Category Archives: Creative Wedding Photography

Scioto Reserve Country Club Wedding Photos

It has been so much fun blogging and reliving all of the amazing weddings from over the past year. I truly love what I do and feel so blessed to be able to peek into so many’s lives even if just for a little bit.

This wedding was last June and was beautiful for so many reasons. I met up with Danielle as she was getting ready in the Bridal Suite at the Scioto Reserve Country Club. They were steaming her cathedral length veil when I arrived. There are very few things I love more than a longer-than-life veil. As she got her dress on, you could see the excitement in her eyes. It was a sunny day with no clouds in the sky. The country club has this amazing little spot of trees right near the back of the club where I just love to do portraits. This is where we did the first look with Charles. The expression on his face was so cute as he turned around and saw how stunning Danielle looked. We then hopped on a golf cart and took some photos around the grounds. The sun softly illuminated them both as they walked.

It was then time to get married! They had an outdoor ceremony in the back of the club. As Charles read his vows to Danielle, a beam of light came through and highlighted only his eyes. For me, it was a poetic moment. I’m such a sucker for cool lighting.

Inside the reception room, soft violet and cream accents adorned every corner. When the dancing started, it didn’t stop. There was so much joy and love in the room that night. Thank you so much to Danielle and Charles for letting me be a small part of it all!

Jeffrey Mansion Wedding Photos

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Last month I posted Ben and Dustin’s German Village engagement shoot for pride month. I am so excited to post about their wedding today! I met up with them both at the downtown Columbus Renaissance Hotel where they were helping each other get ready. Right outside of their room, I took photos of just them around the pool deck. The soaring skyscrapers of downtown gave a modern twist to the photos. From our photos, Ben and Dustin walked hand-in-hand down the street to Trinity Episcopal Church, where they were to be married in a morning ceremony. I’ve done SO MANY weddings, and this was the first time I was able to photograph a same-sex marriage inside a church. It was so special for me as a wedding photographer. Ben mentioned it was also very special for him as well because religion has always played an important part in his life. One of my favorite photos I took was when both of them were walking through the doors of the church, and the sign above them read “A House of Prayer For All People”.

Outside the church, guests and family gathered. Let’s just talk for a minute about the kids who were at this wedding. They were the absolute cutest kids ever. They were so much fun to watch in front of the bright red church doors.

Inside, the wedding was beautiful. Ben and Dustin walked down the aisle together. They each said their vows with their sister and brother by their side. It was such a beautiful moment when the priest announced that they were married! Tears of joy were in both of their eyes and smiles beamed from ear-to-ear. Now, it was on to Jeffrey Mansion in Bexley to have a celebration lunch.

Ben’s sister made all of the desserts and I can’t even express to you how beautiful and unique they all were. It was truly a labor of love. I loved this reception. It was so laid back and happy. People were just enjoying walking the grounds of the mansion and being out in the sun. The reception had such a happy feeling in the air. It was such an honor to be there. Thank you so much to Ben and Dustin and cheers to many more years! XO Jess

Tartan Fields Wedding Photos

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SO, I REALLY missed their first anniversary, but this wedding needs to be seen by the world! It was so pretty and fun. I love Amber and Sean. They have the most amazing way of joking around with each other. I’ll never forget their first look. Sean was just talking to himself and making himself laugh. As Amber stood behind him waiting to tap him on his shoulder, Amber couldn’t stop laughing and was trying so hard to compose herself. They have a way of being so intimately funny.

After the first look, we hopped on some golf carts and explored the grounds at Tartan Fields and found some stunning little spots to take some dreamy photos. The bridesmaids’ sage green gowns looked perfect against the landscape. After photos, we all met up behind the Country Club because their ceremony was about to begin. This outdoor ceremony spot overlooked the perfectly manicured golf course and provided the perfect “wow” factor as they exchanged their vows.

After the ceremony, everyone was treated to a patio cocktail hour as the sun lowered in the sky. It was then time to party the night away. Their reception was detailed with white and sage green. Their cake was by Kelly’s Cakery and tasted delicious. I loved that both Sean and Amber individually stood and thanked their guests with very heartfelt speeches. Amber and Sean concluded dinner with their first dance where they were wrapped up tight in each other’s arms. After open dancing started, I saw some of the best dance moves from any of my 2019 weddings.

