Today’s Sweet Tea Sunday couple needs no introduction–it’s our very own Editor-in-Chief and her husband! Lara and Ari’s story is the most beautiful testament to the power of enduring in challenges. The impossible is possible. After eloping in Vegas five months after they first met (yes, the editor of a national wedding magazine eloped in Vegas!), they endured countless hardships over their first years of marriage, many of which threatened to tear them apart. But, they held on. They are a living example that love never fails, and there are truly no words to adequately express how much they inspire each of us at Southern Weddings. Lara and Ari will be celebrating eight years of marriage this Tuesday, and we’re delighted to share their wise advice today!
From Ari: The best way to improve your relationship with your spouse is to work on your relationship with God. That means humbling yourself and working to be your very best for everyone around you. When you feel His love for yourself, you will joyfully serve, give, and sacrifice for your spouse, and these actions will nurture your relationship.
From Lara: Yes, our marriage completely changed. We went from hopeless to bubbling over with love and joy together. I know it sounds too good to be true, but that’s because it was God that made this happen, not us. We tried doing marriage our way and everything almost crumbled. It took both of our hearts changing, laying down all of our past failures and forgiving each other, to help us see the real lasting path to love. Praying together has helped us a lot on the journey. It felt awkward at first to pray together, but now it feels like second nature. Especially when we are mad at each other, praying together changes things. Our hearts soften and strengthen. If you are in a marriage that feels impossible to fix, keep choosing hope. I felt like it was impossible for anything to change too — about a thousand times, no exaggeration. If you are engaged even and having a hard time figuring each other out, keep choosing love. Little by little flowers grow with sun and water. Little by little your relationship can be strengthened and grow in a new way with the same daily tending. I know this is true and that’s why I do what I do here at Southern Weddings. Because, marriage matters and the impossible is possible. Keep choosing love, never stop dating, and slow dancing in the kitchen helps too.
Keep up with Lara
Website: Lara Casey
Blog: Lara Casey
Facebook: Lara Casey
Twitter: @LaraCasey
Instagram: @LaraACasey
Awe! I love Lara and Ari’s sweet story. Very honest and real. Happy Anniversary you two! You inspire me to pray more with my fiancée. :-)
This is lovely! Happy (in two days) anniversary to Lara and Ari! They inspire me to put God first in everything, including my future marriage someday.