The Wedding Story of... Ashley & Marcus Przybyla

 

When the bride’s business is called “Fierce Forward,” you know you’re going to get a wedding that’s like no other. In the case of Ashley and Marcus, the celebration exuded personality: a black and burnt orange color scheme as a nod to Halloween and fall; a few skulls interspersed to signify life and death, and a ceremony on the St. Joseph River at her mom and stepfather’s house. 

 

 

 

Ashley and Marcus met at The Linebacker near The University of Notre Dame and began dancing to some classic 80’s music. He immediately made her laugh because she apologized for sweating and he commented that it was nothing compared with the guy next to them. He randomly came into Bonefish Grill the next night, where she worked at the time, and they began dating.

 

 

 

The two were walking around a pond in Kohler, Wisconsin in the fall (their favorite time of year). They got to the place they had started walking and she noticed that Marcus was acting nervous. He stopped and pulled out a little Frankenstein doll named Franky (from their annual Halloween party) and asked her if she would spend the rest of her life with him. 

 

 

 

Ashley describes Marcus as “a tall, handsome man who is the yin to my yang.”

 

 

 

Ashley’s business is one she built herself from the ground up. She calls it “Fierce Forward” because it is a movement empowering women to move fiercely towards the life they want to live, to create their purpose and to be a good person. 

 

Check it out at www.fierceforwardforlife.com or fierceforwardnation on facebook. You’ll find inspiration, clothing, jewelry, a book club, and lots of support. 

 

The tenets of her business also held true for her wedding. “My personal mission was to not worry about what others thought and to follow my heart for the day I would commit to my soul mate.”

 

 

 

“You don’t have to go broke for one of the most memorable days of your life. It is one day and putting your own touch to it is important. And have fun! The day of the wedding, I gave myself permission to let go.”

 

 

 

“The décor was special because my family had a hand in it,” Ashley said. She and her father made a bar together, her mom helped with the centerpiece boxes and her brother created a “Fierce Love” sign made from pennies. Words and intentions mean a lot to her and important ones were strewn throughout the celebration. 

 

 

 

This very self-assured bride made a trip to Chicago to look at dresses, but when she had an allergy attack that day, decided to look closer to home. She went to her favorite antique store and found the perfect dress in a newly created vintage bridal section.

 

 

 

Marcus’ cousin, Tommy, married the two of them and gave the ceremony meaning. Her stepdad Matt, and her uncle Marty, both sang at different times during the day. 

 

 

 

The couple had a bonsai plant on the table during the ceremony that symbolized the daily nurturing and growing of a relationship.