Unique Wedding at The Cracker Factory || Beth and David
Beth and David curated the most heartfelt, emotional, and truly beautiful wedding at their unique wedding venue, The Cracker Factory, in New York’s finger lakes region.
But what held the most meaning for me? Well, Beth is my sister, so watching her walk down the aisle after 34 years of prayer, asking God to fulfill her desire for a husband… let’s just say that there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
While Beth and I haven’t always had a close and intimate connection like we do now (her being five years older than me, and me being “the annoying little sister” 😉), our bond eventually bloomed around the time I was in college.
Layers began peeling back, and we slowly started to realize that we had more in common than we did apart. We shared a mutual love of culture, experiences, travel, and adventuring, and after a couple trips across the globe, we found ourselves thick as thieves. Some of our escapades included skydiving in Upstate New York, hitchhiking in Colorado, a South African safari, and a cross-country roundtrip from Alberta, Canada to Chicago, Illinois (which included 24 hours of driving, taking turns behind the wheel, with no stopping until we reached our destination!) Suffice to say, we have since decided that we come from a pretty resilient breed. 😝
Through travels of her own, Beth has pioneered her way through Australia, Egypt, the Philippines, Cambodia, Kenya, South Africa, and others beyond that, and it was her sense of adventure that caused me to wonder if she and David could, in fact, be compatible.
I had known David since my kindergarten year, and I knew him to be a generous, kind, and outgoing soul. He grew up as a missionary kid in the Philippines, an archipelago island they now both had in common, and they shared a fierce love of people, diversity, and experiencing life outside of your comfort zone.
With a timid, yet undeniable connection, Beth and David began exploring what a relationship could look like. David, who fathered a young, toddler son and was still healing from a previous broken marriage, treaded carefully and with accountability from our Pastor and other Godly mentors. And Beth, whose lifelong motto had been “I’d rather be single and happy, than married and miserable” (not a bad motto honestly 😅), did so gingerly and in such a way that she could protect her heart and emotions from “what if’s” and “what may not be’s.”
But after a year of highs and lows, messy and magical, broken and beautiful, they decided to take the leap together and enter into a marriage covenant… to experience the beautiful, redemptive gift of marriage, as established by Christ as a means of showing us His very own grace, love, and faithfulness.
“‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.” Ephesians 5:31-33
The decision toward marriage was a weighty one for both of them, and one that they navigated with much counsel and prayer. (For anyone wondering what the Bible teaches about divorce and remarriage, see this thoughtfully written article on The Gospel Coalition!) But in spite of all, and specifically in spite of the complexities and challenges of merging into a new, blended family dynamic, they did so with grace, humility, and an unwavering commitment to Christ and one another.
With their loved ones top of mind… David’s sweet son, their vibrant church community, and their friends and family from both near and faraway… they desired a wedding that spoke to their love, that honored the people they love most, and most of all, that magnified Jesus Christ. This was their priority more so than any exclusive wedding production, opulent tablescapes, or luxurious wedding design. In Beth’s words, she envisioned a simple wedding with minimal decor at a unique wedding venue which would shine in and of itself (which she scored abundantly in The Cracker Factory!)
Forever obsessed with the industrial, urban vibe that is the Cracker Factory’s unique wedding venue. 👆
The essence of Beth and David’s wedding day was anchored in holiness, beauty, and the Gospel, so they opted for a minimalistic wedding style. Setting the tone for this was the industrial Cracker Factory, which is a 6,000 sq. ft. gallery space with over-sized factory windows, glossy hardwood floors, and whitewashed columns and beams. The entire space oozes with natural light, twinkling light strands, and an undeniable warm ambiance, and it perfectly set the stage for their vision… a traditional wedding that was less about the fuss, and more about the meaning of marriage.
Peep Beth and David’s incredible team of vendors for their unique wedding:
Venue: The Cracker Factory
Dress boutique: RK Bridal
Dress designer: Maggie Sottero (Bethany)
Videographer: Eunice Ryoo
Hair: Hair by Ashley Robinson
Makeup: Honeysuckle Skin
Cake: Cake Doctors
Brownie Bar: Timber Stone Grill
Beth wore Maggie Sottero’s ‘Bethany’ gown (which miraculously arrived before their wedding day—shout out to the real MVP, RK Bridal, who custom ordered the gown from Australia with T-minus two months to wedding, banking on a prayer and expedited shipping! 😆😂) The dress is actually described as a “minimalistic crepe wedding gown with long sleeve lace sheath,” and it was both timeless and exquisite on Beth. The bateau neckline paired with the complete trail of buttons down the back gave Beth the simple, yet elegant wedding look of her dreams.
Personally, one of my favorite moments of the day was whisking Beth and David outside after the ceremony where they were able to enjoy some bridal portraits with my dear friend, Loraleah (who actually associate shot the wedding on my behalf! #HonoraryBridesmaid #SisterOfTheBride
We were admiring the exterior of The Cracker Factory, leaning into all of its industrial glory with exposed brick and a wrought iron fire escape, and I was able to totally savor a moment without my “Photographer Hat” on. I didn’t have to pose anyone, provide any photo prompts, or manage a timeline… I was simply able to revel in the beauty of the day. To celebrate my sister getting married, stepping into one of God’s greatest gifts for humanity.
It truly was the most special day, and it reminded me of God’s faithfulness to humankind. Specifically, in Beth’s years of searching, praying for a husband, and waiting on God, she often shared this verse with me, “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-10
Witnessing and participating in Beth and David’s wedding reminded me how faithful God is, and how marriage is such a powerful catalyst for helping us understand Christ’s steadfast love for us.
But more specifically, no matter what your relationship status is or what season of life you’re in, my prayer is that you may come to deeply treasure Christ’s goodness, grace, and loving-kindness. Said best by Sam Alberry, “If marriage shows us the shape of the Gospel, singleness shows us its sufficiency.”