Cincinnati Wedding Ideas and Inspiration

Organic, Botanical Wedding In Cincinnati’s French Park

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Dusty blue, navy, primrose, and blush.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]Shelby’s bridesmaids wore sheath dresses with a variety of necklines and in a variety of shades of blue.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Nick wore a blue suit with black trim with a light purple bowtie. His suit was from Generation Tux.[/field]
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[field title=”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.[/field]
[field title=”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.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Shelby and Nick served a tiered white wedding cake with a wildflower-inspired display traveling up the side.[/field]
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[field title=”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.”[/field]
[field title=”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.”[/field]
[field title=”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.”[/field]
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BBJ La Tavola

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Stunning Pastel Micro-Wedding With Overflowing Summer Florals

When today’s beautiful couple was forced to cancel their elegant outdoor wedding at Laurel Court due to COVID, they found somewhere equally as stunning and even more meaningful to celebrate their day – the bride’s family home. With sweeping willow trees and a romantic pond on the property, it made for the perfect place to say “I do!” Emily Rose Florist decorated the space with lush, pastel summer blooms while Chelsey and Jordan Photography captured all the magic! Head on over to the full gallery to check out all the inspiration.

From Chelsey and Jordan Photography… Nicole and Blake both live in Cincinnati, Ohio and immediately fell in love after their first date. They both claim that they knew the other was “the one” and it has been true happiness ever since they both swiped right. As lovers of a good bourbon, classic elegance, and soft pastel colors, they knew their wedding day would emulate these things. Unfortunately, they had to cancel their elegant outdoor wedding at Laurel Court because of COVID and opted, instead, for an intimate backyard ceremony. The bride and groom both got ready at Nicole’s parent’s house as their awesome team of vendors prepared and set up the beautiful details that adorned their celebration.

Emily Rose Florist worked hard creating organic and lush florals that complimented her soft summer color palette. Nicole’s bouquet and Blake’s boutonniere were both hand crafted and were a nice juxtaposition of the grey suit and muted pink bridesmaid dresses! Each bridesmaid was allowed to choose her own dress and was able to show off her personality and unique style. The property the wedding was held on is actually the bride’s parents’ backyard! The beautiful lush green lawn backs up to a pond and a hilly golf course with mature trees and plenty of greenery. Emily Rose Florist created an overflowing floral arch that’s close to the ground to enhance the natural landscape of the property and the beautiful view.

The couple shared personal and intimate vows to one another and there was not a dry eye there. Luckily, they were able to live stream the ceremony to their family and friends who could not be in attendance! Even though the ceremony ended with an unleashing of rain and thunder, they were able to complete their ceremony and first kiss under an awning with the soft raining pattering around them. After the ceremony, guests enjoyed a glass of Weller 12 Year, Nicole and Blake’s favorite bourbon and enjoyed listening to smooth jazz as the bride and groom took romantic portraits outside. Nicole was a vision in her Allure Bridal dress as Blake twirled her between the large, sweeping willow trees and walked alongside the romantic pond on the property.

Blake and Nicole chose for their guests to sign their specially created family crest. Nicole commissioned an artist to create a crest with the letter P as the focal point, as her new last name is “Potter.” Around the letter is all of their favorite things- shown in symbol format. It signifies the merging of two individuals- into one loving united entity of marriage. To create a venue-like experience, the gorgeous tablescape, designed by Nicole herself, was adorned with romantically lit candles, specialty linen from La Tavola, unique porcelain plates, hand-crafted menus designed by Rose Gold Studio, and individual floral vases created by Emily Rose Florist. Nicole’s dad was busy grilling up Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse steaks as Nicole’s brother both officiated the wedding and was the bartender for the cocktail hour. The guests snacked on Jeff Ruby hors d’oeuvres as Nicole and Blake shared a dance and joined their group of intimate loved ones to celebrate their marriage in a curated and special way. They ended the evening sharing a delicious and intimate meal and celebrating the joining of two people starting a new life together.

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Gold, Maroon + Bourbon: A Winning Wedding Trio

Sometimes I fall in love with a wedding because of the big things: the colors, the overall design, the love story. And believe me, this wedding here has it all (this maroon is making me melt). But other times it’s the little details that win me over – and the gold foil and little bits of bourbon throughout this Midwest wedding did just that. See what I’m talking about in this golden gallery from Megan Noll right this way!

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From the Bride… We met at Virginia Tech when we were sophomores and were really good friends throughout college. I stayed at Virginia Tech an extra year so he graduated and moved to Cincinnati the year before me. When I moved out to Cincinnati, it was really exciting to have a friend in an unfamiliar place and the rest is history!

From Five Dot Design… The venue was key inspiration for the paper design. The invitations were letterpressed with charcoal gray ink on cotton paper and each invitation was detailed with hand-applied gold leaf – no two were the same. This allowed for a very sophisticated look while adding a bit of texture and shine. We paired these with burgundy envelopes with gold foil addressing and gold calligraphy. The table numbers, programs, seating chart and place cards were all adorned with the hand-applied gold leaf to incorporate that old world charm into all the paper goods.

The venue has a warm, European feel with chipped plaster and textured walls that have been so beautifully restored. The bride knew a deep burgundy paired with gold accents would not only complement the venue, but provide lots of opportunities with the decor. Susan Foy was able to work with this palette beautifully, incorporating deep reds, burnt oranges and soft pinks for contrast.

With Kentucky just a five minute trip over the river from Cincinnati, the couple has a love for bourbon. They were able to sneak in a few details without the wedding feeling overly rustic; Andrew’s cuff links were cut from old bourbon barrels, they named each table after a favorite distillery, Woodford Reserve bourbon balls and copper mule mugs were given as favors and barrel stave candle holders that Andrew made for the tables. The perfect complement to both the venue and the couple.

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Bluewater Kings Band

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Tuscan Inspiration Meets Fresh-Picked Flowers in This Elegant Editorial

When we read that this editorial “was inspired by the intimacy of a Tuscan garden,” we were hooked, and the pretty photos in The Vault demonstrate why. With fresh-picked flowers from local farms, a stunning Hayley Paige gown and a romantic setting, this shoot from Jenny Haas Photography is a dream!

From Jenny Haas Photography…I was inspired by the intimacy of a Tuscan garden. The colors were soft and neutral so they didn’t compete with the surroundings–The fabric on the table was cut long and had a natural flow to add a romantic flair to the table scape which was complimented with tarnished silver pieces to continue the muted color palette. Leah looked stunning in one of Hayley Paige’s new gowns from Hyde Park Bridal in Cincinnati.

