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.
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!
There is no better day than Valentine’s Day to post about this absolutely incredible Columbus Ohio Surprise Proposal from last year.
Emily wrote me and told me she wanted to propose to her girlfriend Sherry. Little did I know I was going to walk into a work of art. Vessel Floral and Events knocked it absolutely out of the park with their rose and candle installation in Due Amici’s event room.
I always get a little nervous for surprise proposals. It feels like I’m waiting for a Jack-In-The-Box to spring out at me. It has to be perfect. And I’d say this ended up being as close to perfect as you can get.
Emily and Sherry were eating lunch right on the other side of the door. Near the end of lunch, Sherry was guided to that very special room and her reaction was just PRICELESS and gave me all the feels. Emily led her to the front of the room where she dropped to one knee and asked Sherry to spend the rest of her life with her. She couldn’t stop laughing and crying and I think the surprise rocked her to her core in the best possible way. There was so much happiness right there at that moment. It was so much fun to watch and document. I couldn’t be more excited for these two and I hope on this special day you’re feelin’ the love, too!
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
Michelle and John are getting married next weekend so I wanted to celebrate by posting their downtown Columbus Engagement. On this day, the weather report called for 100% rain. They wanted to just go for it and see if we could squeeze the session in. When we met up, it was already drizzling. We ran for cover under an overhang at the Ohio Statehouse. And just like that, a few minutes later it cleared up until our session was over, and then it down-poured. It literally felt like something magical had happened.
Their dog Timmy was along for the ride with us and was not camera shy whatsoever. The spring blossoms were out in force and the rain made the colors feel all the more saturated. To say it was beautiful would be an understatement.
Next weekend is going to be so much fun as I watch these two say “I do” at the Grandview Grand Event Center. Little Timmy will even be making an appearance! Check out my Instagram stories @JMillerphotos for a special sneak peek after their wedding!
When the pandemic hit, Brianna and Theo were forced to put their large wedding on hold. However, the couple didn’t want to put their love on hold and decided to move ahead with a Flat 51 microwedding in Columbus, Ohio with only nine of their closest loved ones in attendance.
“Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, we planned to have a traditional wedding with nearly 300 guests in October 2020,” recalls Brianna. “As the pandemic continued throughout spring 2020, we decided to cancel the original wedding and plan a microwedding for September 13, 2020. We decided to change the date to commemorate our dating anniversary in September. Our planner, Lucretia Williams of Distinct Event Planning, guided us in adapting our original vision for a three hundred person wedding to an event for eleven of our closest friends and family. We had two style inspirations, city-chic aesthetic and elements of nature. The freshness and brightness of the greenery contrasted with the minimalism of the white and black.”
The couple’s all-white loft space provided a black slate backdrop to their contemporary wedding which was filled with plenty of greenery, sleek glass accents and pop of jet black. Since so few people were in attendance, the couple even sat everyone at one giant square table for an intimate dinner. “We like a city-chic aesthetic and elements of nature,” says Brianna of what inspired the aesthetic of their wedding at Flat 51 in Columbus, Ohio. “We wanted to bring the freshness and brightness of the greenery to contrast the minimalism of the white and black.
The combination of candles and greenery created a calm and tranquil environment. A simple arrangement of greenery on the wall was the backdrop for the ceremony. The simple touch cemented the city garden feel for the ceremony. Our table decor included candles in votives of various heights, white flowers, black china, and black silverware. When the sunset during dinner, it felt as though we were at an intimate garden dinner party.”
Beyond decor, the couple’s fashion choices for the wedding in Columbus, Ohio, were also uber chic. Brianna rocked a robe with feather trim atop her wedding dress. “I did not want to wear my original wedding dress for the microwedding but I struggled to come up with a different vision,” says Brianna. “I wanted to wear something unique and unexpected. One day about two months before the wedding while standing in a socially distanced line outside the grocery store, the vision for my look hit me. I wanted a look that incorporated elements of my everyday style but was unique for the wedding. I envisioned a simple sheath dress with an elaborate robe over it. I looked endlessly online to find the perfect dress and robe combination. My dress had a simply chic vibe – exactly what I was looking for. The sheath silhouette, mini shoulder pads, and side cutouts exemplified my preference for elevated basics. I wore a sheer white robe with ostrich feather sleeves on top. The ostrich sleeves were the perfect touch to elevate my bridal look. I wore baby’s breath statement earrings to compliment the organic greenery of our decor. I made the bold choice to wear a smokey eye and absolutely loved how Yodit of Amlaz Faces did my makeup. I wore my hair simple and sleek to keep the dramatic focus on my robe’s feather sleeves. I felt like a 70’s ethereal goddess.”
