I met Kellie, Phil and their sweet family for the first time last fall when we did an engagement/family session. I knew right then that the wedding would be a great time. They are completely laid back and so funny. I remember laughing the whole time! bridal prepOur first stop for bridal prep was with Phil and his son Philly at the Mariott to capture his details. I love when we have extra time to pop in with the groom. After hanging with the boys we hopped on over to Kellie's parents house were she, her mom and her daughter Kadance were getting ready. Kellie had mentioned in her questionnaire that she wanted her shoes photographed. UMMMM... can we talk about these gorgeous things??!! I wanted to just photograph them all. day. long. <3 <3 Kellie wore a gorgeous lace trumpet gown with a sweetheart neck and buttoned back, a sea foam jeweled belt and a fingertip veil. Her hair was lightly curled and pulled half up with the cutest succulent hair clips to match the succulents in her beautiful bouquet created by Ivy Hutch Flowers. AND let's not forget those UH-MAZING shoes! Kadance wore a pretty sea foam dress with a high neckline and the same sweet succulent hair clips. ceremonyKellie + Phil's ceremony was held at the Allen County Farm Park. The barn was decorated simply in white, peach, & sea foam. Guests entered to live music provided by a strings quartet. The couple was married by Kellie's brother Dr. Jason Kesson in a sweet and simple ceremony with readings provided by Kellie's nephews and niece.
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the proposal | as told by CaytlinWe went on a week long vacation to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He waited until two days before we were leaving and he got down on one knee in the cabin. He had gotten me up that morning and said he wanted me to see something because he had planned on taking me out to the boat dock behind our cabin but he saw there were other people out there so he chickened out and did it right there in the cabin. bridal prepIf you have read my other wedding blogs recently you will notice a theme about this first part ;) The day of the wedding the first thing I did was snatch up my phone to see the latest hourly weather forecast...."oh boy" I thought! We are kicking off this years wedding season with 8 weddings in a row. Caytlin and Hank are my 3rd wedding out of that 8 stretch before we spread out the rest of this years weddings to a couple a month. Last weekend we had a double header and after studying my weather app it looked like Caytlin and Hank were on the path to have the opposite experience I had had both days last weekend. Last weekend it rained all day but cleared up for the perfect 2 hour window for the ceremony and pictures. This looked the opposite! It was going to be beautiful all day EXCEPT for that perfect little window I needed. But as we all know regardless of the weather a wedding must go on so I devised a plan to make the best of what the radar was telling me. I told Caytlin the new plan to take bridal portraits the second they walked out of the church while the guests lined up for bubbles, she was game and it went down without a hitch. Ahhhhh I love when things come together. In fact we were able to get everything knocked out with bridal portraits, bridal party, and family formals before we were were supposed to originally even start that part of the day! Sure enough as we finished up the rain blew in! WAY TO GO Caytlin and Hank's family and friends for hustling and making it happen <3
Bridal prep took place at Grace Fellowship Church. Her bridesmaids were dressed in sea foam green and coral. Caytlin wore an ballgown style gown with a sweetheart neckline, ruched bodice, with gorgeous jewel detail and a full tulle ruffled skirt. Her footwear was jeweled sandals and she wore her hair half up with a fingertip veil. the love story | told by HaleyTanner and I met in high school. He was a senior and I was a sophomore. We went to a very small school but somehow never really talked to one another. After the first time we hung out it was constant communication. We knew even at a young age we had found our forever love. We were able to experience high school, college, buying our first home, getting our first puppy, and so much more together. Now we are ready to commit our lives to being with each other. Our lives have been so blessed. I know our blessing will only continue with marriage. I never thought Tanner would be able to surprise me but he proved me wrong. Every month or so two of my friends and I plan a “girls day out”. Tanner took advantage of this day and without my knowledge got in contact with them to plan my proposal. So the girls and I planned a day in Easton shopping, nail salon, dinner, and all. The two of them and Tanner were in contact all day making sure everything went as planned with me remaining in the dark. After we finished dinner we planned on taking a picture in front of the big Christmas tree. When went to take the photo my friends left my side I turned around to Tanner asking me to be his wife. It was by far the easiest question to answer in my life. Tanner has planned the entire honeymoon. It will be right after the wedding. He will be surprising me with the whole thing! It’s hard for us to keep anything from each other so I almost can’t believe I haven’t caved and begged for him to tell me. I do know we need our passports and to bring plenty of swim suits. I am looking forward to my unknown paradise more than anyone can imagine! bridal prepHaley & Tanner selected the beautiful Tree Links venue in Bellefontaine, Ohio. This venue used to be a golf course and has an amazing property for photos <3 Mother Nature decided to throw us a curve ball and make it rain on and off. You know, the kind you can't predict, whenever she feels a good sprinkle is in order. The ceremony was going to be held outside in front of a gorgeous grove of tall pines, but the couple decided to lean on the safe side and moved their ceremony indoors.
