Category Archives: Franklin Park Conservatory

Franklin Park Bride’s Garden Wedding

I am so excited to share this Franklin Park Bride’s Garden wedding with the world today. Life got away from me last year but this year I have made a consorted effort to sit down and share share share some of my favorite weddings from the past two years.

Angela and Eric met at a Chinese restaurant when they were living in Atlanta over 10 years ago. Eric just happened to sit down at a table near Angela and he ended up asking for her phone number before he left. Eight years later, the two decided to make it official and get married surrounded by their closest family and friends.

Their choice of The Franklin Park Conservatory as their venue was intentional. Eric is a nature lover. He used to work in an arboretum and is a country boy at heart. Growing up he was always outdoors. I can personally attest to this passion of his. As we walked through different rooms and spaces of the conservatory, Eric would tell me all about whatever plant or tree was in front of us. He would inspect them as if each one was a precious jewel. Angela loved the space because it’s naturally beautiful and elegant in an authentic way. Authenticity was very important to her as she planned their celebration.

Another important aspect of their wedding was music. They own the Savoy Club which is a premiere Jazz, soul, and R&B Club in Columbus, Ohio. They incorporated live music acts from both their club and their church ( Mix Master Ice and Jerry Powell) to create an intimate and soulful experience for guests.

The entire event was expertly and flawlessly planned with Distinct Event Planning at the helm. Having owner Lucretia Williams take care of all the details allowed Angela to be a host without stressing. Their luxe invitation suite was custom designed by LePenn Designs. It was a black and white set that had a hidden strip of hot pink along the edge of the invitation. This same pop-of-color accent was carried into the reception florals with a hot-pink orchid placed on every charger.

Prema Designs knocked it out of the park with the reception tablescapes. Everything was so lush and alive. The head table featured cascading Lilies and greenery at different heights adorned with candles. Textured linen layers were paired with sparkly chargers, velvet napkins, and centerpieces that resembled trees.

More than anything this wedding was filled with joy. Since Angela and Eric were practically a married couple anyways, it was a fun and beautiful celebration where they were able to honor their love for each other in front of the people that mean the most to them.

Additional vendors:

Groom’s Suit: Indochino
Groom’s Shirt: Armani
Groom’s Shoes: Donald J. Pilner
Bride’s Dress: La Jeune Mariee Bridal
Bride’s Shoes: Vera Wang
Bride’s Hair: KiEssence Grande Beauty & Barber
Bride’s MUA: SC Defined
Cake: Kennedy’s KAKES

Franklin Park Engagement

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Welcome to today’s Franklin Park engagement post! This is Angela and Eric, and they are getting married in less than two weeks so it’s time to celebrate!

I loved every single second of our time together. Angela and Eric had me smiling and laughing so much my face hurt. If there’s one way to my heart, it’s through humor and these two brought it. Not only were they fun to be around, but their sense of style was incredible. I am all about photographing a flowy colorful dress any time I get the chance, so Angela’s dress had me doing a little happy dance.

These two met me at Franklin Park Conservatory for their engagement shoot. This is also where they’re going to be getting married, so I tried to keep them in different areas than they will be for their wedding so their two collections have ample variety. Everything from start to finish was so effortless. It makes me so excited to get them back in front of the camera this month. They will say their “I do’s” in the bride garden at the conservatory, which might be one of my favorite spots. Keep your eyes peeled for their stunning wedding! XO Jess

Franklin Park Community Garden Engagement

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In honor of their micro wedding last week, I am so excited to share Kaitlin and Andrew’s Franklin Park Community Garden Engagement today on the blog. Kaitlin and Andrew are two people that I could easily spend every day around. They are kind, laid back, and pretty much amazing in every way. Together, they are so cute and loving. Truly- these two fill my heart.

We started our shoot on a bright and sunny day down at the Scioto Mile. How cute is it that they both wear glasses? There were many snuggles and smiles under the warm sun that day.

