Organic, Botanical Wedding In Cincinnati’s French Park

•

August 29, 2023

The Planning

Design / Vibe / Vision

French Park in Cincinnati incorporated this couple’s effortless love of nature at the red brick manor, which allowed for a space to host their event while also enjoying the beauty of the public park. "We both love spending time outdoors – walking our dog, going on hikes, gardening. So we knew we wanted to have our wedding be outdoors. We picked The French House because it was perfect for this as well as being able to have our ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception on site. Our wedding planner, Samantha, captured our personalities perfectly and our love of nature and incorporated a lot of these elements into the design."

Proposal Story

Sentimental in spirit, Shelby and Nick have always loved quiet time spent together. They first met working together at a bar and grill in downtown Cincinnati. Throughout their relationship, the two have enjoyed time spent outdoors with their dog, hiking, and gardening. While their engagement wasn’t flashy, they describe it as being “very us.” Nick proposed with a family heirloom ring from his grandmother while the two were cozy in their living room. It was perfectly sentimental.

Getting Ready

Bridal Portraits

Flat Lays

First Look

The Fashion

Wedding Gown

Shelby wore a white ‘fit and flare’ dress from Lace Bridal with gold hoops from her Oma, a pearl necklace as a bracelet from her mom, and a small necklace. After dinner, Shelby changed into a custom jumpsuit, originally converted from her mother’s wedding dress from 1990.

Bridesmaid Dresses

Shelby's bridesmaids wore sheath dresses with a variety of necklines and in a variety of shades of blue.

Groomsman Attire

Nick wore a blue suit with black trim with a light purple bowtie. His suit was from Generation Tux.

Wedding Party

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

The Details

Food & Drink

Guests had three entree options for dinner: blue crab-stuffed Atlantic sole, five-spiced crispy skinned airline chicken bread, and seasoned pork loin.

Florals & Decor

Floral arrangements utilized dainty buds and smaller blooms with plenty of greenery. This made the oversized hanging installations feel light, like soft floral clouds. The natural woods of the tables and rich browns of decor elements reinforced the earthy color palette of muted yellows, mauves, and blues. As the day moved to the reception, a gorgeous tent was set with long drapey curtains that delicately let in the daylight. An outdoor dance floor was printed with the same watercolor design as their invitations to tie everything together.

Wedding Cake

Shelby and Nick served a tiered white wedding cake with a wildflower-inspired display traveling up the side.

Special Detail #1

"One of our family members turned a tapestry from Shelby’s late grandma into a ‘wedding tapestry’ that we used as a guest book. We had Sharpies for guests to sign the tapestry, and after the wedding, she embroidered every signature and message. It is a really special reminder of our big day."

Special Detail #2

"Some design details we loved were the overhead floral display above the head table and the printed dance floor that was a copy of the watercolor in our wedding invitation. Both really completed the room."

Special Detail #3

"There were so many great moments during the wedding, but spending the morning and afternoon getting ready with our bridal parties and parents was a really special way to start the day. We also chose to write written vows and read them to each other at our first look before the ceremony. It was nice to have a private moment together for that before the excitement of the wedding officially started."

Couple Portraits