Between travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders, the coronavirus has affected countless 2020 brides and grooms. But, not wanting to wait any longer to become husband and wife, Andrew and Joannah decided to keep their original wedding date, alter their plans, and enjoy an intimate, backyard wedding in West Lafayette, Indiana!
Today, I’m so excited to share Mr. and Mrs. Groenewold’s sweet wedding on the blog!
After the coronavirus affected their original plans, Andrew & Joannah decided to get married in their pastors’ backyard.
“Crazy” doesn’t even begin to describe 2020 for Andrew and Joannah! You see, this darling couple met through Connection Point Church and Purdue (You can read more of their story here!), and after finishing grad school and getting engaged, Joannah needed to go back to India for her visa. (This was also in the midst of Andrew finishing grad school and getting a job offer in San Antonio. See! Crazy!)
So, for about a year, Andrew and Joannah did long distance and planned their Indiana wedding while Joanna was afar. (They’ve been working with Crista Tharp of Blissfully Simple Events, who is incredible, to relive wedding planning stress.)
When Joannah’s visa was settled and she was approved to return to the United States, the coronavirus was beginning to sweep the world. Thankfully, Joannah was able to make one of the very last flights out of India before the country suspended travel. Andrew and Joannah were so thankful that they could be together, but they quickly realized that there was no way that Joannah’s family—who lives in India—would be able to travel to the states for Andrew and Joannah’s June 5 wedding.
Not wanting to wait to get married, Andrew and Joannah decided to (1) get married on their originally scheduled date and (2) to postpone their big wedding celebration until their one-year wedding anniversary so they can celebrate their marriage with family and friends in 2021! How sweet is that?!
For their June 5, 2020 wedding, Andrew and Joannah considered doing a small courthouse wedding. However, when their pastors (Yes, that’s plural! Zach and Shellie Maddox are husband and wife and both serve as pastors at Connection Point Church in West Lafayette.) offered to let Andrew and Joannah do their ceremony in their gorgeous backyard, Andrew and Joannah couldn’t say no to that!
So, Andrew and Joannah worked together to create a beautiful ceremony space (Just wait until you see their floral arch!) in Zach and Shellie’s backyard, invited Deann and Mick Dalton (who have essentially become Joannah’s US parents), and worked with Toast Wedding Films to set up remote viewing for their friends and family who couldn’t be with them.
It was a truly wonderful day and a beautiful testament to the fact that marriage is more important than a wedding.
After their ceremony, Andrew and Joannah enjoyed cake and a toast with their guests and then allowed Alejandro of Toast Wedding Films (their videographer) and I to take them to Purdue for a few “just married” shots!
Following photos, Andrew and Joannah went home to finish packing and start the drive to San Antonio, Texas so they could move into their new apartment (which they’ve only seen via video due to the coronavirus) so Andrew could start his new job on Monday. Like I said, it’s been a CRAZY year for the Groenewolds!
Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Groenwold!
Andrew and Joannah, I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am for the two of you or how honored I am that you trusted me to be your wedding photographer.
I just love that you didn’t let the coronavirus get you down and knew that big wedding or not, you would still be just as married.
I have no doubt that your one-year celebration will be incredible, and I can’t wait to “do your wedding day all over again.” But, with Christ at the center of your marriage, your relationship will be far more beautiful than any wedding (big or small).
Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Groenwold! I hope you love these previews from your backyard wedding in West Lafayette, Indiana!
I just love the cocktail dress Joannah chose! It was so classy but fun!
Joannah’s main stone is actually blue! It matches Andrew’s eyes, and they chose a ring with wood details, because the wood matches Joannah’s eyes. How thoughtful is that?!
Since Joannah has been in the United States, Deann has served as her “US mom,” so she helped Joannah get ready on the morning of her wedding.
Isn’t their backyard stunning?! And, that arch! Andrew and Joannah did an incredible job!
They’re married! Yeah!
Andrew and Joannah had seven people present for their wedding: Deann and Mick Dalton, Zach and Shellie Maddox, and Zach and Shellie’s three sweet kids!
After their ceremony and spending a little time with guests, we went to Purdue to grab wedding photos on the campus that’s such a huge part of Andrew and Joannah’s love story.
Want to see more of Andrew and Joannah? Check out their spring Purdue University engagement photos!
Creative Team
Venue: Private Property
Bride’s Dress: David’s Bridal
Groom’s Tux: Louie’s Tux Shop
Officiant: Pastor Zach Maddox of Connection Point Church
Videographer: Toast Wedding Films
Photographer: Victoria Rayburn Photography