Amber and Sean, I can’t tell you how lucky I feel to have been there as you both said: “I do”. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for you both! XO J

Nationwide Hotel Edgewater Wedding

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Happy first anniversary to Jamie and Robert! This past weekend we did a first-anniversary shoot. I figured before I posted that I should show you their incredibly charming wedding. Also, a year of marriage happens so quickly and is so worthy of being celebrated!

Jamie and Robert had a beautiful summer wedding with details of maroon, blush, and red. There were subtle nods to Robert’s Asian heritage with paper cranes and Jamie’s red reception dress. The summer sun was direct and flooded the Edgewater room at Nationwide Conference Center with light. In the photos, these two almost seem to glow as they are backlit at the altar. One of the sweetest moments I remember from their ceremony was how many people were crying. I think that’s a testament to those being in the moment with you. People were truly captivated with Jamie and Robert as they said their vows, gave loving glances at each other and started their marriage with a kiss and a loving embrace.

At the reception, small thoughtful details were around every corner. As you walked into the Edgewater room, you were met with hanging chandeliers made from hand-folded paper cranes. Cranedeliers , if you will. I love any time you can incorporate decor in your reception venue ceiling. My favorite part of the reception was when Jamie and Robert introduced their wedding party instead of being introduced last. The introductions were funny and a genuine demonstration of the friendship they had with their wedding party. It also set a certain energy level for the room that just felt electric. Another memorable detail was that each guest had a paper crane at their place setting. They were invited to put the paper crane in a box that represented a couple of charities that were meaningful to Jamie and Robert so a donation could be made on their behalf. I love that they used their wedding as a way to give back. I feel so blessed to have shot this wedding and our session last weekend. I can’t wait to share the new photos with you in the coming weeks. Until then, enjoy this perfect summer wedding!

Columbus Ohio Elopement Photography

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Just a couple of months before this international pandemic reached our shores, Kati and Charles had already decided that they wanted to get married by eloping. You could say they did it before it was cool! WOW! What a perfect April day it was for their small intimate wedding. The sun was beaming down and all the spring blooms were bursting with life, color, and fragrance. When I arrived, I could see them walking towards the Schiller Park stage in the distance. Ever since I was little, my heart has always skipped a beat when I’ve seen a bride. And that day was no exception. Kati looked stunning in her cream lace dress. The only people there were Kati, Charles, Charles’ brother who was also the officiant and Charles’ parents. They set up a zoom call in the middle of the park so Kati’s parents could be there as well. The couple chose to get married in front of the Schiller Statue in the park, where the formal promenade comes to an intersection with the park walkways. The two of them exchanged handwritten vows and before you knew it, they were husband and wife!

Right after the intimate ceremony, we just strolled the park and took some beautiful spring photos. And keeping in true Schiller Park fashion, you never know what you’re going to get. As we were taking some portraits, a man nearby started to blast Nickleback over his radio. Kati and Charles had a very intimate Nickleback concert during their elopement photos. I’m sure it was the moment they’d always dreamed of.

This wedding was a perfect example of how love is stronger than any adversity. There is beauty and love even in the toughest of times. I can’t fully express how thankful I am to have been there to document this elopement. Thank you, Kati and Charles!

WatersEdge Wedding Photos

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As we enter into the last few days of pride month, I am so excited to share this blog with you today from Carly and Alexxa’s wedding last September from WatersEdge Event and Conference Center in Hilliard, Ohio.

I met up with Carly and Alexxa at their hotel where they were getting ready in separate rooms. Their hair and makeup were being done by Always Elegant LLC when I arrived. It was so much fun to go back and forth from room to room and see all the little details that each of them had put together for the day. What was so striking, was how similar the cuts of their dresses were to each other. I don’t know if they planned it, but they were also wearing the same shirt to get ready in. There was nothing but ear-to-ear smiles in both rooms.

After they were both ready, we drove to WatersEdge to get the day started with a first look. Carly grabbed her Bloomtastic bouquet which was adorned with satin ribbons that gently blew in the breeze. It was just the perfect little detail that she planned to match the ribbon that was on the back of her dress. I was so excited as Alexxa approached because I knew this was going to be cute. But I can’t even explain in words how special it really was. They are truly soul mates. The way they interact is so genuine and sincere.

