Category Archives: Downtown Columbus Wedding

A bride and groom kissing on their wedding day

Edison 777 Columbus Wedding

Hello, blog! It’s been a while! 2022 was one of the craziest years I’ve ever had and by far my most successful at Jessica Miller photography. I got to meet some amazing, amazing people. I got to shoot some of the most beautiful events I’ve ever been to. The events industry came roaring back, and I soaked it all up one weekend at a time.

Today I am sharing Lindsay and Scott’s showstopping wedding. From beginning to end, this wedding was relaxed and fun with a hint of glamour. When I walked into the room and saw Lindsay, her hairstyle took my breath away. Even though it was extremely hot and windy outside, it stayed put all day, and I’m still not sure what kind of voodoo magic took place to make that possible.

They both got ready at the LeVeque hotel autograph collection, which also happens to be one of my favorite hotels in downtown Columbus to photograph. The lighting in the suite is so editorial. I just had to take advantage of it for some shots of Lindsay after she got her dress on. those photos are still some of my favorites from the day. I talk a lot with my couples about how less can be more; this is a perfect example. Give me a neutral room with great window light and I’ll give you magic.

For their first look, we shot right outside the grand entrance overhang of the LeVeque Tower. It’s the place where chic art deco dreams are made. This location is so show-stopping to photograph, so it’s no surprise that Lindsay and Scott looked like absolute royalty.

After their first look, we took so many glamorous shots inside the LeVeque. Then with the whole bridal party, we went across the street to city hall. The bridesmaids’ dresses matched the windows of city hall and I love happy accidents like that. Our last stop before leaving for the venue was the rooftop of the LeVeque parking garage. It not only has a great view of the Columbus riverfront, but it also makes a killer backdrop for some champagne popping. Scott made everyone run away from him with the way the champagne was sprayed everywhere. It was so so funny and I just love the photos from this moment.

When we arrived at their venue, Edison 777, guests were greeted with a Champagne tower. The way the light hit each glass made the whole display so enchanting. Scott and Lindsay said their vows and “I dos” on the back patio in the warm afternoon sun.

Edison 777 is in Italian Village and right in that area is so beautiful that we decided to do just a few more photos after Scott and Lindsay’s ceremony. The rest of the evening was such a beautiful blur. These two we’re surrounded by so much love, laughter, and friendship. Cheers to you both and thank you a million times over for trusting me with this perfect day!

Hotel: Hotel Leveque Autograph Collection
Venue: Edison 777
Suit: Pursuit
Florals: Fiori Florals
DJ: D and M DJ Entertainment
Dress: La Jeuene Mariee
Hair and Makeup: 614 Beauty
Cake: Sauer Cakes

Via Vecchia Wedding

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

 

Via Vecchia Wedding

 

Fall wedding at High Line Car House

Tonight I get to feature Jenn and DWs gorgeous wedding from last year at High Line Car House! I have been so excited to show this one off because from start to finish, this day was just magical. This is also the first time in 12 years that I’ve had a pet stand at the front with the couple as they got married. Cooper was very respectful and didn’t steal the show too much!!

DW and Jenn did a first look at Schiller Park in German Village. It was so much fun to see DW’s reaction as they both turned around. He was overcome with emotion and photographers just live for those moments! From there we casually walked around the park, talking and laughing with the whole bridal party. Jenn’s cathedral length veil was just everything. Long veils make the whole bridal look so elegant and romantic. One of my favorite photos we got was the picture of their basset hound Cooper standing in front of the bridal party. He even had his own little tuxedo!

