This is my last blog post for a 2016 session – can’t wait to show you all the springtime goodness on the blog in the upcoming weeks. But let’s flashback now to the beautiful fall! Donna and Tim used to live down by the Scioto Mile, so we decided it would be the perfect place to do photos. The foliage around the area is perfection in the late fall. These two were so relaxed and naturally just laughed with each-other in front of the camera. Thank you so much to Donna and Tim for having me with you on this perfect day! XO Jess
Molly and Eric met me out on a very cold and windy day last fall right at the cusp of winter. The cold breeze made for some beautiful photos, as they were both trying to stay warm snuggled against each other. Little did I know at the time those photos of kisses and warm looks were backed with a story of deep love and personal triumph.
Molly could quite possibly be one of the brides I talk to my husband about the most. I am friends with her on facebook, and every time she posts something, it makes me more in-awe of what a powerhouse she is. For example, she just ran a 1:22 half marathon. For people who run those, you’ll know that’s a time worthy of a Runner’s World magazine story. She can also run a full marathon in less than 3 hours and recently finished 4th at the Glass City Marathon. We’ll just say those aren’t even her biggest victories!
Thank you so much Molly and Eric for having me with you at your engagement session and I can’t wait for your August wedding! XO Jess
Erin and David both have a fun and energetic aura that follows them. It can’t be explained any other way. I think they are the perfect couple. Since our first meeting, which left me laughing so hard I was crying, I hoped beyond hoped they would have me to document their wedding and engagement…and I won the lottery, because as luck would have it, this September I’ll be with them!
Last fall, we traveled around German Village on quite possibly one of the prettiest days of the year, and laughed, and cuddled, and laughed some more. And when I say “we”, I mean them, of course. That would be weird if I cuddled with my clients. I think my coffee kicked in. I digress.
One of the things I love most about being a photographer is meeting all the wonderful people and hearing about their diverse backgrounds, cultures, and life experiences. The fact that I love meeting new people almost comes as ironic, because I’m not particularly fond of small talk or disingenuous conversations. When I find people who are like that as well, it almost feels like something has clicked- like photographing them is super easy at that point. Erin and David were like that for me. It’s hard to explain, but I just feel really lucky they walked through my door. Anyways, I’m rambling. I hope you love seeing these beautiful fall photos now that it’s spring. LOL.
Stefphanie and Sean have known each other since the fourth grade, and as it often happens, life brought them together again. They are now set to get married later this year in an intimate Ohio ceremony. For their engagement shoot, we traveled all around downtown Columbus and captured their love and light for each other. Stefphanie has a knockout smile that will stop you in your tracks and a sense of style to match. Sean has warm and loving eyes…the kind that speak love without saying anything at all. These two share a thirst for life. It’s obvious = from the way the laugh and play with each-other, to the way they reach out and care about the Columbus community at large. Congratulations you two! I am so beyond excited for you both, and while I can’t be with you as you tie the knot, I send all the love in the world. Thank you for this day- it was a definite highlight of my year last year! XO Jess
Jessica and Misti are so laid back, down-to-earth and quick to joke with each-other- From our very first time meeting, I knew I was in like company. Jessica is an avid OSU fan, so we naturally had their engagement shoot on a beautiful fall day last year on campus. It was a Sunday, so everything had already been cleaned up after tailgating and partying, but there was a really cool chalk drawing still right in front of the Stadium. It was a forced perspective drawing, so when you lined up with it just right, it seemed to pop out at you. Because it was fall, all of the bushes were bright red in front of the stadium, not a coincidence I’m sure! All the Buckeye trees were as golden as the afternoon sun. Even though it was the weekend, campus was still somewhat alive, which brought a fun energy to the session. Fall in Ohio is simply the best- I need to get more timely with these blog posts, as it’s totally spring now. I was just so energized by spending time with these two. They are so fun…and I think it’s pretty amazing they even laughed at my stupid jokes. Were they just being nice?
I can’t wait for their wedding later this year. They are so beautiful inside and out. I hope you love these Jess and Misti! XO Jess
AHHHHH, this was the elusive last wedding of my 2016 season. And what a wedding it was! I would call this a New York wedding in Columbus. They pulled out all the stops, including a brand spankin’ new venue, Grandview Yard’s Grand Event Center, which I can’t wait to tell you about.
Jessica and Greg tied the knot in German Village’s St. Leo. I was able to talk to the priest off and on throughout the day, and he was a seriously great guy. I’m not sure why I’m mentioning that, other than the fact it really stood out to me as one of the things that made this wedding so special. Petals and Leaves provided the stunning florals for the whole celebration. The bride was a knockout in a La Jeune Marie Bridal Collection dress. Simply Makeup and Hair put Jess’ whole look together.
From the church we did bridal party photos at Schiller Park. The bridesmaid’s soft blush dresses were the perfect pop of color for the romantic setting. Jessica and Greg were filled with laughter and excitement.
And on to the reception we went. The Grand Event Center is one of Columbus’ newest event venues. It is modern, chic, and very elegant. The ballroom is accented with angled LED tube lights that offer a fun party backdrop. The service is top-notch. This wedding had appetizer stations that consisted of a seafood bar, an sushi and noodle station, antipasto stations, pasta stations, and servers that were walking around with other mouth watering treats. Everywhere you looked, the evening was overflowing with impeccable details, food and entertainment. A live band, the Red Hot Rhythm Review had everyone out of their seats and dancing even before the dinner started! Thank you so much for having me document this day- it was one I will always remember! XO Jess
So I totally lied on my last post- THIS wedding was my second to last wedding from 2016. And HOLY SMOKES what a wedding this was! It’s even been featured on Fab You Bliss last month.
