Ruthie and Jonah's Elegant NH Farmstead Wedding

A subtle breeze began to blow and the sound of thunderous cheers filled the air, as Jonah & Ruthie briskly marched down the aisle excitedly waving to friends and family. For the first time, they had just been announced: Mr. & Mrs. Jonah Bult! After being able to celebrate their destination proposal in Camden, ME and their snowy engagement session with them, let’s just say we had a lot of excited anticipation for this day!

Jonah & Ruthie greeted their new siblings-in-law with big “welcome to the family” bear hugs and “I love you’s.” In this case, I feel it’s more appropriate to call them siblings-in-love. You see, all siblings have their moments of disagreement and drama. But both the Bult and Rogers families have seemed to accomplish something I envy for my kids as they grow. As adults, these mature, kind, giving siblings and their parents LOVE just being together. I know, it sounds simple, but it's true! I don’t know how else to describe it. They are legitimately best friends and spend as much time as possible together! The moment of immediate, “I love you’s” and “I’m so glad I can finally call you my sibling,” was a perfect example of the closeness these families share.

Another one of my favorite moments from the day came as Ruthie’s dad opened the reception. He said when he moved to NH as a teenager, the first person he met was Jonah’s uncle, Kevin Bult. Kevin & Darren (Jonah’s dad) became two of his best friends in the next few years. In God’s sovereignty, He managed to bring these two families together! The icing on the cake was that Kevin even officiated the wedding!

The biggest thing I gathered from my time with Jonah & Ruthie was how they make other people better. Ruthie poures into her sisters and loved ones, so much so that she even had the opportunity to lead her sister, Cathryn, to Christ! Her youngest sister, Phoebe, even went as far as to ask Jonah & Ruthie to adopt her. As a child, Jonah was a daredevil, never afraid to shy away from a challenge. Even challenges that left him bruised, bloodied, or in one specific case unconscious. (You’ll have to ask his brother Noah for that story!) And that drive to be the best at everything propelled both of his brothers to strive for excellence! Nothing like some a little brotherly competition, right?

Having a first look with her dad was such a sweet moment for this daddy’s girl of a bride.

Ruthie and her girls had a relaxing morning at home getting ready, drinking coffee and laughing together. They surprised her with a scrapbook of memories and handwritten notes from each of them! And then there’s the moment when they saw her in her wedding dress. Scroll a little farther to see their reactions!

One of Ruthie’s bridesmaids got held up with canceled flights! They were both so disappointed. But part way through the ceremony, she surprised everyone by walking right down to her spot! She made it! It was such a sweet moment for Ruthie, so we made sure to do more bridesmaid photos with everyone after the ceremony even though we had already done most of them before.

The last thing I want to say is this, Jonah’s parents were my first youth leaders when in 7th grade. I remember how intimidating it was to be a small fish in a big pond, but Kim & Darren made me feel at home right away. Now as adults, they have continued to make me (and my wife and kids now!) feel welcome as they surround us with love, support and much needed community.

Jonah and Ruthie make a perfect team! In fact, they remind me a lot of their parents. Who knows, maybe one day my kids will get to have them as their first youth leaders!!