Category Archives: Columbus Wedding Photography

Retreat 21 Spring Wedding

Today on the blog I am dreaming of warmer weather and so excited to share this incredibly gorgeous Retreat 21 Spring Wedding. Spring happens to be my all-time favorite season. It used to be fall, but as I get older, I have fallen deeply in love with the idea of the literal and metaphorical re-emergence of life. The air is muddy, all the little flower buds peek their heads out of the nutrient-rich earth, and life springs forth. It’s the promise of a full year of warm weather ahead. The birds are singing, and a new season of possibility offers itself in full colorful splendor. Quite literally, it was the perfect time for Kaitlin and Hayden to get married.

A spring color palate

The sage green dresses and details were the perfect compliment to this Spring wedding. The white dogwood trees were just starting to bud which only added to the visual splendor. A huge trend in 2023 was to use faux florals. Kaitlin chose a bouquet of Sola flowers or flowers made of wood. They are so delicate and intricate looking, but will also last forever!

A Retreat 21 Spring Wedding

On the property of Retreat 21, there is a grand old tree that is a show-stopping backdrop for any wedding. This is where Hayden and Kaitlin decided to share their vows in front of their friends, family, and all their loved ones. One of my favorite moments was right after their first kiss. Hayden pulled Kaitlin close, embraced her, and kissed her so sweetly on her forehead.

A unique party set in the woods

One of the best parts about having your wedding at Retreat 21 is the outdoor space for guests at the reception. There are open-air swings, a fire pit, and lawn games- all illuminated under a canopy of Edison bistro lights. It gives an intimate gathering place for people to reconnect under the canopy of the tall trees. This has quickly become one of my favorite places to photograph because it is just so beautiful at every turn. As the facility ages, the management keeps expanding the features of the grounds to make it more appealing. A special thank you to Hayden and Kaitlin for their trust in Jessica Miller Photography for their wedding day!

Get in touch!

If you are planning a Retreat 21 spring wedding in the Columbus, Ohio area, please get in touch! Fill out the contact form here and let’s talk!

Vendors

Venue: Retreat 21
Cake: Alice’s Piece of Cake
DJ: Vince Kendjorksy from Josh Staley Productions
Dress Shop: Dublin Bridal
Dress: Allure Bridal
Bride’s Shoes: Betsey Johnson and Keds
Bride’s Hair and Makeup: Hey Pretty Beauty
Groom’s Tux: Generation Tux

Oak Grove Wedding Photography

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I have been waiting a minute to post about this incredible Oak Grove wedding photography, and today’s the day!

Miranda’s dress was a striking silhouette and featured a pointed lace train that gracefully flowed behind her when she walked. Her beautiful curls were pulled back into a low bun and fascinated with a crystal hair clip. A few curls framed her face to accent her incredible jawline. Kelvin looked like a million dollars in a blue suit that was accented with a soft pink tie.

The couple shared a “first touch” before the wedding where they held hands and said a prayer for the day and their marriage. It was an incredibly beautiful and quiet moment they were able to share with just eachother before they walked down the aisle to say “I do!”.

Gorgeous string music filled the greenhouse as guests took their seats. When Kelvin walked through the front doors, the whole crowd cheered for him. I have never seen a bigger smile on a groom walking down the aisle before. Pretty soon, Miranda turned the corner with her father and met Kelvin’s eyes waiting for her at the end of the greenhouse. Tears began to flow as he saw her approach.

Standing in front of all of their loved ones, and flanked by 12 of their very best friends, Miranda and Kelvin took their marriage vows in a romantic and heartwarming ceremony. Some of my favorite photos of the day were taken immediately following their walk back down the aisle. They were freshly married, alone in their reception room, and had no idea they were being photographed. It was just them, in the moment, together.

As you can tell, Oak Grove at Jorgenson Farms is an incredible editorial and photographs like a dream. For that reason, it is one of my favorite Columbus, Ohio wedding venues. I think one of the most exciting aspects of this venue is the potential for incredible night photography. The starburst lighting fixtures and Edison bulbs make a showstopping backdrop for dreamy nighttime portraits.

A special thank you to Miranda and Kelvin for having me capture this showstopping day. It will forever be one of my absolute favorite weddings I’ve photographed.

VENDORS

Venue: Jorgenson Farms Oak Grove
Florist: Petals & Leaves
Cake: Capital City Cakes
DJ: Jomar with Josh Staley Productions
Bride’s Dress: Justin Alexander
Bride’s Shoes: DB Studio
Groom’s Tux: Men’s Warehouse

Columbus Museum of Art Wedding

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Allison and Mark knocked it out of the park when they had their Columbus Museum of Art Wedding last July. It’s not every day you can celebrate such an incredible life event amongst so much beauty.