Haley wore a Kenneth Winston gown from the Bridal Emporium. It was a satin gown with lace overlay, gorgeous cap sleeves and a stunning long lace train. She wore her impressively long hair in a loosely braid with flowers and a finger tip veil. Her flowers were light and airy and perfectly designed by her mother in law. Sometimes weather isn't a big deal...and sometimes it is. Like when you have an outdoor ceremony and no Plan B. As any wedding photographer does, I started watching my weather app about the week before the wedding. It started out looking like we were golden, then progressively turned worse as the week marched on towards the day of the wedding. In the past this may have stressed me out, but I was completely calm & cool. I knew we had a gorgeous location both inside and out and a sweet couple and we would make it through the day. Regardless, I woke up Friday and snatched up my phone to see that a giant change on my weather app had NOT occurred and started to pray for a well timed break in the rain for the ceremony while I prepped my equipment. I arrived to Jameson and the same calm I felt about the day was flowing through the venue. There were no major conversations about what to do... we just had faith that it would turn out ok. We started photographing the bridal prep as if the sun was shining outside and there were no worries. I'm pleased do tell you that God heard us, and as Tierra started to descend the staircase into the ceremony the last few drops fell and the rain gave us the break we needed for the ceremony and photos and came back to visit after everyone was safely inside the reception! Even though we probably would have all loved to have a full day of sun, I'm so excited that Tierra and Devonte have an awesome wedding story that includes God's favor on their important day. bridal prepBoth Tierra & Devonte used Jameson Manor to get ready for the day. It's always exciting for us when the groom is on the same property as the bride during bridal prep, because so often we miss out on the neat pictures of the groom getting ready.
Tierra wore a sleek fitted gown with the most beautiful see through side details, high neck, glittery flats, and her hair pulled up elegantly with a sweet floral clip. Devonte wore a grey suit, white bow tie, black shoes, silver cuff links, and the COOLEST watch! getting ready + details Samantha and her bridesmaids gathered at her parent's home to start getting ready for the day. She wore a stunning ivory trumpet gown, with a sweetheart beaded bodice and a tulle skirt. She looked like a beautiful snow queen with her gorgeous headpiece, fur stole and large evergreen bouquet. Her bridesmaids looked stunning in their lace and sequence dresses and Samantha's daughter and niece where simply adorable in their white dresses, matching headpieces, rose gold converse, and green and fur capes. The groom and groomsmen wore grey suits and vest with evergreen boutonnieres ceremony Samantha + James had a sweet ceremony in a cozy little church. The lights were low with the sweet romantic glow of Christmas lights. bridal party These guys were troopers! It was 9 degrees!!! mr. + mrs. reception Their reception was held at the Elks in downtown Lima. The entrance to the ballroom smelled of evergreen as you walked under a gorgeous evergreen arch into a room beautifully decorated in a rose gold and hunter green winter wonderland. The night was a joyous time of celebration with family and friends as they danced the night away. Vendors:
Ceremony: Woodlawn Baptist Church Reception: The Elks Lodge - Lima Hair: Studio 34 Design Team Makeup: Makeup by Ashley Wilkins DJ: Fox Event Group Cake: Cupcakes by Michelle their storyIt all started at FFA camp, freshman year in high school. Their schools took the same bus to camp, and that was where they first met. It was 5 years later before they had their first date. From there, the future started to become more and more clear. About 2 years into the relationship, they both knew they were meant for each other. 