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I never had a doubt in my mind
that Marissa is the person that God
has chosen for me.
—Jon
MARISSA & JONATHAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JB WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
Marissa and Jon met in May of 2018 through mutual
friends. At first, things moved slowly. Jon, in the U.S.
Marine Corps, was deployed in August, returning in
April 2019. Because of the circumstances they had
only limited communication and considered each
other friends.
When Jon returned home, they spent every weekend
together, though it involved traveling about 550
miles each way. “We would have the time packed with
specific things we were going to do for our dates,” Marissa
says, “and other times we would just do nothing
but talk and hang out.” They both agree that those
times just hanging out were when they got to know
each other the best.
One of their first dates was spent exploring Marissa’s
hometown, going to her favorite places. It put a
picture in Jon’s mind of her childhood and upbringing
and they found they grew up in the same kind of lifestyle.
Their relationship quickly escalated.
Jon had been immediately interested in Marissa
when they met, and Marissa, in turn, knew at the beginning
that he was the one. So, when he returned from his
deployment they discussed the possibility of marriage.
Marissa had one stipulation: that he get her parents’
blessing before proposing. Jon also spoke to his family.
“I sought counsel, so I could think about it and pray
about it,” Jon says, “and make sure it’s the absolute
right decision, for the right reasons.” He tried to make
a list of pros and cons of marrying Marissa—but could
not come up with any cons.
In early July 2019, less than three months after he
returned, Jon showed up at Marissa’s parents’ house
at 9:30 p.m. two days before he proposed. “The kindhearted
people that they are,” Jon says, “they welcomed
me in. I asked for their blessing, and they gave
it to me.”
Then, two days later, while they were walking in
a renowned rose garden, a photographer Jon had
enlisted for the purpose approached Marissa and said,
“Can I take a couple of pictures for my personal memoir?”
Though she thought it strange, Marissa consented
and turned toward the photographer. When Marissa
turned back around, she saw Jon down on one knee.
It was a beautiful moment for them both.
The couple did not have a first look but opted for
a first prayer instead. They held hands as they prayed
from opposite sides of a wall next to a doorway. They
couldn’t see each other but the camera could see both.
“We really wanted the first look to be down the aisle,”
Marissa says. “We believed that if you do the first look
prior, then those pictures aren’t the same.”
When Jon saw his bride walk down the aisle emotion
took over and he lost it. “It was just pure beauty
and pure love and pure happiness,” Jon says.
“Both of us have really strong faith and because of
that, everything was easier,” Marissa says. “We knew
that God chose us for each other.” OO
—Margaret Snider
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