Our flowers were inspired by the season, sourced entirely from Ohio flower farms and a few foraging adventures. The natural curve of the branches gave form and movement to the bouquet and arrangements. The textures of the apple blossom and lilac provided a gentle contrast with the soft and romantic anemone and ranunculus blooms. The aroma was divine…apple blossoms, lilacs, the hint of lemon in a local ranunculus.

Cincinnati Colorful Outdoor Park Wedding

After spending some quality time with this wedding, I kind of wish I could reach through the computer screen and give this couple big ol’ hug. Because not only have they known each another since Kindergarten, but they happen to be one of the cutest couples to ever grace our pages. These two celebrated the Big Day with a colorful park wedding that’s the definition of sweet, and Jen and Jonah were on hand to capture each bit.

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From Jen and Jonah Photographers…Here is a sweet Cincinnati outdoor summer garden wedding we photographed last year. Having known each other since kindergarten, Mary and Steven’s love was meant to be.

Their wedding day was full of beautiful florals and handmade touches. Being a textile artist from Savannah College of Art and Design, Mary hand dyed all the men’s bowties and added rustic touches to the ceremony and reception. An outdoor ceremony at Cincinnati’s Ault Park provided a perfect garden backdrop. Hand-dyed ribbon and fabric hung from a large oak tree at the alter and sweet peonies lined the white chairs. A friend played guitar and the ceremony was sweet and meaningful and elegant. The reception was held under the Pavilion at Ault Park. White tents covered long white rectangle tables lined with jars of lush pink peonies, ranunculus, and sword ferns. Guests dined and danced under the stars and the bride and groom ended the night with a sparkler leave. It was magical.

From The Bride… Despite living in different locations for school, Cincinnati is the place we met, became sweet friends and fell in love. The city is so dear to our hearts and will always be our home. It was such treasure to show out of town guest where we grew up and have our friends from near and far in one place that we love so much! We looked at few other venues in the area, but finally settled on Ault Park because we love the outdoors and felt it would allow our guest to enjoy a relaxed summer night in our favorite city.

We wanted to keep the décor simple because we felt like we had chosen a beautiful venue that did not need much more. I knew I wanted amber bottles at the centerpieces because I loved the way the light hit them – we ordered almost 200 bottles from a whole sale website for cheap! I picked a few of my favorite flowers (Peonies, ranunculus, garden roses, and sword ferns) and the florist did a wonderful job of filling in the rest. Days before the wedding we planted hundreds of succulents, tied bows and finished them with little thank you flags. All of the table linens and napkins were white along with the white wooden chairs. I arrived early and cried when I saw everything set up, I was overwhelmed by such joy to see everything finally come together. The flowers were the most beautiful I had ever seen in my life. We had two tassel banners that I made from tissue paper and hung from the cake table and the head table.

For my dress and veil, I wanted something simple and natural. I loved drop veils so I spent a lot of time looking online for inexpensive veils and found one that was great quality from Etsy and it shipped days before the wedding. I wore my hair in low pinned curls – I got my hair inspiration from Downton Abbey! A friend came through for the bridal party make up the week of the wedding and I let her do her thing!

The cake was created by Haven Bakery in Cincinnati. I never actually tasted the cake before the wedding because I was in Savannah, GA, but trusted my mom and maid of honor to make the decision! Our top layer was peanut butter (at request of the groom!) and the rest of the cake was lemon cake with berry fillings. I loved the naked cake trend and sent my mom with photos for the baker. It was delicious! I still wish I would have eaten more, but I guess that’s what the first anniversary is for! One of my friends designed a laser cut cake topper as a lovely addition.

I like to say that our wedding was the best day of my life, but the days after have been better and even sweeter. All weddings are stressful to plan (and especially when planning from afar and graduating college and moving across the country three weeks before the wedding!) but I remember days before the wedding through late nights tying bows and organizing tears of joy would fall from my eyes as I remembered I was marrying my partner in this life, we were free to dream and love together in the same place for the rest of our days and that is the greatest and best gift of all. Also, eat more of your wedding cake!

Glamorous Gold Elopement Shoot

Elopements built for a little more than two make my heart happy. Think you and yours, a handful of your nearest and dearest and a wonderful celebration filled with amazing details. Now add in a talented team of vendors for an inspiration shoot that takes all of the aforementioned and kicks it up a notch with pretty paper goods from Five Dot Design, the fab stylings of Milk + Honey Event Styling And Rentals, golden hues and ghost chairs. See it all captured by Fyrefly Photography right here.

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From Five Dot Design… There’s something wildly romantic about living in the moment and going with the flow… especially when you only have a few hours to get ready for the happiest day of your life. We instructed the bride-to-be to visit Carrie at Carrie Karibo Boutique, choose whichever dress she wanted and then head down to brideFace for hair and makeup. While the bride was having her moment of pampering, Milk + Honey Event Styling and Rentals, Two Little Buds and Five Dot Design prepped the ceremony site. The juxtaposition of full, romantic florals and a full skirt ballgown with broken windows and concrete pillars lends itself to the perfect venue to not only transform on short notice, but enhance the intimate setting. Nathan Peel Photography and his team were on-hand to capture each moment.

Pink & Gray Downtown Cincinnati Wedding

In my color palette book, pink + gray reign king. It’s the perfect combination of soft and sweet, and this Cincinnati bride brought that very vision to life. With the talents of Viva Bella Events by her side, she achieved a day that’s got “SMP” written all over it, and Clary Pfeiffer captured each and every bit. Head to the gallery and watch the entire shebang from Epic Motion below.

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From Clary Pfeiffer… From day one, Kristen described her wedding vision as simple and elegant. A pearl among gemstones, she wanted a day inspired by classic beauty, foregoing flashy gimmicks for subtle, luxurious details. Kristen chose elements to compliment the nature of the day. Her love for Andrew, both sweet and mature in nature became a muse for the design of the wedding. Every detail exuded simple romance and fashionable sophistication.

The reception was held at The Center, in the heart of downtown Cincinnati. The room displayed large floor-to-ceiling windows at either end, giving the guests a taste of the city. Using the cityscape as a backdrop, Kristen’s vision took life in the matter of a few hours. The room was dressed in square tables with stone linens and large wooden farm tables with matching stone runners. The chairs put a twist on the traditional as gold chivari chairs sat before the square tables and ghost chairs sat at the wooden farm tables.

