Their friends can testify that during those years that Sarah
and Patrick were physically apart--living in different parts of the world--they
were both committed to remaining connected. Sarah says that she remembers, spending what seemed like
“entire weekends on the telephone, or AOL’s instant messaging system, talking
with Patrick” about their hopes and dreams for the future and making plans for
their next trip to see each other.
Both
Sarah and Patrick believe that getting through the challenges of being apart
has solidified their faith and trust in their partnership for the future.
Last year Patrick, an Officer with the Air Force, got a work assignment on the island of Oahu. Sarah, willing to postpone the start of her career to finally be together, moved with him to Hawaii. From the shores of the Aloha State, they started planning a Pennsylvania wedding.
Last year Patrick, an Officer with the Air Force, got a work assignment on the island of Oahu. Sarah, willing to postpone the start of her career to finally be together, moved with him to Hawaii. From the shores of the Aloha State, they started planning a Pennsylvania wedding.
“Having
friends and family present is very important to me” Sarah shares, “Because we
were in a long distance relationship, our lives were so separate before, and so
we spent a lot of time with our friends and family members. Having the ceremony
with them present is a way to merge our independent lives and also for everyone
to experience the two of us as a couple and a family rather than only as
individuals.”
Patrick
wanted everyone present at their wedding ceremony to leave knowing that he and
Sarah “are good together and are happy together.”
Ceremony Highlights
Ring Blessing In honoring the role that family and tradition play in
their lives, Sarah’s wedding ring was made with the diamonds from a re-purposed
family heirloom. At the start of their ceremony, Sarah and Patrick’s rings were
passed through their family and friends. While holding their rings, guest were
invited to add their best wishes, prayers, dreams and best intentions for the
couple and their marriage, into the rings before Patrick and Sarah exchanged
them later on in the service.
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| "Patrick, the woman whose hands you hold loves you very much. She’s athletic and driven, fiercely loyal and caring… She’s got it all, and you are astounded, daily, by her combination of beauty and brains."--Alisa Tongg, Celebrant |
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| "He’s sweet and silly, handsomely dashing, generous with his affection and seriously driven. He inspires you with his inquisitive mind and joins you on your junk food benders."--Alisa Tongg, Celebrant |
Herbal Infusion One of the many
things that Sarah loves about life with Patrick, is the time they spend
preparing meals together. Since sharing a meal is very important to this
couple, they decided to perform a symbolic herbal infusion as their unity
ritual.
They used fresh marjoram
and rosemary from the beautifully cultivated gardens of the Glasbern Inn. Marjoram represents joy and happiness, which is exactly what
Patrick said he felt, “sharing this celebration with all of the people" he
loves. Sarah chose rosemary because it symbolizes remembrance, love, loyalty,
and fidelity, she says, “these were the qualities that were important when we
were physically separated and continue to be important now in our relationship
being a military family.”
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| Sarah and Patrick on the grounds of the Glasbern Inn. Jauhien Sasnou Wedding Photography |
For the future, Patrick says, "I see us living in many different places throughout the world and making the most of all of them." In addition to a lifetime living in places that they love, continuing to pursue their passions and eventually starting a family, Sarah hopes that she and Patrick, "never stop having fun together."
A special thank you to Jauhien Sasnou, a Philadelphia-based wedding photographer with a great eye and style. You can see more of his work here.
