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This Terra Cotta & Butter Wedding Inspiration Perfectly Embodies the Coziness of Fall

“If a year was tucked inside of a clock, then autumn would be the magic hour.” – Victoria Erickson. This quote couldn’t be more fitting for today’s dreamy Fall-inspired shoot from Meggie Francisco Events. Buttery hues, terra cotta accents, hearty cuisine and romance at every turn – take a peak inside the full gallery to see all the autumnal magic, taken by Nicole Clarey!

From Meggie Francisco EventsEven in Columbus, Ohio, the last bits of summer drift lazily into fall. Warm days give way to cool nights with increasingly cozy dinners. This feminine wedding photo shoot celebrates the end of summer and its hazy, buttery pops of color that gently begin to fade away. Columbus, Ohio boasts a strong LGBTQ+ community and a supportive wedding community to serve them. We’re the home of superstar Nina West, and our vendor community firmly believes that love is love. Though our city may not rival the sprawling metroplexes around the nation, we’re proud of the abundance of diversity and love in central Ohio. 

We were honored to feature a confident and beautiful local same-sex couple in this inspiration shoot. We started by bringing the model couple to Luxe Redux to find fashions that fit their personal styles. Mercedez wore a mix-and-match suit combination with a clean jacket and lace slacks from Martina Liana, as well as a satin camisole from Willowby Waters. Cara donned a striking off-shoulder gown with sheer panel cutouts from on-trend Australian designer One Day Bridal

Both brides held complementing garden-style bouquets with buttery yellow and latte-inspired hues from State and Arrow. From here, we carefully planned the details to create an event with heart and soul. While the look of an event always sets the stage for celebration – terra cotta candles, copper toned flatware and worn wooden chairs usher in the intimate earthiness that fall brings – in this inspiration, we wanted to hint at the experience behind the look. 

A warm welcome gift of epicurean soaps and jams greets guests with love and care. A toasty old-fashioned and citrusy French 75 announce a lively cocktail hour. A hearty cool-weather meal of butternut squash soup, beet root salad, and beef short ribs create an unforgettable seasonal dining experience for the guests. Creamy buttery Chardonnay was poured for the first course. As the golden sun set, the couple shared a kiss and stole off to their dance party. 

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Photography: Nicole Clarey Photography | Videography: Little Tree Studios | Event Planning and Design: Meggie Francisco | Cake: Le Gateau Llc. Weeding Cakes By Sue Larson | Stationery: Cheer Up Press | Jewelry: Diamond Cellar | Catering: Franklin Park Conservatory | Makeup: angie warren artistry | Hair: B Rose Beauty Bar | Venue: Franklin Park Conservatory | Bridal Shop: Luxe Redux Bridal | Camisole Designer: Willowby Watters | Floral: State & Arrow Design Co. | Gown Designer: One Day Bridal | Model: Mercedez Wood | Model: Cara Krabbe | Perfume: Penhaligons | Shoe Designer: Vince Camuto | Shoe Designer: Sam Edelman | Silk Ribbon: The Lesser Bear | Skinny Taper Candles: Creative Candles | Suit Designer: Martina Liana | Tabletop: All Occasions | Terra Cotta Votive Candles: Pink Moon Candles | Welcome Gift Jams: Prospect Jam Co. | Welcome Gift Soaps: Senteurs D'Orient

Industrial Chic Wedding Inspiration at Strongwater Events in Columbus, Ohio

I look at every wedding editorial we share like a mini lesson in wedding planning. After all, the pros are creating a pretty little Big Day blueprint just for you! Today’s blending of styles is the main focus and one you should heed. If you’re scouting venues with an industrial vibe, make sure to give your space a bit of soft contrast like Mari Foster did here; layering in florals from Evergreen Flower Co. and a flowing Willowby Watters dress. Lauren Lee created a collection of images that you can study in depth to pull inspo from for your own celebration—see them all here.

From Lauren Lee PhotoFor this wedding editorial, we had a lot of fun playing off of the natural and organic design aesthetic of the venue. Our minimalistic table-scape added a pop of color to the space as the twists and turns of the centerpiece created flowing movement. To complete the look, we fell in love with velvet table linens and a soft yet playful gown. The flowers and color scheme were inspired by the season. Spring flowers such as lilac and parrot tulips were an essential part of the design. We also incorporated Japanese ranunculus, delphinium, and sweet pea.

Photography: Lauren Lee Photography | Event Design: Something Old Dayton Vintage Rental | Floral Design: Evergreen Flower Co. | Wedding Dress: Willowby Watters | Cake: Miam Cake | Invitations: Lauren Lee Photography | Shoes: Bella Belle | Ring: Kristen Coffin | Makeup: The Bride Bar | Hair: The Bride Bar | Venue: @strongwater_events | Linen: BBJ La Tavola | Photography - Assistance: Jessica Babic Photography | Rentals: Something Old Dayton Vintage Rental | Ribbon: Frou Frou Chic | Vow Books: Beautifully Noted | Wedding Boutique : La Jeune Mariee Bridal Boutique

Modern Black Tie Styled Engagement Session

The bride behind today’s pretty pretty engagement session is one smart cookie. Why, you ask? Well, because she did something that very few couples think of. She used her Engagement Session to give her guests a sneak peak at what’s to come in her wedding. She set the tone for them. She teased her uber chic style to them. She got them excited. And she looked absolutely gorgeous doing it. This is such a smart e-session strategy and with a design from Events Held Dear and absurdly lovely photos from Kylie Bricker Photography, we’re pretty sure this pretty lady is going to go from bride to trend setter with one simple move!

From the bride-to-be… Trey and I met at the ripe age of 15 after a basketball game. Trey had been playing and I was cheering. Even though he didn’t make eye contact with me during our entire first conversation, he later blew me some kisses from across the court. He may not have won the game that night, but he definitely won this girl’s heart.

