceremony just for a moment I will put my vows to Parker here. It is kind of sweet because it really is my promise to him for life but every day I work on it and add more, to be a better wife for him because he deserves it. To be a better wife I go to the blue print that tells me how a good wife should be and I pray that it just becomes second nature to me (I think I'm getting there)- if you haven't guessed I go to the Bible and find out God's plan for wives. Here are the vows, the best promises are the ones found in the Bible which I added: 

Parker,

 I knew there was something about you the first time we looked at each other. Now we stand here together and promise our lives, the best years, and the trials to each other, but I am undaunted by what we have before us. I whole heartedly chose you. We will build a life together with our love as the foundation. In my Bible I have a picture of us next to the verse in 1 Corinthians 13:7 that says, “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” That is what I stand on when I love you. It is more than any other earthly feeling; it is so natural and yet so intentional because I want to give you the kind of love that makes our lives so fulfilled. With having love, we have gained the best thing- it costs nothing- it can’t be actually seen- but you can carry it wherever you go, feel its power in any day at any time to encourage you and move you forward. Over Summer, we were talking about independence, you told me that you would never force me to take your hand, but it will always be here if I need it. I do need it, the rest of my life, and I promise the same for you, no matter what happens I will always be right by your side when you need me. You complete me in ways I never knew possible. From this day forth, I promise to be patient and listen to you and learn from you, to support you and accept your support. I will celebrate your victories and mourn your losses as though they were my own. I will love you, my husband, and rejoice in your love for me for all eternity.

-Nichole