Adventure + Map Themed Burlington Golf Club Wedding | Ben and Paulina

based in minnesota

welcome to

I met Paulina my freshman year of college through our campus ministry The Salt Company. Throughout the years I always adored being around her and I’m fairly certain I always will! Their engagement session had my cheeks hurting by the end of it. She just has that personality that makes everything feel right, calm, + under control – always beaming with her squinty eye smile (so cute!) and a blast to be around.

One day, she said she’d been hanging out with a mystery man, Ben, who had also gone to Vietnam (I went in summer of 2012 so I was pumped about this news!). The season they started dating, she was getting ready to go to Vietnam that coming summer. How cool is that?! Basically Ben, with an overwhelming nostalgia (I’m sure) for his summer in Vietnam, was witnessing this r e a l l y cute girl prepare to have her life rocked in the same way. I watched them throughout their relationship + was so positive they’d end up together. Their first summer was spent with limited communication as Paulina was in Vietnam, but they made it through and shared their vows this past weekend under a white tent + garden lights at the Burlington Golf Club!

I walked into the girls getting ready the morning of and said so many, “HEY!!!” to so many amazing people. Most of the bridesmaids + I were in a small group in college together/were close friends, and the maid of honor was one of my first ever Ali Leigh brides! I was on cloud nine! Also, I got to sit next to my best friend at dinner. Can every wedding be filled with best friends?!

Because of their love for the nations, their wedding was full of maps + globes. LOVE IS AN ADVENTURE, and I pray their life adventure is full of the b e a u t y that comes from Christ’s love.

How they met:

You could say it was love at first sight for Paulina when she saw Ben for the first time her freshman year at a fraternity-sorority dinner social. The two were on and off Iowa States’s campus for the next 3 years for a study abroad session in Rome (Paulina) and Co-Ops at Rockwell (Ben). After finally settling down for their last semesters of school, Ben and Paulina fell for each other while playing a game of volleyball. You could say it was “love at first spike!” One of the big things they have in common is their love for the nations, specifically Vietnam.

How he proposed:

We knew we would be married pretty early in our relationship, so engagement was a commonly talked about topic. Paulina knew it was coming soon, but Ben definitely surprised her the weekend he decided to pop the question and flash the custom-designed ring. Paulina thought she was having a girl’s night with some friends in Cedar Rapids, meanwhile Ben was making the trek from Kansas City, with a stop in Burlington to ask Paulina’s parents for her hand. He carefully planned the proposal and even bought a 500-Watt Portable Power Station to power romantic music and string lights. He set up his props at his aunt and uncle’s Christmas Tree Farm and waited for Paulina to arrive. Luckily, Ben’s best friend is a photographer and was there to capture all the sweet moments. When Paulina arrived, she still couldn’t believe Ben was actually there. Ben spoke a few sweet words and asked her to marry him. She of course said yes, and screamed when she saw the perfect ring! Ben pulled it off and they celebrated together over a yummy dinner and quaint after-party with friends. It was perfect.