Their ceremony took place at Edwards Court. The ceiling is entirely made of windows which allows for natural light to pour into the space. A larger-than-life glass artwork by Dale Chihuly called Isola di San Giacomo in Palude, sits on one end of the atrium. It is an elegant and unique space and offers an experience only an art museum can.

The bridesmaids wore different shades of blue and Allison looked absolutely flawless in her white lace-trimmed A-lined gown. Details of white and blue could be found around every corner. Cascading bouquets were flanked on either side of the ceremony wall, the wedding invitations were adorned with a blue satin ribbon, a custom wedding hanger was embellished with blue and white flowers, and a blue velvet ring box showed off how beautiful Allison’s wedding rings were.

Inside and outside of the museum offered grand portrait backdrops. The lighting outside played against the walls and made for some pretty epic spotlight portraiture of Allison. One of my favorite details from the day was their ring bearer wore a bear costume and thus became known as the “ring bear.”

After portraits around the museum, we went to their reception venue, The Ellis. Allison is an avid swing dancer, so there were so many fantastic dance moves both during cocktail hour and the open dancing. Guests were also treated to a specially choreographed dance from Allison and her fellow dance group. It was so much fun to watch and super impressive to see her do it all in a wedding dress, no less!

Congratulations to these two. It was such an honor to be a part of this magical celebration!!

Vendors

Ceremony Venue: Columbus Museum of Art
Reception Venue: The Ellis
Florals: Fiori Florals
Cake: Sauer Cakes
DJ: D&M DJ Entertainment

Nationwide Hotel LGBTQ Wedding

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I cannot think of a better way to kick off Pride month than to feature this wonderful Nationwide Hotel LGBTQ Wedding! It was such an honor to capture Matt and Michael’s loving, genuine, and incredibly authentic celebration last year.

Eight years ago on June 26th, 2015, I was actually photographing a gay wedding. The couple didn’t know if their ceremony was going to be legal or not at the end of the day. It was announced at the reception that LGBTQ persons were now legally allowed to get married, and oh what a celebration that night was! People cheering, crying, and signing LEGAL documents! It’s become one of my favorite wedding-day core memories and a moment I’ll never forget.

It’s hard to believe up until that date and that moment, same-sex couples had been denied the right to legally marry. It goes without saying that for many reasons including this one, the LGBTQ community has felt excluded and marginalized. For that reason, any time an LGBTQ wedding happens, it’s also a celebration of equality and the right to marry and love whoever your heart loves, no matter what gender. These weddings are brave and make a statement to the world about love triumphing always. It’s one of the reasons LGBTQ weddings are some of my very favorites.

On this special day, Matt and Michael wore matching navy blue tuxedos with black accents. Everyone in their wedding party wore the same navy color and it was STUNNING. I adore monochromatic everything. Matt and Michael said their vows surrounded by their closest family and friends in the Edgewater Room at Nationwide Hotel. The sun beamed in on them as they made their marriage official.

Their reception was accented by a custom logo made from both of their initials. Elegant blue and white flowers decorated every table. My favorite part was the eye candy that OMG Sweets provided for the dessert table. As always, Nationwide knocked it out of the park with its incredible food.

After dinner, the couple was showered with love and some hilarious speeches. They then moved into the dancing room for their first dance where the love between them was simply palpable. Soon after, guests danced into the evening and celebrated and cheered Matt and Michael as they officially launched this new chapter of their lives together. Last month was their one-year anniversary and I’d like to wish them a very happy one year down!

Vendors

Venue: Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center
Desserts: OMG Sweets
Florals: Botanica Flowers
DJ: Buckeye Entertainment
Videographer: Up and Up Weddings

Grand Event Center Wedding

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Before this “winter” ends, I wanted to share a wedding from last February that is the perfect example of what a stunning winter wedding can be. Michelle and John were married at The Grand Event Center wedding in Grandview, near downtown Columbus, Ohio. This venue has sleek modern elements, floor-to-ceiling windows, and some seriously cool ceiling lights. Even Michelle and John’s invitations reminded me of the linear design of the lights in the ballroom. It was the perfect location for this chic wedding.

