A touching photo of a marine praying with his bride before their wedding ceremony went viral. And we hope this becomes a new wedding day tradition for couples everywhere!
Wedding day traditions are beautiful. One example of a time-honored wedding tradition is making sure the groom doesn’t see the bride the day of the wedding until she walks down the aisle.
RELATED: Couple Stops Their Wedding To Worship
Also, grooms aren’t supposed to see the wedding dress before the big day. These little traditions are just fine. But here is one that all couples should implement — praying together!
Well, a viral photo of a marine praying with his bride helped give this wedding day tradition the national attention it deserves!
Marine Groom’s Wish To Honor God First
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Caleb Earwood, just 21, wanted to be sure that they asked God for His guidance and wanted to thank Him for all of their his blessings BEFORE they walked down the aisle.
So in keeping with the other beautiful traditions, Caleb asked if they could find a way for him to PRAY with his bride-to-be before the ceremony without seeing each other.
This is what friends and family came up with.
Marine Prays With Bride Before Wedding
Maggie, only 22 years old herself, was in a separate cabin preparing for the ceremony. She was asked to extend her hand around a corner to hold Caleb’s for a moment of prayer. Again, keeping their eyes closed while Caleb prayed aloud for God’s blessings and guidance.
"We were about to take our first steps in life together, and we didn't want to take another step without it being in God's will," Caleb said. "I prayed to God for my beautiful and intelligent wife (to be) that he blessed me with and the amazing family I was marrying into."
Maggie was speechless and so incredibly proud of the man she was about to marry.
"It relieved me to know the person I was getting ready to marry felt the same way about God," Maggie later said.
Maggie claimed that hearing her husband-to-be pray for them “put her at ease.”
Couple’s Photo Goes Viral
The wedding photographer, Dwayne Schmidt, did a wonderful job capturing the perfect moment when these two, beautiful, Children of God, came together before God Himself for guidance and wisdom. The photo he took of the marine praying with his bride quickly went viral!
“As soon as their hands touched, Caleb started getting emotional. The whole room was full of emotion,” Schmidt said. “I tried not to cry and focus on what I was doing.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Marine And His Bride Stop Wedding To Worship The Lord
The couple took their honeymoon and then returned to Camp Lejeune, North Caroline where Caleb is stationed.
Father God, we lift up to you Caleb and Maggie. May you place a hedge of protection around them and may they seek your will and guidance – TOGETHER – for years to come. May THEIR actions be a testimony that can be used to glorify YOU throughout all social media. AMEN.
WATCH: Story Behind Photo Of Marine Praying With Bride
Featured Image Credit: Dwayne Schmidt Photography / NBC News