Whitney & Chase Wedding at The Olmsted

I enjoyed a nice scenic drive to Louisville Kentucky for Whitney and Chase’s wedding at The Olmsted. After fear of some rain, the ceremony was moved inside and even though no drops came down this day, it was a great call because of the heat! BUT you would not even be able to tell how hot it was in these photos because they were absolute champions and toughed out the heat for some portraits. Everything about this couple is so sweet and I had been looking forward to this day ever since I met them. It was so fun to celebrate with Whitney and Chase and now I can’t wait to share some of my favorites from their special day!

The amazing vendors from this day!

Venue: The Olmsted

Florist: Rachel’s Rose Garden

Dress: I Do A Bridal Boutique

Beauty Lounge: Laurel and Lavender

Cake: Louisvillicous Cakes and Desserts

DJ: Decades of Music

Chair Rental: Southern Classic Rentals

Makeup: Makeup by Brooke Duvall

Hair: Looks by Lauren 502

Videographer: Paper Crane Cinema

Second Photographer: Jennifer Post

Styling Surface: Elysian Market

Emily & Ian Wedding

It was a gorgeous drive through the backroads on our way to Century Farms. My second photographer, Jen, and I were finding all of these beautiful landscapes to take photos of as we were driving into the town of Carrollton. After spending the majority of the morning staring at the weather radar, I was excited that Emily took the chance and decided on having an outdoor ceremony. Although it was a hot one, you would never know it with how beautiful everyone looked! We had gorgeous weather throughout the day and as soon as we were done with photos it decided to pour. Talk about perfect timing! This was my first time at Century Farms and I loved the traditional red barn feel along with the tall beautiful wooden doors. We had some amazing fields in the back for photos and just wait until you see the tree swing! Below are some of the amazing vendors that helped put this day together!

Venue: Century Farms

Flowers: Bouquet Studio

Dress and tuxes: Lavender Bridal

DJ: Ohio DJ Pros, Ryan Layman,

Hair: Rig and Co. Studio & Spa

Makeup: Make Me Blush Makeup & Beauty Lounge

Invitations: Shutterfly

String Duo: Chamber Light Players

Cake & Cupcake Bakers: Sugarfuse!

Cookies: Sweets by Mags & Family

Second Photographer: Jennifer Post

Exceptional Wedding Series IV

I decided to start a new blog series this year showing some of my favorite things from each of the weddings I photograph. Since I love to focus on creating a unique wedding experience for each of my couples and pride myself on sharing their personalities in my photos, this blog series has been a great way for me to showcase these unique details. I am sharing something specific that stood out to me from each wedding which I thought was special to the couple.

Jacquie & Jeff have one of my favorite unique details so far this year, but I may be a little biased because I am also a big fan of the show The Office. Jeff gave Jacquie a tea pot filled with notes and memories throughout their relationship to open the morning of their wedding day. I thought this idea was super cute and I’ll let Jacquie explain it in more detail below!

Where did this tea pot idea come from?
The idea came from the tv show, The Office. Jeff and I love the series and basically watch re-runs when we’re bored, which is a lot. When we finish the series we just start right back at the beginning!

In one episode, the office is celebrating Christmas and is doing a Secret Santa. Jim picked Pam as his secret santa. He knows that she’s really wanted a tea pot, so he gets her that and then secretly fills it with a bunch of items that are memories/inside jokes between the two of them, as well as a letter that shares his true feelings for Pam. However, during the episode Michael (the boss) decides to turn Secret Santa into a White Elephant gift exchange. Jim spends the entire episode trying to get back the tea pot so he can give it to Pam. In the end he succeeds, but he ends up taking out the letter that divulges his feelings. Regardless, Pam loves the tea pot and the little memories inside.

What was in the tea pot?
The tea pot was filled with things that represent different events/memories in our relationship. For example, it included the cork from the champagne that was popped during our engagement, a Penn State football game ticket from our first game we attended as alumni, a ticket to a Pirates baseball game, which was the first activity we did together after Jeff moved to Pittsburgh, and one of the first “raps” that Jeff wrote me....when we were in college he would write me raps and then leave them in my dorm room for me to find...cheesy I know.

Did this come as a surprise to you?
This was a total shock to me! I had no idea that this would have been my wedding gift. However, at the same time it doesn’t surprise me that Jeff would come up with an idea like this. He is really creative when it comes to gifts and he puts a lot of effort to incorporate things that have sentimental value to us. He is also really good at holding onto things as keepsakes. I joke that he is a little bit of a hoarder because he tends to keep things as mementos. I’m the type of person who tends to throw away a lot of things because I don’t like clutter. It drives me nuts sometimes when he has piles of random papers/knickknacks on his side of the dresser. However, it is nice in instances like this to have some of these things. It shows he truly does cherish our memories and relationship.