On the day of the wedding, I joined Michelle in her suite as she was getting ready. Her clean-lined dress reminded me of Megan Markle’s wedding dress from the front. It was the perfect combination of modern and traditional design. The dress featured a classic silhouette with a boat neckline, long sleeves, and a train. The deep plunging back of Michelle’s dress, however, had much more of a ‘wow’ factor. John gifted her an emerald ring that day which was the perfect compliment to her look.

Deep hunter-green velvet dresses were matched with earthy brown tweed suits to create a sophisticated bridal party style. Greens, creams, whites, and golds made the ceremony and reception feel like a warm romantic hideaway from the cold outside. Michelle and John said their “I do’s” in a candlelit ballroom, surrounded by the warmth of family and friends.

At the reception, each table was lovingly adorned with a photo of the couple’s fur baby, Timmy. Timmy also joined us for some of the portraits earlier in the evening. Dogs are always welcome to join me on a shoot!

The night was a magical one, filled with love, laughter, and joy. The bride and groom, surrounded by family and friends, danced and celebrated their love, and it truly was a night to remember. At the end of the night, guests filed out leaving Michelle and John alone on the dance floor for one last dance just for them.

Venue: Grand Event Center
Florist: Blumen
Wedding Coordinator: Shannah Paddock, The Grand Event Center
Videographer: Prodigy Weddings
DJ: Josh Staley
Cake: Giant Eagle
Hair and Makeup: Goode Beauty
Desserts: The Cheesecake Girl
Bride’s Dress: Davids Bridal
Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Groom’s Tux: Indochino
Groom’s Shoes: Stacy Adams

Check out Michelle and John’s engagement shoot here.

Columbus Ohio Courthouse Wedding

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For those looking to get married in a more intimate way, a Columbus Ohio Courthouse Wedding may just be the perfect experience! All of the courthouse weddings take place during the week and by appointment only. Most of the streets tend to be pretty empty because everyone is at work. It is so exciting when you add on a photoshoot to the tail end of the elopement because it feels like the world is all your own! That’s exactly what Jeanne and Brett did.

Sometimes the courthouse is running behind for various reasons and you’ll have to wait. You can almost cut the anticipation with a knife! The actual ceremony inside the chamber takes anywhere from 3-10 minutes. It’s so quick you might not even realize you’re married! Jeanne and Brett were married in 2020, so they had to wear masks for their first kiss. I don’t know of a better sign of the times than that.

Afterward, we went all around the city from Downtown Columbus to German Village. It was so much fun to just relish the moment with them as a newly married couple. Jeanne’s tea-length skirt made for the most fun twirls and playful moments.

After the portrait session, we landed at her parent’s house in German Village where the happy couple was champagne toasted by their family. Happy tears were streaming down most people’s faces and it was a moment I’ll always remember.

If you’re looking to get married at the courthouse, add a photoshoot to make it an incredible experience that’s even more exciting than 5 minutes in a judge’s chambers.

Amelita Mirolo Barn Wedding

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One of the highlights from my 2021 lineup was this Amelita Mirolo Barn Wedding! All of the bright reds, pinks, and purples make this a perfect post for the days leading up to Valentine’s Day early next week!

You might recognize Megan and Sathyan from their engagement shoot that I posted on the blog late last year. I was lucky enough to join them again for their Indian wedding celebration.

When you walked into the barn at Amelita Mirolo, every inch was bursting with color. Stacks of cupcakes with fluffy icing were adorned with brightly colored flowers. Vines and flowers were used to tie back the most vibrant canopy where the ceremony took place. Pink and orange table cloths spotted the room and made the whole space feel so vibrant and dynamic. During the ceremony, they had the back doors to the barn open. This created a beautiful backlit light that felt almost like we were outdoors.

Megan wore two dresses. Her first was the ceremony sari that was a deep purple. After the ceremony, she changed into a more comfortable but equally stunning red sari. I really loved photographing both of them and we even had some fun spinning the second one on top of a small hill nearby.

A special thank you to Megan and Sat for having me with you on the first of two wedding days you celebrated last year. It was an honor and a privilege! I can’t wait to see what’s next for you both! XO Jess

Via Vecchia Wedding

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I am so excited to share this Via Vecchia wedding today. I think we can all agree that the last couple of years has been somewhat of a cluster. Tara and Jason tied the knot in 2020, but I’m just getting around to blogging about all these great weddings recently. I have stockpiles of things I can’t wait to share!

