There is something so special about getting married at the church you attend every Sunday. And Nicole and Jonathan’s Catholic wedding in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was such a good reminder of that! They celebrated their wedding at St. Anne Catholic Church, the same parish where they first met, which made the day even more meaningful. From their traditional Catholic Mass to all the Polish traditions they incorporated into their reception, their wedding was such a fun mix of faith, family, and celebrating their heritage. And honestly, I love seeing couples make their wedding day their own!
A Catholic Wedding in Broken Arrow at St. Anne Catholic Church
One thing I always tell couples is that you don’t need to get married in a grand cathedral to have a beautiful Catholic wedding. There is something really meaningful about celebrating the sacrament of matrimony in your home parish, surrounded by the people you’ve grown in faith with. For Nicole and Jonathan, St. Anne Catholic Church was already such an important part of their story, so getting married there just made sense! They also chose to have their reception at the parish, which kept everything in one place and allowed them to spend more time celebrating with their guests.
Before their Mass, Nicole and Jonathan made time for a first touch and prayer together. Which is something I always recommend considering if you’re not planning on doing a first look. Even if it’s just sitting together on a couch in a church hallway, having those few minutes to talk and pray can make such a difference in how you feel going into your ceremony. And one of my favorite moments from their day actually happened after the Mass. While Father was signing their marriage license. Jonathan was looking at his wedding ring for the first time while Nicole held his hand, and I happened to catch it. It’s those little moments that happen in between everything else that I love being able to document!
Honoring Polish Traditions During Their Catholic Wedding
I absolutely loved how Nicole and Jonathan incorporated Nicole’s Polish heritage throughout their wedding day! During their nuptial Mass. They presented flowers to Our Lady of Częstochowa at the altar, which was such a meaningful way to honor both their Catholic faith and Polish traditions. Nicole’s bridesmaids also wore traditional Polish shawls, adding another personal touch to the celebration. It’s such a good example of how you can incorporate your family’s traditions into your wedding while keeping the sacrament at the center of the day.
Their reception had even more fun details! They included the traditional Polish bread and salt ceremony. Where the newlyweds are welcomed with bread and salt as a symbol of hospitality and wishes for their marriage. They also had an entire sausage and cheese cart inspired by Poland, complete with a snowy mountain backdrop! Instead of a traditional champagne toast, they celebrated with whiskey and vodka shots, and all those giant colorful flowers decorating the reception? Nicole and Jonathan made those themselves! I love when couples include details that actually mean something to them rather than just following whatever wedding trends are popular.
From a Traditional Catholic Mass to an Epic Wedding Reception
One of my favorite things about Catholic weddings is getting to document both sides of the day. You have this beautiful, sacred Mass where you’re entering into the sacrament of matrimony, and then you get to celebrate with all your favorite people afterward! Nicole and Jonathan’s reception was exactly that. Between the family toasts, colorful decorations, cake cutting, and everyone getting out on the dance floor, there were so many fun moments throughout the evening.
And if you want my advice for getting those really fun, candid wedding photos? Stay together throughout your reception! Nicole and Jonathan did such a great job of this, and I love how many photos I was able to capture of them actually enjoying the party together. Dancing with each other, laughing with their guests, and just being present for everything happening around them. Your wedding day goes by so quickly, and I always want you to have photos that remind you of what it actually felt like to be there!
Planning Your Own Catholic Wedding in Oklahoma or Texas? Hire Me As Your Wedding Photographer!
Whether you’re planning a Catholic wedding in Broken Arrow, somewhere else in Oklahoma, or even in Texas. I would love to document it! I’m an Oklahoma Catholic wedding photographer who loves traveling for weddings. Including to Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and beyond. Whether you’re getting married in a beautiful cathedral or the small hometown parish you’ve attended for years, your wedding deserves to be documented with just as much care and attention. If you’re looking for a photographer who understands the importance of the Mass while also capturing all the fun, candid moments of your celebration, I’d love to hear what you’re planning! If you want to learn more about me and what I do, click here. Can’t wait to hear from you!
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