3 years, several dates, honey-do's, and intense situations into the relationship, Luke finally realized that there was just no way he could let Tiffany slip through his fingers. He planned out a romantic evening of a special dinner and a trip to the Christmas lights at the zoo, as well as a sentimental "speech" in which he would spill his heart to the woman he loves, then follow up with the proposal. It all went as planned.... until the time for the big question. Everything he had thought up to say was gone. None of it seemed to be enough to express exactly how he felt. He still managed to make it to one knee and asked that all important question that every woman wishes to hear, "Will you marry me?" Thankfully she could understand him through his shaky voice and said "About time." getting readyThis couple really enjoys hunting and you can see this passion through out their wedding day. Inside their matching wedding bands is engraved "Love you deerly 11-25-17". Tiffany wore a Oleg Cassini lace gown with pockets (my fave!) from David's Bridal, a cathedral length veil, and cute ankle boots. Her garters were camo with deer charms to tie in with her groom's white camo vest. Her bouquet was a variety of white, blue and teal flowers. Luke wore a gray suit, black shirt, white tie, and white camo vest. He had the coolest gray and black boots and his boutonniere included a bullet casing. the first lookLuke and Tiffany decided on a first look, so after getting ready at her parent's home we headed to the pretty Kendrick's Woods park. I adore first looks! I love seeing their reaction to each other and then watching them check each other out <3 the ceremonyFollowing in the footsteps of many of Tiffany's relatives the two got married in the gorgeous St. John's Catholic Church in Delphos. Tiffany's grand cathedral veil was perfect in this stunning church! the bridal partyThe couple had a massive bridal party including 12 bridesmaids, 12 groomsmen, 4 mini brides, and one mini groom! The ladies wore shades of teal, blue, and tan and the guys wore gray suits with camo vests, shot gun shell boutonnieres (and a little surprise under their shirts lol) mr + mrsFor the bridal portraits we started after the first look at Kendrick's Woods where the sun peeked beautifully through the trees. After the ceremony we returned to Tiffany's parents house to do a couple fun pictures with a fur and feathered hat, and include Tiffany's pride and joy, her truck :) the receptionThe night finished up at the American Legion in Fort Jennings where their love of hunting could be seen through out the hall. After cake, toasts, and a delicious dinner provided by Tiffany's dad and Dick's Steakhouse, the guest danced the night away on the dance floor! The couple took an AMAZING trip to Ireland for their honeymoon! I am so happy for these two and am honored to have been able to spend their wedding day with them <3 <3 <3 Vendors:
Ceremony: St. John's Catholic Church, Delphos Reception: Fort Jennings American Legion Hair: Lavish Salon and Spa Makeup: Barb Metzner, Mary Kay DJ: Kevin Siefker Cake: Sharon Kraft Sheeter Catering: Rick Recker (Bride's Father) and Dick's Steakhouse Dresses: David's Bridal Groom's attire: Men's Warehouse. Vests made by bride's aunt Barb Haggard Invitations: Areo Printing Eileen and Kevin reside in Chicago, but decided to come back to Eileen's home town of Toledo to get married. Their day was filled with love, friends, and laughter. Anybody with a set of eyes can see the love and admiration these two have for each other and I was honored to be a part of their beautiful day! getting readyThe couple chose the stunning Renaissance Toledo Downtown Hotel for the place to get ready. Eileen had a gorgeous corner suite with an amazing view of the city skyline and river below. Her look was classic with a beautiful A-line gown with a full tulle skirt. The top of her gown was simple with lace, bead, and sheer details. Eileen wore her hair curled and down, red lips, simple jewelry, a cathedral length veil, stunning low profile shoes and occasionally for warmth, a white fur stole. Her gorgeous bouquet from Bartz Viviano was full of plumb, berry, and cream colors with a couple sweet little succulents tucked in. The suite was full of smiles, hugs, and laughter as Eileen's bridesmaids got ready beside her. Each bridesmaid chose their unique gown from the plumb & berry families and looked absolutely gorgeous next to their beautiful friend! The groom and groomsmen looked handsome in their grey vests and suits. Kevin does not know a stranger and is a friend to all. It was wonderful to follow him around all day and watch as he made time for a handshake, hug, and genuine smile for each guest as they crossed his path. He and his groomsmen were a joy to photograph!
