Hannah & Selemani | Married

The moment I heard that Hannah had gotten engaged, I knew it was going to be a day to remember. Hannah is a close friend of Josh’s from our time at Cedarville, but she lives back in her hometown just outside Chicago and it had been a while since we’d seen her. Then we heard the news…. she was getting married!!!

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Hannah had found her life partner (or rather, as we understand it, he found her and relentlessly pursued) in Selemani, a soccer-loving African with a killer smile that lights up his face whenever Hannah steps into the room. Their wedding day was filled with so much life, laughter, and celebration echoing through multiple cultural lenses. Hannah and Selemani held a traditional American ceremony that included a Nepali dance and an African choir, and though they spent most of the day in American wedding clothes, they changed into African attire for their grand exit.

Marriage is an adventure; no one who has ever been married will deny it. The blending of two different family units can sometimes prove challenging, but in the end, both sides grow and adapt to become better, stronger. For Hannah and Selemani, their family will be a blend of two cultures very different from one another. But how beautiful will the outcome be? If their wedding was a taste of the kind of community they will foster, there is a strength and unity found there that one rarely has the privilege to see. Hannah and Selemani, your marriage brings a special significance to the “two becoming one” referenced in the gospel of Mark. Josh and I can’t wait to see how God uses you as husband and wife! We love you!

P.S. This couple and their bridal party gets a HUGE shoutout and thank you for putting up with the insanely cold weather for portraits! We’re talking winter in Chicago, people… and yes, those are SNOWFLAKES that you’ll see dancing through the foreground! But I think you’ll agree that it was so worth it!!!

Venue | Village Bible Church

DJ (& my second shooter for the day!) | Josh Staley