Ever since I saw a photo of this couple on the way to their wedding rehearsal earlier this week, I was on official wedding watch:
Do you know how long it took for this couple to get married? About 4 months, but that’s not the point. Their story is the one of champions—for real. From bitter breakups with their exes to confessing to the public their stance on waiting to have sex ‘til marriage, they made it to the altar on July 6, 2016, sharing their special moment with fans and haters on social media: “We are The Wilsons!”
Source: Instagram
Congrats are in order as the Wilsons share their nuptial news. Here are four reasons why I think they are definitely #WeddingGoals in 2016:
The location: The couple got married in Cheshire, England. It was a good idea to get away from the overabundance of media attention that they would have received in the U.S. Away from the drama, away from the paparazzi. To me this is significant because it leaves some privacy to their event and allows them to not be so distracted by what’s going on outside of them. Hopefully this includes laying low on social media for a week or two and just enjoying being newlyweds.
Let’s Selah over the locale real quick: Peckforton Castle…
Source: Facebook
*Bonus Question: If you had a destination wedding, where would it be?
The ceremony: Who gets married in the middle of the week? The Wilsons. Yessss, I’m so here for this for several reasons: 1) Those who really care are going to come, 2) You save money on the reception space because it’s not a peak time of the week, 3) You save money on feeding people because not everyone will come but such is life, 4) You don’t have to go to work the next day, ha! 5) You’re grown, boo! Your wedding, your call. I’m seriously considering having at least a Thursday wedding when I get married; I love me some extended weekends.
The fashion: The bride wore a custom Roberto Cavalli dress, covering her arms and bodice with white silk tulle, embroidery and glass beading. Russell wore a classic Armani black tuxedo. Her bridesmaids all wore black gowns in different styles fit for her celeb friends like Lala Anthony and Kelly Rowland.
Here’s my choice (with a lace cami) for the event if I had went:
Aaron gown by Parker, available at Rent the Runway
Some of her guests included friend and singer Jennifer Hudson who rocked a peachy-coral gown with a pleated cape by Christian Siriano to the festivities alongside her son and fiancé David Ortunga.
Source: Instagram
The testimony: “Overflow of Blessings! God is so good!” shared Russell on Twitter this week. If you didn’t know already, Ciara’s love story is not the easiest one. In reality no relationship is perfect, but deep in her heart she desired to be married and treated with respect by the man she loves:
“I remember telling my friend the kind of guy I wanted: a God-fearing man with a very fun spirit who loves kids and would really, truly care for me,” she said. (Source: People.com)
Russell was able to accomplish something that her son’s father Future could not do: commit unto marriage. It’s a message to the ladies in waiting that you can date all the “types” you desire, but let God take over and show out for you and the shift will be sudden. You don’t have to take on a man as a project, you either accept him for who he is or move on. You have to do what’s best for your well being and purpose; don’t hinder yourself because you think they will change one day. There has to be fruit, proof, receipts.
Over time Russell and Ciara improved each other, doing positive things together for charity and showing that couples can have fun and build outside of the bedroom. They looked and sounded better than they ever did with the people they were involved with in the past. Their courtship was about a year and after a destination engagement in March, they wedded shortly after. This is not everyone’s nor will it be everyone’s timeline, but when you decide that dating with purpose instead of dating with desperation you will get the results that honor God and are for your good.
My prayer is that all of us unmarried people who desire to wed one day do not give up. Your time will come, just be open to what God has for you to do in this season of singleness: the preparing, the testing, the enduring, the growing. What we see now is the manifestation of a promise God made to two individuals who did not want to settle nor give up, so neither should you.
I’m so happy to see that Ciara also got married at 30, Russell 27. Ladies, there’s hope if you haven’t accomplished your own #weddinggoals and gotten married in your twenties. I talk about this subject with several women in my first book Journey to 30 which will debut in October, me and Cici’s birthday month! Join the journey here for book updates: bit.ly/journeyto30
This is awesome! I had no idea if so many details, but you were as thoughtful with this post as they were with their plans. I know plenty of women who were ready to give up, since they aren’t married yet or whatever, but I’m glad Ciara and Russell could be such a beautiful example of finding the right person at the right time.
Thank you so much Saisha for reading! Yes, they’re story is not easy but what great testimony is? Glory to God!