Amidst a confusing and unprecedented time for the US and the entire world, weddings, travel, and the very way we all interact has been altered more than we could have imagined. As the coronavirus swept around the world, plans inevitably changed and shifted as families quarantined and everyone had to seek a new way of navigating these difficult and often traumatic times. At Suncoast Weddings we see it as our role to support our couples as we focus on wedding planning. We would like to share a story of love which saw Erick and Erica say “I Do” at the Sunset Beach House last week. All of the social distancing rules were followed and the wedding was a smaller, more intimate ceremony than had been planned.
Erick and Erica
It was three and a half years ago that Erick and Erica fell in love. This is their story.
If ever there was a poster child for a positive that could come from the effects that COVID 19 has had on the wedding plans of thousands of couples, then Erica would be it.
Like many couples, Erica and her fiancée Erick were devasted when the realization dawned that the big, beautiful beach-front wedding and reception they had planned was in jeopardy as the whole country began to lock-down.
But one thing they were 100% certain of was that their wedding was going to happen on the day they had planned.
“It didn’t enter our heads to cancel the wedding, not at all. I am a firm believer that tomorrow isn’t promised so no matter what happened, even if it was just the two of us he wanted that day and I wanted that day.
“True, we had to make a lot of changes and as time went on there was the gradual acceptance that our wedding day was not at all going to be as planned. But we wouldn’t let it get us down. After all, weddings should be a positive – Erick and I were not going to let it turn into a negative because of what was going on.
“The last few weeks would normally be that perfect time to enjoy all the last minute planning and all the fun stuff that you usually do just before a wedding. But we had to cope with a lot, including people we knew who passed away. It was a prayerful time.
“When the day came, it was to us both, the true meaning of what marrying the love of your life is all about and just what really is important on your wedding day.
“Because our ceremony had become so small we were able to really involve our kids in the day, we had so much more time for them on the day too – it was the true meaning of family.
“Our vows to each other were very deep and so emotional and intimate, a true exchange of love and I think all the more so because of what we’d been through to make the wedding happen.
“I’m not an overly religious person, but I believe that not only did God bring Erick and I together, I truly believe that He was present on the day. It was just all so very special.
“So yes, our wedding day was entirely different from what we had planned, but I wouldn’t go back and change a thing. There’s a reason why things happen in your life”
Photo credits: GMP Photography (thank you for allowing us to share them, Erica)
If you have a story that we could share with our Suncoast Weddings family, drop us an email to sue@suncoastweddings.com
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