Mary Grace and Miggy’s Catholic wedding at St. Paul Catholic Church in Tampa Bay was full of the Holy Spirit, laughter, and tears. This couple radiates an infectious joy, and it was an honor to document their special day.
An Evening of Adoration at St. Paul Catholic Church
Most couples celebrate a rehearsal dinner before their wedding day. One thing I especially love about documenting Catholic weddings, however, is when a couple attends an adoration service together the night before their wedding. Mary Grace’s father, a Catholic deacon, led the exposition of the Holy Eucharist. The evening set the tone for a spirit-filled wedding weekend!
Letters Before the Nuptial Mass
Mary Grace and Miggy read letters to one another before mass. This is when the tears really started! It is so easy to see how in love these two are with each other. Miggy delivered a heartfelt letter through emotional tears.
I started crying when Mary Grace mentioned her high school youth minister. Before pivoting into Catholic Wedding Videography, I was a Catholic youth minister, and Mary Grace was one of my students. It was a full-circle moment when she told Miggy that she had been praying for him since before they even met, following the advice that her youth minister gave her years ago. What a joy to see a former student have her prayers be answered! I said it to my students then, and I still say it now: It’s never too early to pray for your future spouse!
After reading their letters to each other, Mary Grace and Miggy said a final prayer together before becoming husband and wife.
Catholic Wedding at St. Paul Catholic Church
Mary Grace and Miggy met each other at the Catholic Student Center at the University of South Florida. Their campus ministry priest presided over their wedding mass and delivered a touching, yet hilarious, homily.
The couple also chose to honor Mary, and delivered flowers to a statue of the Virgin Mary.
When Mary Grace walked down the aisle towards the altar, Miggy shed more tears than we have ever seen a groom cry before. Throughout the entire mass, it was clear how strong and pure the love was between this young couple.
Once the Nuptial Mass at St. Paul Catholic Church ended, Mary Grace and Miggy exited the church with the biggest smiles. Miggy could not contain his excitement and couldn’t help but throw celebratory fist pumps in the air!
Catholic Wedding Reception in Tampa Bay
As a wedding photographer, Four Loves Photo and Film has heard all sorts of wedding toasts and speeches. There are a few that we never forget, however, and Mary Grace and Miggy’s wedding reception toasts were remarkably unforgettable.
Miggy’s dad opened the floor with a hilarious speech, sharing his perspective of the first time Miggy met Mary Grace. It was a touching story, delivered with perfect comedic timing that made all the guests laugh. Mary Grace’s dad delivered an equally memorable speech. Many tears were shed at his heartfelt words to his beloved daughter and her new husband.
To get the party really started, Mary Grace and Miggy hired a Tampa Bay saxophone player for the reception. The musician was lively and got the whole wedding on the dance floor.
Everyone at this wedding was so well-spoken that it was a challenge to fit everything into one six-minute wedding film. However, I am so happy that we were able to capture every word of this beautiful day for Miggy and Mary Grace with our audio and video tools!
Hire a Catholic Wedding Videographer
Planning a Catholic Wedding? Contact Four Loves Photo and Film to hire a seasoned Catholic Wedding Videographer!
Photographer: @rightupyouralliephoto
Videographer: @fourlovesphotofilm
Venue: @tampagardenclub
Church: @st.paulcatholicchurch
Dress: @melissasweetbridal
HMUA: @beautybyizzyllc
DJ: @discjockeyjake
Sax: @samonsax_
Content Creator: @yourgirlpaulina
Catering: @cateringbyrobert
Joanna Schnitzer is a Catholic Wedding Photographer and Videographer and founder of Four Loves Photo and Film. She is a devout Catholic, wife, and mother with a passion for serving couples on the most important day of their lives. Before pursuing photography full-time, Joanna spent nearly a decade as a Youth Minister at parishes in central Florida.