the groomI met Andrea & Josh last November for their engagement session. I knew then how amazing their wedding would be! I was not disappointed! In fact, I had to work REALLY hard to cut back the amount of beautiful pictures I wanted to show you from this wedding. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE <3 getting readyAndrea & Josh booked the classically beautiful Jameson Manor for the place the ladies would get ready,and for the first look. Wow! What a great decision, this location made such a beautiful backdrop for the morning's events. Andrea wore a drop dead gorgeous fitted gown with a bateau neckline, beaded belt, sheer back and a dramatic sheer train. She wore her hair up in a chignon with a simple gold leaf barrette, and beautiful veil. Her jewelry was simple gold accents and her bouquet from Ivy Hutch Flowers was a beautiful arrangement of white, peach, blue, and burgundy flowers with long ribbons flowing from the bottom. the bridethe groomthe bridal partythe first lookHave I mentioned how much I love First Looks??? Look at that emotion folks <3 <3 the ceremonymr. + mrs.cocktail hourAfter the ceremony we headed back to Jameson Manor for the cocktail hour. I just have to tell you how great this was! They had live music provided by SaMax, a brother and sister duo preforming with just his guitar and her crazy amazing voice! I could sit and listen to her all day! I just loved the intimate feeling the court yard, upper deck, and inside provided for this event. It was perfect! A little party bus action and a quick stop to Andrea's old work place, Beer Barrel, for a little celebratory drink. the receptionThe reception was held at the Lima Knights of Columbus. The hall was decorated by Joyous Occasions with white and sparkly gold table cloths, stunning floral arrangements, and sweet fall themed items. Their delicious meal was served family style and catered by Milano's Café. I loved getting to know the family members of this sweet couple through their speeches. I could definitely see me hanging out with all these great people! Josh's brothers ended their toast with a rap they created for the night. Next up were Andrea's sisters, not to be out done, they too preformed a rap...it was EPIC!! The whole place erupted in applause. Well done ladies, well done! After dinner and the cake the dancing started for the evening. It was standing room only on that floor...ok dancing room only...but you couldn't go far, it was packed! Thank you all for that! Photographers love a good dance party :) Wedding Planner - Aspen Jean Planning
Videographer - Lasting Memories Cake - Homemade Goodness - Rhonda Maag Cocktail Hour Band - Samax - Samantha and Max Preparations and cocktail hour - Jameson Manor Event Venue Decorations - Joyous Occasions Ft Jennings Flowers - Ivy Hutch Flowers & Gifts Hair and Makeup - Beauty by Jill Wedding Dress - Twirl Ceremony - St. Gerard Church Reception - Knights of Columbus Lima #2661 Dinner - Milano Cafe their storyCurtis and Elizabeth met their freshmen year of high school at LCC. She noticed him the first day of class! They quickly became friends and started to date the summer after freshmen year. They dated all through high school and graduated together. Four years later, he proposed :) And now, six years later they are getting married and spending the rest of their lives together! This is their proposal story as told by Elizabeth: June 13, 2015 Curtis and were on camping trip at Indian Lake State Park with some friends. It was getting dark and it was rainy. Curtis kept insisting we go walk on the beach. I, being difficult, whined and complained about getting wet and being tired. Curtis had this towel with him that I thought was weird, but he said it was to keep us dry in the rain. When we got to the beach we sat under a shelter. Curtis uncover a box that was under that towel and got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Again, me being difficult, I asked if he asked my dad and if he was serious?! He, of course, said yes, and so, of course, I said yes (and cried my eyes out)! He had one of our friends taking pictures the whole time. the brideElizabeth had a classic look with a gorgeous satin dress with stunning beaded details and a plunging back. The icing on her already amazing dress is the POCKETS! I LOVE dresses with pockets!! Elizabeth wore her hair up and carried a beautiful bouquet of fall colored flowers. Curtis gave Elizabeth a sweet bracelet to complete her look. Elizabeth's mother Janet passed away a few months before the wedding. Even though she could not be with Elizabeth here on Earth for this day, her memory was abundant in the hearts of her loved ones. As an outward symbol of her memory this beautiful image of her joined us throughout the day. the groomCurtis wore a gray suit, white vest and a red tie. Elizabeth gave him a watch to complete his look for the day. the ceremonythe bridal partymr. + mrs.the receptionVendors:
