.jpg)
This is the last segment of my interview with NFL free agent and super bowl champion, Dan Wilcox-Strickland and his wife Shauna. To read the first four segments, use the links noted after this post.
If I had to choose just one detail of Dan and Shauna's wedding I most admired, it would be the coat of arms they designed to symbolize their relationship and the beginning of their newly created family. Shauna explained: "We took the design of our coat of arms very seriously; we wanted to be sure it represented "us." Dan is an amazing artist so after we came up with each design element, Dan took pen in hand and created our new family's symbol.
We used the coat of arms as a very personalized wedding logo and placed it on all of our wedding stationery and throughout our wedding decor. It was on our invitations, on our 8' storybook centerpiece, on gift bags and t-shirts we gave our out of town guests, etc. The "Groom's cake" that we served at the rehearsal dinner, was an exact replica of our coat of arms. It was even on the Jumbo Trons in the stadium during our celebration. At our ceremony, my little cousin, Ryan Persaud, carried a pillow that held a silver plaque with our coat of arms engraved into it. We wanted to ritually make our coat of arms "official" and have our family symbol blessed."
Shauna shared the following description of what each element in the design of their coat of arms represents:
"Strickland - even though in the sports arena people are more familiar with the name Wilcox for Dan's last name, Wilcox was the last name of a step-father. When Dan reunited with his biological father, he decided to honor his father by taking his surname for his own growing family. We keep Wilcox hyphenated with Strickland for Dan and myself but our children will only have the name Strickland for their last name.
Our wedding motto was 'Strickly Destiny' which was spelled creatively to represent our last name and the way we feel about our relationship. The S and D on our coat of arms not only refers to our first names but back to our wedding motto as well.
The cross represents faith and the heart represents love. The flames from the heart is a symbol of our passion and the crown of thorns is for sacrifice. The armor itself represents god's eternal love surrounding and protecting us. The spots on the coat represent a ladybug which is the state bug of New York (where I come from) as well as a symbol of good luck, love and beauty. The seven spots represent fertility. The Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly is the state butterfly of Georgia, where Dan was born and we now reside. The Butterfly also symbolizes rebirth, renewal, beauty and marital bliss.
The Mayan Belize Temple represents history (my family's homeland as well as where Dan and I had our destined meeting) and the promise of tomorrow. The Asian Characters mean trust, honor, happiness/joy, power and prosperity and represent's my father's Asian roots. The ram horns are for our shared astrological sign of Aries."
Even the colors were chosen for their meanings:
Blue - represents sincere love and faithfulness, commitment, truth, peace and spirituality
Silver - represents security, maturity, solid/strength, and timelessness
Red - represents passion, action, confidence, courage and vitality
Gold/Yellow - represents wealth, prosperity and wisdom
Black - represents earth and stability
Wouldn't it be great if all couples sat down and defined who they were as a couple and what their goals and dreams were for their union? I hope other couples will be inspired to do the same.
Thank you Shauna and Dan for allowing us to catch a glimpse of life before, during and after your fairytale wedding. We hope you achieve your "happily ever after."
Use the following links to read the first four segments of this series:
Part One: Dan and Shauna Wilcox-Strickland - before, during and 19 months after a fairytale wedding
Dan and Shauna's love story highlights: the slide show
Part Two: Dan Wilcox-Strickland and Shauna Chin's Engagement Story
Part Three: Interview with Dan and Shauna Wilcox-Strickland - wedding memories
Part Four: After the Fairytale wedding
And for "all things weddings", go to BridesKnowBest
Comments