Trey and I wanted our engagement pictures to emulate the mood we had always envisioned our wedding day would portray, and that is why we decided on a styled shoot. We love the class that a black and white color scheme offers, it is simple in sense but also very dramatic. In our opinion the engagement pictures were a statement, to get our friends and family excited for something we will have waited almost 10 years to happen!

From the designer, Events Held Dear… My job was made so easy for this shoot, first because Hannah and Trey are such a fun-loving, adorable couple, and secondly because of the amazing work done by Kylie Bricker Photography to capture it all! As a wedding designer, it’s just as important to be talented in my field of work as it is to find equally talented professionals to execute my vision. And these vendors did just that!

Hannah has a really elegant vision for her wedding day, so we wanted to do the same for her styled engagement shoot. Her wedding will have a lot of black and white, clean design and (Hannah’s favorite), lots of wine and fruit, so the colors of this shoot reflected all of that! The dark colors of her and Trey’s outfits, along with the textures of her bouquet by Old Slate Farm worked so well together!

I really can’t say enough about Katie’s floral designs – the hellebores in the arrangements brought some dark hues to the shoot, and I just adore it. Not only did we do some fun portraits in my studio, but we also walked around downtown Columbus and found some beautiful stone and marble that really went along with the classy feel of their entire wedding day. I definitely think when guests see these pictures, they’ll have a great look into how their September wedding will look!

Photography: Kylie Bricker Photography | Event Design: Events Held Dear | Floral Design: Old Slate Farm | Makeup: Joy Macke: State Of Face | Furniture Rentals: Something Old Dayton Vintage Rental | Silk Ribbon: The Lesser Bear | Skirt: Sweet Caroline | Studio: Zurie Coworking

Want To Go Classic? This Elegant Ohio Wedding Shows You How It’s Done

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… when in doubt, go classic. It never, ever fails. Look at these pics by Nicole Clarey from this wedding in Colubmus, Ohio. Timeless. Elegant. Perfection. From the white peony bouquet to the gorgeous gown, it’s just oh so right. Join in on the traditional wedding loving wagon and see it all right this way!

From Nicole Clarey… Timeless is the word that comes to mind when I think back on Abby and KC’s wedding day. Just one look at these two and they resemble a modern day JFK and Jackie O! Their wedding was full of class and sophistication, to the grand reception at the Ohio Statehouse, down to the crisp and clean bridesmaid bouquets. Abby and KC’s wedding is the perfect example that less is more. You don’t need ungodly amounts of details, or giant arrangements guests can’t see over, to make your day beautiful and memorable!

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Photography: Nicole Clarey Photography | Videography: ALC Production | Coordination: Amanda Mikkelson | Floral Design: Posy | Cake: Le Gateau Llc. Weeding Cakes By Sue Larson | Ceremony Venue: First Community Church | Reception Venue: Ohio Statehouse | Catering: Milo's Catering | Hair: The Bride Bar | Band: Bluewater Kings Band

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How To Give a Bold Color Palette a Timeless Feel

There’s no doubt that a black and white palette or neutrals are timeless all the way, but that doesn’t mean a whopping dose of color can’t be timeless, too. That’s exactly what Events Held Dear and Evergreen Flower Co. set out to while dreaming up this slice of inspo. Hue happy and forever pretty? Definitely. There’s no doubt in my mind this pretty collection of images by Nicole Clarey will be turning heads for years to come.

From Nicole Clarey PhotographyThe early winters in Ohio are very grey, so we wanted to bring the outdoors, indoors for our Get It Girl Workshop in Columbus, Oh. For a minute you forget about the cold weather and feel those California, boho vibes we pulled so much inspiration from for this shoot. Terra-cotta was our main color inspiration and wanted to accent it with complementing colors of pinks and yellows, with just a touch of blue to make a statement. These days it seems like brides are afraid of color, but Events Held Dear and Evergreen Flower Co. prove that you can make a bold palette, timeless.

One of my favorite touches was the map Inkwell + Co. included in the invitation suite. It’s an adorable touch to an otherwise simple suite, but gives so much interest. It really brought the story together. The number one thing we taught at the workshop was to always have intent when creating and doing business. Everything you use for a shoot should have purpose and circles back to your main idea and that map was a great example of that.

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Photography: Nicole Clarey Photography | Floral Design: Evergreen Flower Co. | Gown: B.Loved Bridal | Shoes: BHLDN | Rings: Trumpet & Horn | Invitations + Calligraphy: Inkwell & Co. | Event Stylist + Coordinator: Events Held Dear | Hair + Makeup Artist: Blushed By Victoria | Plates: Anthropologie | Ribbon: The Lesser Bear | Wine Glasses: Anthropologie

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Cozy + Sweet Engagement Session in Columbus, Ohio

Kathleen & Kyle just get me. Why? Uhm, probably because their engagement session from the lens of Henry Photography was primarily focused on two very important things: donuts and wine. Add in a splash of their seriously sweet love and you’ve got yourself a gallery that is as adorable as a basket full of puppies. See it all in THE VAULT!

From Henry PhotographyKathleen & Kyle live in the most adorable part of Columbus, German Village. Surrounded by brick roads, swanky restaurants, a fabulous park and lots of gorgeous homes. When they told me they wanted a cozy engagement session with some of their favorites in the park, I was so excited. Kathleen gave me some serious hair envy and wore the most adorable kate spade boots while Kyle had on plaid and brought his favorite donuts. Cheese, wine and donuts in the park was exactly what this couple loves. We walked around their neighborhood at all their favorite spots and we chased the sun until it was setting. Capturing their joy and laughter was more of a gift to me, they were completely smitten with eachother.

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Photography: Henry Photography | Film Lab: PhotoVision Prints

Romantic Outdoor Bohemian Woodland Wedding

Truth be told, there are very few things that I love more than a wedding graced with Jenny Yoo gowns. Surrounded by tall trees, DIY details, and some seriously delish homemade food, it’s a boho chic soiree you’re going to fall head over heels in love with. Because who doesn’t love an evening that ends with a bonfire and s’mores?! Get in on the chicness thanks to Leigh Elizabeth Photography in The Vault!

