Y’all. This summer barn wedding is literally the sweetest. The. Sweetest.
This was the second time I’d stepped foot on the property for wedding purpose. The first? Justin and Rachel’s wedding, the first-ever wedding someone asked to pay me to shoot! Rachel is Ben’s sister!
I just met Megan during the process of capturing their engagement pictures and planning her big day. She has a heart for Jesus and loves Ben so much. We really jived when it came to organizing the big day. I’m all about doing as much as possible to prepare for capturing everything possible on wedding days. She was so game for that. And when we sat down to reveal photos to her after their honeymoon, she was just a delight to talk to. (I mean, it totally helped that Ben had to run home and turn off the stove! Ha!) That bothered me zero because I’m a quality time kinda girl, so that time talking was a sheer pleasure.
But I’ve known Ben since what feels like forever. But, actually, I met him at his sister’s wedding. And then his mom hired me to get his and his twin sister’s senior pictures. That was back when Ben had a full head of hair! And then he attended OSU when I helped The Hunk as he served as pastor for an on-campus church; Ben went to our church at the beginning of his time at OSU. Ben, I think you’ve appeared on my blog more than any other person! Congrats on such an impressive accomplishment!
I can’t get over how much generosity surrounded this wedding. Their wedding was held at the Blessing Barn on the grounds at RC Enterprises. It is typically an office, but they use it to bless people from time to time; isn’t that sweet? And Ben’s family absolutely loves. loves. loves. cooking for others. They cooked the food all morning for the reception. Ben, himself, loves to cook for others. It’s one of the things that Megan loves about Ben. It’s how he celebrates: cooking for others.
Ben and Megan’s day was dry! …but windy. But, when you have a windy day, you werk it.
Luckily, the guys aren’t really affected by wind.
And the made it look like the best. day. ever.
The daddy’s girl in me will never ever ever be sad to orchestrate a father’s first look. Megan’s dad was so nervous before we did the reveal. And he cried. Like. A. Daddy. This moment was presh. I literally tear up when I see these pictures. What a special bond these two have. You can see it all over their faces.
Ben and Megan also read letters and prayed together without seeing one another before the ceremony. These two.
They took turns reading their letters to one another and then prayed together. They were nervous, excited, and nervous. But still so confident and ready to get going.
If there’s one thing that a marriage cannot have enough of, it’s prayer. (And that other thing.) But prayer is clearly the foundation upon which these two are building their marriage.
I will never ever ever not join in during ceremony worship songs. Promise.
There’s no much better than a wide, open, midwestern sky combined with a married couple’s first kiss!
And the same can be said for the second kiss!
Special thanks to The Hunk for suggesting this sweet pair of pictures.
Megan said she was eyeing a field of yellow flowers. I suspected it was the same yellow-flowered field I passed on the way in. It was!
Then we moved onto the reception. Which means cake. This cake, specifically.
Okay, seriously. These ladies, hands down, had the mosts clever, genuine, and lovely bridesmaids toast ever. They literally made toast. For everyone in the bridal party. Like, freal. I was rolling!
And Ben and Megan danced with their parents.
…and then they danced with one another. I love it when the couple sings to one another during the first dance. So. So. Sweet.
I grabbed them just before sunset to grab these sweet little diddies. What a beautiful sunset! (And couple!)
Ben and Megan were my final couple to let me create a fun highlight film for their big day. I set it to their first dance song. I think all of us cried a little while we watched in our reveal session. Love these moments!
Ben and Megan,
Keep learning about one another. Keep pressing into Jesus together as you grow together. You will undoubtedly keep being surprised about how much you’re learning about one another. Enjoy it! Enjoy the good food you’re bound to eat for the rest of your lives, the silliness, the adventures, and the challenging seasons that will make you better. Sharpen one another. And love one another, even when you don’t feel like it.
Love,
Rebecca
When Brian asked me to capture his rustic winter wedding, I felt completely honored. And as the details of this day rolled out, my excitement mounted. Then, when I arrived on the scene… Boom. Check it.
That’s right: a pink church. My. Dream. A pink church complete with a church bell.