From the city backdrop, we ventured over to the Franklin Park Community Garden to continue the shoot. Like always, the gardens were immaculate and pristine. I am an amateur gardener and it is my goal to have a garden even a fraction as beautiful as this someday. Some of my favorite photos from the day were taken under the ivy-covered arbor. In the next couple of months, I will be sharing Kaitlin and Andrew’s micro wedding that happened a couple of weeks ago. The day was absolutely perfect and I can’t wait to show them off some more!

Franklin Park Palm House Wedding Photos

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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

Columbus Ohio Engagement Shoot at Franklin Park Conservatory

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One of the things I love most about being around Terri and Liza is they act like a new couple even though they’ve been together for years. Both of their faces just light up when they see each other. To have such a palpable love I think is pretty rare. It also made photographing them extremely easy.

We shot their engagement session at the Community Garden at Franklin Park Conservatory on the most beautiful September evening when the golden sun was low in the sky. The warm glow of the universe only made Terri and Liza that much more beautiful together. A couple of weeks later, these two tied the knot in an intimate German Village ceremony which I will blog about in the weeks to come. Until then, I hope you enjoy these as much as I did taking them! XO Jess

PUBLISHED- Sweetened & Romantic

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Rachel and Andrew’s stunning spring wedding has been published today on Sweetened and Romantic along with my write-up about their wedding day! Check it out here:

Andrew + Rachel | Ohio Conservatory Wedding | Real Wedding

Franklin Park Wedding

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Rachel and Andrew had a stunning spring wedding, with some awesomely memorable moments in tow. While Rachel was just about to put her dress on, the fire alarms at the Hilton Downtown Columbus went off. Everyone was evacuated to the lobby. Luckily, Rachel’s mother brought the champagne and there were fire drill cheers in the lobby to pass the time, as well as views of very handsome firemen (but that’s neither here nor there- just thought it was worth noting lol). After about 15 minutes, all was cleared and they were allowed to go back to their room. Best part about it, we were still on schedule!

Rachel was an absolute dream in her LaJeune Mariee dress. It was soft and flowy, and she reminded me of the most elegant ballerina. The entire wedding took place at the Franklin Park Conservatory on the most perfect of days in late April. They did a first look in a side garden that could have rivaled any Tulip farms in Holland. Ironically, the tulip colors were the same colors of the wedding party, so to say it was meant to be was an understatement. Bursts of wind made for the cutest facial expressions when Rachel’s veil was blown up.

Rachel and Andrew were wed in the Bride’s garden on the side of the conservatory grounds. While it is an intimate space, it is fit for royalty, especially in the spring. From there, guests were treated to delicious food, amazing dessert from Alice’s Piece of Cake (so far, my fav. cake of the year!), and dancing to amazing music provided by DJ Ryan Smith. I love Ryan’s setup, because it comes with lights, and be sure to ask him about his EPIC display for Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy”. It blew my mind. *Poof!* I hope you love these photos half as much as I loved taking them. Thank you so much for such an unforgettable day! XO Jess

Wells Barn Wedding

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Gah this wedding! Eye candy overload! Everywhere you looked, it was a photographers dream! And that’s no surprise- Alex and Shannon have a raw and passionate thirst for creativity that they share. This was my second-to-last wedding from last year, so I’m excited to say with the next wedding I post I’ll have blogged all of my 2016 wedding- and it didn’t take me until 2018 to do it! *Pats self on back*.

Shannon’s Ramona Keveza wedding gown was form fitting with lace overlay details. It couldn’t have been a more perfect dress for her, the wedding or the wedding location. I’ve seen fake “styled” wedding shoots that couldn’t even touch the continuity of this actual wedding.

The ceremony and reception took place at the brand new Well’s Barn at the Franklin Park Conservatory. The barn itself is warm and grand. It was designed for events so It has everything you could ever want, including rooms for getting ready and a built-in bar. The backyard of the barn was where the ceremony took place on a perfect cool early October evening.