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From The Bride…Our wedding day was a complete dream. From the beginning I knew I wanted a boho woodland style wedding, so we chose a venue that had a perfect spot for the ceremony to be outside, surrounded by tall trees, and also had a rustic lodge for the reception. Going with the boho theme, the decor included lots of amber and milk glass, lace, complete with a few gold accents. Collecting bottles and lace from antique shops was becoming super pricy but thankfully two of my best friends who were also bridesmaids own an event planning and rental business so I was able to borrow quite a bit from them! I like to think I am decently crafty, so I made a lot of the signs and a few decorations myself. My most favorite decoration I made was the M & V banner that hung over the fireplace. Since our color palette was pretty neutral, I loved the idea of having the entire venue overflowing with different textures and types of greenery, and for the flowers we stuck with simple white and soft pink garden roses. I found my wedding dress at BHLDN, and my aunt made the beautiful lace topper that I wore with it. The bridesmaids chose their own dresses, which all had different textures of fabric in shades of cream. Matt and I are both pretty laid back people so we wanted our wedding day to be a reflection of that. A family friend made all of our food (BBQ pulled pork, Matt’s fave and about the only input he gave when we were planning!), there was a bonfire with cozy blankets and s’mores for roasting, picnic tables roped off with string lights for guests to mingle outside, and partying and dancing inside the lodge. The day was such a whirlwind and went by way too fast but it was by far the greatest day of our lives and my heart aches to go back and relive it!!

My most favorite part of our wedding day was the few moments immediately after the ceremony ended. Matt and I had made our way back down the aisle, out of the ceremony entrance and we just held each other for a minute while we soaked up what just happened. Our wedding party followed behind us, then we celebrated and hugged with lots of laughs, smiles, and happy tears!

Advice for Other Brides is to hire a videographer. No matter how much you try to soak up all the moments, smells, sounds, and feelings, your adrenaline levels will be so high that you will forget so much. Even though I can never go back and relive our wedding day, at least I have the most important moments on film to remind me of how wonderful it was.

Photography: Leigh Elizabeth Photography | Event Planning: Events Held Dear | Floral Design: Fifty Flowers | Wedding Dress: Jenny Yoo | Groomsmen Attire: Banana Republic | Venue: Camp Mary Orton

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These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Blush + Coral Downtown Columbus Wedding

This downtown Columbus church wedding with a reception at the rustic High Line Car House will have you dreaming in blush and coral! Our eyes first gravitated toward the beautiful blooms from Rose Bredl, but then details like whimsical calligraphy, watercolor menus (by Auburn & Ivory Creative) and mini cakes took our love over the top! See all the lovely shots by Leigh Elizabeth Photography right here!

From the beautiful Bride… It sounds cliché and we had to consciously remind ourselves not to roll our eyes when people said it to us, but you have no idea how quickly the day goes by. For us, it was 10 months of planning, a lifetime of dreaming, all for a day that seemed to be over in the blink of an eye.

The day was perfect. All the anxiety over weather and everything going perfectly seemed to disappear when we woke up. Sure, it was 80 degrees with a nearly-stifling humidity, but that beats the endless rain and thunderstorms that had preceded and followed our wedding day for weeks. We got ready at the amazing Renaissance hotel in downtown Columbus. We were surrounded by our friends and family. For Lorie, that was nine bridesmaids, her mom, the two sweetest flower girls in the world and their mom. For Jared, that was his eight groomsmen, his dad and Lorie’s dad. When it came to the size of our wedding party, we always felt a little anxious and judged by people’s reactions: “Oh wow, you have a bridal party of 19? Sure seems like a lot.” The truth is, it was a lot, but we wouldn’t have changed it for anything. Getting ready with the people that make us happiest, the people who have been around us since the day we met, people who have watched our relationship grow from a chance encounter to our happily-ever-after. The hours before the wedding were filled with laughter, storytelling, a few tears the inevitable and the “I’m somewhat kidding, but really…” question: Are you sure?

We took a trolley from the Renaissance to Holy Cross Catholic church. Our ceremony began at 4:30 and the church was filled with 200 of our closest friends and family waiting to be witness to our commitment to one another for the rest of our lives. As we listened to the words of the readings, and the homily from the priest, we both became a little anxious for our “public speaking” moment – of course we couldn’t wait to say our vows to each other, but there’s something to be said for two people who have always played more of the supporting role vs. the spotlight, a way of life we both prefer. The moment we found ourselves reciting words after the priest all of a sudden felt like we were the only two people in the church. It was just us, making a promise to each other, to love and support one another for all the days of our lives. Before we knew it, we were being announced as “Mr. and Mrs. Holt,” we jumped the broom and we were off for the celebration.

On the way, Leigh took us to the most amazing spot in German Village. A small street with the most amazing light from the lowering sun and a spot that captured all the beauty and history of our home city. This is where we captured our favorite pictures from the day. Looking at the photos now, wow, we really did have quite the wedding party! And we’re sure we placed before Leigh a challenge of logistics and gathering everyone’s attention, but she amazingly got all 21 people to cooperate and look beautiful for the camera.

The reception. All along we both said we wanted a party. We really wanted people to celebrate with us. We were announced to Jay Z’s “Public Service Announcement” and from that moment, we knew we were in for the celebration we had wanted. After dinner and our discrete cake tasting (remember that “attention” thing? Turns out the fear of public speaking also gave way to a fear of public eating), we both did our parent dances, and with the first song following Jared’s dance with his mom the dance floor was full of our friends and family. We took photos, toasted to our life together and spent the night turning “remember when…” stories into our new beginning stories.

When the last song was played, we walked across the street to Victory’s. A night of promise-making, laughter and dancing, turned into just one more drink, a slice a pizza and an ending similar to the way our day began, with telling stories of the best day of our lives.

