Family-Life Weddings

Jennifer and Brandon's Love Story

When Jennifer and Brandon met on Brandon’s first day at CBS Radio in Pittsburgh, they each knew it was a moment that would change their lives forever. While Brandon felt it was love at first sight, Jennifer was cautious about the man who stopped by to visit her tucked-away cubicle, admittedly, to “flirt with her”.

Two and a half years later, they were engaged. Embarking on the journey of preparing for a wedding was quite overwhelming. Brandon plans events for a living, as Promotions Director for Star 100.7 and Jennifer has great organizational skills as Sales Assistant. But they just weren’t sure where to start, especially when it came to the important task of finding someone to perform the marriage ceremony and make it legal.

Since Jennifer was raised Lutheran and Brandon grew up Orthodox, they hadn’t found a church to attend together. They decided to be married at The Renaissance Hotel in Pittsburgh, but didn’t want to settle for just any Justice of the Peace. They wanted a romantic ceremony, one that reflected their faith, but also their personalities and love for each other. They were looking for an experienced, professional officiant with a great sense of humor.

Brandon and Jennifer have always believed in their meeting each other being “meant to be” and when Jennifer was referred to Reverend David Croyle as a possible candidate to perform their ceremony, they knew he was the one!

Their first meeting with Reverend Croyle took place in May 2005. When they sat down at a local restaurant, the couple didn’t feel intimidated at all. It was more like they were sitting with an uncle or a friend of the family. “Reverend Croyle took care to ask the important questions, about the wedding party and which elements of the ceremony were to be included,” Jennifer said. “But he also asked personal questions to get to know us as a couple; about our parents, about how we met, and about how we came to decide to be married.” They also found they shared a common interest in media and throughout the entire conversation, Reverend Croyle took thorough notes on his laptop computer… so thorough, in fact, that he only needed to follow up here and there via email. He was Brandon & Jennifer’s dream come true!

Reverend Croyle suggested performing the Unity Candle ceremony and he showed them a picture of the attire he would wear during the ceremony, to ensure that they were comfortable with how he presented himself to their family and friends. He also recommended one of the most original ideas they had ever heard of for a wedding, a “hands ceremony”. As Reverend Croyle described it, it brought tears to the bride-to-be’s eyes and she knew it had to be incorporated. Brandon and Jennifer chose traditional vows, although Reverend Croyle was open to them writing their own.

Brandon and Jennifer had such faith in Reverend Croyle from that point forward and he did not disappoint them. In fact, he orchestrated a ceremony that kept the entire audience of family and close friends captivated from start to finish. “He even added the story about how Brandon made his way back to my cubicle and flirted with me on his first day of work! I could sense the recognition among our families and friends behind me as the story was told,” said the bride. “At another point, he asked us to look around the room at those who were there to support us in our new life together. It was incredibly touching.”

From the moment the ceremony ended, the entire wedding party was buzzing about what a wonderful job the minister did, and how emotionally touching and personalized the whole ceremony was for the couple. Both sets of parents were particularly impressed.

“We received so many compliments and positive feedback about our wedding, from the location to the flowers to the food,” said the Groom, “but the vast majority of comments, even still to this day, have been about our minister and the ceremony that was created just for us. Without knowing us for very long, our friends and family were convinced that he was a family pastor or old friend of the family. Guests from all religious backgrounds asked ‘where did you find him?’”

The couple raves, “We wholeheartedly and enthusiastically recommend Reverend David Croyle as a wedding minister because he communicated the love we have for each other and designed a wedding ceremony that was special and unique to us. Our wedding was the most romantic and personal we’ve ever attended…we were so happy it was ours!”

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