Emphasizing the warm tones in the grey linens and mimicking the gold chivari chairs, gold utensils and lined chargers sat at each place setting. Kristen chose a palette of pale pinks and champagnes tones to accent the stone neutrals. The flower arrangements, napkins, crystal votives, and the rose champagne poured in every guest’s glass gave the room a light and polished feel. Paired with the flickering of the votives, the ambiance created was truly romantic and undeniably lovely.

Kristen and Andrew’s first reaction to their reception was nothing but dazzling smiles. In awe of all their decisions coming together into one fantastic vision, the two were amazed and giddy in their post-ceremony excitement. This feeling spread through the room, as guests were welcomed in to the sounds of the Dan Rafferty band, brought in all the way from Detroit. As guests entered, they were greeted by the splendor of the overall décor, the simple three-tiered cake with charming pink flowers decorating the exterior, and of course the newly weds beaming with wedding pride.

It was definitely an infectious happiness that followed through each course of dinner and guests danced and celebrated with Andrew and Kristen as the sun set behind the city.

Intimate Winter Barn Wedding

Let me guess: you’re bundled up on the couch, holiday music playing, with multiple cookies and a large cup of coffee within arms reach. What better time and place to settle in with this rustic winter wonderland that is this wedding, captured by Braun Photography and Studio Z Films. These photos have me toasting to good cheer and I don’t plan on leaving this spot anytime soon.

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From the Bride… My husband and I fell in love in the winter. Our first date was sledding, we said I love you in a snowstorm, and all our favorite memories of that time involve snow. So, when we decided to tie the knot, we wanted to say “I do” on our fifth anniversary and kiss under an evergreen chuppah to remind us of the snow-covered evergreens we shared our first kisses under.

We are DIYers at heart. So, while we loved the idea of bringing in experts to take beautiful photos and video, and to prepare delicious food, we knew that the decor was going to be a project for the whole family. My parents made the evergreen chuppah, my mother-in-law made my necklace, and I created all the decor with help from family.

We also knew that our ceremony had to be personal to us. Neither of us is religious, but we wanted our ceremony to have the same deeply meaningful resonance as religious ceremonies. So, we recited vows we wrote as well as traditional vows, we had our families stand and pledge to welcome each other as a son and daughter, we had our friend play viola while Ryan’s father lead a bitter-sweet wine ceremony, and we had Ryan’s sister and my sister-in-law read special poems. Everyone said it was the most beautiful ceremony they’d every seen, and I ugly cried through most of it.

Because our ceremony was so deeply personal, we chose to keep our wedding small, with just 50 guests. It turned out to be the smartest move we could have made. We got to spend time with each and every person, and the whole night had the intimate feel of spending holidays with the family.

In the end, so many things just fell together perfectly, like the fact that it ended up being negative 5 degrees, but my bridesmaid Sarah had borrowed a bunch of vintage furs from her mother, so we ended up wearing those. Also, my veil didn’t work out at the last minute, but my wonderful florets made me a wreath that I loved. It was truly a day of kismet.

My husband was a musician and is a huge music nerd, so music was very important to us. He spent months curating the perfect playlists for cocktail hour, dinnertime, and dancing. Our special songs included: “The Book of Love” by The Magnetic Fields, “Everybody’s Gonna Be Happy” by The Kinks, “Love Letter” by The Wannadies, “Find Love” by Clem Snide, and “Love You Madly” by Cake.

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Wedding Dresses

BHLDN

Bridal 2016

Bridal 2019

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Sparkly New Year’s Eve Wedding

I’ve been following Rhi of Hey Gorgeous Events ever since I landed in the wedding industry, but it’s not without good reason. She’s one of the best and brightest in the biz, and when Rhi sent us her latest wedding work of art – a pink and gold New Year’s Eve celebration – I pored over every image from Jen and Jonah longer than I care to admit. Take a peek back at this sweet couple’s engagement, and don’t miss the gallery + Studio 213 Films’ amazing video for a whole lot more.

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From Hey Gorgeous Events…Katie and Bryan were married on New Year’s Eve at the Contemporary Art’s Center in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio (their beautiful engagement session was actually featured on Style Me Pretty that same day about an hour before Katie walked down the aisle!) Dear friends and family travelled from near and far not only to ring in a new year but to love on the sweet couple as they started a new chapter in their love story. Aside from the gorgeous bride and the handsome groom, the event had so many details tied in with the bride’s love for blush, peach, mint and gold. The big overhead ceremony aisle canopy made completely out of ribbon, lush blush, peach and white florals in gold vessels, sequin linens that sparkled when the light hit at the right time, a massive dance floor ceiling treatment that set the tone for the reception party; this wedding really had it all and more.

Yet right before I sent up the signal to the bridal party to let them know the processional was about to start, we got some bad news. Katie had lost her engagement ring. As the string quartet played, the guests eagerly anticipated the bride’s big reveal, and poor Bryan stood at the alter confused and wondering what was going on (sorry Bryan!), Katie and her girls were scrambling around trying to find her ring at what probably was the worst time to be doing so. I met her halfway up to the bridal suite to get things back on track and told her all that mattered in that moment was the kind groom waiting for her at the alter. And that we would find the ring no matter what. Her Dad held her hand, she shook her head, wiped away a few tears and together they trekked down the thirty plus stairs to the 250 awaiting guests. The ceremony began at long last and the show went on.

Immediately after I sent Katie off down the aisle, we got the news that the ring had been found; by a very gracious janitorial employee who had discovered the ring sitting in the corner of the venue restroom! From there the ring went from the hands of the employee to my husband, to a guest, to the videographer, to the photographer, to the best man, to the groom and finally back into the hands of our sweet bride. Katie was reunited with her most special piece of jewelry at the exact moment when it came time to exchange the rings. Bryan was a little confused as to we he was handed three rings instead of the two he was expecting but Katie burst into happy tears at the sight of thought to be long lost possession. There would continue to be many more moments of happy tears and sheer joy that day, all of which shined brighter than any diamond ring.

When it came close to midnight everyone stood on the dance floor and counted down to the start of 2014 via the large screen which was live streaming the Times Square coverage. At midnight a confetti canon erupted sprinkling colored bits over all of the happy guests embracing their loved ones as Auld Lang Syne began to softly play. It was beyond a pleasure being a small sliver of the Sapp’s happily ever after, and an honor to work with such a talented team who made it all possible.