The Groom’s favorite moment… Obviously, the first time we saw each other as Lorie walked down the aisle and the moment we were announced come to mind, but truly, our favorite moment of the day was the trolley ride from the ceremony to the reception. We were officially husband and wife. We were surrounded by our best friends, music was playing and someone had just popped open a bottle of champagne. It’s nearly impossible to put into words how much happiness was among us in that moment. From the back of the trolley, where we sat, we could see everyone who had been a part of our journey as a couple from the moment we met until our wedding day: the people who had been a part of our happiness for the past three years and people who would be by our sides for the happiness yet to come in our lives.

Any advice for other brides… My greatest piece of advice is that through all the planning and worrying and excitement, make sure your wedding day is still about you and the person you love. You can’t control what will happen the day of your wedding and that was a bit scary for a detail-oriented person like me. However, I knew the end of the day wasn’t going to change, regardless of any faux pas or things gone wrong. Jared and I would be married and that was most important to me. With that in mind, my wedding day was filled with laughter and excitement, not worry and stress. If something went wrong, our amazing wedding planner, Meredith, made sure it was dealt with and, more importantly, that it didn’t make its way back to me (which was amazing, I worked with Meredith because she is unbelievably talented and all along, I trusted her vision and her intuition). If you surround yourself with people you love and people who make you happy on your wedding day, you won’t worry about the small details or even allow yourself to think about things you might have forgotten. Even when you decide to share a champagne toast with your nine best friends after you are all ready and dressed and “somehow” the cork flies off and there is champagne heading straight for your wedding gown, the moment immediately bypasses panic and goes straight to laugh-until-you-cry. Your day will be what you make of it, and I chose to make it the happiest day of my life.

Photography: Leigh Elizabeth Photography | Videography: Colin Faust | Videography: Colin Faust | Event Design: Auburn & Ivory Creative | Floral Design: rose bredl flowers and garden | Wedding Dress: J.Crew | Cake: Kittie's Cakes | Ceremony Venue: Holy Cross Catholic Church | Reception Venue: Two Caterers | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: Two Caterers | Calligraphy: Auburn & Ivory Creative | DJ: Tommy Nutter - Diamond Entertainment | Groomsmen's Attire: J.Crew

Classic Spring Wedding

This wedding right here?  It’s all kinds of awesome.  Imagine sweet, classic stylings, peony-filled bouquets and just enough bling to make your heart happy and you are sooo on the right track. Now add to the fabulous mix a twosome who could.not.be cuter and the uber-talented Henry Photography to capture every moment and it’s what I call the world’s most gorgeous gallery.  Join me there for more

From Henry Photography… Chris and Megan married May 3rd in Columbus, Ohio. They met their junior year at Ohio University. Megan worked at a bar attached to his apartment. He invited her to a Christmas party and they have been together ever since. After school they both moved back home to Columbus for Chris’ family business. They dated for over five years before getting engaged. Chris had been designing a personalized ring for months. Chris proposed to Megan by closing a private park and then surprised her with all of her family and friends to celebrate.

They had a gorgeous spring day. They wanted their wedding to be a reflection of all the happiness they have shared over the years. It was a classic wedding styled with peonies, a grand ball room and live band for guests to dance the night away. They incorporated personalized details into their whole wedding theme. Chris’ Bow Tie was to honor his Uncle Steve who had recently passed. He loved to get dressed up and always looked sharp. Chris became Catholic and was baptized two weeks before the wedding. Megan had a blue rosary engraved with their wedding date and carried it at the baptism and wedding. The wedding cake was designed with the lace pattern of Megan’s dress. It was a perfect day with our closet family and friends.

Photography: Henry Photography | Florist: Orchard Lane Flowers | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Band: The Conspiracy Band | Tuxedo: Men's Wearhouse | Hotel: The Westin Columbus | Baker: The End Dessert Company | Bridal Boutique: La Jeune Mariee | Bridal Gown: Romona Keveza | Video: TrueVideo

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Romantic Pink Wedding at Griggs Reservoir Boathouse

We spent this morning at the beach with these two cuties and Jeremiah and Rachel Photography, albeit we didn’t have our toes in the sand with them, we felt as if we did. And because we loved it so much, we couldn’t resist sharing another pretty from these talented photogs, and ooh darlings, it’s a pret-ty one. A Bride in a blush dress, sparkle and shine in every corner, gorgeous rings, shoes and blooms galore… we’ll leave it at that and let the gallery speak for itself.

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From the beautiful Bride…My wedding day was the happiest day of my life! I was all smiles & overwhelmed with all the love surrounding me. My best advice to other brides is to take it all in. The day flies by, so stop and soak it up when you can!

From Jeremiah and Rachel PhotographyFrom our first interaction with Stephanie and Ian, we knew we loved them. Their wedding was filled with so much love from the two of them and their amazing friends and family. Stephanie is a girl after my own heart and I adored her touches of glam pink and sparkles throughout the day. I especially love weddings in early summer, when peonies are still in bloom! Nothing says romantic wedding like fluffy white and blush blooms. She told me on the day of that she knew pink was a popular wedding color, but she really tried to make their own, and I think they did just that! Stephanie had two wedding dresses made especially for her, one for the ceremony and one for the reception. I still can’t tell you which one I loved more, but I LOVED being able to photograph such a gorgeous bride in two spectacular dresses! Her ceremony wedding dress was a dream, with layers and layers of tulle and magic, with her reception dress being a sexy, pink lace mermaid dress. Stephanie looked radiant all day with her cascading blonde hair and shimmery eyes. Everything about Stephanie and Ian’s day was wonderful and had their own unique touch to it, from the custom paper goods and the pink ombre wedding cake, to having Ian’s step-mom perform the ceremony.