This was such a HOT day, so ironically I’m writing about it on the coldest day of the year. Even though it was so hot, everything had this sunny glow about it and I remember the images we captured really showed that. One of my favorite parts of the whole day was shooting over near the Prema Design’s warehouse. Because they were doing the florals for the wedding, they were nice enough to let us use their really cool alleyway for photos. They also have the most beautiful floral mural outside their shop which made for such an elegant portrait of Tara as the sun flooded in across her face and gown.

Another fun characteristic of shooting in direct sun is playing with the shadows the light makes. I just love how some of the trees in German VIllage were spilling the most magical speckled shadows. A light breeze blew in right when we were shooting and grabbed Tara’s dress! This made for such a dazzling portrait of her and Jason.

I also need to mention Via Veccia’s back patio which is nothing short of enchanting. We added some off-camera flashes, and the place just lit up to perfection for the most beautiful first dance photos under the stars and bistro lights!

I can’t thank these two enough for entrusting me with the photos from their day. From start to finish it was such a fun whirlwind.

Vendors:

Venue: Via Vecchia Winery

Catering and Cake: Milo’s Catering

Florist: Prema Designs

DJ: Party Pleasers

Dress: Wendy’s Bridal

Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka

Hair and Makeup: Hair Artists

Groom’s Tux and Shoes: Romanoff’s

Backyard Columbus Ohio Wedding

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This backyard Columbus Ohio wedding was quite simply, a dream. I was hired to photograph Nicholas and Joseph’s wedding because their larger blow-out celebration that was set to be in Chicago was sadly canceled because of COVID last year. When I arrived at their house, I walked into the backyard and was met with the most stunning table set up under hanging bistro lights. The landscaping was to die for. There were lots of little places to sit around the yard, a fire was going, and so. many. candles. You would have thought that the florals had been done by a professional florist, but Joseph actually did them himself!

When I arrived, Nick and Joe were getting ready inside and everyone was bustling about their home. A Cake for Leroy was putting the final touches on their cake in the kitchen. Their best friends were in and out the back door setting everything up. There was such fun energy in the air.

Right before guests arrived, Joe and Nick joined me for a few portraits around their yard. The table setup was so stunning I had to make it part of some shots. These two have such a deep bond with each other and I could really feel how important this day was for both of them. Happy tears streamed from both of them. Their love was palpable.

Joseph’s brother officiated the ceremony amongst an intimate group of friends and family. Their vows were some of the best I had ever heard. They described what it really felt like to meet the love of your life. The vows were also very poetic and sincere. The space these two created at that moment was electric, and one that I’ll never forget.

After the vows were exchanged and the rings were placed, it was time to party and celebrate! Cameron Mitchell provided the most beautiful appetizers and food for the event. Everyone gave Nick and Joe a champagne toast to their new marriage! As the sun tucked below the horizon, guests were seated and the happy couple danced in each other’s arms under the glow of the twinkling lights. Dinner continued into the dark of night and laughing faces were illuminated by the glow of candlelight. It was such a beautiful moment in time. I can’t thank Joseph and Nicholas enough for trusting me with capturing their vision.

Vendors

Catering: Cameron Mitchell Premier Events
Cake: A Cake for Leroy
Flowers: self
Rentals: Event Source
Tuxes and Shoes: Calvin Klein

Hilliard Ohio Wedding Photos

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These two celebrated their one-year anniversary yesterday so what better time to share their Hilliard Ohio wedding photos with the world! You might recognize them from their engagement shoot I posted a couple of weeks back. Lindsay and Jake are two of the funniest people you could ever be around. I laughed so hard I cried at least twice at this wedding. To have so much joy even though they were in the midst of having to pivot their original wedding plans because of the pandemic is a true testament to their relationship and bond.

When they realized their original wedding wasn’t going to work with COVID restrictions, at the last minute, Lindsay and Jake found the Norwich Pavilion which is a stunning outdoor facility in Hilliard’s Weaver Park. It is painted all white and just perfect for an outdoor wedding that’s also sheltered from a warm June day. As Lindsay walked toward the Pavillion, she and her dad emerged from a covered bridge into the bright sunlight. It was a major WOW factor! She looked stunning. Her dress had beautiful lace sleeves that kissed her shoulders. She wore her hair down in cascading curls. When Jake saw her, he was ear-to-ear smiles.

It wasn’t what they had originally planned, but this wedding was so beautiful and intimate. And, because of its size, we were able to get the best photo of everyone that attended the wedding! Congratulations to Lindsay and Jake and their one-year anniversary yesterday! I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for you both. Lots of love, Jess

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A spring color palate

A Retreat 21 Spring Wedding

A unique party set in the woods

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