I was genuinely overwhelmed by the simple beauty of this church. Stained glass windows. Gas lights. That’s right, old-fashioned gas lights. Wooden benches.
This place was a dream. And Caitlyn from Ohio History was a delight to work with. She was incredibly friendly and warm and showed me around the place with pride–like she owned it, or something.
And the grounds were classic. The Ohio Village hosts events all year round. I loved exploring this little plot of historical grounds.
Brian and Chayanne’s taste in flowers had me drooling. It really was the perfect blend of classy, genuine, and understated. As I get to know Chayanne more, I can tell that this reflects who she is.
Speaking of Chayanne. Isn’t her dress just perfect? She’s beautiful!
Brian and Chayanne met online and dated internationally. They only met in pereson a couple of extended times during their courtship. Chayanne moved from the Philipines just weeks before their wedding; she lived in Dubai when they met, then she moved to the Philipines after they were engaged as she prepared to move here. Whew! What a story! …and what a globetrotter these two are!
Now, combine her beauty and grace with this stunning location. Boom.
Chayanne perfectly matches the location for her big day.
And, Brian, if you’re reading this… wow. Are you kidding me? If I may say to you in the most sisterly way possible: You look so handsome. And happy. And confident.
Handsome Brian is also a romantic! He surprised Chayanne with a sweet note. She read it before the ceremony. While she didn’t read it out loud, I know she was touched because she had sweet tears in her eyes. Is sweet the theme of this day? I think so!
Chayanne and Brian orchestrated a beautiful blend of the two of them. Traditions from the Philipines combined with traditions from America were so special. For instance, Chayanne walked halfway down the aisle herself; her parents joined her–yes, both of them–at that point and walked her the rest of the way. She says that’s how they do it in her home country. How interesting!
I almost lost it when Brian spoke his vows to Chayanne. And, actually, she did lose it. She used a few tissues under that veil. It was a sweet and tender moment.
I have done over 20 weddings at this point and pretty much every time, you will spot a groom do this.
Brian didn’t even wait until the ceremony was over! He was so excited to have that ring on his finger.
Can we just drool over this church one more time? I mean… let’s just thank Jesus this place exists. Take your time.
And check out that last picture. I tried a new thing. I kinda dig it. What do you think of the reflection? Distraction or kinda cool?
If I recall, Brian and Chayanne were the first ever of my couples who had a veil to lift before the first kiss. How classic!
I like to tell my couples that the best part of the day is right after they’ve been pronounced husband and wife and leave the ceremony. There’s always so much joy, relief, and excitement all rolled into one!
And who doesn’t like a good wedding bell-ringing!?
I’m so thankful to Jesus above for stained glass windows and His sun shining through them. It. Was. Perfect. Brian and Chayanne’s post-ceremony snuggle time was short, sweet, and probably my favorite ever. Seriously. Look at them!
Brian and Chayanne had their reception at Griggs Boathouse.
And you know what? I just realized… I’ve totally neglected to tell you just how frigidly cold this day was. Seriously.
It. Was. Freezing.
And these two were champs! We went down by the water to grab a few shots before we skedaddled into the boathouse. Can you even tell these two are fa-fa-fa-fa-freezing!?
Now, here’s the important stuff: The desserts. Check out this cake by Short North Piece of Cake. It’s gorgeous and boy was it yummy!
Also, the groom’s dad totally made all of the macarons. AND AND! (I’m getting excited here!) it was the first time he’d ever made them. Ever! Can you even believe that? Isn’t that a brave thing to do!? Make macarons for your son’s wedding when you’ve never made them before!?
Also, it was the first time I’d ever tasted one. De. Lish. Delicious. Yum. Yes. More, please.
I love these sweet moments from the first dances. And a daytime wedding at Griggs Boathouse means so. much. light. Yesss.
I’ll say it again: I love wedding cake cutting that involves sweet feeding moments. I’m all for silliness and being funny, don’t get me wrong, but there’s something special about a newlywed couple who serves one another sweetly. Amirite?
Chayanne’s brother gave the kindest, most loving speech at their reception. What a good brother! And Corey spoke of Brian’s character. I mean, I’m just going to say it: so. much. love.