Photography: Jeremiah and Rachel Photography | Videography: Sway The Crowd Productions | Floral Design: Orchard Lane Flowers | Wedding Dress: Jasmines Bridal Shop | Wedding Dress: Cara Bridal | Cake: The End Dessert Company | Ceremony Venue: Griggs Reservoir Boathouse | Brides Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell Soiree | Bridesmaids Dresses: D'Zage | Catering: Carfagnas | DJ: Encore Entertainment | Grooms Attire: JCPenney | Bracelet & Earrings: Helena Noelle Couture | Paper Goods: Alexandria Lindo On ETSY | Photobooth: Dan Buckley Photography | Rentals: Lasting Impressions | Veil: The Little White Dress

Intimate Courthouse Wedding Inspired Shoot

If a small, intimate wedding is what you are after, you’re sure to find inspiration within the folds of this shoot crafted by All Together Now , with florals by Rose Bredl and imagery by Lily Glass Photography.  The details are simple yet driven by whimsy. And if we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a million times – A day that ends with Moscow Mules and donuts is certainly a winner in our book. See it all right here.

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From Lily Glass PhotographyI teamed up with the fabulous event coordinators of All Together Now to provide inspiration for the couple that values style and good friends but also intimacy and simplicity. Our bride and groom were “married” at the courthouse with a banner parade and the city’s best represented at the reception to follow. A visual “how-to” of keeping things just the “two of us” and a small party with your dearest friends without sacrificing attention to detail.

Photography: Lily Glass Photography | Event Planning: All Together Now | Floral Design: rose bredl flowers and garden | Dress: Anthropologie | Jewelry: Pluma Jewelry | Catering: Mouton | Suit: H&M | Chalk Art: Lalese Stamps | Hair+Makeup: Virtue Vegan Salon | Location: Mouton | Paper Goods Design: Thea Bergstedt

New Year’s Eve Wedding Celebration

We all know weddings are a cause for celebration, so what better date to throw a party than New Year’s Eve? Especially when you have the keen eye of Adrianne Elizabeth Events helping you out. Everything from the Bella Figura invites to the freshly minted Hilton ballroom, oozed sophistication. The photos from Red Gallery Photography and video from Studio Z  speak for themselves. Find the full gallery here.

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From the Bride… Dan and I met on a biking trip in the California wine country. My family and I arrived in California excited to bike, eat, and drink wine! We met up with my uncle and cousin who accompanied us and 20 other strangers on this organized trip. I met Dan that first morning when he introduced himself as one of three trip leaders and handed me my bike for the week. I thought nothing of it. As the week progressed, the leaders biked and ate with the group, guiding us on our tour of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. There was some flirtation going on, but I was not interested or looking at the time. I had just moved out to Seattle, WA from Columbus, OH days earlier hoping to jump start my career. Besides, growing up it was always my sister who attracted all the attention. I figured that would be the case here as well.

My sister and mom are quite perceptive however, and they mentioned early on that they felt Dan was clearly more interested in me. We began spending more time talking, but Dan was busy entertaining 20 other guests as well. On the last day of the trip, my sister was biking way too fast approaching a sharp hairpin turn and she crashed. Torn up, shook up, and bruised, she headed off to the hospital in a van with Dan. On their drive she inquired, “what’s up with you and my sister?” She proceeded to give him the in’s and out’s of how to go about pursuing me, and he did just that! This was the start of our relationship filled with romance and adventure!

Dan continued to work for Backroads for the next few years, and his last trip with the company took him to New Zealand and Vietnam for the Winter season. His parents and I headed out for a visit to meet him in Vietnam. On the Vietnamese New Year we were in Dan’s favorite town Hoi An. That night he gave me my belated Christmas present (since we weren’t together for the holiday). It was a homemade scrap book of our relationship with an engagement ring on the last page! We couldn’t wait to start planning our special day!

I knew I wanted to be married in my home town of Columbus, OH. My mom jumped on booking venues right away. Things seemed to be booked for weekends in 2012 already being that our engagement was in January of that year. It was booked every weekend but Thanksgiving and a few in December. We threw out the date of New Year’s Eve and it was available so we went with it! It seemed like the perfect date because I never have New Year’s plans, it’s a great time for a celebration, and our theme was automatically decided for us! A brand new Hilton was being built and set to open just before our wedding date – we jumped on the chance to be the first wedding at the new beautiful property. It was a pretty special experience to go from hard hat tours of a shell of a building to seeing our lovely wedding come to life in their exquisite ballroom.

The first chance I had to try on wedding dresses was at La Jeune Marie on a trip home to Columbus. As most brides say, I had something totally different in mind than what I chose! I only tried on about five dresses before “the one”. I absolutely fell in love with my Anna Maier gown – it was perfect for the season. There were certainly challenges planning a Columbus wedding while I was living in Seattle, so I could not have been more happy for my mom when she paired up with Adrianne from Adrianne Elizabeth Events for planning. Adrianne was the best support for both my mom and I and we could not have pulled it off without her!

We had a blast personalizing the wedding and making it fun and festive for the new year. Clay from Red Gallery Photography even flew out to do our engagement shoot in Seattle at all the locations we went on our first date, we used these pictures throughout the wedding decor. We served my favorite, Jeni’s Ice Cream, at the reception to celebrate my love of Jeni’s and the fact that used to bike race on the team in Columbus sponsored by Jeni’s.

We had a photo booth for guests to enjoy and now have a great keepsake in place of a guest book. It even snowed light fluffy white snow the day of the wedding for some gorgeous moments captured by our photographer and videographer. The highlight was at 5 minutes before midnight when we popped tiny cans of Sofia champagne and watched our “Same Day Edit” Video from Studio Z Films. The video captured the entire day from start to finish and ended with a countdown to the new year which culminated with a perfectly timed confetti drop. It was a day I will never forget! Plus, being that it was the New Year holiday, I never have to worry about my husband forgetting our anniversary, either!

