I had the pleasure of planning and working along side my husband as photographers for this beautiful wedding. With such an amazing God given love story, I could not be happier for this lovely couple. In the midst of planning their wedding and drawing up our photography plan, we had the opportunity to hear their love story.
They did not know each other at all, nor did they ever know they would meet each other. With different individual plans, how did their love story happen? Was it random? Continue reading to see how their love story came together.
Brian and Ashton met through a mutual friend in the beginning of 2019. The day they met, was for the birthday of their mutual friend Jess. As Ashton and Jess began the preparations for the party, Ashton who is not the type to typically wear makeup often, decided to do so for this night since her friend Jess graciously offered to help her. While Jess does Ashton's make up, she faintly says, "I think I'm getting you ready to meet your husband." Ashton jokes and says, "You know something, I don't." Little did she know that God was orchestrating her love story to meet her future husband.
The party itself was a blur for them with all the running around making sure everything was going well for the birthday party. As Jess blows the candles and cake is distributed, Ashton sat down for a moment to breathe. While sitting down someone handed her a piece of cake and as she looked up, she saw a gorgeous man handing her that piece of cake. This person sat next to her after giving her a piece of cake, and in that moment they didn't know that they were staring at their future.
They began to have conversation and something stuck out about Brian that Ashton couldn't let go of. As the night was ending, Ashton noticed how kind and sweet Brain was. He stayed to clean up and helped carry things back to people's cars. She began heading towards her car, ready to drive away and Brian walks up to her window. As Ashton rolls the window down, Brian took her hand, kissed it, and wished her a goodnight. Something about that gesture had Ashton's stomach flip flopping for this was something that only happens in fairytales; however, she remembered speaking to their mutual friend Jess about Brian and Jess stated that Brian was naturally very nice to everyone. Because of that, Ashton figured it didn't mean anything, and never reach out to Brian.
A couple of months later, Brian contacted Ashton on Instagram. They began talking about food and family, and at one point had an in-depth discussion about theological principles. Within Ashton's mind she kept what her friend Jess said about Brian in the for front and kept remembering that Brian was just very friendly and kind to everyone. Days pass by and Ashton continued speaking to Brian with no intention of anything more than being friends. She did not want to pursue Brian for she knew that he had different plans for his life and his focus was pursuing the Lord with no intention of marrying any one, and fully committed his life to serving God as a single man.
They both met again in September of 2019 on a group outing where they all went to lunch, visited the Louis Vuitton pop-up museum, and had bible study afterwards. During lunch, Ashton felt led to share her testimony to the group. She doesn't usually share her story with people because people don't always react well. After she shared her testimony, Brian took the time to thank her for sharing her story and gave her encouragement by telling her that God would use her story in some way.
Ashton found herself gravitating towards Brian, feeling safe in his presence. Ashton was recently injured at the time and was having some difficulty but Brian showed immense grace and patience for her in the midst of it. When they all sat down to take a break, Brian kindly offered to get cupcakes for the group instead of having them all walk so that Ashton most especially wouldn't have to move due to her injury.
After their break, they headed towards the place where they would have bible study. Ashton said that Jess and the Holy Spirit gently warned her to guard her heart. Unfortunately, during this time Ashton and Brian were not able to have time together again for Ashton was called to go back home to Dallas. This time, Ashton did not know how long she would be gone, or when she could return back to California.
When Ashton returned to Dallas, she was presented with an opportunity in which she would have to leave California behind and also say goodbye to her friends, especially Brian. Since Ashton took the job opportunity in Dallas, Ashton returned to California in December to gather her belongings, load up, and say goodbye to everyone. With this happening, it placed a bump in the road for the story of Brian and Ashton. Thinking that Ashton's new chapter in Dallas was the end of the story, little did she know that letting go of her life in California, would usher forth a beautiful friendship with Brian.
During the month of December, they conversed over the phone about their two favorite topics which was their friend Jess and food. Through these conversations, and the time they were spending together, Ashton's heart wanted to burst through the door as she states," like the Kool-Aid man" and express how she felt about Brian but she didn't allow it. She continued reminding herself that Brian was on his own journey, seeking God, and wanting to fully devote himself to the work of God. Brian again had no intention in having a relationship, yet alone getting married.
Because of this, Ashton continued to place on her mind that Brian was her brother in Christ and that was all they would be unless a door of opportunity was to be opened somehow and they would have the chance to be together. While they continued their conversations on the phone, and spending that time together, Ashton continued with the intention of being a good sister in Christ, encouraging Brian in his walk with God. After Christmas, the both of them did not really talk much. We would think that this was the point in their story in which would be the end of their time together.
In the midst of this, God was preparing the both of them for what was to come next. Brian continued on with his decision to live for God and to love only Him. Although Brian had this plan in his heart, he also stated that if God had a plan for him to have a wife, that Ashton would be at the top of his list. This moment in time, led to a conversation about prophecies that God had spoken over the two of them. They didn't realize that they were a match for each other until that specific moment in time.
They felt like two pieces of a puzzle coming together. Brian and Ashton stated that their courtship was pretty short in compared to most relationships since this was all within less than a year. What takes people years to figure out, took them only a couple of months to confirm and know. Both of them knew that God confirmed their love story time and time again. Through the prophecies they both received and the prayer that went into it.
Even though they only met a year ago, they both could not imagine their lives without a man and woman who loves God so much and has shown such kindness and grace. On October 3, 2020, Brian and Ashton became husband and wife. A story in which they thought would be of different plans that would have nothing to do with one another, became a story of love, and the future partnership together as husband and wife, and their journey together in God's kingdom.
(All photos are owned by The Project of Purpose & Life)
Welcome to Marriage Mr. & Mrs. Vasquez!
Brian and Ashton, congratulations again on your love story that God designed for you both. With your willingness and surrender to give it all to God, He orchestrated such a story in which we cannot fathom in the moment, but later see how He works everything together for good. Blessings to you both in this new chapter in life!
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