We saw the desperate need for someone to create a marriage program that would “go there”.
So we answered the call.
A little backstory…
When we first got married, we made a commitment that we wouldn’t wait for our marriage to begin to break before investing in it. So much so that we “studied” marriage even before getting married. 
At the time, we believed we were being proactive. We read books, prayed hard, and went through a little pre-marital counseling too, where we learned about how to talk about budgets, expectations in sex and how to formulate a parenting plan.
Fast forward a few years down the road, and we came to head with a very real situation:
Though very in love, our deepest hurts, unhealed wounds and unconscious patterns were being throw around like a volleyball. We began to wonder why our marriage seemed to bring all of these things to the surface…and with ease. There was something inside of us that said, “When things aren’t working, there’s something to be learned” – something two very special mentors would tell us years later.
At the time, we owned a wedding photography company in Kansas City called “Salt and Light Photography” (yes, from the scripture in Matthew!) where we served 20-30 couples per year in photographing their wedding.
We were both drawn to wedding photography not just because we loved taking photos, but because we love people, and we love marriage. (Photo below: The first couple whose wedding was captured by Salt & Light, at our final client appreciation party – 10 years later!)
After photographing weddings for almost 10 years, we realized that most couples invested more into their wedding than they did into their marriage. Most of our couples came to us for wedding advice, and after the 5th couple whose wedding we photographed got divorced, something special and deep was put in our hearts.
Once we began having kids, we decided that we would no longer shoot weddings, and Austin would just focus on his other companies.
However, we felt like God was calling us to something. We were left with a strong feeling that we weren’t just going to “casually exit” the wedding industry.
We both felt an overwhelming conviction to transition from supporting couples on their wedding day, to supporting them in their marriage.
We then saw God’s plan for this season of life unfold. We realized that our decade shooting weddings was preparing us to bring new life into marriages all across the world, and starting with about 25 couples who were first wedding photography clients(to those of you who trusted us from the start, you will always remain in a special place in our hearts).
God called us to create a marriage coaching and counseling program known as “Because Marriage Matters”.
After a few short months in “Beta” mode, marriages were already being transformed, and it quickly began to be the most meaningful, and humbling work we’d ever done. Soon after we began helping couples transform their marriages, we felt called to begin a 1 year journey where we could become certified coaches through The Hendricks Institute, one of the most prestigious relationship, conscious living and psychology resources in the world(Gay and Katie: We’re so thankful for you; you will surely never know the ripple effect of your investment in us this side of Heaven. Thank you for pouring into us)
Fast forward another year later, we became one of only a few married couples in the world who both hold the “Big Leap Coach” certification.
We then began to offer in-person marriage seminars, 2 on 2 work, and publishing our own works.
We’re very thankful and honored to be endorsed by multiple experts in various fields of psychology, counseling and therapy.
A little bit more about US…
We have three beautiful daughters who keep us on our toes daily!
We love them dearly and take great pride and joy in raising them. We love being outside, doing creative things together, cooking, traveling, and focusing on BMM. We love serving at our home church, Summit Park Church together. One of our favorite things to do is to get up early every morning together, pour each other a cup of coffee, and spend time talking, reflecting, “checking-in” and praying together. There is nothing quite like starting each day together.
A little about the vision, mission and purpose of Because Marriage Matters…
We believe that people are far more wounded that wicked.
We believe that marriage is the completion of childhood.
We believe that one of the greatest reasons God gave us marriage was to help us return to wholeness; a path back to our essence and to Him.
We believe that trauma and adverse childhood and adolescent experiences inform much of the roadmap to our interpersonal healing and companionship.
We created BMM because there was nothing else in the world like it; we know this because we looked for it. We looked for a resource that would equip couples in deep connection, healing, co-creativity, personal power/responsibility and the fulfillment of their calling from God. We didn’t find it, so we dove in head first and started building.
We felt called to create a resource based on the values of our Faith as well as scientifically supported therapy and neuroscience.
We believe that God’s unique design of our psyche has equipped us to find healing in our conflict. Because of this, we believe a miracle has already been performed in every single person’s heart. This is the powerful convergence of God’s divinity and goodness and the intricate inner-workings of our heart, mind, soul and spirit.
Our vision is to support committed couples who desire a true partnership, where they can be authentic, creative, supported and appreciated.
We help couples understand the real reasons they attracted each other – things like mutual healing, co-creativity and ever-expanding joy.
We help couples learn how to end withholding for good, and melt away shame and fear they’ve carried since childhood.
We help couples learn how to increase the value they share in each other through appreciation and gratitude.
We help couples learn how to become curious instead of adrenaline-fueled when it comes to navigating conflict.
We believe that ANY marriage can be an ever-increasingly powerful and fulfilling, and that NO marriage is too far gone to heal and be restored. We’ve seen many couples come back from signed divorce papers, to a thriving marriage.
“BMM, hands down, saved our marriage.” – Jake & Allyn
(Read more of our couples success stories here)
We believe that if to people come together, 100% committed and 100% responsible, there is absolutely nothing that can stop them from creating an incredible marriage together.
Ready for the big pitch? Our primary program is conducted online, but contains many live elements. If you’re ready to increase your connection, find deep healing, have a WHOLE lot more fun and so much more, head on over here. (We don’t twist arms, but instead try to inspire a belief in you that God’s plan is for your marriage to increase in abundance daily)
A little about our inspiration, training and study…
The Bible
The Hendricks Institute, founded by Drs. Gay and Katie Hendricks.
IMAGO Therapy, founded by Dr. Harville Hendrix
Interpersonal Neurobiology, founded by Dr. Dan Siegel
The Gottman Institute, founded by Drs. John and Julie Gottman
Conscious Discipline, by Dr. Becky Bailey
Personal work and 1 on 1 coaching with Dr. Paul Carlisle of Hope Counseling
Mindfulness, Robin Todd M.S, founder of Mindful-Momentum, INC
Industrial Pyschology/Mentorship of Dr. Steve Cohen, Labor Management Group/HR Solutions On-Call
Somatic therapy, conscious living, cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma release, neruo linguistic programming and more.
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