Planner Note…The DiCello Family and Alicia and Dan were truly special clients. Alicia and her mom, Anita, have exquisite taste. The wedding was soft, beautiful, warm, and inviting and perfectly fitting for an elegant New Year’s Eve affair. From the very start, the DiCello’s set out to be gracious hosts to their guests. From a delicious New Year’s Eve meal paired with the families favorite wines, Silver Oak, Churchill Cellars and Twomey to Uncle Mike’s extraordinarily beautiful and delicious cookie table to the framed photos of the couple’s parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents on their wedding day, every detail was personal. It was truly a New Year’s Eve Celebration to remember.

Photography: Red Gallery Photography | Videography: Studio Z Films | Floral Design: Marti's Floral Designs | Wedding Cake: Jan Kish - La Petite Fleur | Invitations: Bella Figura | Wedding Stationery: Peabody Papers | Ceremony: St John The Baptist | Reception: Hilton Cleveland Downtown | Shoes: Gucci | Makeup: Jade at Max the Salon | Hair: Charles Penzone Salon | Band: The Conspiracy Band | Groomsmen Attire: Vera Wang Black For Men's Warehouse | Barber: Old Familiar Barber Shop | Bridal Jewelry: Haute Bride | Bridesmaids\' Dresses: BHLDN | Event Rentals & Linens: Event Source | Groom Attire: Vera Wang Black For Men's Warehouse | Ice Cream Bar: Jeni's Splendid Icecreams | Italian Cookie Table: Adrianne Elizabeth Events | Photo Booth: ShutterBooth | Rehearsal Dinner Cake: Jan Kish - La Petite Fleur | Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Lindey's | Wedding Coordination & Design: Adrianne Elizabeth Events | Wedding Dress Designer: Anna Maier | Wedding Dress Shop: La Jeune Mariee Bridal Boutique

Rustic Winery Wedding

Besides being one of the prettiest days I have ever laid my eyes upon, this wedding looks like sooo much fun.  The kind of day that you just LOVE being a part of, whether it’s as the gorgeous bride and groom or one of the lucky friends and family sharing in all of the joy.  From the amazing ceremony to the beautiful Posy blooms to the breathtaking images from Kelly Maughan Photography.  See them here

And a beautiful film from CBJB Productions?  Yes, please. 

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From the Bride… I met Joe through a mutual friend and immediately liked him. I know it sounds cliche’ when people say this, but I actually felt like I had already known him. We have a lot in common in that we don’t take anything too seriously. I think that was most reflected in our cake cutting – neither of us cared or even thought about how we were going to do it or if it would ruin my makeup or our clothes. We just had fun with it and that’s what I love about being with Joe, he makes everything fun. The most important thing to us on our wedding day was that it reflected who we are and what is important to us.

The first thing we chose was Via Vecchia as the venue, an Italian Winery in the brewery district. We wanted a space that was rustic, comfortable and unique. Via Vecchia was a perfect fit for us because my family is Italian and we both love wine. Many of the sayings, food and traditions at our wedding were Italian and wine themed and we decorated the space with olive branches, lanterns, chalkboards and old photos. Dinner was served family style and our families made cannoli’s and Italian cookies for dessert. We really wanted our guests to feel like they were having dinner at our home. We wanted the tone to be comfortable and laid-back, and I think the family style dining and the homemade desserts really set the tone. For our favors, Joe made 250 half bottles of homemade wine. We personalized each bottle with twine and our signature tag that we’d used on our save the date and invitations.

Our favorite thing about our wedding was the ceremony. In Italy, many events, including marriages happen outside in the town square with people gathered around. There’s something so beautiful and intimate about the simplicity of those gatherings. Even though it was a chilly November night and the only light we had was from a few string lights, we decided to get married on an alleyway stoop with our family and friends gathered around. It was perfect. Joe’s older brother married us, and Joe and I exchanged our own vows which added to the intimacy and comfort of our wedding ceremony.

Joe and I don’t regret a single thing about our wedding day. We didn’t do a lot of the traditions that many people do, but instead started our own that were more memorable and significant to us – and that’s what we wanted our wedding day to be about!

Photography: Kelly Maughan Photography | Videographer: CBJB Productions | Flowers: Posy | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Jewelry: Macy's | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Watters | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Macy's | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Nordstrom | Makeup: Joy Macke: State Of Face | Groom's Attire: Vera Wang | Venue: Via Vecchia

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Cleveland Museum of Art Engagement

The very best engagement sessions don’t necessarily need all the “fluff”…the balloons and confetti and props galore. The only special sauce needed is a madly-in-love couple who couldn’t be cuter if they tried. Couples just like this Cleveland duo who cozied up in front of Lauren Gabrielle’s camera for sweet little e-sesh that’s sure to make you smile. See it all right here.

From the couple… We travel. That’s what we do as a couple. First, it was just to see each other because when we first started dating in college, we went to different schools. I was at Miami University and Josh was at Ohio University. Our trips have ranged from a road trip to Charleston, SC to Luxembourg and Italy while I was studying abroad. We were able to travel twice to Thailand, which holds a special place in my hearts as it is where my Dad is from and where I lived for eight years of my life.

It has become a tradition that we plan at least one trip a year. This year, it was Israel. Josh’s sister lives there and I had never been. As it turned out, Josh had done a little extra planning that I was not aware of. We had just finished his birthday dinner at a fabulous restaurant in Jerusalem and I was out on the balcony of our apartment overlooking the city. Josh turned me around, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Getting engaged to the man I love, in a beautiful city, doing something we both love. It was perfect. Of course I said yes! We are so excited for what the future holds and can’t wait for our wedding in 2014!

Photography: Lauren Gabrielle Photography

Classic Blush + Peach Ohio Statehouse Wedding

The second I laid eyes on this wedding from Amanda Wilcher Photography I was all set to roll out the “Oh la la’s” and “Mon dieu’s” because Bliss Event Co. had me convinced this stunning classic soiree was sitting pretty right next to the Eiffel Tower, not, in fact in the middle of Columbus, OH. But oh la la, and mon dieu this fete is tres magnifique!