Ceremony: St. Gerard Catholic Church Reception & Catering: Old Barn Out Back Dress: Sister's Bridal Bridesmaid Dresses: David's Bridal Groom's Attire: Men's Warehouse Florist: Petal Shed Hair: Angel's Hair Salon Make up: Christine Stauffer - Mary Kay Cake: Baked to Perfection DJ: CDR Productions Entertainment Favors: Shirley's Popcorn (delicious s'mores popcorn! YUMMO!) I first met Taylor and John at a bridal show in Findlay this past spring. Taylor called me that night to book with me and I was overjoyed! Soon we met again for their engagement session, they were a joy to work with, and their session turned out amazing! I absolutely love how John looks at Taylor. You can tell how in love they are and I am not surprised he had such a sweet proposal for Taylor. "We lived on the second floor of our apartment and I had just gotten home from work. I walked inside the apartment building and flower petals were on the stairs. I thought it was cute but didn't think they were for me. Single roses were scattered around as well. Petals were leading from the first floor all the way to our apartment. I got to my door and realized they were all for me. I walked inside and flowers were everywhere! That's when I saw John and he handed me a glass of wine and proposed to me :)" taylorTaylor wore an absolutely gorgeous gown. She looked just like a princess in her A-line gown with a fully beaded bodice and full tulle skirt. She modified the train from the original gown but left a little bit behind for her mom :) She wore a beautiful diamond necklace from her late grandmother and a sweet tiara. Her bouquet was a large arrangement of fall colored flowers and the perfect addition to her fall themed wedding! johngiftsI think John enjoyed his gift from Taylor :) I helped make it and totally didn't put 2 and 2 together at first that that was what he was opening! Have to say I loved getting to witness it being opened! John gave Taylor tickets to see the Packers play the Browns, she LOVED it!! first lookbridal partyceremonyTaylor and John had a beautiful sunny 82 degree October day! I must add though, that we at times felt like we were in a hurricane! It was quite possibly the windiest situation I have photographed with gusts 20-30 mph but these two were champs and we would shoot between the gusts if we were in a gusty area. The ceremony was held on Taylor's parent's property in a white tent situated a short distance from another tent that held the reception. We were sounded by trees and it was stunning. mr + mrsreceptionThe fall theme continued into the tent which was full of the glow of string lights. The round white tables were decorated with beautiful arrangements in white pumpkins next to small tea candles. Hay bales were positioned at the entrance topped with metal tubs of ice, wine, and assorted beverages. Next to the drinks was a super cute smores station. The incredibly delicious meal was catered and served to guest by the AMAZING crew of The Gathering. A table near the back was overflowing with fall themed goodies next to their cake that continued the purple theme from the guys' vests and ties. Everything tied beautifully together and guests danced the night away to music provided by Speed of Sound Entertainment. Vendors
Hair: Rihanna from Tangles Florist: Petals at Great Scot Catering: The Gathering DJ: Speed of Sound Entertainment Cake: Jerry England Groom's Attire: Trends on Main Bridesmaid's dresses: Azazie This sweet couple met on eHarmony and instantly clicked. Their connection was extremely intellectual; they talked for hours about history and books. Bailey & Joe started talking on March 9, 2016, had their first date on the 12th (dinner at La Cha and Suessical the Musical at Elida High School), and made it official on the 16th. Even though neither had said it at that point they both knew it was forever and always. Joe proposed to Bailey by waking her up with a kiss before church on 10/16/16 and asked :) he said he wanted to plan something more "special" but it was the middle of harvest and he had already had the ring for months. Bailey said "it was perfect, and very special." Bailey wore a beautiful cap sleeved gown, and rose gold details. She wore a simple nude heel for the ceremony and had the cutest rose gold sequence sneakers for the rest of the day! Her bridesmaids wore the sweet black and white tea length dresses with matching shoes. Joe looked handsome in his vest and rolled sleeves and his groomsmen sported a similar look exchanging the vest for suspenders. Dad's First LookThe First LookJoe had a surprise for his soon to be sister-in-law The CeremonyThe ceremony was held on a beautiful sunny day at Joe's home church, St. John's Lutheran Church in Napoleon, Ohio. They had their guest sign cornhole boards! I LOVE this idea! Bridal PartyBailey's mom works for coke so they thought it would be super fun and cute to do a few photos with personalized coke bottles...they were right :) Mr. + Mrs.ReceptionBailey & Joe had their reception in the Findlay room at the beautiful Alexandria's Gastropub in Findlay, Ohio. Vendors
