Wedding dreams came true for Traci Edinger and Martez Bush. The Ohio couple, who couldn’t afford a traditional wedding, were set to marry at a courthouse on Valentine’s Day when the kindness of complete strangers surprised them beyond their imaginations.
The two had been saving for a church wedding, but an unexpected emergency forced them to use their wedding funds elsewhere.
Bush explained that a squatter destroyed their home when she was away at her daughter’s funeral last August, leaving them financially strained. With little left to spend, they decided their only option was a simple courthouse ceremony.
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That changed when David Kaiser, pastor at both St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and Mosaic Ministries, stepped in. He offered not only to officiate their wedding but also to hold the ceremony at St. Paul’s for free.
Edinger told WTVG, “I had nothing, we didn’t have nothing. I left it in Pastor’s hands, and this is what he did. Pastor Dave and God were on my side with this one.”
As word spread, more than 30 residents of Maumee, Ohio, most of whom had never met the couple, donated items to make their day special.
Community members provided suits, a wedding dress, gift cards, and a wedding cake. The wedding came together in just a week.
One member of the church’s congregation, a complete stranger to the bride, even walked her down the aisle.
During the ceremony, Kaiser asked those in attendance to raise their hands if they did not know the couple personally. Nearly everyone raised their hands, highlighting the generosity and unity of the community.
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“It’s incredible to see our community rally around a couple they have never met and show them the love of Jesus in such a practical way,” the pastor remarked.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds and their guests commemorated the day with food, drinks, and cake at the church.
Community members even arranged and paid for the couple’s hotel stay for their honeymoon.
Reflecting on the day, Edinger shared her happiness and love for her new husband.
She noted, “I couldn’t wait another day without being his wife. He’s the best man I’ve ever met in my entire life.”
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