Like most little girls, I dreamed of getting married some day.  More specifically, I dreamed of wearing a big poofy white dress, high heals, and a long white veil.  But for most of the world’s poor, a wedding remains an unrealized dream.  In fact, for many living in poverty, even paying the legal fees for a marriage certificate is simply out of the realm of possibilities. 

This was exactly the case for Noonday artisans Bukenya and Coral in Uganda. Though Bukenya and Coral were committed to each other completely, they had never been able to afford to officially get married.  But after Daniel and Jalia, lead artisans, encouraged Bukenya that it was possible to have an inexpensive wedding that could still be beautiful, he and Coral began to save toward this goal.

A year later, God showed His faithfulness to Coral and Bukenya’s prayers and desires. Because of their consistent income made possible by YOUR purchases, a dream they once thought impossible came true: on December 15 they were officially married. And they were not the only ones blessed on that day! In order to help the poor make weddings more affordable, the church organized a mass wedding of 19 other couples who were in the same situation as Bukenya and Coral.  I have never seen a more beautiful group of brides! 

We hear so many stories of our artisans who now get to send their kids to school, put regular meals on the table, and pay their rent. But there is something so poignant about your purchases providing an opportunity for a girlfriend's dream wedding to become a reality on the other side of the globe. Bukenya is the first of ALL his father's children to ever be officially married!

Thank you for being part of this story of restoring dignity to the lives of the poor. And speaking of weddings, remember to treat your bridesmaids to Noonday Collection so you can help make more wedding dreams come true!