the journal

AmyJo and Andrew’s story is straight out of a fairytale! It begins with each of them praying to find the right person for them. Having faith and trust in the Lord to be guided to where they needed to be so they could find each other. Andrew ‘prayed to find the one, someone who would be able to help [him] get past the barriers left behind by a broken marriage, someone who would be, above all else, kind. Someone who would make [him] smile and whom [he] could make smile’. He was led to an app online and found AmyJo. Andrew says,  ‘Instead of casually flicking upwards with a ‘hey I’m interested’ I looked at her pictures, I read her profile, a thought came to me “here, is every good thing!” we had everything that was important in common, and she even lived in one of my favorite states!’ He sent her a quick message and hoped she would reply and she did! And ‘from [their] very first discussion, everything just seemed to fit’. From their love of all things Disney to their constant reliance on the Lord, they were perfect for each other.

Their relationship took off and the next thing they knew, they were getting engaged! Andrew took AmyJo to her favorite temple (Rexburg of course) and after walking around the temple for a while, ‘Andrew handed [her] an acorn’. AmyJo says, ‘I knew immediately the implication – the kiss Peter Pan gave to Wendy that saved her from the arrow. “Open it” he gestured. My fingers were cold so opening the top was a bit of a challenge, so he helped me open the top. (White Knight moment) Inside the kiss were slips of paper. I read each once carefully and emotion welled inside me. As I read I handed each one to him:
“You mean more to me than anyone in the whole world” – Peter Pan
“This is the miracle I’ve been dreaming of” – Cinderella
“Now I’m in a whole new world with you” – Aladdin
“One song, my heart keeps singing of one love only for you” – Snow White
“I’d rather die tomorrow, than love a hundred years not knowing you” – Pocahontas
“Adventure is out there” – Up
“So this is love, this is what makes life divine” – Cinderella
“All at once, everything is different, now that I see you” – Tangled
“Every once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairytale” When I handed him the last one he knelt down on one knee and looked into my eyes, that were filling with tears (I’m not a person who cries, but this moment…), “AmyJo Denise Blomquist, will you marry me”’

And the rest is history! AmyJo said yes and their wedding was so sweet and personal. From the acorn necklace AmyJo was wearing to the inscription on their rings that read ‘Deus Nos lunxit’ which means, ‘God joined us’. When I got to the Rexburg temple before their sealing, I noticed that the outside was under construction. It was surrounded by scaffolding and other construction materials. I immediately started to worry and think about how I could edit the images to get rid of the construction materials so the couple could have an image without it. But the second I mentioned it to them, they said they liked it just how it was! Not only was I relieved not to have to do extra tricky editing, but I was so touched by the reasoning that they wanted to keep it as it was. Andrew said, ‘We are all a work in progress and so is the temple’. And it is so true. None of us are perfect and I love that they had that attitude going into their marriage. Robert D Hales once said, ‘None of us marry perfection, we marry potential’. And AmyJo and Andrew are perfect examples of this. They know their marriage will be hard work, just like their long distance relationship. It involves lots of communication and understanding and love. AmyJo and Andrew, I wish you all the best in your journey together!

Vendors

Dress ~ Margenes

Tux and Suits ~ Men’s wearhouse

Bridesmaid dresses ~ Mikarose

Cake ~ Rexburg Cakes

Rentals ~ Rigby Wedding Rentals

Rings ~ Shane Co

Hair and Makeup ~ Elena