When I walked in to Brazos Valley MMA & Fitness four years ago, I was looking to get in shape and learn self-defense. I certainly wasn’t expecting to meet the love of my life, Bubba Bush. Thankfully, God had other plans! Plans that included a witty, intelligent, God-fearing, pro MMA fighter of a man – what more could a girl ask for? We noticed each other immediately, however, it wasn’t until Bubba invited me to a Bible study he leads that we really got to know one another. Bible study allowed us to connect on the deepest levels, like the supremacy of Jesus Christ in our lives and the eternal salvation He provides through his substitutionary death for our sins.
Marriage is an eternal commitment and an earthly example of Christ’s unending love for us. Therefore, we took time to get to know each other, faults and all, before getting married. Because of this, we had our eyes wide open and knew life would not be perfect, which meant our commitment to each other would be based in reality. After three years of dating, Bubba and I planned a trip to one of my bucket-list destinations: Savannah, Georgia. Unbeknownst to me, Bubba coordinated with Crazy Dash Digital Adventures to plan a scavenger hunt through historic Savannah. The scavenger hunt instructed us to go to Chippewa Park (I’m part Chippewa), located, serendipitously, on Turner Boulevard (my maiden name) to take a picture of a praying Indian and a crying Indian. After we walked the park looking for a statue of an Indian (which, of course, wasn’t there), Bubba asked me to pray with him. As he prayed, he thank God for bringing me into his life and finished by asking, “Please let her say ‘yes’” as he knelt down on one knee. Underneath centuries-old, Spanish moss covered trees, Bubba proposed to me with his grandmother’s gorgeous heirloom ring…and a pink .380 pistol. Like I said: what more could a girl ask for?!
Once engaged, we were ready to start our lives together and planned a short engagement. We knew we wanted our wedding to be fun, personal, glorify God, and include all of the people who have prepared us for marriage. Between Bubba owning BVMMA & Fitness, me working at Peace 107, and all of our family, we knew we were planning a large wedding. We chose the Inn at Quarry Ridge because it could accommodate our crowd in a beautiful, woodsy setting, as well as host the rehearsal dinner, and sleep our 18 attendants the night before the wedding. We put our personal touches on the wedding with a medley of cultures: Bubba and his attendants wore kilts while Shiraz Shish Kebab catered a delicious Mediterranean cuisine. When it was all said and done, we were thrilled to start our lives serving God, and each other, as husband and wife – in Cabo!
Photographer: RDM Pros
Catering: Shiraz Shish Kabob
Venue: Inn at Quarry Ridge
DJ, Sound, & Lighting: RDM Pros
Flowers: Tricia Barksdale
Bridal Gown & Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal
Make-Up: Leanna Hale