Amanda and Julian

Bride's first name: Amanda

Bride's last name: Jones

Partner's first name: Julian

Partner's last name: Jones

Wedding date: 3-12-22

Venue: Falls Manor

Photographer: Jose Rodriguez

Tell us about your experience at Mari Mi Bridal:

My experience at Mari Mi bridal was amazing! It was the first appointment I had made at a bridal boutique to begin looking for my wedding dress and I found my dress the first visit. Amanda was so helpful. I told her the style I was looking for and she brought me dresses that best suit my body. I tried on 5 dresses and I loved them all, but amongst those 5 I found my wedding dress, a Pronovias A-line Dress. It was perfect! It was such a pleasant and exciting experience!

Tell us about your wedding!

originally wanted a nice winter wedding in January, but my husband didn’t want it to be very cold or the possibility of snow. We settled on mid March for our wedding day. On March 12, 2022, there was a snowstorm. The temperature was 21 degrees and by the time the wedding was over it felt like 8 degrees. Everything he wanted to avoid in January, happened in March. Needless to say, we didn’t get to take any outdoor pictures which was extremely upsetting, but we made the best of it. My husband is a Philadelphia police officer who was shot while trying to make an arrest on October 26, 2021. Our lives forever changed on this day! He was shot in the leg and the bullet was lodged between his knee cap. He had surgery which was a success, but the the recovery to walking again was going to be a long process. Doctors weren’t sure if he would be walking by the time of the wedding. I wanted to postpone the wedding so that he could focus on healing and his mental health, but he was determined. The wedding was motivation for him to learn how to walk again. The next few months were a struggle physically, mentally and emotionally for my entire family, but I saw great progress in him. Julian went from a wheelchair, to a walker, to crutches and now a cane, all in a matter of 5 months. His goal was to walk down the aisle on his own without the use of a cane, but when the day came, it just wasn’t possible. He walked down the aisle on his own with the use of his cane, and everyone was in tears (they almost forgot about me haha). This was still a huge deal, but something even better happened after we were pronounced husband and wife. Julian held on to my hand, with no cane, and walked down the aisle solely holding my hand, for the first time, as husband and wife. No matter what happens, no matter what obstacles we face, I will always walk by his side. This was the best moment of our wedding and a victory in my eyes!

Hair: Bridal by Natalie (@bridal_bynatalie)

Makeup: Johanna Perez (@eyeconbeauty__)

Photographer: Jose Rodriguez (@jrodphoto_dj)

Venue: Falls Manor (@falls_manor)