It was threatening rain all day. The clouds were rolling in, and the wind was picking up. But like so many other Ohio days, it didn’t rain and they were able to have the most beautiful outdoor ceremony. Signs, programs, invitations, and save-the-dates were all made and designed by Carly, who is also an extremely talented graphic designer. After they were married, we snuck out and took some more photos. If you can catch that moment when it’s about to rain and it doesn’t, the payoff can be huge. A slight wind, perfect overcast for photos, and the world can seem just a little more vibrant and saturated.

Now it was time to party! And I have to say, of all the hundreds of weddings I’ve been to, this wedding had the best speech hands down I’ve ever heard. Carly’s brother knocked it out of the park with his chart-enhanced story of him and Alexxa’s relationship over the years. The evening was perfectly rounded out with the most loving first dance with Carly and Alexxa, followed by some amazing dance moves from almost everyone at the wedding. D&M DJ Entertainment kept the dance floor alive all night. I think White Claw helped too lol. There was so much love in the room that night. The energy was electric and I feel so lucky to have been there to capture it all.

Dock 580 Wedding Photos

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I have been so excited to share this wedding. It was one of my most memorable from 2019 simply because we took portraits in gale-force winds.

I posted about Jaimie and Dwayne’s engagement shoot a while back and you can see all the pretty here. Fast forward to their wedding day, and I found myself at the LeVeque Hotel in downtown Columbus with the ladies as they were getting ready. This hotel is one of my favorites for getting ready photos and offers amazing opportunities for portraits as well. The hotel has a celestial theme to it and the decor echos the art deco styles of the 1920s.

Jaimie and Dwayne did their “first look” in the hotel lobby. I just loved seeing Dwayne’s ear-to-ear smile as he turned around to see how beautiful Jaimie looked in her wedding dress. From there we walked around the lobby area and took some seriously cool photos. We utilized the building’s multiple floors to get cool angles and new perspectives. I just adore the portrait of the whole wedding party that also includes the towering multi-story chandelier. I actually got the entire wedding party to follow me out to the roof of the LeVeque parking garage, which is a very unique and fun place to shoot. However, on this particular day, it was so windy, we all immediately decided to come up with a different option. So we all headed over to the main library downtown and took some beautiful and classical portraits. While we were there, I asked how they would feel if we still headed over to take some outdoor photos in front of some new Columbus murals. They were awesome sports and agreed. While the wind was just crazy, it also gave us some of the coolest photos from the day, and a whole lot of genuine laughter.

I really enjoyed their ceremony as well. Dwayne’s brother officiated different parts of it which made it so sentimental and all the more memorable. After they tied the knot, I headed over to Dock 580 to photograph details and get ready for the reception. When I walked through the front doors, I wasn’t prepared for how beautiful it looked inside. Everywhere you looked there were stunning details. LIttle signs, geometric flower arrangements, and so many desserts you didn’t know where to look first. Above anything from this wedding that really stuck with me the most was the energy from their family and friends that was in the room with them that night. It was just electric. These two are so loved and for a very good reason. I feel so blessed to have been there. Thank you Jaimie and Dwayne for trusting me to capture your day!

A Spring Wedding In Columbus Ohio

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Lindsay and Brian’s wedding was held in the early spring of last year. I remember everything about the whole day was so effortless and easy- the way you dream of your wedding going! Right off the bat, I was blown away with Lindsay’s style and the heartfelt details she incorporated. Let’s start with her Luxeredux dress. Holy smokes Batman. This dress was show-stopping. It had a grey sash and crystal details across the bodice. It photographed like a dream. Lindsay also had a little geometric ring holder she bought off Etsy that was so cute, delicate, and unique. Lindsay was styled to perfection with hair done by Hannah Godown and makeup was done by Joy Macke from State of Face Makeup. After she got dressed, Lindsay did a first look with her brother and dad. It was such a sweet, heartfelt moment.

We all congregated at the High Line Car House where Lindsay and Brian did a first look outside. First looks are actually becoming one of my favorite parts of the day. The anticipation and excitement are all condensed into that one special heartfelt moment. It’s a very emotional and fun moment to photograph.

From there the whole family and close friends stuffed into the van and we managed to find and take advantage of the very first blooming tree in downtown Columbus for some of their wedding photos! Outside of the Columbus Cultural Arts Center, there was the most beautiful blooming Dogwood. From there we hopped over to the High Street Bridge at the Scioto Mile. We finished our adventure outside of COSI for what are some of my favorite wedding photos from the day. Their outdoor patio has the most beautiful classical architecture that is so much fun to photograph a bride and groom with.