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Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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Anatomy of a Bridal Bouquet + WIUP

It’s no secret we’re total suckers for a good bridal bouquet. Big, small, we love ’em all and Marti’s Floral Designs is here to break down the pretty. She’s sharing her recipe for the ultimate bundle of blooms and thanks to Lexi Vornberg Photography you can see the snaps right here. Pssst: winners, reminders and a few fun discounts are just a scroll away. Happy weekend!

BOUQUET RECIPE
Agonis
Stock
Anemones
Ranunculus
Italian Ruscus
Lisianthus
Uhle Curls
Eucalyptus
Garden Roses

Tip: Any flower is beautiful in itself. Putting a stunning white anemone against the dark texture of the burgundy agonis makes it more noticeable. The greens give this bouquet the dramatic look that make it pop. Plenty of times the greenery gets a bad rap. Insert mental photo of leather leaf from the grocery store with red roses and baby’s breath. It is all in the application of the flowers and how they are placed together. A good trick is to start with each individual flower and rotating them in placement until the bouquet is full.

From Marti’s Floral Designs… Many flowers go into the making of a bridal bouquet. Every flower is chosen for an exact reason. To represent a color, a texture, a style. A flower can be taken and made to look modern, romantic, traditional or rustic. It is all in the look that the Bride is trying to achieve for her wedding. I am a huge advocate to selling brides on the style and not a particular flower. Mother Nature never provides the same product every week and every bride is not the same either! All the flowers apart are striking on their own, but when you see the product pulled together the final piece is just as stunning. I wanted to provide a look behind the making of a bouquet.

Bringing in special talents from all across the nation made this possible with hand dyed and frayed silk ribbon from Froufrou Chic, organic lettering from Signora a Mare, and captured by Lexi Vornberg Photography.

Photography: Lexi Vornberg | Flowers: Marti's Floral Designs | Calligraphy: Signora E Mare | Ribbon: Frou Frou Chic

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ONGOING GIVEAWAYS

$1500 gift card to Ann Taylor Weddings
A tulle skirt from Alexandra Grecco
$500 gift certificate from Mariposa
Enter Bows-N-Ties Pin It To Win It Contest

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This week’s DISCOUNTS…

Fattie Pie
Alexandra Grecco

For our California brides… Discounts from Evangeline Photography.

For our Midwest brides… Enter to win an evening engagement session from Cristina G Photography.

For our New England brides… A special offer from Hyatt Regency Cambridge.

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And WINNERS…

Big Congratulations to Brittany, Krista, and Shannon for winning $250 from Wedding Paper Divas.

Congrats, congrats to Katie who won an engagement session from Julian Ribinik Photography.

Finally, congratulations to the multiple winners of the a free print sample from Whimsical Prints!

Whimsical English Garden Wedding

The second I opened this wedding my productivity levels plummeted. You see, I found myself lost in a beautiful sea of English Garden inspired blooms from Courtenay Lambert Florals and every little moment captured by BRAUNPhotography sucked me in. Before I knew it, I had been sifting through the gallery for hours. So be forewarned, you will get lost in this beauty!

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From Courtenay Lambert Florals… The brides vision in planning her wedding was the use of natural elements, while keeping an elegant feel of an English Tea Garden. Our inspiration in the design was “Alice and Wonderland meets English Tea Garden meets Hobbit’s Village”. Many of the design elements were a mix of inspiration from her Event Designer as well as personal treasures belonging to her family. Use of organic and natural materials, such as moss, stones, wood slices and succulents, were of utmost importance to the bride and groom. The groom wore a tailor maid custom suit and the bridesmaids wore vintage inspired dresses that helped convey the theme of the wedding.

From the stunning bride… Joe and I always knew we wanted to get married outside, and the abundance of gorgeous outdoor venues is certainly not lacking in Cincinnati. The French House, nestled in Amberly Village, with its sprawling wildflower fields, intimate garden setting and charming red brick house really spoke to us. You see, Joe grew up in the country, a good old farm boy of sorts, and myself, while not exactly a city girl, I come pretty close. The French House was the perfect venue for uniting the best of these two worlds.

I wanted to use soft romantic colors, a tried and true color scheme certainly, used by many brides before me, but I also wanted to capture the laid back earthiness of the outdoors that Joe and I love so much. Juxtaposing more earthy elements like moss, stone and succulents with soft garden roses, ivory lace and blush colored silks was critical in making this balance a reality. It was a casual elegance I was looking for, but something unique, something enchanted. I wanted the style to be textured and spirited. We wanted to strike an intriguing, exciting cord in our style for our guests, and for us! And of course, we wanted to incorporate all kinds of personal touches! The lace overlay for the cake table in particular is a family heirloom, made by my grandmother and great- grandmother for my parent?s wedding forty two years ago. My sister also used this on her cake table and it was finally my turn. This linen demanded something special be placed on it, and I turned to no other than Maureen Thie for this task. Her family owned the original Virginia Bakery and although she no longer was making cakes for private events, my mother’s persistent begging payed off. Mo had also made my sisters cake years ago.

The ladies got ready at my parent’s house. The same place we got ready sixteen years prior when I was the Maid of Honor at my sisters wedding. Now, I could finally honor her as my Matron of Honor, her daughters as Junior Bridesmaids, and her husband as a Groomsman. Really, it was a family affair with my brother and Joe’s cousin also in that mix, not to mention a couple of wonderful friends! It was so much fun choosing the attire for everyone. I used BHLDN for the ladies and outfitted the guys in Joseph Abboud. The stylists at BHLDN were fabulous to work with. I sent my bridesmaid’s measurements along with the dresses I had chosen and they helped match each dress to everyones body type, helping to ensure that everyone looked their best! To play off the highly textured, whimsical feel of the day I selected different dresses for all my bridesmaids in slightly varying shades of blush. Their dresses were definitely one of my favorite things about the wedding! I went with a classic, vintage feel for the guys incorporating suspenders and bow ties to complete their look.

Joe and I decided to do a first look and are so glad we did. Not only did it help to calm some nerves but it was so very special to be able to share that moment and our day with all of our guests via our Same Day Edit video thanks to Studio Z Films. We didn’t even tell our wedding party this video was going down. Talk about a tear jerker! Arriving early at the French House also gave us a chance to get a sneak peak into how Courtenay Lambert and her team had transformed this venue into something spectacular. I had met with more florists than I could count, and from the moment I met Courtenay I knew she was the exact one I had been searching for! I followed my heart when it came to assembling our team of venders and I really feel the approach paid off. Even a few last minute changes, albeit a bit stressful, helped to ensure that everything and everyone felt “right”. So glad I went with printed flower girl dresses!

