Evidence that marriage tradition is still kept: this photo went viral

by Benson Agoha | Life and Living

Every woman dreams of growing up and getting married.  Most dream of getting to a wealthy man so they don't have to suffer.  Yet many dream of marrying a tough guy. But the build up to D-Day brings with it different emotions.

Cpl. Caleb Earwood and wife Maggie.
(Credit:via Facebook/Dwayne Schmidt)

And if you have been wondering about how women feel when they are about to meet their husband for the first time, this photo that has gone viral may just provide you with a clue.

It was posted by Photographer Dwayne Schmidt on Facebook on Monday with a caption to reveal more the next day.

He said "GOOD MORNING AMERICA will be showing this picture and telling the story behind it tomorrow. All I know is it will be sometime during the broadcast. So glad I was able to take this and witness it. I never thought it would have over 20,000 likes between my post on WLOS post. I have no idea how long it will be shown or talked about.
Thank you !!!"

Fox News said the powerful photo of a Marine praying with his bride-to-be went viral this Memorial Day weekend.

The photo, taken by photographer Dwayne Schmidt, shows U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Caleb Earwood praying with his then-fiancée Maggie moments before the couple walked down the aisle in Asheville, N.C.

Photographer: Dwayne Schmidt

Dwayne Schmidt Photography who shared it on Facebook wrote: "I have photographed a lot of weddings. This has to be one of the best things i have ever got to see much less photograph..Before the ceremony and before they saw each other Caleb said a prayer for their marriage and lives. AWESOME !!!"

According to ABC News the breathtaking photo was of US Marine U.S. Marine Cpl. Caleb Earwood and his now-wife Maggie praying with his bride-to-be.  The lady was in tears while her husband said the prayers.

The couple married Saturday in Asheville, North Carolina, and ABC News reports Caleb wanted to pray with his bride before the ceremony.

With the help of family members and photographer Schmidt, the groom was taken to the cabin where Maggie was getting ready.

The couple joined hands around the corner so Caleb wouldn’t see her before the altar in order to keep tradition.

The two held hands as Caleb said a prayer and Maggie fought back tears.

“They hid me in a room and he stepped up on the stairwell and he stuck his hand out and I grabbed his hand,” Maggie told ABC News on Monday.

TODAY.com reported that Caleb wanted to say a prayer before their big moment, but the couple didn’t want to see each other before the ceremony. So, Caleb stood on a staircase while Maggie leaned against a wall around the corner.

"I prayed to God for my beautiful and intelligent wife that he blessed me with and the amazing family I was marrying into,” Caleb told TODAY.com.

"It relieved me to know the person I was getting ready to marry felt the same way about God,” Maggie said.

* by Benson Agoha (with contributions from ABC News, Fox News and Today.com)