Now it was time to get married! But first, just a few more photos outside High Line Car House because the back of that building is a must-capture for any wedding day portrait. The surrounding areas are super perfect for romantic dancing in the street photos as well.

Inside, the most beautiful bouquets and altar backdrop were set up for the ceremony by the one and only Petals & Leaves Florist. The Chandeliers were dripping with greenery and accented with additional bistro lights. The whole night was one stunning blur of ear-to-ear smiles, heartfelt speeches, and killer dance moves to the Bluewater Kings Band.

Lindsay and Brian, I hope you both had the happiest of anniversaries! One year down! So much love to you both, XO Jess

Columbus Museum of Art Wedding Photos

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I cannot think of a better way to spend my quarantine time than to try and catch up on blogging all the amazing sessions I’ve done in the past year. This one is super special to me. When Mike asked me if I wanted to take his wedding photos, I think I asked him if he was sure about 5 times. He is a photographer I’ve always looked up to and it felt like the biggest honor that he wanted and trusted me to be there to capture the day. Mike and Laura are two incredible people who you should be so lucky to know.

The day started with a few photos of Mike while he waited for his bride to arrive. He was nervously relaxed…I think more excited than anything. It was raining outside and Laura’s dad held an umbrella for her as she walked towards the Columbus Museum of Art. A smile lit up her face when she saw me open the doors and start taking her photo.

Once inside, Laura climbed the steps in the new Modern wing and turned the corner to surprise Mike with their first look. It was perfect and there was so much palpable joy radiating between them both. The three of us walked around the museum and took so many stunning photos. It was relaxed and silly, which are the perfect two words to describe them.

As the family started to show up, they all gathered at the top of the stairs in the new-ish Modern Walter Wing under a huge hanging glass sculpture called “Endeavor” by artist Lino Tagliapietra. The souring sculpture was a stunning backdrop for their vow exchange. Even though it was raining outside, the light poured in from the ceiling windows.

From the museum, we headed over to Harvest Pizza in German Village, which two weeks after this wedding, sadly closed. This space was incredible. You walked up a very old set of stairs in a narrow hallway. You emerged into this warm room at the top, just perfect for a 20-30 person celebration. Before the reception officially started, Mike, Laura and I slipped away for a few photos in the rain. When we got back, it was time to feast. Pizza, salad, meatballs, you name it. All served family style with love. I was even lucky enough to snag a seat at the family table, which was another reminder of how honored I was to be there. Space was tight, but I was able to get some killer lighting. I still look at the cake cutting photos and think the lighting looks like a Vermeer painting.

Congratulations to Mike and Laura who just celebrated one year of marriage! So much love to you both. XO Jess

Dock 580 Loft Wedding Photos

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Juan and Alexa tied the knot on a perfect spring day last year. I met up with Alexa at her apartment where she and her bridesmaids were getting ready. The energy was so happy and upbeat. Music was going, laughter filled the room, and ear-to-ear smiles were seen on everyone. Alexa finished her bridal look off with a stunning flower crown. Soon after, we drove to Dock 580 where we would be the rest of the day. As Juan stood outside the venue, Alexa approached him with the world’s most electric smile on her face. After she tapped him on his shoulder, they held each other in a deep embrace.

After their first look, we did more photos around the property. The portrait session was accented with the rich brick and blue steel structures of the old buildings. Soft gusts of wind offered just the right amount of movement to create vivid and dynamic photos. The sky was cloud-covered and made the world into a giant soft-box just ideal for photographs.

Now it was time to get married! Inside the Loft at Dock 580, guests were treated to a Mariachi band as they took their seats. Trumpets and guitars filled the space with palpable electricity. The ceremony was warm and intimate and before you knew it, Juan and Alexa were married!

The cocktail hour was amazing. Specialty drinks, including a margarita, were flowing like water. The mariachi band continued the celebration and happy energy. I think everyone was ready to dance then, but dinner was to follow. Speeches after dinner were so sweet and sincere. The lighting in the room created a perfect intimate setting for everyone as they watched the happy couple laugh and kiss and laugh some more.

And now It was time for the fun to begin! After Alexa and Juan’s first dance, Alexa and her dad surprised everyone in the room with an impromptu game of tennis on the dance floor! YES! You read that right! I LOVED it! From there, it was a throw-down dance party where I got to photograph some of the best dance moves I’ve seen in ages.

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