Meanwhile, Theo paired his green suit with a fun floral tie. “After discussing the theme of the micro wedding with Brianna I had an idea of what I wanted to wear. I knew from that day on I wanted to wear a suit that had green in it. My next job was to find the perfect green suit that I would want to wear. I ended up trying out a custom suit company called Indochino. I was able to customize everything I wanted on the suit and even put a monogram ‘TB 9.13.20’ into the suit jacket pocket. I chose peak wide lapels and a wilted chest pocket for the suit jacket. I went back and forth between how many buttons I wanted but I ended up going with a 4 button layout of a double-breasted suit jacket. I had the inside lined with a green tropical print. To complete the outfit I found some brown shoes, a nice white dress shirt with the perfect collar, and a floral tie with a little blue in it to really pop with the green suit,” says Theo of his bold green look. Beyond the couple’s chosen attire being stunning, the anticipation of finding out what Brianna was wearing was particularly memorable for Theo. “For me, the part of the wedding that I anticipated the most was seeing Brianna walk down the aisle. She did everything under the sun to keep me in the dark for what she was wearing,” he recalls. “When she came into view I was stunned. She had never looked better. To this day I am still in shock.”
Looking back on their contemporary green-and-white wedding at Flat 51 in Columbus, Ohio, Theo encourages all current to-be-weds in the throes of wedding planning to “take your time. Be patient. Take time to really bask in the engagement, it goes fast.” Meanwhile, Brianna reflects on how “planning a wedding during the COVID-19 pandemic made us all focus on what matters the most. Although our wedding may not have been our original idea, it was the day of my dreams more than I could have imagined. Our wedding focused on our love for each other and reflected who we are. I had the perfect day.”
Last year, I was so excited to learn that this wedding had been published on the knot!
Sierra and Curtis’s January wedding is proof that a winter wedding doesn’t need to be cold or winter-themed at all. These two had a dream of eloping in a tropical paradise. Unfortunately, COVID stepped in and put their plans on hold. After a lot of debate, they decided they didn’t want to waste another day and they would elope in-town at the next-best location, and have a Cleveland Botanical Garden wedding.
During quarantine, Sierra and Curtis both found a love of plants and everything botanical. Sierra decided to combine this love into her wedding style inspiration. She made her bouquet using live plants from her own collection. After the wedding, she was able to put them back in soil and keep them forever. Sierra also had a unique vision for her wedding dress. She had her favorite plants and pet cats custom embroidered on her top. It was a stunning accent to the Botanical Gardens.
When I met up with them on their wedding day, they were getting ready at a local Cleveland air BNB with all of their closest friends. Sierra was upstairs writing her vows at the same moment Curtis was one floor below her writing his. After vows were written, Sierra and Curtis both met on the third floor of their Air BNB for their first look. She had designed and built a huge faux living wall that read “plant one on me” which was just perfect for their first look backdrop. After some portraits, Sierra wrapped up in her grandmother’s blue fur-lined coat and it was time to go get married!
We strolled the grounds of the Botanical gardens inside and out and got some of my favorite photos from 2021 at my very first wedding of the year! Everything was so laid back, stunning, unique, and authentic. I can’t thank them enough for having me on their special day and I’d like to wish them a very happy FIRST anniversary!
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!
Today’s desert botanical garden engagement is so special to me. When my bestie Jess got engaged, I never thought it would be possible to shoot her engagement photos because she lives on the west coast. Last year, about three weeks before COVID shut the whole world down, we both found ourselves in Arizona for our other bestie’s wedding. I got to spend the day with Jess and Randy doing the thing I love most in life, exploring and photographing.
We started our shoot at the Cub’s spring training field, Sloan Park. Randy is a sports fanatic, but having lived in Chicago myself, I also felt some butterflies when we walked into the stadium. It was incredible to see how huge the facility was! In my mind, I thought a spring training facility would be small, but it was about the size of the Columbus Clipper’s stadium if not bigger.
From the ballpark, we went to the desert botanical gardens just as the sun was dipping in the sky. The very first thing I did was step on a cactus, and I was wearing sandals. I can’t even describe to you how painful that was and how stupid I felt. I also couldn’t stop laughing at the thought of me leaving a trail of blood behind me. Anyways it was totally worth it because the lighting, the gardens, and Jess and Randy were too perfect for words. It was an amazing day that I will remember forever. Congratulations are also due to this couple, as they eloped in California late last year! I love you to the moon, Jess! XOXO Jess squared.
Today’s North 4th Corridor Wedding is simply put, phenomenal. When your bride is also a wedding planner, no stone will be left unturned.
Kendra is the master of everything events for Tartan Fields. She and Jacob actually met at work, where he used to teach golf lessons. Ever since I did their engagement shoot, I knew this wedding was going to be special. To know Kendra is to also know her love of travel, and more specifically, her love of France. It was no surprise her wedding was oozing with Parisian romance from top to bottom.
The moment I walked into the Hyatt suite downtown, I saw THE dress! The most beautiful custom pink gown that not just anyone could pull off. To match, not just any shoes would do. Stunning soft pink Christian Louboutin heels sat on the shelf in all their glory. Call me sheltered, but I’d never seen Louboutins in real life before. For me, it was like meeting a celebrity.
The ceremony took place outside at Brick & Mortar in the North 4th Corridor complex. Candles lit the aisle as the wedding party walked to the front of the courtyard. The sun was low enough in the sky that everything felt very romantic against the soft glow of the candles and the luminance of the hanging bistro lights.
Even though it was a large bridal party, everything felt so effortless and relaxed. I loved watching Kendra and Jacob mingle with their guests. It was very obvious how important everyone in that room was to them.
So without further ado, I preset this exquisite wedding. (This event was pre-COVID)