What was your favorite thing you opened in the tea pot?
My favorite thing was definitely the rap! He doesn’t attempt to rap or write raps anymore, so I actually kinda forgot that he used to do that. They were so dumb and cheesy and I would roll my eyes when he would read them to me, but at the same time they always made me laugh, which was always the point of them.

Martha & Preston Grange Audubon Center Wedding

After yet another day of expecting some rain, we had a completely dry and gorgeous wedding day! I was pretty excited to be back at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center for the wedding reception and also photograph at a church I’ve never been to before, St. Francis of Assisi in Victorian Village. Everything was so beautifully put together and I was in love with the touch of rose gold that was everywhere in Martha’s details. (It made for the perfect touch to go with her beautiful red hair.) These two were nothing but smiles all day and I can’t wait to share some of my favorites with them! Below are some highlights from their wedding day.

The amazing vendors who helped put this day together!

Second photographer: Jennifer Post Photography

Wedding day assistant: Columbus Bride and Groom

Flowers: Petals and Leaves

Dress: Attelé Bridal Boutique

Hair: Mira Mira salon

Makeup: Jessica Johnson

Cake: Kelly’s Cakery

Caterer: Metro Cuisine

Dj: Columbus Pro Dj

Styling Surface: Elysian Market

Exceptional Wedding Series III

I decided to start a new blog series this year showing some of my favorite things from each of the weddings I photograph. Since I love to focus on creating a unique wedding experience for each of my couples and pride myself on sharing their personalities in my photos, this blog series has been a great way for me to showcase these unique details. I am sharing something specific that stood out to me from each wedding which I thought was special to the couple.

Addison & Michaela had an absolutely beautiful ceremony at a new venue I’ve never been to before. I loved every little detail from their wedding day, but what stood out to me the most was the gorgeous wooden cross they used at their alter for the ceremony. So, I asked Michaela a few questions about the cross below.

What made you decide to use this cross at your wedding?

For Addison and I both, our faith is the most important thing to us. And so we wanted our wedding to be a reflection of the love we have for each other, but also the love and relationship we live out each day with Christ. We did not want to be pushy, but we did want to show how passionate our love is for one another and for God. So in that, we didn't feel a need for a ceremony in a church, but just made intentional decisions about our ceremony. Addison's Dad is a pastor, and was the officiant, and really helped craft a ceremony that helped get our message across. However, as visual people we knew symbols were also sentimental to us and others. I have always seen pictures and loved a wood cross at outdoor ceremonies. We knew that we just wanted it to have simple decorations so it would be noticed, but not overshadowed - which Gina Lynne did an amazing job executing. The cross was meant to be the focus and at the center of the "altar" up front. The cross is where the ultimate act of love was shown, where Jesus Christ died for our sins so that we could live. For us, there is no greater symbol of love than the cross.

Who made the cross?

Addison's Dad is a pastor and also was the officiant of our wedding. So the cross came from their church that they built for their use and also let us use it for the wedding.

Any other notes about the cross you would like to share?

Addison and I love each other so so much and feel so blessed to be in each other's lives. Our love is so great, but we know it is possible because of God's love. Our marriage is bigger than us and that day was a celebration of us, yes. But ultimately a celebration of the love God endlessly gives to each one of us and that is the kind of love we hope our marriage is a reflection of the love that God gives to everyone.

Jacquie & Jeff's Pittsburgh Wedding

Shooting a wedding in downtown Pittsburgh has been on my bucket list since I became a wedding photographer. I lived in Pittsburgh for four years as I attended the University of Pittsburgh, so it’s safe to say this city is like a second home to me. Jacquie & Jeff’s wedding did not disappoint and had so many unique touches throughout their wedding day, which I LOVE!! We were pretty lucky with having no rain and were able to take some photos outside in Mellon Square and up on Mt. Washington. The Skyline obviously made for some gorgeous photos and we had so much fun riding around the city on the party bus. After spending time with their guests for cocktail hour, these two were welcomed to the largest cookie display I have ever seen! I’ve seen some pretty impressive cookie displays before at weddings, but this one was incredible! I had a quick, but amazing trip to Pittsburgh and can’t wait to shoot two more weddings here this year!

Here are some of the amazing vendors from the day!

Ceremony: Epiphany Catholic Church

Reception: Circuit Center

Dress: Bridal Beginnings

Hair: Classic Salon

Makeup: Rae Beauty

Florals: Barton’s Bakery

Cake: Barton’s Bakery

Band: Bachelor Boys Band