Ceremony: St. John's Lutheran Church, Napoleon, OH Reception: Alexandria's Gastropub Bride's Bouquet: Weddings by Billie Hair: Brooklyn Ewen & Casey Newman from JCP Salon Lima Braid Board: Whimsically Warm by Allanah Kerns Lexi & Wes decided to get married surrounded by their family in a gazebo at the Toledo Botanical Gardens and it was PERFECT! Lexi wore a beautiful fitted lace gown and veil. Her bouquet was absolutely beautiful and created by HER with flowers from the grocery! What?? And this isn't something she already does, I was so impressed when I heard this! I would love to be able to just whip up something that looked this professional! Thank you Lexi & Wes for allowing me to join you and your family for such a special day! I wish you may years of happiness and joy <3
Kari & Clint are the perfect match, you can just tell from the way they look at each other. I remember telling them at their engagement session that they looked at each other very well (that may sound like a weird statement, but sometimes staring at someone, even if you love them isn't easy) I think Clint responded with something along the lines of, "Well why wouldn't I, look at what I'm looking at." Their wedding day was filled with those same looks and it was absolutely perfect. getting readyKari's look was sweet and soft, she wore a beautiful fitted lace gown with buttons alternating with crystals down the entire back of the dress. Her hair was softly curled and pulled half up. Her bouquet was a beautiful light and airy grouping of white baby's breath and spider mums. To top off her look Kari decided on boots for her footwear to surprise her husband to be Clint gave Kari the sweetest gift. Since Kari is a massage therapist she cannot wear her rings while she works. He gave a necklace with a heart that will open at the bottom and hold her rings for her so she never has to put her rings down. Kari had a piece of her mother's wedding dress sewn into her dress. Her mom had actually forgotten about this till we started taking photos of it. It was very emotional. <3 the first lookdad's first lookthe ceremonyThe ceremony was held on the property of the owners of the Winner Family Farm. As guests arrived to the location they were greeted by a grand gate to a gorgeous tree lined driveway. Bales of hay and beautiful mums led guests to their chairs. The chairs were set up on the side of a hill with the most amazing rock stairs cascading down to a beautiful blue pond. mr. + mrs.bridal partyreceptionThe matron of honor's grandparents had the best marriage advice ever.... lol Kari's brothers had a surprise for the couple and preformed their parody of the COPS theme!
Findlay, OH | University of Findlay | Marathon Center for Performing Arts | Geise Wedding7/15/2017 A beautiful warm and sunny day to end a week of crazy rain is just what this couple hoped for! Oh Findlay, how we love you....but we really need you to get your Blanchard River in check lol. Just a decade ago yours truly had to move her wedding ceremony to a different town 3 days before her wedding date because of our beloved Blanchard River...talk about stressful! Thankfully this was not the case for Alyson and Todd! We did have to alter one of our portrait locations but I'll take that any day over what it could have been! Alyson and Todd have been together since they began dating in high school 8 years ago and it is obvious that they are head over heels for each other! They were so sweet at our pre-wedding meeting and I could feel the love and excitement for their upcoming day! I loved how vocal Todd was about not wanting to see his bride-to-be before their intimate ceremony <3 I love my grooms but usually that is more of a concern of the bride! AlysonAlyson wore a light and airy, sweet heart necked gown, with a ruffled bottom from David's Bridal. Her jewelry and head piece were the perfect amount of sparkle to compliment her radiant smile. She had the most amazing blue shoes.. and I heard someone mention something about Sex in the City... I'm sure if you watched that series you will know what they were talking about :) I had to add this one in here...this little guy was so curious I thought he was going to crawl up Alyson's dress!!! He followed us all around lol Alyson's Bridesmaids looked amazing in their coral dresses that were also from David's Bridal. The two little ones gave me a run for my money :) The little guy wouldn't crack a smile for me for anything and our little flower girl wasn't too sure of me either! As soon as they gave her the basket she decided it was a great time to practice lol. ToddTodd looked dashing in his grey tuxedo and white vest from American Commodore Tuxedo. His groomsmen compliment his look well with their coral vests and ties. The CeremonyThese lovebirds decided to have a small intimate ceremony with their families in a sweet gazebo on the Findlay University Campus, it was perfect. The sweet flower girl ran full speed to her destination, Alyson looked absolutely radiant as she walked to the beautiful music coming from the harpist, and Todd was as anxious as ever to see his beautiful bride to be. After the family formals we began to head to the front of the campus to get a picture under the arch and a long white limo pulled up in front of us in the distance. Alyson's father had booked the limo as a surprise and Alyson's squeal of