Brian and Chayanne played a rousing shoe game after dinner. I love the reactions on their faces. Brian was trying to peek during the game! And sometimes, you just know when you know, right?
This was truly a day for the books.
Brian and Chayanne,
Lean on the Lord and into one another as you transition into life together. The Lord will fight for you. And, I hope this goes without saying, The Hunk and I are here for you, cheering you on! We know that your commitment to one another will stand the test of time when you have Jesus in the center of your lives.
Love one another, even when you don’t feel like it.
So. Much. Love.
Rebecca
PS: Does anyone recognize this cutie? I shot her parents’ wedding! I’m continually baffled at how my friends’ kids can look like both of the parents. It’s miraculous!
My junior bridesmaid got married! What!? Just a few years ago (okay, nine!), she was this cutie as my junior bridesmaid in my wedding:
I’ve known Michaela for most of her life; I first met her when her mother gave me piano lessons. Michaela was about 3 or 4. I’ll tell you about these two more. Just keep reading.
This wedding particularly geeked me out because they got married at Franklin First United Methodist Church. Why is that a big deal? Well, it’s a historical landmark: Johnny and June Cash got married there!
It was a perfect fall weekend in southern Kentucky. The Hunk and I stayed one exit south of the church, in Tennessee. We had a blast with the Air BnB hosts who loved hearing our stories of shooting weddings. Actually, I kinda want to go stay with them again. (Sidenote: The Hunk and I didn’t expect to be sharing their space; we expected to have our own place! It’s another funny story we got to add to our wedding shooting ventures! They have two Air BnBs: a room and a cottage. I recommend them!)
Anyway, the inside of the church was a treasure. The pipe organs! Johnny Cash memorabilia! Flowers! Windows through which to peek into the sanctuary. The Hunk and I could’ve spent about all day taking pictures of the details in this classic church.
Michaela’s ladies were seriously incredible! I love these moments with her mother, one of my favorite people in God’s whole created world, Melinda. (A little more about Melinda? I first met Melinda as Mrs. Morgan. Think about that. Yep, she was my teacher! She was my high school math teacher; God’s providence placed her in my life at the single most pivotal stages of my life and I can’t imagine where I’d be had He just given me a teacher who didn’t have a heart for Jesus who would be a faithful woman of God to me right when I needed it most. I could write pages about this, but I’ll spare you, for now!)
Once she got her dress on, Michaela was hit by the reality of the moment. There were tears and there was laughter and then mamma tied the bow on the back of the dress. And then there was a moment when Michaela was overcome and missing her great-grandpa, the most beloved grandpa there ever was. It was a special moment.
Michaela’s ladies were so full of surprises. They made her a book full of memories, including some from her bachelorette party and other sentimental moments. Again, there were tears and laughter!
Michaela’s details were classy and happy and had just the right amount of glimmer!
I may have a little bias, but I think Michaela makes an insanely gorgeous bride. Those flowers? Perfect! That smile? So genuine.
Michaela and Ben had their first look on the square facing the church. Loving that old, small town charm!
When the sweetest Grandma ever sees her granddaughter in her wedding dress, this is basically the sort of face she makes. And then she hugs her heartily! If you ever meet Melinda’s mother, you’ll know exactly where she learned to love others fiercely.
Those sweet bridesmaids strike again with another sweet surprise. This time, it’s literally sweet. Any sensible bride can’t walk down the aisle without enjoying a Coke with her gal pals!
These two ladies. I don’t even have words for their sweetness. Melinda and Kathy became friends around the time Melinda and her husband moved to pastor Kathy’s church. They’ve been inseparable pretty much ever since. There’s not a duo more powerful than these two: God-fearing, genuinely loving, immensely helpful. I wish I could adopt them as official aunts, or something.
I love everything about this ceremony. Michaela’s grandpa began the ceremony; he said, “Michaela, you have never looked more beautiful than you do today.” So. Much. Love.
Michaela and Ben took communion together and their families served communion to their guests.
