I Do, I Do: Sarah Judd + Bryan Wade

“I had my Christmas wedding planned for years,” laughed Sarah Judd, who married sweetheart Bryan Wade on December 3, 2011.

“Just insert groom,” laughed Bryan.

“I always loved Christmas,” went on Sarah, the daughter of Lisa and Matt Judd and big sis to Courtney, who was her maid of honor.

A full-time student at Liberty University, training to be a substance abuse counselor, Sarah got her love of the winter holidays from her parents, who always celebrated joyfully. “And they married at Christmastime too,” she added.

This Christmas season had extra meaning — Sarah was spending “couple’s first Christmas” with husband Bryan, whose own family — Nancy and Andy Wade and younger sister Kimberly —  always celebrated in a big way too.

Bryan has put his precise, analytic nature to use — and his engineering degree from Virginia Tech —  as an operations manager at Honeywell International.

Sarah is the more artistic, emotional one. When they met on December 6, 2008, they were drawn to each other right away.

“A mutual friend and co-worker of mine, Sarah Sandler, set us up,” explained Sarah.

“First we talked on Facebook, then I asked Sarah if she would like to go look at the Christmas lights at Ginter Garden.”  That idea was pure genius — what better place for a first date with Christmas-aficionada Sarah?

The sky over Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden was dusky and it was snowing when the couple arrived. “I was so excited,” raved Sarah. The date was a huge hit.

“Bryan and I stayed up until 3 a.m. talking about everything. When I got home I actually told my mom he was the one.”

“I felt comfortable,” said Bryan, “I’m less emotional, but I was happy. Nothing was awkward.”

Bryan scored another big hit when he surprised Sarah with a Christmas present — a Virginia Tech vest. “We spent New Year’s together and I got to know his friends,” she explained.

Soon the budding romance was tested: Bryan was sent to Kentucky for a seven-month work assignment. “I came back every other weekend,” he said — testimony to their ever-growing seriousness.

Sarah was the first to be ready for something long-term. “I was ready for us to be married … maybe our first year,” she laughed. “Then we lived together for a year and a half; it was a great transition.”

“The engineering side of me was weighing the pros and cons,” explained Bryan. “But Sarah was patient.”

“He’s that way with everything,” laughed Sarah. “I said just get a ring!”

“There just seemed so much to know about diamonds and jewelry,” shared Bryan. But soon reluctant Bryan and keyed-up Sarah were out shopping and they narrowed the field to four rings. Later, Bryan returned alone to Littman Jewelers in Short Pump.

“My advice to my friends is that ring-shopping not that scary,” he confided.
On August 13, 2011, while packing for vacation at Myrtle Beach, Sarah received a huge surprise. Right inside her suitcase, on top of a pile of her clothes, was an open box — with the ring.

“My first thought was, ‘Poor Bryan, he put the ring in the wrong suitcase,’” she laughed.

And Bryan was amazed. “I said, ‘That’s your reaction? After all the drama…’ ”

On December 3, 2011, the Christmas girl got her Christmas wedding — flickering votives, bridesmaids in cranberry red, a big Christmas wreath hung by the fireplace and strands of lights twinkling at the Boathouse at Sunday Park.

“It was perfect — although I did hope it would snow,” admitted Sarah. “But when we left, our guests threw white petals. It was like snow. ” The winter bride had thought of everything.