Our guests were greeted at the French House with a pre ceremony cocktail, paying homage to the time of year with its delicate amber hue of apple cider and champagne, complete with a spiced sugar rim. The Bacon Bar, open during cocktail hour, was also a huge hit, with people feasting on fistfuls of wasabi bacon, chocolate dipped bacon, dijon brown sugar, smoked chili, and cracked pepper bacon. A sign that read “Thank you so much for being here today! We love you more than bacon!!!” adorned the buffet. Renee Schuler of EatWell really hit this one out of the park! Not to mention just about everything else! Luckily, Joe and I had arranged to have a platter of this wonderfully delicious smorgasbord waiting for us upstairs after the ceremony. Best idea ever! In addition to our love of bacon, Joe and I are also craft beer enthusiasts. We served only beers brewed right here in Cincinnati. It was a fun way to share a passion of ours as well as highlight three different local breweries that we love.

A drizzle required us to move the ceremony under the tent. A bit disappointing yes, but as the sun emerged immediately after the ceremony, an impromptu family gathering in the garden became one of our favorite memories from the day. Before heading into the tent, Joe and I headed out to the wildflower field to capture some of our first photos as husband and wife. I absolutely adore these shots!

Dinner was served family style. It proved to be a great way to engage guests with each other and to enhance the intimacy of the evening, as well as a way to play off the time of year again, a celebration of the harvest! After dinner we showed the Same Day Edit video, cut the cake and took to the dance floor. Soul Pocket, with its funky flavor and three lovely ladies can really take a house down! We danced the night away before piling into the party bus, (another highlight of the evening) and headed downtown to Via Vite on Fountain Square for a night cap. An intimate brunch the next morning at The Metropole was the icing on the cake before heading off to Paradise, thanks to my brother! (Our honeymoon was his wedding gift, the location of which he kept a secret until our Rehearsal Dinner the night before!)

October 5th, 2013 was the most wonderful day of my life, complete with one of the biggest rainstorms of the year and a new moon! It was a magical day filled with love, warmth, and passion, family and friendship, and of course, a ton of pretty!

French Inspired Country Club Wedding

Love at first site isn’t reserved for just soul mates. No, as this wedding from Kortnee Kate Photogrpahy plainly proves, love at first site can most definitely refer to a wedding. It was the macarons which did me in on this one. Then the preppy, french, chic design kept me in the gallery for hours! See you there?

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From the beautiful bride… I’ve loved Laduree {the Parisian patisserie} and macarons for years. The beautiful Laduree packaging is something I’ve collected in my travels to every Laduree I’ve ever visited – and taken Richard along with me throughout our 5+ years together. His sweet tooth sure never minds! I adore their feminine colors {light pink & mint green} and delicious macarons. This is where our wedding inspiration began. My mom’s friend, graphic designer Kim Jackson of MiTags, designed our wedding logo. We wanted it to be classic and preppy with a twist of French “chic.” We went to France for our honeymoon {and multiple Laduree locations!) so it all came full circle.

We used the laurel logo on all of our wedding paper goods: save the dates, wedding invitations, banner at the ceremony, wedding programs, menu cards, macaron favor boxes, sweets table bags, napkins, thank yous, etc. Our wedding favors were pistachio macarons – the boxes were put together by my sister, mom and I on one of our many DIY evenings. The banner that we used at our ceremony was transported to be used above the mantel on the dance floor – a perfect way to use the homemade banner twice!

Richard and I love cocktail hour so we wanted to make sure everyone had room to relax & enjoy themselves! That is where the white outdoor couches with pink and white striped pillows with “Madame” and “Monsieur” and our wedding date came into play. We are also primarily beer drinkers so instead of a signature drink we made sure there were enough pink monogrammed koozies to go around.

If we aren’t drinking beer then we are most likely drinking Veuve {for special occasions, of course!} We celebrated with our bridal party with Veuve after the ceremony {and after the wedding petal toss!} That being said, we decided to have our guests sign Veuve jackets instead of a guest book. The sign said: “To have and to hold and to keep their Veuve cold. Please sign the Veuve jackets for Ash & Rich”

The sweets table displayed a heirloom silver trophy centerpiece that has been used at every Fehr family wedding. It has been a tradition to use this silver trophy and we were lucky enough to be able to use it at the cocktail hour and on the pink and white sweets table. The sweets take away bags had our logo imprinted with “l’amour est doux” meaning love is sweet in French.

We wanted to incorporate all of the important women in our lives, especially since neither of us have any living grandmothers. We had photos hanging in the girls bathroom {from French pink and white striped wire ribbon} of our mothers and grandmothers on their wedding day. This was one of the most special parts of the planning process, looking through old wedding albums of our grandparents. We know our grandmothers were with us on our wedding day. We know they were the ones who turned the rainy morning into the most gorgeous evening – 75 at the end of July in Cincinnati is not normal. I also wore my grandmothers wedding dress {shortened} at our after party!

We worked with Kevin Ford at Ford Ellington Design who helped create the most magical design. I knew I wanted pink flower balls but only in my dreams could I imagine hanging flower balls intertwined with crystal elements to create this chandelier. Kevin took a simple brass chandelier and transformed it into something out of a fairytale. It was more beautiful than anything I could have ever imagined. Kevin was more than a florist, he helped us in every detail, everything from the gorgeous table cloths to the light pink chair cushions (a small detail that I absolutely loved) to the lighting at HPCC, he covered it all. His flowers were over the top and each time I look back at the photos I am more and more in love! I told him I wish I could just live under that chandelier forever.

The bridesmaids wore Lela Rose mint green dresses and the groomsmen wore white dinner jackets. We wanted the look to feel classic and simple. Richard and I both had grandfathers who wore white dinner jackets at their weddings so we knew it was meant to be when we were deciding their look.

My dress was Justina McCaffrey from Amanda’s Hyde Park Bridal – I loved being in that gown from the moment I put it on! It was actually the very first dress I tried on, EVER… if you can believe it! The Badgley Mischka belt was an addition to the dress – it’s tiny floral, rhinestone, lace and beaded detail made it an absolute must.

The night ended with a send off with tambourines and maracas, we then returned for an after party themed with our college {where we met!} late night food joint, Marvin’s. The food was garlic cheeseburgers, fries and beer – Marvin’s staples. We continued to dance the night away outdoors with a balloon drop and glow necklaces under a tent with a DJ!