From Amanda Wilcher… Our bride, Lindsay, a chic bridal boutique owner and our groom, Kurt, a pilot, married in a perfectly gorgeous day in downtown Ohio. Her palette was delicious, traditional, consistent, and very classic “bridal” in the best sense. We loved that she kept her perfectly peachy and pink hued party true to form by mixing in real peaches, garden roses, and hydrangeas among other pretty details. Oh, and the cake! (Photos do it better justice than words!) One of our favorites we’ve ever seen! Really gorgeous Midwestern wedding. Since Lindsay owns her own bridal shop she had three (!) lovely, different attire changes on the day (not to mention the shoes.)

Photography: Amanda Crean | Coordination: Bliss Wedding & Event Design | Floral Design: Orchard Lane Flowers | Wedding Dress: La Jeune Mariee Bridal Boutique | Cake: Jan Kish - La Petite Fleur | Bridesmaids Dresses: Ivy And Aster | Makeup: Cheek Makeup Artistry | Bridesmaid Dress Boutique: The Gown Shop - Ann Arbor | Ohio Statehouse: Ohio Statehouse | Video: Elysium Productions

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Via Vecchia Winery Winter Wedding

With 2014 just mere hours away, we couldn’t help but kick off the day with a New Year’s “I do.” And this Ohio beauty? It checks every criteria on our winter wedding love list – snowballs and all. Kelly Maughan Photography braved the cold to bring you the most pin-able pretty, and you can head to the gallery for lots, lots more.

From the Bride… While planning our wedding, the most important thing was to ensure that it felt genuine. We tried to not focus on traditions or standards, and instead to just make sure it felt like “us”. We wanted it to be personal, intimate, romantic and comfortable. We also knew that by having a wedding on New Year’s Eve, we had an obligation to entertain our guests and throw a big party—and to be honest, that’s what we were really looking forward to! Lastly, we truly wanted each one of our guests to feel appreciated and welcome, so we spent a lot of time personalizing their experience to really make them a part of the night. And in hindsight, it (somehow) all came together, and was perfect.

Photography: Kelly Maughan Photography | Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal | Bride's Shoes: Vera Wang | Jewelry: Etsy | Bridesmaids Dresses: Nordstrom | Grooms Attire: Theory | Ceremony/Reception Venue: Via Vecchia | Groom's Shoes: Cole Haan

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Columbus Ohio Wedding from Rouxby + Adrianne Elizabeth Events

When it comes to a SMP-worthy wedding, pretty pictures are a must. Steal-worthy details are at the top of the list as well. A beautiful gown never hurts. But the thing that makes it a YES every time is the palpable love, like that in this wedding from Rouxby. Adrianne Elizabeth Events was inspired by that special bond and planned a beautiful wedding inspired by it!


From the stunning bride… Willy and I met each other in college while at Ohio State; we would see each other when my sorority & his fraternity would get together for social functions…I always thought he was kinda cute and fun, but other than a few interested glances here and there, a relationship didn’t ensue.

Fast forward to seven years later when I ran into him on May 1st 2010. Willy had moved back to Columbus 3 months earlier and I was thrilled to see him as I had always wondered what happened to that cute boy I used to like in college. We were inseparable from that night on. The following day we met for brunch, went to a Columbus Clippers game and had dinner & drinks afterwards. The rest is history…

In the Fall of 2012, Willy and I started planning his lifetime dream vacation, a trip to Alaska. On September 11th, 2012, we were in Ketchikan, Alaska, the first stop of our Alaskan cruise. He had booked an excursion for us to take a seaplane ride. Those who know me, know that I have severe anxiety about flying. Needless to say, I was not excited about the plane ride. The plane landed at a remote dock in Misty Fjords National Monument and I still had no clue my life was about to change for the rest of my life. After a few individual pictures, the pilot asked to take a picture of the two of us. Next thing you know, Willy dropped to his knee and asked me to be his wife!

Planning began a few weeks later and obviously started with wedding dress shopping! The day a girl has dreamed about for forever, the ladies of La Jeune Mariee were amazing! After only 7 dresses, I found the one. If only finding a wedding venue was just as easy!

Willy and I looked at a handful of venues before going with The Columbus Athenaeum. We knew when we had seen the Large Theater that it was perfect, it is such a unique and amazing space.

After finding my dress, I didn’t want Willy to see me before the ceremony until I was walking down the aisle to him. It was definitely worth it, the sight of tears in his eyes and him telling me that I’ve never looked more gorgeous gave me the same butterflies that started in college.

Willy and I had known that if the weather was nice on our wedding day, we wanted to drive off from the church in his 1971 Chevelle. Not only was the weather perfect, but the car made for some of our favorite photo moments.

A few weeks before the wedding, we got this fantastic idea of having The Ohio State Marching Band make a surprise appearance at the reception. It took a few special arrangements by The Athenaeum, DJ and our wedding planner, Adrianne to pull off the surprise for all our guests. In the middle of “Jessie’s Girl”, the music cut off to the disappointment of quite a few groomsmen. In marched the band like a football Saturday in Ohio Stadium. The guests went crazy, and all of the planning was well worth it to see the joy on all of our friends and families faces.

The day was everything I hoped it to be and more. I have never felt more beautiful and loved than I did on that day. The amount of love that Willy and I felt from our friends and families made us both speechless and teary eyed at the end of the night. Seeing all of the people that we love dearly come together for us meant the world to me.