delight after realizing it was for them was the perfect response <3 Before they hopped in we make a quick pit stop to snap so photos under the Findlay University arch since both are alumni! Mr. + Mrs.Their girls made a special appearance just for pictures! They were so excited to see their mom and dad :) The ReceptionI have to tell you... Alyson's mom Brenda is exceptionally talented! She did all the florals and decorating for the entire day! WHAAAAT??? Wow, I am blown away! The reception was held in the grand Marathon center. It had an open upper lounge for the guest and the lower level was where the bridal table, immediate family tables, and dance floor were located. Each table had sweet little chocolate heart sucker as a memorial to Alyson's grandmother. She was known for her chocolates for special occasions. The room was filled with light from the floor to ceiling wall of windows. It was luxurious. The food was catered by Special Occasions Catering and was delicious as always! Their loaded mashed potatoes and melt in your mouth roast is absolutely divine. For dessert the couple opted to have cheesecake for their guest so a sweet little cutting cake was all they needed. It was presented on a spinning cake stand with lights in the bottom. Everything was the perfect setting to spend the night celebrating the marriage of the high school sweet hearts that are amazingly in love. Vendors
Ceremony Venue: Findlay University Reception Venue: Marathon Center for the Performing Arts Florist: Brenda Combs (Mother of the Bride) Wedding Planner: Brenda Combs (Mother of the Bride) Hair: Tangles Salon Dresses: David's Bridal Tuxedo: American Commodore Tuxedo Catering: Special Occasions Catering Cake: Alexa Geise Ashley and Luke could not have ordered a better day! It was 78 with a slight breeze which was absolutely perfect for their outdoor tent ceremony. The girls started the day getting ready at Ashley's house. We arrived as Kristen was finishing up Ashley's makeup. Ashley's oldest daughter Maddie was a junior bridesmaid and looked absolutely adorable. Below she is looking at her necklace her mommy gave her. Ashley's look was elegantly simple. She wore baby's breath in her hair, a light and airy dress with a sweetheart neckline from David's Bridal in Toledo, jeweled sandals, and a sweet and simple bracelet with a heart. She finished out her look with a darling bouquet filled with baby's breath, roses and daisy's from Great Scot Floral in Findlay. Ashley had 3 bridesmaids and one junior bridesmaid. They too wore dresses from David's Bridal and looked amazing! Luke looked handsome in his blue suspenders and bowtie. The couples ceremony was held outdoors by a beautiful blue pond beneath a tent at Circle P Ranch in Findlay, Ohio. Mr + Mrs <3 After our little trip to Litzenberg Memorial Park for our bridal portraits we returned back to Circle P for the reception to eat, dance & celebrate! After Ashley and Luke's first dance they had a family dance with their sweet girls. Little Emerson thought that was good time to feed her daddy a strawberry haha. Vendors:
Venue: Circle P Reception Hall Dresses: David's Bridal Florist: Great Scot Hair: Generations Salon & Spa Makeup: Kristen Kryling Caterer: Special- Occasions Catering Cake & Cupcakes: Kendra's Cakes DJ: Big Dave & The Kahuna The Mallory + Jacob StoryI cannot say enough wonderful things about this couple. I traveled up to meet them at the Toledo Botanical Gardens for their engagement session last year and we had an absolute ball. I will never forget how Jacob held his "silly face" for an epically long time lol [If you haven't seen their beautiful engagement session click here] Jacob and Mallory met at her first full-time job out of college in October of 2011. They both worked at an advertising agency in Sylvania - she was one of 3 account coordinators and Jacob was the media coordinator. Right off the bat Mallory knew she found Jacob attractive, funny and all that good stuff so over the next few months she worked her butt off trying to catch his attention. They even went on a "date" to see the most recent Twilight movie in December of 2011 where she tried to hold his hand and he was just not having it - haha. So, come March 2012 Jacob finally started giving Mallory some attention. They begin chatting and over time begin hanging out and by April 2012 he decided to go for it and ask her to be his girlfriend. Over the next 3 years they would go through some tough yet fun times - Jacob went back to school to get another degree from the University of Toledo (which took a large chunk of his time) and he took some time off working to focus on finishing his degree. They also adopted their cat Lizzie (their sweet, lazy, old girl) in January of 2013. Then, Jacob moved into Mallory's small, 750 sq. ft. house (that she was renting from her parents) which was a little cramped to say the least. Around the summer of 2014 they "finally got their stuff together" the next year - enough to save some money and plan a trip to London and Paris during Christmas of 2015. Since that trip they both found themselves working at the same office again, bought