We all headed back to High Line to watch these two tie the knot! It was so intimate, loving, and warm in that room. From there we all moved to the main space of High Line and got the party started. Tables were accented with flowers from Jewelwedding Floral Studio, candles, and the most beautiful glass pumpkins. Kitties Cakes supplied the most incredible desserts as well! After their first dance, we snuck out to do a few night photos in front of the Columbus Love sign downtown. To finish off the night, guests were treated to The Whirlybirds live band. This day had the best energy from start to finish. So much love to you both DW and Jenn. You’ll never know how lucky I feel that you walked into my life! XO J

Wedding in Downtown Columbus

Even though this wedding wasn’t from November, I still wanted to share it this week because it had the perfect fall and Thanksgiving palate. Last year, I had the honor of photographing Kendra and Andrew’s wedding in downtown Columbus. These two are so in love and it just showed through in every photo. We did the first look outside of their hotel, the Hyatt downtown. The Hyatt has really vamped up their rooms in the last couple of years and it’s become an awesome place to get ready for a wedding. Beautiful Ivy scaled the outside of the Hyatt, making it the perfect backdrop for seeing each other for the first time on their wedding day. As Andrew turned around, they both started to laugh, totally overcome with joy that they had finally made it to their wedding day! Then they embraced and just melted into the other’s arms. It was a quiet and magical moment where the whole world seemed to pause just for an instant.

From the first look, we stopped in German Village for their portraits. A bright red wall we found complimented the bright orange and maroon florals just perfectly. It was then time to get married! We went to the Boathouse at Confluence Park and went outside to their back patio for the ceremony. There is a sweeping view of the Columbus skyline that is simply spectacular. Tears filled both Kendra and Andrew’s eyes as they said their vows and pledged their lives to one another.

It was then time to party! Guests were treated to champagne and city views all night long and the dancing was spectacular! Earlier this year Kendra and Andrew welcomed a little baby to their family. It’s been such a cool two years for these two even though 2020 certainly has come with challenges. Thank you Kendra and Andrew for trusting me with these beautiful memories!

Columbus OH High Line Car House Wedding

Tanner and Justin are two of the most sincere and fun people you’ll ever meet. To know them is to love them! You might remember their engagement shoot I posted last year. That is still such a vivid day in my memory. The whole time it was just about to rain and there was this gorgeous haze in the air.

Fast forward to their wedding last year, it was quite literally the perfect day. The wedding started with the girls getting ready at Trinity United Methodist Church. This was the first time I had ever shot in this church and it quickly became one of my favorites. In the main entrance, there’s a glass dome ceiling. As the light poured through, it made the most spectacular starburst light pattern across the room. I knew we had to take advantage of that for a photo of Tanner! Her bridesmaids wore navy blue and everyone carried bouquets of white and green. Everything looked so romantic and sophisticated.

As Tanner and her father turned the corner to walk down the aisle toward Justin, they were both backlit and Tanner was literally glowing. I had never seen a more radiant bride! Justin wiped away tears as he saw his bride walk toward him. It was the perfect moment.

After the ceremony, the two celebrated as they walked into the hallway with cheers towards our cameras and the cutest “just-married” kisses! I couldn’t get enough of it! From there we traveled to Schiller Park where the was a slight breeze in the air and a duck who wanted to compete with the happy couple for photo time. From the park, we drove to High Line Car House which has the most photogenic back alley. It was a nice last few minutes they could spend together before the party started. And what a party it was! Just pure joy all night long. I feel so thankful to have been there to see it all! I hope you love these as much as I loved taking them! XO Jess

 

Wolf’s Ridge Wedding Photos

Let me just start this by saying if I were to re-do my wedding again, I would design it to be exactly like this. With an overarching astrological theme, this wedding was just so visually captivating. What a better place to get ready than the Downtown Columbus Lincoln LeVeque Tower hotel, which also has an astrological theme. LeeAnne’s dress was contemporary with smooth lines and a low-cut back. Her hair was styled to perfection by Jessica Broadwater and her makeup was flawlessly done by Kerry Smith from Full Face Artistry. LeeAnne chose chandelier earrings that resembled the north star. Andrew wore a blue tux with black tailored accents. Everything was perfectly styled. I felt like I was at a styled wedding.

Their ceremony was outdoors at COSI on the riverfront. Funny enough, there was a soul festival happening at the same time. LeeAnne got to walk down the aisle to both a string quartet and Al Greene. They had such an amazing sense of humor about it. As she walked, her long veil offered the perfect soft accent to the clean lines of her dress. As they said their vows to one another, tears welled up in their eyes. It was such a sincere moment that was so special to watch. After they were declared husband and wife, we went and took some wedding photos around downtown Columbus.