Photography: Rouxby | Florist: rose bredl flowers and garden | Dress: La Jeune Mariee Bridal Boutique | Wedding Cake: Short North Piece Of Cake | Ceremony: Broad Street Methodist | Reception: The Columbus Athenaeum | Shoes: Enzo Angiolini | Bridesmaid Dresses: La Jeune Mariee Bridal Boutique | Makeup: Cheek Makeup Artistry | DJ: Jimmy Sexton | Groom's Attire: Jos. A. Bank | 1971 Chevelle: Groom's Own | Bouquet Accessories: Grandmother's Heirloom Locket | Bridal Hair: Denise Burkle | Earrings: Haute Bride | Guest Accomodations & Bridal Suite: Hilton Milwaukee | Invitations & Stationery: Ink and Ivory Design Studio | Surprise Entertainment: OSU Marching Band | Wedding Design & Coordination: Adrianne Elizabeth Events

Copper Inspired Wedding Shoot from House of Earnest

Metallics are sort of the cool kid on the block when it comes to weddings. They add a bit of edge to anything they’re paired with and are finding their way into wedding palettes all across the board. And while we happen to be a teensy bit partial to gold (we’ll gild almost anything!), House of Earnest has officially proven cooper can be equally as elegant. You’ll find every detail of this metallic mashup with a gorgeous bride styled by Lisa Sullivan Events in Benjamin Lowry’s full gallery right here.

From House of Earnest… Move over gold! Copper is a beautiful new metallic that pairs well with white and ivory as well as with naturals and blush tones. In this styled wedding shoot, Erin from House of Earnest was inspired by The beauty of the autumn season and how well rich green and light orange-pink play off of gorgeous copper for a more unique fall event.

Strong and earthy olive branches and magnolia leaves ground the light-as-air garden roses while metallic copper hobnail glass and lengths of tulle and lace add the perfect pinch of femininity. Hand scripted guest names float on panels of copper, the wedding invitation sweet is adorned with the same mix of soft and colorful florals with hints of copper.

Photography: Benjamin Lowry Photography | Flowers: rose bredl flowers and garden | Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza | Stationery: Yao Cheng Design | Makeup: Milla of Jolie Laide Hair Salon | Hair: Milla of Jolie Laide Hair Salon | Venue: Topiary Garden | Bride Styling: Lisa Sullivan Events | Dress Boutique: Big Rock Little Rooster | Model: Josie Schweitzer | Production and design: House of Earnest


Columbus, Ohio Wedding from Studio Uma

This wedding from Studio Uma is a slight departure from the typical SMP wedding, but the feeling I was overwhelmed with when I first opened up the images, was the same excited, giddy happiness I get with every wedding we feature. The teeny, tiny church where the whole wedding took place was so cozy and simply oozed romance out of every beautiful nook and cranny. The perfect makings of an SMP wedding, if you ask me. Click here to see the whole thing!

From the stunning bride … Since leaving Columbus after law school graduation in 2007, Dave and I have always missed the area and all of the friendly faces there. After Dave proposed to me in 2011, Columbus was at the top of the list for wedding locations – with most of my family in Dayton and so many of our friends in Columbus. We also thought it would be so wonderful to return to the place where we first met to exchange our vows. It would also be a great chance to share the city with our new friends in Washington, D.C., our hometown at the time, and our family from across the country and Dave’s family from around the world.

We first looked at a couple of grand cathedrals in the city, but ultimately we settled on a small church in the quiet Columbus suburb of Grandview. It wasn’t until we traveled there after we were engaged that I remembered the church from our time in Columbus. My best friend lived down the street and I remember passing by and thinking how quaint the church was! One look inside and we knew the small, historic church was the perfect place – we thought that it would be so wonderful on our wedding day to fill the church completely with our guests. It also made the ceremony more intimate.

We opted not to have the ceremony videotaped so that the feeling of our quaint, family-inspired ceremony only remains in our memories. Looking back, we wouldn’t change a thing. Although I’m sure small things here and there went wrong- we have nothing but wonderful memories from a wonderful day.

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Photography: Studio Uma| Wedding Coordination: Joie de Vivre | Hair: Katy Antol from Salon Lofts of Dublin, Perimeter Loop | Makeup: Leigh Ann Ehmann, Make You | Wedding and reception venue: Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church | Flowers: April’s Flowers | Cake: Mrs. Goodman’s | Caterer: Mass Appeal | DJ: Night Music | String Duet: Class Acts | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Dress: Mori Lee by Madeline Gardner

Columbus Wedding from Alysse Gafkjen + Picture the Love

Weddings are perfect for gushing over; that’s a given. But when they have that extra special sauce – the kind that produces drop dead gorgeous Bride’s and celebrations both detailed and love-filled, well then that gushing comes a tiny bit easier. Have a look at the gallery of images by Miss Alysse Wedding Photography and see for yourself why we are smitten kittens over this Columbus affair. And then be sure to click play on the film by Picture the Love because we’re totally smitten with that one too.

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Music: Just Right by Molly Maher ( Licensed: The Music Bed )

From The Finer Things Event PlanningAmanda and Jonathan reside in Washington D.C. but chose Columbus, Ohio as their destination wedding location. Amanda and Jon met and fell in love in college, at The Ohio State University of course! The ceremony and reception took place at a historical location in Columbus, Ohio, The Athletic Club. A unique venue that adds a touch of warmth and class to every event it houses. Amanda and Jon chose to express their wedding through adding unique shabby, chic touches. As Amanda and Jon gave their vows in front of the large fireplace lined with candles, a dear friend of the Bride and Groom presided over the ceremony. Classical string musicians filled the air. The whimsical flowers in shades of pink adorned by mason jars that complimented the warm gold chairs. The bride’s grandfather, an avid book collector loaned Amanda and Jon stacks of his favorite books to decorate the guest, escort card display. Jon did an amazing job putting together his very own photobooth where guest took many playful photos. Ending the night, an Ohio tradition… the famous Graeter’s Ice Cream Bar where guest created their own sundaes with their favorite local ice cream.

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Photographer: Miss Alysse Wedding Photography | Floral Design: Flowers on Orchard Lane | Venue: The Athletic Club | Wedding Planner: The Finer Things Event Planning | Cinematography: Picture the Love | Transportation: Urban Express | Cake: Enticing Icings and Custom Cakes Ltd. | Ice Cream Bar: Graeters | Cake: Enticing Icings | Ceremony Music: Columbus String Quartet | DJ: Chris Balentin | Hair: Michelle Buzaki | Makeup: Deja Cierston