From start to finish our wedding was everything we dreamed it would be. It was the best day of our lives and we couldn’t have done it without our amazing vendor team!

New Year’s Engagement Session

When Hey Gorgeous Events + Jen and Jonah team up for an engagement, pretty things are bound to follow. But this time around, we’re talking about an e-sesh that’s an extra kind of special. You see, these Cincinnati sweethearts are off tying the knot As. We. Speak. And while a visit to the gallery is an absolute must, you can also watch their wedding day unfold on Instagram with #sappynewyear Congrats, lovers!

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From Rhi of Hey Gorgeous Events… Katie and Bryan are just two incredibly sweet people eagerly awaiting the day they will at long last become husband and wife. Their wedding celebration is set to unfold this December 31 on the ever-fabulous New Years Eve at the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati and the couple’s entire team of vendors is so exited! Guests will be treated to not only a one of a kind party leading into 2014, but a special experience infused with personality, detail and lots of love. Their session was shot by the amazing Jen and Jonah this past spring in and around Cincinnati, and included a few nods to their wedding like oversized gold helium balloons and a healthy doze of confetti (details that will surely be seen on the big day). Also making an appearance in the photos is the couple’s adorable dog, Doc. He too is counting down the days until the celebration!

Photographer: Jen And Jonah | Styling: Hey Gorgeous Events

Cincinnati Indian Fusion Wedding from Lang Thomas Photography

I’m a little obsessed with Indian weddings. I think they are so beautiful – bright, vibrant, happy, and they usually include a few dress changes, and that’s never a bad thing. But this one, from Lang Thomas Photography, might just take the elephant-topped cake. Marti’s Floral Designs worked alongside the bride and planner extraordinaire Viva Bella Events to create a wedding that is going to haunt my dreams, in the very best way possible!

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From the photographer… My husband and I just shot an incredible wedding and it was too good to not send your way. It was unlike any wedding we’ve seen before—not only was the wedding treated as a joining of two families, but two cultures as well. The bride (from India) and the groom (from Cincinnati) put forth a great effort to stylistically marry their two backgrounds. It played out as an elaborate, colorful wedding, full of amazing food, lots of elephants, beautiful dress, and a memorable ping-pong match.

Some of the special touches of the day – sari’s worn by bride and several bridesmaids, hand drawn elephant guest book (by the bride), clay elephant cake toppers (by the bride), the henna tattoos on all the bridesmaids, the historic castle and grounds that hosted the ceremony and reception, the literal “tying the knot” Indian custom, unique rings, table settings + floral, and the ping pong match that introduced the bride and groom (they met playing ping pong during their study breaks in med school).

Cincinnati Wedding from Kortnee Kate Photography + Voila Cinematic

I adore the couple who stands the test of time before they even set one foot down the aisle. It’s just such a testament to the love that they will have as a married couple. Today we’ve got all that and a gorgeous wedding to boot! Both Kortnee Kate Photography and Voila Cinematic were on the scene of this beautiful wedding and we’re kind of obsessed.

When we heard Voila Cinematic had a video to share, we couldn’t say yes quickly enough!

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From the beautiful bride… Gene and I started dating in high school and continued dating long distance all through college. He proposed at the end of his second year of medical school, after I had just finished my Masters finals. We set a date of April 6, 2013, just after he matched to a residency program, giving us a two year engagement. It was so much fun to relax and enjoy being engaged for a whole year before really starting to plan a wedding.

From the start, we wanted a wedding that would honor our love for each other but also celebrate the love we have for our incredible family and friends. We also wanted to incorporate elements of our Cincinnati hometown, New England life, and future life in Durham, North Carolina (he matched to Duke, his #1 choice!). The ceremony, music, and service was the time for us to let the busyness of the day come to an end and officially become husband and wife. The cocktail hour and reception were our way of saying thank you to our guests for being such big parts of our lives.

Since we had been to many events at this country club, the little details made all the difference for us. We chose bright coral bridesmaids dresses (we, because Gene went with us!), white with French blue paper goods, and a really fun, local live band. Our E&E wedding logo, signature Mint Juleps (we got engaged on Derby Day), photo booth, and stunning flowers transformed the space into the perfect night for our guests to have a great time.

Were a very traditional couple, so a few family traditions were especially special to us. We used a cake knife from Genes family that matched the set of sterling left to us by his late grandmother. My bouquet was covered in the same ribbon as my cousins was five years before, wrapped in my grandmothers lace handkerchief, and decorated with some of my late Papa’s pins. When I picked up the bouquet for the first time, I felt surrounded by so much family love.

Though very traditional, we did decide to do a first look… one of our most favorite moments of the day. At first we were worried it would take away from the ceremony, but instead it gave us the time to enjoy a very emotional moment to ourselves, one that was perfectly captured by Voila Cinematic and Kortnee of Kortnee Kate Photography. They are both such incredible vendors, I cant rave enough about how they kept us laughing the whole day! My bridesmaids and cousin Jocelyn (our volunteer weekend-of coordinator) kept the whole day running smoothly behind the scenes – something I’m incredibly grateful for, since we planned the whole day ourselves.

Even given the two year notice about the date, we were astounded by how many of our guests took time to travel to Ohio for our wedding – 242 out of 250 invited guests from all over the world. Walking down the aisle with my Dad towards my soon-to-be husband, in room full of everyone we’ve both grown up with and love, was a really incredible (and emotional!) feeling. Dancing the night away to Jack Garrett’s music was such a blast, and kept guests of all ages out on the dance floor all night long. We were certainly blessed on that day and are so grateful that is how we started our married life together.

Ohio Wedding from Marti’s Floral Designs + Adrianne Elizabeth Events

Naturally, my morning routine starts with a little Tour de SMP, but I have a feeling I’m not the only one who likes to settle into my day with some wedding eye candy. And if you ask me, this springtime soirée is just what you need to get geared up for your Tuesday. I’ve always been smitten with a good rainy day romance and this Cincinnati wedding is no exception. With drool-worthy florals from Marti’s Floral Designs and first-class coordination from Adrianne Elizabeth Events, this fresh Ohio fête is totally in line with the couple’s carefree style. Thanks to the lovely images by Amanda Julca Photography, there is even more of this preppy garden party right here for your viewing pleasure.

