Julia and Jeyshua are two of those people who leave an impact on everyone they meet.

Before I was a Bemidji wedding photographer, I was a student at BSU. I’ve known Julia and Jeyshua since my freshman year, when we met through a campus ministry at Bemidji State University. Over the years, our friendship continued through ministry, and one thing has always remained true: their love for Jesus is evident in everything they do. They are incredibly kind, servant-hearted people who constantly ask themselves, “How can I love others and point them to Christ?” Watching their relationship grow has been such a joy, and it was an incredible honor to capture both their engagement session and their wedding day.

Their December wedding at Tenstrike Community Church in Bemidji, Minnesota reflected exactly who they are—simple, elegant, and centered entirely around Christ. They were married on National Hot Cocoa Day, so naturally they had a hot cocoa bar for their guests to enjoy throughout the evening. With fresh snow covering the ground and a beautiful white winter theme, it couldn’t have fit them more perfectly.

A Winter Wedding Morning at Tenstrike Community Church

If there was one thing everyone remembers about this wedding, besides how Christ-centered it was, it was the temperature.

With a high of only 14 degrees and a low of 8 degrees, this was one of the coldest weddings I’ve ever photographed. Thankfully, everyone embraced it with smiles, and we worked quickly whenever we stepped outside. Julia and her bridesmaids especially deserve some credit for braving the cold in their dresses!

The morning was filled with laughter as both Julia and Jeyshua got ready surrounded by the people they love most. The guys even had a list of funny photos they had been waiting all morning to recreate around the church.

Before the ceremony, Julia shared two incredibly meaningful first looks—one with her dad and another with her stepdad. Both moments were emotional and such a beautiful reminder of the people who helped shape her into the woman she is today.

After wedding party portraits (and the groomsmen successfully tossing Jeyshua into the air several times), Julia and Jeyshua shared a first touch and prayer. Standing back-to-back without seeing one another, they held hands and prayed together, choosing to save their first look for the ceremony itself.

A Christ-Centered Ceremony in Bemidji, Minnesota

The ceremony is something I’ll never forget.

As Julia walked down the aisle, Jeyshua’s face said everything. The emotion, excitement, and overwhelming joy between the two of them made it feel like something straight out of a movie.

But what stood out even more was the unmistakable presence of Christ throughout the entire service.

I’ve never experienced worship quite like I did during this ceremony. Guests lifted their voices together in multiple worship songs, the message boldly proclaimed the Gospel, and every prayer and Scripture reading pointed back to Jesus. It truly felt like the Holy Spirit filled every square inch of that church.

Throughout the ceremony, Julia and Jeyshua couldn’t stop smiling at one another. They were simply overjoyed to finally become husband and wife.

After exchanging vows and sharing their first kiss, they walked back down the aisle beaming with excitement while friends and family celebrated around them.

Following the ceremony, guests gathered around the hot cocoa bar while we stepped outside for portraits. Despite the freezing temperatures, Julia and Jeyshua were absolute troopers. We kept things moving quickly and captured beautiful snowy portraits before warming back up inside. Family and wedding party photos were photographed indoors, giving everyone a chance to thaw out while still documenting all of the important relationships from the day.

A Joyful Reception in Bemidji, Minnesota

The reception perfectly reflected Julia and Jeyshua’s personalities—warm, welcoming, and filled with joy.

Guests enjoyed delicious food, heartfelt speeches, and one of the best wedding cakes I’ve ever had. The elegant white winter cake came with one unexpected surprise: the baker had tucked a tiny Jesus figurine onto it. It was such a small detail, but one that perfectly reflected the foundation of their marriage.

Before the dancing began, we slipped outside one last time to create some nighttime flash portraits. Those ended up becoming some of my favorite images from the entire wedding day. The snow, the darkness, and the playful energy between Julia and Jeyshua made for such a fun way to end portrait time.

Back inside, the dance floor quickly filled—not with traditional dancing at first, but with energetic group folk dances that had guests of all ages joining together. It was one of the highlights of the evening and such a beautiful picture of the community that has surrounded Julia and Jeyshua throughout their lives.

As the night came to a close, friends and family lined up outside the church holding sparklers while the newlyweds ran toward their decorated getaway car. It was the perfect ending to a wedding day that wasn’t defined by the freezing temperatures or the beautiful snow, but by the unmistakable joy of two people whose marriage is firmly rooted in Christ.

Julia and Jeyshua, thank you for allowing me to tell your story. It has been such a blessing to watch your relationship grow over the years, and an even greater honor to document the day you became husband and wife. My prayer is that your marriage continues to reflect Christ’s love as beautifully as your wedding day did.