Why I Chose a Small Wedding Ceremony Instead of My Big Dream Wedding

Quite frankly, marriage caught me completely by surprise.

I met my husband in the Bahamas through one of my male cousins, who was also his friend. Later that same night, after we’d been introduced, he personally approached me to start a conversation. And that’s when it happened: I literally saw a radiant light shine from him as he spoke. It wasn’t romantic, and I didn’t say anything to him about it in the moment. I just quietly took note of it, thinking it was unusual and deeply interesting. The light appeared, I saw it, and then it faded. We simply proceeded deeper into our conversation. The next day, I mentioned it to my dad because it stood out to me so strongly.

From there, we became friends. He was kind, humble, and the most godly man I had ever met. His zeal and passion for the Lord radiated in everything he did. For months, he made it clear that he was interested in me, but I wasn’t ready. Truthfully, if it had been up to him, we would’ve been married within two weeks to a month of meeting. My reservations were the only reason things didn’t move forward sooner.

God’s Timing in Love

We stayed friends for about a year. We talked consistently, traveled back and forth to see each other, and built a bond without labels. And then, almost suddenly, something shifted in me. When I finally made up my mind that I was serious about him, I told him directly. Within just a few days, we were engaged.

We never had a “boyfriend and girlfriend” stage. We went straight from friendship to engagement, and then a little over a month later, to marriage. Once I opened my heart, everything moved quickly, because the foundation was already there and he was ready.

His proposal was exactly what I had dreamed of: on the beach at night, with candles, flowers, and a beautiful setup. It was intimate and meaningful. The only mishap was the photographer, who didn’t capture it well. Thankfully, our phones caught enough to hold onto the memory.

Why We Chose a Small Wedding

Everything unfolded quickly, but also in God’s timing. November 11, 2024, became our wedding day. We didn’t even set a specific time; we just knew it was the right day. My dad, who’s a pastor, officiated. My mom, my brothers, my sister-in-law, their children, and my close friend Stephanie were there. None of his family was able to attend, which was difficult, but we still knew we were being obedient to God’s leading.

Would I have loved a big, extravagant ceremony with everyone present? Of course. But the timing wasn’t about appearances; it was about obedience. The wedding didn’t need to be grand to validate the covenant God was calling us into.

And honestly? Choosing a small wedding saved us money, spared us unnecessary stress, and allowed us to focus on what truly mattered: the marriage itself, not just the event.

Finances & Style

Like many women, I once dreamed of a huge wedding, designer dress, massive guest list, a celebration to remember. And while there’s nothing wrong with that, I had to ask myself: what’s more important, the wedding day or the life we’re building after it?

We chose to be wise with our finances. A lavish wedding could have cost us thousands, money that could instead help us build our future together. And I realized that style doesn’t always mean extravagance. Sometimes style is found in simplicity, intentionality, and grace. My dress was simple, the ceremony was simple, but it was still beautiful because it was clothed in love.

Spiritual Foundation

One of the most meaningful parts of our journey was how God wove spirituality into it from the beginning. In fact, the reason we even stayed connected after I left the Bahamas was because he asked me to go on a fast with him. He wanted to learn more about biblical fasting, and I was already someone who practiced it often.

At the time, I didn’t see it as romantic. It was just obedience to God. But fasting together kept us prayerful, aligned, and accountable. And before our wedding, we fasted again. That became the anchor of our relationship. This wasn’t just a love story; it was a God story.

Conclusion: The Beauty of Obedience

I didn’t have my big dream wedding. I had something better.

I had a wedding aligned with God’s timing, rooted in obedience, wrapped in love, and free from distractions and financial strain.

That moment on the very first night we truly spoke will always stay with me. The light I saw shining from him wasn’t just coincidence. I believe it was God giving me a glimpse, a foreshadowing of the man He had chosen for me, even before I could see it for myself. At the time, it wasn’t romantic. I said nothing to him about it, only noted it quietly and shared it with my dad the next day. But looking back now, I can see that God was already revealing something greater than I understood in that moment.

So if you’re torn between your dream and God’s direction, let my story encourage you: God’s timing, God’s way, and God’s plan is always better.

The most beautiful stories aren’t the ones we design for ourselves, but the ones we surrender to God.