From the Bride… Before Nick and I even got engaged we talked about what we wanted in a wedding. We had imagined a beach wedding with our family and closest friends surrounding us to celebrate. Something intimate yet also unbelievably fun. The reality of our dream became more and more complex after we got engaged and started looking for that perfect destination. Having a true Catholic ceremony was very important to us and we realized that this couldn’t happen with our toes in the sand… so after a very fun site inspection in Florida, we went back to the drawing board!

With only six months until our wedding, we knew we had to quickly move onto Plan B! With the support of my amazing family and wedding planner, we decided that the things that were important to us could happen locally, in my hometown, of Cincinnati, Ohio. At the end of the day, the most important of these things, was getting married to each other!

Although I didn’t envision a traditional “fairy tale” wedding, I did want to experience some of the traditions that make a wedding day so very special, like cutting the cake and sharing first dances with my new husband and father. I was determined to have a wedding that Nick and I could both enjoy, a day where we would feel comfortable, and to provide a special and intimate experience for my guests.

Some of my favorite details of the day were the amazing 19th century chapel we were married in (St. Clare), the reception venue (the comfortable and beautiful Lyceum, which felt more like a home than a venue), our lovely décor (most especially, the doilies that were my great grandmother’s), accented by our beautiful florals and greens! I especially loved the rosemary awaiting guests at their place settings. My gentleman guests’ favorite experience at the wedding: THE CIGAR BAR!

We worked with the best people in the state of Ohio to make our day perfect. Once our BIG DAY came, it was amazing! Not even the April showers could put a damper on things. It may sound cliché to say, but it was the best day of my life, or at least so far…

Photography: Amanda Julca Photography / Wedding Ceremony: St Clare Chapel / Reception Venue: Glendale Lyceum / Event Planner: Adrianne Elizabeth Events / Floral Design: Marti’s Floral Designs / Catering: Funky’s Catering / Cupcakes + Mini Cakes: Kittie’s Cakes / Linens: Connie Duglin Linens / Runners: DIY by bride and mother / Doilies: DIY by bride’s Great- Grandmother / Invitations: Ink and Ivory / DJ: Ted Keyes (personal friend of the Bride) / Wedding Dress: Jenny Lee via Big Rock Little Rooster / Bridesmaid Dresses: Ann Taylor / Makeup: Cheek Makeup by Lindsay / Hair: Elizabeth Margolies / Shoes: Hey Lady Shoes via La Jeune Mariee / Bracelets: peace+love+Bride via Big Rock Little Rooster / Necklace: Great Grandmother’s heirloom / Groom’s Suit: Ralph Lauren

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Art Deco Inspired Cincinnati Wedding from Viva Bella Events

When today’s gorgeous bride said I do to her handsome-as-can-be Marine they did it in all out Art Deco elegance. With bold, vintage-inspired details this Cincinnati soiree is one for the record books. Captured by Blink of an Eye Photography, the amazingly intricate cake by Sugar Realm was enough to sweep me off my feet. Then there were the luscious florals by Yellow Canary, jaw-dropping décor, and incredible architectural accents all wrapped up in one totally glamorous gold bow by Viva Bella Events and I was utterly captivated. This shimmering celebration is truly a gift from the wedding gods and you can join the party right here in the gallery.

From Viva Bella Events… While Branson was deployed with his Marine Reserve Unit in Afghanistan, Tasha dreamt of fabulous wedding and celebration no one would soon forget. With Tasha, her parents, and the viva bella events team “Team Sandler” was formed to ensure Tasha’s vision came to life in time for Branson’s homecoming. Inspired by the Cincinnati Hilton Netherland Plaza’s art deco design, she envisioned unique patterns and glamorous gold accents combined with personal vintage details.

Tasha’s birdcage veil and accent hairpin perfectly suited her dress. Her something blue was a family treasure– her great grandmother’s carousel horse pin attached to a light blue velvet garter. The groom and groomsmen wore vintage bar pins in lieu of boutonnieres. The brides’ personal brooch collection was used in her bouquet and embellished the reception centerpieces, including horseshoes for good luck, Branson’s initials, even some special brooches from the groom’s grandmother.

The viva bella team incorporated the colors and styling of the Hilton Netherland Plaza’s Continental Ballroom into the ceremony décor to accentuate the unique architecture of Cincinnati in the 1920’s. With it’s beautiful murals and original chandeliers, the ballroom set the stage for the romantic Jewish ceremony. Gold chiavari chars with black seat covers were accented with golden branches with crystal berries for aisle décor. The glittery gold aisle runner from Original Runners set the stage for Tasha’s “glitter runway dreams”. One of Tasha’s favorite elements of the ceremony was the procession of the “Glitter Girl”, instead of flower girl, who tossed gilded flower petals.

The reception was held in the Hilton Netherland Plaza Hall of Mirrors with its jaw-dropping two-story balcony and gilded mirrors. Focused lighting in warm gold accented every guest table, as well as, creating a spectacular look at the ceiling. With escort cards displayed in crystals, shimmery gold linens, textured gold chargers, and crystals dripping from the luxurious florals, guests felt as if they were entering an old Hollywood soirée Cincinnati style!

Definitely a highlight of the reception was the grand wedding cake. Sugar Realm bakery of Cincinnati really took the Art Deco theme to another level with their custom creation. To find the perfect cake topper, Tasha chose an antique perfume bottle to complete the look. The cake was so intricate and beautiful, the couple weren’t even sure they wanted to cut into this work of art during the reception!

Taking iconic Cincinnati architecture and coupling it with Tasha’s love of all things gold and glittery, viva bella events and “Team Sandler” created a truly glamorous and unforgettable evening.

Wedding Planning & Design: Viva Bella Events / Photographer: Blink of an Eye / Venue: Hilton Netherland Plaza / Floral Design: Yellow Canary / Cake: Sugar Realm / Videographer: Poetic Cinema / Ceremony Music: Carl Larson / Cocktail Hour & Reception Music: Soul Pocket / Stationery: amo-ink / Hair Stylist: High Five Salon / Make-up Stylist: Brideface / Tailor: Tony King / Lighting: Goodwin Lighting / Aisle Runner: The Original Runner Co.

Cincinnati Wedding Photo Shoot by Marti’s Floral Designs

Up next is a photo shoot with so much style I want to crawl into it and call it my real life. Or at least pretend it’s mine for one day. The mod stationery by Five Dot Design, the succulent-infused florals by Marti’s Floral Designs and all the details in between curated by Blue Dahlia Events make me want to grab one of those delicious cocktails and toast to all the images by Nathan Peel Photography. And toast I shall, because the gallery is just that good.