their first home in September 2016 in Sylvania, OH and adopted their second cat, Kit (their rambunctious little boy) I ask all my couples this question because who doesn't love a good "popping the question" story?? This is how Jacob popped the question as told by Mallory: While on our trip to Paris during the Christmas 2015 holiday Jacob and I planned to visit the Eiffel Tower on New Years Eve (you know, to close out the year on a high note and give him a chance to pop the question in the best place ever, if it was ACTUALLY going to happen). We arrived at the Eiffel Tower around 11:00 am (Paris time) and took our time walking the grounds and taking a close look at the tower. We took a walk further away from the tower and spotted some benches near the Joffre statue in Joffre Square (in front of École Militaire, which is a military school) to take a rest. We sat for a bit and chatted about how thankful we were to be seeing such sights and that we were lucky to be there and after about 10 minutes Jacob stood up. Thinking he was ready to leave and move on I stood as well but as soon as I was up, Jacob dropped to one knee. Ring-less and nervous, Jacob asked (something to the extent of) "Mallory - I love you and you're my best friend. Will you marry me?" (because, lets be honest, nobody remembers what they say when they're at the most nervous point of their lives!). I was so overwhelmed that he decided to ask me right then and there I'm pretty sure I said "Yeah, yeah - yes of course" and the rest is history! Also, may be good to mention that Jacob decided to pop the question literally 5 minutes before he did so. He says, and I quote "I wanted to be sure so I waited until the absolute last second!". Upon our return to the country, we went together to Jeffery Mann Fine Jewelers in Toledo, OH to pick out my Simon G. engagement ring. The Wedding DayWhat a gorgeous day they had! It was a little on the hot side and definitely windy, but hot and windy is better than rain any day! Mallory wore a Sincerity Bridal gown from Belle Amour Bridal and was absolutely ravishing. Her beautiful bouquet from Bartz Vivano completed her whimsical look wonderfully Mallory & Jacob's beautiful invitations were done by their good friend, and owner of Pip & Cricket [how cute is that name???] Gosh Jacob! You clean up nice ;) Emotion filled the air during the preparation. Mallory, her mother and bridesmaids were fighting back tears of joy with every addition to Mallory's beautiful and final look. Just minutes before the walk down to the grotto the couple exchanged gifts and the waterworks really let loose. Nazareth Hall is breathtaking! The Mansion is glorious and the grounds are stunning. Mallory and Jacob chose to hold their ceremony in The Grotto and it was perfect! The ceremony was sweet and full of laughter. I just knew before getting to meet the bridal party that they had to be as fun as this amazing couple and I was right! What a great group of friends :) Mallory + Jacob <3 Following the ceremony the reception was held in the Cadet West Ballroom within Nazareth hall. It was a fun filled night of celebrating this amazing couple. Soon these two will be heading out to Ocean Maya Royale in Cancun, Mexico! All-inclusive, adults-only resort for their honeymoon. I wish you two many many years of laughing together. Enjoy your honeymoon <3 Florist: Bartz Vivano Ceremony venue: Nazareth Hall - The Grotto Reception venue: Nazareth Hall - The Cadet West Ballroom Hair: Reve Salon and Spa Makeup: Natalie Pohorecki Makeup Artist Dj/Band: The Class Act by Bob Norris Cake: Wixey's Bakery Bridesmaids dresses: 2B Bridal Boutique Invitations: Pip and Cricket Stephanie and Ricky are so sweet on each other and quite the joy to photograph. their love story began when Ricky's father purchased a local restaurant from Stephanie's father. Stephanie continued to work at the restaurant after the transfer and eventually Ricky and Stephanie's paths crossed. Ricky said it was a little awkward at first because he had to use his brother as a bridge to talk to her :D Once the connection was made the rest is history. Ricky popped the question at Stephanie's favorite restaurant Rossilli's. Even though Stephanie knew the big question was coming, they made it special by having both their immediate families join them. The day turned out to be a beautiful (hot and windy) but beautiful day! Stephanie is so talented and tackled her own hair and makeup, and I think she did a stunning job! Ricky looked absolutely dashing in his black tux and silver tie Their ceremony was held at Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Findlay, Ohio. Following their ceremony we headed directly to The Center in Bluffton, Ohio for their beautiful reception. The couple arrived in style with a full band following them as they entered. The music was so fun and filled the night as everyone ate and enjoyed the celebration. This gorgeous couple will be heading out shortly to Cancun for their honeymoon! I hope you two have an amazing trip and enjoy every second of your newlywed bliss!
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