Alex and Shannon did a “first look” before their ceremony. This allowed us to walk the grounds of the conservatory and take some time to get some jaw-dropping photos. Franklin Park has truly taken their facility to the next level in recent years. I also have a new appreciation for the extent of their landscaping skills now that I’m a homeowner and can’t even keep the grass on my front lawn alive.

The wedding florals were provided by Jona Gantner and the were a dream next to the bridesmaids’ pastel neutral flowy dresses. The bridal party was so much fun and laid back which was fantastic, because there were 16 of them! The ceremony was intimate and conducted by two members of their bridal party. After the ceremony, guests were treated to an outdoor cocktail hour under a bistro-lit side garden.

The reception was accented with succulents as take-away gifts. The groom made a video that played during their first dance. It showed the adventures and love they share for each-other. The night continued with some amazing dancing, lots of laughs and some fantastic cake provided by Carol Krieg. I’m so excited to show off this wedding. I hope you love it and thanks again to Shannon and Alex for an unforgettable evening! XO Jess

Franklin Park Wedding

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Welcome to the new year! While we get our feet wet in 2017, I just want to revisit the rest of my weddings from 2016 that deserve their time in the spotlight! Today on the blog, I’m so excited to show you photos from Jon and Kasia’s late July wedding. You may recognize them from their engagement shoot that was on the blog earlier last year which can be seen here. Their beloved doggie Michi was back as a part of the wedding party too!

Jon and Kasia got ready and had their first look at the downtown Columbus Hilton. There are literally a million creative angles than can be taken advantage of in this space. Kasia’s Allure dress softly flowed behind her, making every space she entered seem more elegant and grand. Her outfit was accented with shoes from Pink Paradox London. The bridesmaids wore neutral soft pink and tan tones accented with bouquets from Hilliard Floral Design. Jon was looking dapper with a Tux from Joseph Abboud.

From the Hilton we ventured over the the Franklin Park Conservatory where their ceremony and reception would take place. They were predicting rain, but if memory serves me correct, it didn’t rain one drop- it was actually one of the more beautiful days for an outdoor wedding all summer. My favorite part of their ceremony was their commitment ceremony. They took a young tree, added soil from both of their family’s homes, and watered it with a pitcher of water together as a couple. They were then going to plant that tree in their yard.

On a personal note, I have to thank Jon and Kasia. They have proven themselves time and time again to be some of the sweetest people I’ve ever met in my entire life, hands down. They go out of their way to send a note of thanks or loving gifts to our son who, as you may know, was quite the warrior last year. They have meant so much to our little family and have definitely been a shining ray of sunshine on our lives over the past year.

Franklin Park Conservatory Wedding

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I’m slightly obsessed with this wedding. First of all, Christel and Brett are two of the sweetest, most down to earth people I’ve ever met. Second, they’re seriously smart. They are both in the medical field and created a colorful, medical themed wedding. A medical themed wedding you ask? Yes…just wait till you see how expertly done it was! And third- the color overload at this wedding was spectacular! I loved everything from start to finish, especially the hot pink and vibrant oranges.

Their ceremony was held at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in downtown Columbus. This was the third wedding I’ve photographed there, and each and every time it feels like the first. The entire building takes your breath away when you walk in. Vaulted ceilings, rustic stone, and resonating acoustics all make for the perfect wedding backdrop. Christel and Brett decided to have a first look in the court yard outside the church, which is an intimate and private place to see each other for the first time on the wedding day. It was so much fun to see Brett’s reaction to her stunning dress.

After the ceremony, it was important to the bride and groom to stop on OSU’s campus on the way to their reception, which was held at the Franklin Park Conservatory Palm House. It was, however, game day. Traffic was backed up for miles, but we were all determined to get Christel and Brett a wedding day photo in the exact spot they met- their OSU dorm lobby. On the way there, we passed a few tailgates and one was more than willing to make an awesome wedding photo with them!

At the reception, Jan Kish entertained everyone by sabering a bottle of Champagne to get the party started. She also crafted the amazing DNA-inspired cakes that were both stunning and delicious! Cheers to Christel and Brett and a huge thank you for including us in your day!

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