St. John's Catholic Church, Lima, Ohio | Veronica + Mark Hawk Wedding

Lima, OH | St. John's Catholic Church | Veterans Memorial Civic + Convention Center | Hawk Wedding

10/20/2019

the love story told by Veronica

Whenever people hear about how Mark and I met they usually tell me that it’s like a Hallmark movie, well it’s MY Hallmark movie for sure. To give you a little back story, every year my family goes to the candlelight vigil on Christmas Eve and every year we sit behind the same family, Mark’s family. Sometimes the love of your life is right in front of you...literally and you don’t even know it! So Christmas Eve 2015 is where our story begins. Now fast forward to May 13, 2017; Mark and I are having brunch with our parents, the first time that we all really got a chance to be together. When we were leaving my mom handed me a photo box and told me to open it in my car…SURPRISE! Mark is sending me on a scavenger hunt. The first clue sent me to a park where we had spent many afternoons taking walks, there I found his dad who gave me my second clue. This clue was taking me downtown where we had gone on quite a few dates, his mom was there waiting for me with my next clue. This clue was telling me to head to the location of our first date, my dad was sitting at the bar waiting for me with my final clue. I knew exactly where I needed to go next...to the church where we had met Christmas Eve 2015! I’m pretty sure you know what comes next…💍!! What made it even better was when he turned me around and I saw my mom and his parents had been hiding in the church doors! But, my favorite moment though wasn’t seeing the ring, or putting it on because I’m going to be honest with you...I didn’t even look at the ring until we were getting ready to leave. My favorite moment was sitting in the pews where we first met. Because it was in that moment that I could feel God smiling down on us, and I couldn’t be more thankful for that Christmas Eve Mass in 2015. Sitting back in those spots gave me chills because I knew that it was all part of God’s plan and that he sent me His most precious angel who got down on one knee and asked me to be his forever wife

bridal prep

Folks, when I worked with Veronica and Mark last year for their engagement session I knew this wedding would be nothing short of epic. They are both kind, loving, FUN, and detail oriented. This day was completely filled with every bit of those qualities.

The couple's day started out surrounded with family and friends at the gorgeous Jameson Manor. The top floor belonged to the ladies and the bottom to the men. Each had a scrumptious buffet of food and beverages laid out beautifully for them to munch on. Upstairs Veronica, who is talented in so many ways, tackled her hair and makeup while the Beauty by Jill team was working away on the rest of the crew. Downstairs the boys hung out, sang, sipped on bourbon and worked on getting their finishing touches on.

Veronica wore an absolutely stunning sleeveless A-line gown with an open back, plunging V-neckline, and sheer bodice covered in lace that trickled down the skirt. The full skirt with several layers and a dramatic train, was full of lace, sequence, and bead details. I practically squealed with delight over her unique heels when I spotted them sitting near her details, they were champagne in color and simple in design with the exception of a jeweled detail spiraling up the heel, and a diamond at the top of the spiral on the left shoe. She wore her hair down and loosely curled finished with a cathedral length veil placed near the crown of her head and a jeweled hair piece.

The couple made sure to make all their friends and family felt their love with letters and gifts. Many laughs and tears were shared. One of my favorite moments was seeing Veronica in a full belly laugh after Mark had surprised her with confetti in his card. She explained that was a thing they do to people and she had thought of doing it to him but didn't...these two really are on the same brain wave!

One of the final things we did before leaving for the church was have a special moment with Veronica and her dad. It was a sweet and tender moment seeing a dad and his little girl together moved with such emotion.

ceremony

Veronica + Mark were married at the beautiful St. John's Catholic Church of Lima. Through out the day it was obvious that family is extremely important to the couple and this continued into the ceremony. Prior to the ceremony Mark met with his grandfather, Leo, for inspiration, prayer and a time of connection. The music as guests filtered in was played by their cousin on the harp. Although most of the ceremony was filled with smiles, sweet Veronica was overtaken with emotion during her vows and had difficulty finishing them through her tears <3 After communion another cousin sang Ave Maria beautifully from the balcony as the couple looked lovingly back at her. As the freshly married couple exited the church, family and friends filled the stairs to shower them with tiny green leaves as they made a run to the sweet get away car. After they made their way back we took time to take some special photos of the hands of the most important women and men in the couples lives.

bridal party

mr + mrs

I have been looking forward to this wedding for awhile! Like I mentioned before after their engagement session I knew this was going to be an amazing day, Veronica is so much fun and can go from sultry model to laughing in 2.5 seconds. She is constantly giving me different looks and I LOVE IT!

Sadly, Mark's father passed away a couple years ago. After the ceremony we made a stop at the cemetery to give Mark a moment, but also for Veronica to surprise him. Remember how I mentioned she is crazy talented in so many ways? Well this girl plays the bag pipes! I remember when she told me about the surprise and I was like, "Oh how cool she is going to have a couple old guys in kilts playing bag pipes there..." I don't remember what she said, but then it quickly hit me SHE was playing them! Can I be Veronica when I grow up?? I want to be cool and play the bag pipes. Mark had mentioned it to her that it would be cool if she played them for him or sang for him on their wedding day. So instead of just saying yes she upped the emotional factor and surprised him <3 After the bagpipes we stopped to take some photos with the awesome getaway car which was also used in her brother's wedding, before heading off to a park for some more camera fun!

reception

Two and a half years ago Veronica and Mark started planning this special day and they seriously secured our local A-team of vendors! Fox Event Group, Joyous Occasions, and Ivy Hutch KNOCKED THIS ONE OUT OF THE PARK! This reception was stunning! It was held at the Veterans Memorial Civic + Convention Center. The walls were covered in flowy white fabric and lit with blue up-lighting. The tables were covered in navy table clothes with gold chargers, burgundy napkins folded to hold the menu, stunning live florals on each table and surrounded by gold rail backed chairs. The cake was positioned in front of the head table slightly behind a large chandelier and the couples names mapped out on the floor. It was a 3 tier white cake decorated with matching florals. Next to the main cake sat an armadillo grooms cake (a nod to "Steel Magnolias" which Veronica was in the cast of this year). The head table was decorated similarly to the main tables with a giant floral arrangement and two VERY grand golden thrones for the bride and groom to sit in. Behind the head table was white fabric and beads with more up-lighting and to the each side of the white fabric was an engagement photo that had been blown up and mapped onto the wall by Fox Event Group (gotta say it was pretty awesome to see a photo I had taken that large!)
For dinner the guest were treated to a surf & turf plate from Milanos consisting of salmon, asparagus, mashed potatoes, and melt in your mouth filet mignon. After Veronica and Mark greeted all their guests it was time to cut the cake and enjoy their first dance together as husband and wife. As I'm sure you have picked up, these two like to surprise each other, and Veronica had one more surprise up her sleeve... remember how Mark had mentioned the bag pipes and singing to him?? Well unbeknownst to him Veronica had recorded a little message and their first dance song for them to dance to <3 Gosh I love her sweet spirit! After the serious dances were finished the couple threw on some spectacular sparkling sunglasses and invited the crowd to get their boogie on.