The loving couple did not want an extravagant wedding and opted instead for an economic one. Joana and Tyrel only needed to have each other and felt more than blessed for their deep love. The couple asked their guests to not bring wedding presents, as they had another idea in mind.
In an ode to the charity that initially brought the two together, Joana and Tyrel asked guests to bring gifts for charity in none other than shoeboxes. They wanted to make this event special not just for them, but also for many other, less fortunate people across the world.
Bringing the Family Over
Tyrel felt he needed his parents to step in and help him build Joana’s family's trust in him. This was a big thing he was asking of them which is why, despite his shyness, he knew he had to ask his family for their help. He began by asking his dad to accompany him to the Philippines.
Tyrel’s father raised him on deeply Christian family values, and he knew that getting a blessing from Joana’s mother meant everything to his son. The two booked flight tickets and flew to the Philippines. They were about to meet Joana and her family under very unique and memorable circumstances.
Getting Married
Luckily for Tyrel, Joana’s mother trusted his father and eventually agreed to give her blessing to Tyrel and Joana in marriage. The loving couple did not wait a spare moment and proceeded to finalize their wedding plans. Tyrel and Joana got married just a few months later at Tyrel’s parents’ ranch.
They finally tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony in October 2014. As his bride had come from very humble beginnings, the couple chose to go extremely frugal when planning their wedding. The bride wore a $5 wedding gown and Tyrel wore a traditional Filipino garment called a “barong.”
Many Gifts
The charity shoeboxes brought to Tyrel and Joana’s weddings were later donated to Operation Christmas Child, the very organization that had caused the original fortunate introduction between the two, to begin with. This was the moment that truly brought the couple's story full circle. They felt both blessed and excited by the event.
After the wedding, the couple drove to their honeymoon in North Carolina. They made sure to spend that time hand-delivering their shoebox gifts along the way. The two did not come out of the wedding empty-handed though, as they also received a special gift in each present.
Recounting in a Note
When Tyrel and Joana look back at their wedding day, one of their proudest moments was asking guests to place a special note in each of their shoeboxes. Inside the note was the story of how the couple had first met and got married, and it was there for a reason.
The note was the couple’s way of inspiring those who give and receive charity. It was intended to show just how many good things can come out of selflessly helping someone in desperate need. Their story eventually reached national exposure when Joana and Tyrel were featured on Fox News.