Amanda and Aaron are anything but traditional. When it came to their wedding, the same held true. Unique details like succulent bouquets provided by Lynette Higginbotham of Madison House Designs and a non- traditional line up of music for the wedding and first dance (Game of Thrones theme song and “Ride, Ride Little Sebastian” for the first dance….sung by Chris Pratt, and when he was informed they danced to it at their wedding, Chris re-tweeted their wedding video). The wedding and reception were held at Vue, columbus’ unique warehouse meets loft venue. Between the two, photos were taken around the city of Columbus, and we were able to take advantage of the changing fall leaf colors. Mostly the couple wanted to celebrate at the bar with their friends between the ceremony and reception, which provided ample opportunity to highlight what meant most to this couple- their friendships and being in the moment. Amanda is a graphic designer, so all the invitations, signage and even coozies were designed by her for their event. Val Semick, the wedding coordinator, was the glue that held it all together. And the night wouldn’t be complete without a little sugar- a stunning cake provided by Alice Dreischarf, of Alice’s Piece of Cake. Thank you so much Amanda and Aaron- thank you for being true to yourselves, thank you for having me with you on your wedding day, and especially thank you for being awesomely awesome in every way! XO Jess
OK YES! I’m so excited to be writing about this wedding today. You might remember these two from their amazing engagement shoot posted earlier last year here. Holy heck that was a fun day. These two have killer personalities and I feel so lucky to have spent their wedding day with them among family and friends.
The entire wedding and reception took place at Tartan Fields, a stunning country club with landscapes that would make you weep. Ok, not really- but it was really quite perfect.
Their ceremony took place indoors in a beautiful room that had lots of natural light and towering ceilings. It felt like the room was giving you a hug. The front altar was adorned with white sheer drapes that were uplit a soft pink. Colleen’s Trousseau gown had layers and layers of magical perfection that floated away from her as she walked. My favorite part of the service was their commitment ceremony. Instead of just lighting a unity candle, they had everyone hold an individual candle- a beautiful way to include the guests in their commitment to one another.
The reception was held in a grand tent on the back lawn. When you walked in, the first thing you would probably notice was the opulent flower chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Petals & Leaves florist really outdid themselves with this one. The cake table was a site for sore eyes if you’re either a Michigan or an Ohio State fan, as this is a house divided and both were represented in their full glory with cakes from Alice’s Piece of Cake. As speeches were given, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. And then the real fun started- what an amazing party this was, including but not limited to Andy’s incredible garter lap-dance. Lol! I wish I could have just moved my stuff into this tent Billy Madison style and lived in it- it was SO beautiful. Colleen and Andy, a heartfelt thank you for having me with you on your wedding day. XO Jess
I was so excited when I added Chelsie and Drew to my 2016 lineup a few months before their wedding. Even though it happened to rain on their wedding, it was still the perfect day to get married, and it also happened to be my 35th birthday! It’s like an out-of-body experience realizing I’m that old…I mean young? Either way, I got to eat cake which is what was really important. When I got home from the wedding that night, my brother, who had been vacationing in Africa, flew in to surprise me and was waiting with huge open arms when I got there. It was basically the perfect day.
Anyways, funny story- Chelsie is officially one of the bravest brides I’ve met! She bought her designer wedding gown online, sight unseen, never tried it on…and it fit like a glove. Not only did it fit, it was just stunning. I could not get enough of the back’s transparent details and beautiful buttons that followed from her low back up to her neck.
They were wed in a little church in Urbana, Ohio followed by a reception that was held in a friend’s barn. Chelsie told me that the barn was not in any way a venue, so they took a lot of time and elbow grease to get it into wedding shape. Out in front of the barn was the most beautiful row of pine trees. It honestly looked a little bit like a Christmas Tree Farm, and oh so perfect for photos. Dinner was homemade by the family and served buffet style. It was delicious and so heartwarming to experience how much love was poured into this beautiful event. I can’t thank Chelsie and Drew enough for the honor of being with them on their wedding day. I hope you love these photos! XO Jess
Abby and Justin found quite possibly Ohio’s best kept wedding venue secret. They were just the second or third wedding the Zenner House in Athens, Ohio has ever hosted. The grounds are lush with vibrant manicured gardens, expertly groomed landscapes and stunning vintage details. Exploring the house felt like you were in a dream and behind each door you opened was another beautiful secret room.
Abby and Justin themselves are two of the sweetest and most down-to-earth people you could ever meet. With the stage set, they were married under a tent in the side yard of the house.
We utilized the home’s grounds for the photos of the bridal party and couple. I think at one point I might have actually started drooling looking at the formal rose garden. Just kidding, that would be really creepy to have a drooling wedding photographer.
The reception was under a tent in the front yard and each table was accented with beautiful magenta bouquets and soft purple linens. There was delicious food that included some Indian side dishes, my first non-Indian wedding to serve Indian food (VERY cool!). During the speeches, a huge storm was brewing. The bridesmaids took turns holding each-others dresses down while they spoke. The sky turned so dark and dramatic. Even though the weather during the reception had wind gusts blowing china off the tables, the party never stopped- in fact, it made it all very exciting! I think that’s also a testament to how easy going and awesome this group of people were. Abby just pulled her hair into a braid, and kept dancing in the rain. How amazing IS that!
As quickly as it came, the storm blew through and the party kept going into the night. I’m so excited to finally share this beautiful wedding. A special thank you to Abby and Justin for having me with them on this unforgettable day! XO Jess