While guests took communion, Michaela and Ben shared some words with one another privately. We couldn’t hear what they shared with one another, but, again, there were definitely heartfelt words shared on both parts.
And, just like that, they are married!
We grabbed a few moments of them together before heading to the reception.
And, Michaela’s ladies surprised her again with a sweet video; Michaela and Ben worked together to serve children in Haiti. Some of those they worked with and served sent their video greetings to begin their reception. Seriously: It was incredibly sweet. And then the best man and two maids of honor did their speech thang.
While people ate, The Hunk did his magic; he caught these fabulous ring shots.
So, they cut the cakes.
And did the dancing.
After everyone danced the night away, Michaela and Ben had this gorgeous sparkler exit, got in his truck, and drove away, husband and wife.
Just like John and Bethany, Michaela and Ben let me practice film-making on their big day. I know I’m going to keep getting better and better at film-making! I’ve learned so much.
Michaela and Ben,
Grow with the Lord; let Him teach you as the two of you grow together in Him. And love one another, even when you don’t feel like it. And seek His wisdom, grace, and love. Serve others but also serve one another. I can’t wait to watch the two of you change the world for Christ.
So. Much. Love.
Rebecca
Yep, that was the start of their journey to their beautiful Pennsylvania Church Camp wedding in October.
Now, you may be thinking, “Rebecca, that was ages ago.”
Yes, it was. I know. I’m working to get caught up on blogging, okay? Okay. Over this past school year, I shot four–yes FOUR–weddings. I loved every second of it, but I didn’t get to blog about it because, well, that pesky full-time job thing. Thanks for your understanding.
On a side note, John and Bethany’s wedding was my first ever wedding in Pennsylvania, the fourth state added to the list of states where I’ve shot weddings.
Mt. Olivet Campgrounds is where we host our scene. This church camp is where John spent much of his childhood, creating memories.
John was one of our students when The Hunk and I were pastoring on campus. He transferred back home to PA after a couple of years of college, finished up his degree there, and is now doing what he loves! During the reception, his mother told us the story of John’s difficult decision to transfer; she’s so proud of him her face was beaming!
And ya’ know, I can’t help but love working with a groom who is absolutely enamored of his bride! The guys were fun, too.
While I already knew John, I loved getting to know Bethany as we prepared for her wedding day. She’s full of grace and poise. She laughs at John’s jokes and values who John truly is. In my opinion, this speaks volumes about who Bethany is as a woman of God and I just know she’s an amazing wife to John!
I’ve never met a groom who tells me that his favorite part of being engaged and wedding planning is choosing the flowers! John surprised Bethany with her bouquet; she had no idea what to expect. He definitely delivered! The details of their wedding were so perfectly reflective of John and Bethany as a couple: a combination of bright and understated.
While the groom calls Pennsylvania home, he roots for Ohio State hardcore. The bride, however, joins me in the quest never to root for that red school. Along with most of the people in the area, she roots for Penn State. The guys decided to make her part of her worst nightmare; she had no clue…
So, John and Bethany said, “I do” at John’s childhood church camp. The simplicity was perfect and God was there.
Mr. and Mrs. John and Bethany Crosson! They’re married!
We found the cutest meadow on the campgrounds to steal away and get John and Bethany together. I think these moments are some of my faves of the day.
John and Bethany had their reception at the Whispering Pines Estate, a gorgeous space with seriously sweet people who carted us around and generally took great care of us.
The groom’s sister took care of their cake. He only sort of knew what was coming…
Penn State colors!
These two danced the night away with their friends and family.
Finally, the four of us stole away just before The Hunk and I took off and grabbed this sweet snap. I’ll never get tired of creating these sparkler writing pictures. Ever.
The most amazing part of this day had nothing to do with the bride or the groom or their friends or families. Instead, the real MVP is The Hunk. You see, I pulled out my back the night before the wedding. Like, big time. The Hunk did all of the bending down for me. He picked up and held the reflector when I asked and made me go to Walgreens to get IcyHot patches and bringing me more painkillers at the reception. When I met with John and Bethany to reveal their images, I told them and they were surprised!