From Marti’s Floral Designs… For this evening affair, inspiration came from all around. The venue. The couple. The style. All three blended together to create a scene that was contemporary yet romantic, modern yet classic. Following their afternoon nuptials, Ava and James strolled over to the Rookwood Restaurant and Bar for their evening celebration. Former home of the 1800’s Rookwood Pottery factory, this historic venue is now home to a hip, urban eatery known for its distinct space (Who wouldn’t love to eat in a kiln!?) and legendary eats and drinks (Don’t pass up the hanky panky starter and tailored misfit cocktail!).

From its exposed brick interior to laid-back, outdoor patio, the Rookwood offered the perfect backdrop for all of the couple’s portraits. They enjoyed cocktails on the deck, snuggled by the fire, and eventually made their way to the main event – their dinner table tucked in one of the kilns. As Ava checked out her wedding spread, she took in each and every detail. The chalkboard place cards, Patron and shot glass favors (paired with lime and salt, of course!), succulent and floral centerpiece arrangement, signature cocktails at each place setting and those comfy ikat pillows on each chair. After dining, who can pass up their final touches – an ice cream bar and cake room! Jeni’s Ice Cream was paired with Bullet bourbon for this liquor-inspired ice cream bar. And there was no question where they would showcase their cake! The couple topped of their night with one more snuggle in the lounge kiln, along side their trendy cake.

Photography: Nathan Peel Photography / Photo Shoot Venue: The Rookwood Restaurant & Bar in Cincinnati, Ohio / Floral Design: Marti’s Floral Designs / Event Planning: Blue Dahlia Events / Paper Goods: Five Dot Design / Wedding Cake: Maribelle Cakery / Ice Cream: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams / Liquor: Patron / Rentals: Adora Event Rentals / Clutch: Shelter Protects You / Makeup: Cincy Makeup

Romantic Cincinnati Wedding from Kourtnee Kate Photography

We all know that our wedding day is going to be up there amongst the top five days of our entire lives. Probably number one. When a bride is so radiantly beautiful because of her gorgeous smile, we can see that she is fully enjoying what is the most amazing, special, romantic, and monumental day in her entire life. And that, my friends, is why I love my job. Spending my days visiting the BEST days of our sweet couples’ lives. Kourtnee Kate Photography captured this smiling beauty and her fabulous day. And we are ever grateful that she has filled a gallery full of images to make your afternoon a bit toothier.

When we saw that Studio Z Films had a Same Day Edit to share from this stunning soiree, we just had to pass it along to you…

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Click here to see the full image gallery!

The most important thing I wanted in my wedding day was an amazing venue. Greenacres Arts Center was just that. Greenacres provided a back drop that took everyone’s breath away as they entered the old historic estate. The guest drove in on a mile drive that was lined on both sides with trees. Guests were then escorted into the gardens where the romance began.When you enter the gardens the old trees provide romance that makes you feel lost in your love.

The ceremony took place in the gardens. While the water from the fountains was trickling in the background and the violins were playing the moment of “I Do” was enchanting. There was a peace and ease about that day. After the ceremony the guests were directed towards cocktail hour were fun, flavorful and different h’orderves were served. I wanted to serve things that people had never tried before. One of my favorite parts of cocktail hour was our live acoustic guitar player. His sound and songs were so unique allowing the cocktail hour to break up the event.

Throughout the whole event I wanted to tell a story. I wanted people to take a journey through our love. It is so pure, patient, and gentle. From the emotional and romance setting to livening up the mood with cocktail hour. When it was time for the guest to head to the reception area, the curtains were opened and each guest was provided a table mirror as their escort card. The guests were then shown the way down a large stair case to the beautifully decorated reception site.

When the reception started, it was time to party! We all had a great time dancing the night away enjoying our close friends and family. The wedding was all about details! As you can see in the pictures, the whole event was done in exquisite detail. Our wedding had a lot of personal touches that made it so special and romantic.

Photography: Kortnee Kate Photography / Ceremony: Greenacres Arts Center / Event Planner: Cecilia Rose, Eventurous / Catering: Funky’s Catering / Videographer: Studio Z Films / Florist: Ford-Ellington Wedding Design

Cincinnati Wedding at Coney Island by Shelby Street Photography

Shelby Street Photography is pretty much the coolest photography team in Cincinnati and they definitely have the coolest clients. Case in point: this creative cutie couple who crafted their incredible Coney Island wedding from start to finish. It is a hearty dose of inspiration, starting with the super fun paper goods all the way to sweet and simple vintage-inspired details. See the entire day in all its gorgeous glory in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Ben and I met in college. We went to different schools but had mutual friends. I was so pleased when I met him because he was a breath of fresh air: sensitive, kind and a great sense of humor. We hit it off instantly, staying up late quoting our favorite movies and laughing about anything that came to mind. He was perfect. A great guy from Cincinnati with a big heart and amazing family. I knew I had found my match.

Our wedding was focused around DIY and family as much as possible! I designed and handmade our save-the-dates, invitations and programs. With some help from Hobby Lobby, Kinko and friends and family, they turned out better than I could ever imagine. Our cake was made as a gift from Ben’s aunt, Margie Conners. She has her own local cake business — I believe is called AmaZing Grace Cakes. She’s the most creative person I know. Our flowers blew me away. They were arranged by Kim Wilson of Event Florals of Mariemont. Our DJ was Zach of All Trades. My dress was by Watters, and I got it at Bridal and Formal for a great deal. I got my shoes online at Zappos — the brand is Me Too. The bridesmaids dresses were from J.Crew, and a couple girls altered them to be more unique! They all wore nude pumps, and I picked up coordinating necklaces at Forever 21 for all of us.

My favorite photo is us with the balloons, standing side by side and looking at each other with a smirk. I love it because it sums up our emotions that day: There was so much going on around us, we were dressed up and fancy, nervous, all eyes on us, but all we needed to do was focus on each other to stay calm. I was glowing the whole day, and I think the picture shows it was all because of Ben. Black and white or color, they’re both amazing!

Wedding Photography: Shelby Street Photography / Wedding Venue: Coney Island in Cincinnati, Ohio / Floral Design: Kim Wilson, Cincinnati, OH / Wedding Invitations, Save-the-Dates + Programs: DIY / Wedding Cake: Margie Conners of AmaZing Grace Cakes, The Groom’s Aunt / DJ: Zach of All Trades / Wedding Dress: Watters via Bridal and Formal / Bride’s Shoes: Me Too via Zappos / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Jewelry: Forever 21