At their reception venue, Wolf’s Ridge Brewing, guests were being dropped off by trolly and enjoyed the most beautiful (and delicious) charcuterie boards. A white cake from Cakes Creatively by Crystal sat in the corner and was adorned with a vintage bride and groom statuette. LeeAnne and Andrew honeymooned in Italy, and before they did, they wanted to share an Italian “cheers” with everyone at their wedding. As a favor, they gave each guest a bottle of Limoncello. A neon sign that said “The Smiths” provided such a fun backdrop for the night. And what a party it was! Dancing was going strong when we left well into the night. I can’t say enough amazing things about how many details were poured into this day. And hands down, it’s probably the best food I’ve ever had a wedding (one of the perks at having a reception at Wolf’s Ridge!). A huge thank you to LeeAnne and Andrew who are two incredible people. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for you both! XO Jess

ben and dustin standing on the stairs

Jeffrey Mansion Wedding Photos

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

kati and charles elope in schiller park

Columbus Ohio Elopement Photography

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!

Bride and groom elopeing in schiller park couple elopeing bride and groom walking and smiling bride and groom in the spring bride and groom dancing bride and groom walking across a bridge bride and groom kissing under a tree bride and groom on a park bench bride and groom by spring blooms

bride and groom in hotel lobby

Dock 580 Wedding Photos

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!

Getting ready at Hotel LeVeque Groom on his wedding day Hotel Leveque first look Hotel LeVeque wedding portraits Downtown Columbus Library wedding photos bride and groom kiss in front of mural wedding photos in front of murals Columbus Episcopal Wedding Episcopal columbus wedding ceremony dock 580 wedding details wedding desserts dock 580 wedding reception wedding couple dancing

Franklin Park Palm House Wedding Photos

Ok, prepare yourself. This wedding is so special, so loving, and so uniquely Tyler and Thomas. These two decided to stray from the typical event formula and instead of having a rehearsal dinner, they had an intimate wedding the night before their big reception! To make it even more fun, we did their engagement shoot right before they said their vows. I’ve shot over 300 weddings and this is the first time I’ve ever done one like this. It had everything. The small intimate ceremony and the large no-holds-barred party. Just perfect if you ask me.

We started the weekend of festivities at Goodale Park where spring was vibrant with its saturated greens. This was the first time I had met either of them, but you would never know that. It felt like I was hanging out with old friends. Tyler is from Canada so he thanked me after every photo I took, which just gave me a natural high from days. These are two of the sweetest people you could ever meet. As we walked and took photos, we slowly made our way down High Street to Hubbard Grille, where their ceremony took place. Hubbard Grille has a second-floor event space that is just perfect for a smaller dinner or event like this. And if you go there, try the Brussel sprouts. I don’t even like Brussel sprouts and I think it’s quite possibly one of the best things I’ve ever eaten.

Thomas’ dad officiated the quick ceremony and before you knew it, Tyler and Thomas were married! Together with their family they ate a delicious meal and celebrated into the night with wine and laughter flowing.

The next day, my second shooter and I met Tyler and Thomas at the LeVeque Tower in Downtown Columbus for a quick portrait session before we went to the big event. A man in a tux is a special thing to see, but two men in tuxes just took my breath away. The LeVeque was the perfect backdrop for their wedding attire. That art deco vibe matched perfectly with their dapper and sophisticated look.

Off to the Franklin Park Conservatory, we went! It was so much fun just to walk around and take a few photos. Then, the rest of the night after family photos was pretty much just documentary photography. Throughout the night, they had live music, speeches galore, and even a swing band with a swing dance instructor. This weekend was pure magic and these photos are so much fun to look back on as they celebrate their one-year anniversary this week! Tyler and Thomas, I feel so blessed to have crossed paths with you both. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for you both! XO Jess

An engaged couple smilin in Goodale Park Two men in goodale park two men in goodale park for their engagement shoot an engaged couple at arch city tavern Hubbard Grille's special event space Intimate wedding at Hubbard Grille wedding portraits at leveque tower wedding photos at leveque hotel gay wedding at franklin park conservatory gay couple's wedding photos at franklin park conservatory franklin park conservatory palm house wedding food spread live wedding music at franklin park conservatory