And, on top of all of that, I surprised John and Bethany with the highlight video below. Bethany definitely cried when she watched it. What do you think? I’d like to start offering these to my future clients.
John and Bethany, it was such a joy to be with you as you started your life together. I can not imagine a Pennsylvania church camp wedding as marvelous as yours.
Love one another, even when you don’t feel like it.
I just know that your lives together will be a fabulous reflection of the joy of Christ. Continue leaning into Christ, reading books by wise Christ-followers, and seeking wisdom from those around you who emulate Christ in their own marriages.
Because I believe in them, I want to throw my three big pieces of advice to you:
Love one another, even when you don’t feel like it. Because we all get tired, irritated, and busy. But even during those moments, love one another.
Fight for “we” instead of “me.” Because conflict is part of a healthy marriage, make sure that in every disagreement, the end goal is to grow closer together, stronger together.
Outdo one another in love. Because you can never love one another too much in a marriage. You can never do too much to make your marriage the best, most Christ-loving pair in the history of love.
“Forever is not long enough.” Bob is such a romantic, right? I was fortunate enough to attend the rehearsal for Bob and Lara. I said to him, “Tomorrow, you get to start forever with Lara!” And “Forever isn’t long enough” was his response. How sweet! Bob and Lara are so totally in love and I am honored to have had a front seat to their big day.
Bob and Lara: Love Never Fails
Bob hails from the west coast and Lara is a native of Illinois. Both of them landed, professionally, here in Columbus. Bob’s first words to Lara were “I hope I don’t stink!” And, as they say, everything from then on out is history!
I love the sentimental and beautiful details of the day. See the purse in Lara’s hands? Her family sent off both her mom’s wedding dress and his mom’s wedding dress to someone one Etsy; they took some fabric from each and made it into this lovely purse! I love it!
Lara had so many capable hands to help her get ready. And, seriously, her bridesmaids were the best at doting over her. I loved ever second of this!
And these two groups were fun, despite the heat!
I loved the cufflinks these groomsmen wore. On one arm, they had maps of where they are from and on the other, where they were when Bob asked them to be in his wedding! Love!
I melt over the processional at weddings. Don’t you? We knew Bob would cry. Good job to Scott, best man, who had tissues at the ready for Bob!
I love how Christ-centric their ceremony was. I am falling in love with the second kiss–maybe even more than the first kiss.
There’s something about bubbles that brings out our happiest faces, am I right? Seriously, Bob and Lara are thrilled during their bubble exit!
Bob and Lara: Celebrate the Love
Then, we made our way to the Franklin Park Conservatory for the rest of the evening. Lara grabbed a quick and gorgeous shot with her fave ladies! I love these girls!
And we spent some time with just Bob and Lara, grabbing some pictures of these lovey-dovey newlyweds before we went in for the ultra-fun reception.
I love dinner time at the reception because it gives me a chance to sit down, eat, run through my checklist, and grab more detail shots. Between the ceremony and the reception, details were classy–not overstated. What a classy day, Bob and Lara! I think flowers are the most foundational element of the decor of the day. These white roses, provided by Madison House Designs, are the perfect foundation for Bob and Lara’s vows.
Okay, so, no fair: Bob and Lara have a logo! I want a logo! I’m so looking into a couple logo… :) Also, the treats at the reception were delicious! These cupcakes were scrumptious! Carrie’s Sugar Buzz, yes, you rock!
Now, Kari, you totally got Bob in your speech. What a great toast!
Oh, Lara, you are gorgeous! I love the after-speech smooches!
Um, Bob!? You are a dancing machine! Did you get it from your dad? What a fun dance moment!
After all of the fun dancing, we took a quick five minutes to grab this picture, which I love!
Bob and Lara,
Your commitment to one another is unbelievably obvious. I pray God blesses you as you begin your marriage and continues to draw the two of you closer to Him as you practice loving one another and others even more than you already do!
Love,
Rebecca
PS: Here’s a cute kid being entertained during the ceremony:
PSS: Here’s a hunk taking a breather from helping me capture reception moments:
PSSS: Here’s a nerd who took far too many tries to snap a nerdy picture of herself in a mirror:
