John and Ashlee! You’re married! What a fabulous day we had celebrating your love and commitment to one another!
John and Ashlee got married on October 2 in Columbus, Ohio. I’m so pumped to share this beautiful day with you!
Ashlee had a faboulous duo of make-up connoisseur taking care of faces that morning. I loved watching these chicks in action. Great job, ladies!
While the ladies were getting ready, I admired Ashlee’s details of the day.
And the guys were a few floors away chillin’ and watching football.
Dang, John, you can rock a three-piece suit, that’s for sure!
When we moved over to the wedding venue, my hunky assistant and I set up and captured the gorgeous finishing touches. I mean, isn’t Dock 580 just a gorgeous place? I am salivating over the rustic and refined atmosphere they house here.
I love the special moments from the wedding ceremony.
Ashlee’s daughter enjoyed watching Ashlee walk down the aisle. She was so funny! John and Ashlee gave her a special memento signifying that they are not just committing to one another, but to her, as well. She was so mature when she accepted the necklace!
And, just like that, John and Ashlee were pronounced husband and wife!
We escaped the ceremony location for a quickie. Wink, wink.
What a fun–and huge–wedding party! I love when my brides and grooms have an awesome group of friends. Ladies and gentlemen, you were awesome to work with!
I love the beautiful yellow roses of Ashlee’s bouquet. So classy!
But, seriously, folks. Let’s get down to business, here. [No, not to defeat the Huns.]
This. Party.
Seriously.
I love it so much that I pretty much want to share the dedicate the rest of my blog to these fabulous moments.
John and Ashlee enjoyed a beautiful and rockstar first dance to Johnny Cash’s “Rose of My Heart.”
Ashlee danced with her father and John danced with his mother; these dances always make me weepy.
Then, the fabulous Sam Smith, DJ for the evening, rocked out an epic party! Obviously. What fun!
John and Ashlee, thank you so much for trusting me to capture your special day. Love each other always, even if you don’t feel like it.
Love,
Oh my gosh, you guys. You guys! If you’ve met Nikki and Brian, you know they are two of the kindest people you’ve ever met.
I met Nikki and Brian when we had engagement pictures in May. Wow, that seems like just yesterday! Time sure flies! Speaking of fun times, let’s talk about their big wedding day!
We started off my meeting up for a first look and a few portraits at Mt. Airy Forest.
These two seriously have fab-you-liss friends. Check out their wedding party–keep in mind: “party” is the operative word!
When I grabbed Brian for some groom pictures, he was gushing with happiness. He said, “She’s my best friend!” And, if I may tell his little secret: He loved his vest and tie. He said he was going to have to wear vests more often. Hold him to it, people!
Nikki, you are gorgeous! Your makeup was perfect! Beautiful!
Nikki and Brian held their wedding at the Maple Ridge Lodge in Mt. Airy Forest. The sky was completely clear! It was beautiful!
I love seeing a groom’s reaction to seeing his bride. Even though Nikki and Brian had a first look, he was overcome with emotion.
Nikki and Brian had a first for Rejoicing Rebecca weddings: a Canine of Honor! Kona was not happy at the rear of the party, so, mid-ceremony, joined the center of the goins-on with Mom and Dad. What a precious moment! :)
Nikki and Brian love their little Kona baby!
I always love learning more about my couples during the reception. A peep into their lives is, without fail, provided courtesy of the speeches! These two rocked their speeches! Nikki is a rockstar friend and supporter of Brian and Brian is quite literally a rockstar guitar player–even though he wouldn’t pick up my guitar when they came over a couple weeks ago!
I love wedding reception pomp! Speeches, dances, cake-cutting, and tossing of things!
When I met Nikki and Brian for engagement pictures, I learned that we have a mutual friend: Nikki’s brother is dating a former student of mine. Jayme caught the bouquet!
Nikki and Brian, you two threw a smashing reception! Check out this party!
Nikki and Brian, you two are so kind. Love one another, even if you don’t feel like it!
Love,
I. Can’t. Even. Seriously, y’all. I can’t even handle the seriously sweet wedding of Jacob and Emily.
Like, how can I even use mere words to express anything about the day? These two. I just couldn’t hold back the sweet tears when editing their pictures. It. Was. Beautiful.
I love Jacob and Emily.
When I write one-word sentences, you know I mean business. But when I toss out a “y’all,” well, that’s just insanity.
You might remember Jacob and Emily’s sweet proposal and fun engagement pictures. Well, ever since those pictures, I’ve been getting to know these two so much more and they are two of the sweetest and cutest people you’ll ever meet. I’m honored to tell the story of their day, today.
All week long–and for weeks leading up to the week of their wedding–we prayed that it wouldn’t rain on her wedding day. And, thank the Lord Almighty, there wasn’t a speck of rain the whole day.
On the other hand, this is the temperature in the shade.
That’s right. 90 degrees in the shade. The high for the day was about 96 degrees and it was to hit right about ceremony time. Whew!
But there couldn’t be a more perfect scene for this day’s celebration of Christ’s love: Jorgensen Farm.
Jacob and Emily created the most beautiful decor for the day. The decor really spoke of who they are and what they love. Jacob created these beautiful wooden disks for the bunt cakes and carved their awesome hashtag into a log. Jacob, in case you forgot, loves trees. The theme was pulled together with the centerpieces, comprised of hay bales, apples, and a canning jar. Check out the delicious cupcakes by Nothing Bunt Cakes! Yum to the max!
I love when couples send each other gifts and letters on the big day. Jacob proclaimed, “She outdid me!” when he opened his gift: a journal she’d kept since he proposed and a Bible with his name on it. Emily, however, was giddy when she read his sweet letter and opened the ukulele he’d bought her.
I loved the look on Emily’s face when she was finally in her dress. This girl is so classy. I mentioned to the two of them that I don’t know how Emily so wonderfully pulled off cute and sexy. Jacob said he wonders the same thing all the time.
Jacob paid such close attention to detail when rolling up his sleeves. Emily, you’ve got yourself a hunk, right here!
And check out the best buds! You might recognize someone if you follow my blog. Ray was a groom in one of my weddings in 2014; Chris is a groom coming up this winter!
Tied for first is my favorite part of the day. Jacob and Emily had a no-look prayer before the ceremony. I loved this moment; just a piece of wood separated the two of them. They talked, held hands, and prayed.
This was a first for me and I want every bride to do it from now on! Emily had a first look with her dad. It was a presh moment and I held back the tears. She did a little spin for him to take in all the beauty of his daughter, the bride. Father/daughter moments get me every time!
My favorite moment of any wedding without a first look is when the groom sees his bride for the first time. Jacob and Emily did not disappoint.
The ceremony was beautiful. The day was beautiful. I love capturing the shenanigans that the bride and groom can’t possibly know are happening, like the ring bearer, who ran through the aisle at lightning speed, being entertained by family because a wedding was just not his cup of tea.
Also, I love these flowers; Jorgensen Farm also provided the flowers for this beautiful day.
During the ceremony, Emily’s brother spoke while the two of them braided the cord of three strands. Jacob tied a knot at the end. The three strands represent Christ, the bride, and the groom and the braiding of them represent the extent to which the bride and groom will keep Christ at the center of their marriage and the strength of a three-strand cord, which is not easily broken, according to Ecclesiastes 4.12.
On the real: I cannot even handle the look on Jacob’s face when he was told he could now kiss his bride. Emily says he sighed with relief before going in for the first kiss as man and wife. Presh.
And, BAM! They are married! I mean, they seemed a little excited:
I mean, what’s a Rejoicing Rebecca wedding without a jumping picture? On one pic, I had to zoom in with Jacob and Emily–Jacob is rockin’ the toe-touch!
The first thing Jacob learned as a new husband was how to dip kiss his new wife. My hunky husband gave him a free lesson:
I’d say he got the hang of that pretty quickly, wouldn’t you?
Love these two.
Hats off to the best man, Jacob’s brother Lucas, for a sterling speech! “Jacob, you’re [insert all these awesome attributes]… wait, I can’t read your handwriting!” Classic! And I love the sweet cake-cutting moment.
Jacob and Emily danced their first dance to a song I hadn’t heard, but I’ve listened to and cried to it about 24,204 times since: Hey Pretty Girl by Kip Moore.
And Emily rocked the flourish at the end of the dance with her dad.
Jacob’s mother passed when Jacob was still in college; actually, I met Emily at the visitation and knew she was awesome right away. So, this next moment is the tear-jerkingest moment I’ve ever had as a photographer at a wedding. First, he started dancing with his grandmother, then other women from his family took turns interrupting and dancing with him. Emily’s mother was the last to join. Talk about tears. I wasn’t the only one. That was a sweet surprise, Emily!
We had some fun with the guys here. Don’t mind Kim; she’s just a normal, every-day photobomber.
As the evening wound down, we took some time after the end of the reception to do a little of my favorite thing: light painting. We took a short walk from the barn reception and nailed this shot on the second try. Love. It. Seriously.
This day wouldn’t have been possible without this man for a couple of reasons: He’s the officiant and my biggest supporter! Love this hunk and his getup.
He is always helping me practice lighting setups.
Also, without him, I wouldn’t be able to photobomb my own pictures:
Jacob and Emily, I can’t wait to watch you continue to grow in your marriage and I’m so glad we’ve become such good friends! I’m truly honored that you would trust me to remember your day for you. I treasure your trust. Congrats on your holy union!
Love in Christ,
Just a week ago, Gretchen and Wendell got hitched!
I traveled to the beautiful Swasey Chapel on Denison University‘s campus. The bouquets were beautifully done by Bloomtastic.
Ladies and gentelmen, meet Wendell:
Wendell is a rockstar nurse in Cincinnati and a graduate of Denison University; his lovely wife, Gretchen, is also a graduate of Denison University and works in the insurance biz in Cincinnati.
I love the glittery detail in her dress. Breathtaking!
The chapel stage had some nice and used wood flooring for the backdrop of their rings. If you look carefully, you’ll notice “Love” is written on the inside of Wendell’s ring.
If there were ever a wedding that was both simple and sophisticated, these two nailed it. Nailed it! The chapel is so classy and the two kept the ceremony simple and personal. Loved every second of it! See the moment when dad wiped away his tear? That was my teary-eyed moment of the day. Dads get me every time. Every. Stinkin. Time. What a sincerely loving dad you have, Gretchen! But I don’t have to tell you that.
Here comes my favorite part of the day: That moment just after the wedding when the bride and groom have exited the ceremony, are alone, and no one has joined them (except the stealthy photographer). “We’re married! We did it!” Eeeeee! Love it!
And hurricane/tropical storm Bill had started making its way into the Midwest. So, we hurried to grab a few pics of the entire wedding party between the rain drops.
See that hunk with the umbrella? That’s my super-hunky assistant. I pay him in hugs.
To get out of the rain, we retreated to the beautiful chapel and had a little romantic moment and then some fun; Gretchen loved twirling in her dress. Wendell twirled along with. Gotta love a little bride and groom fun between ceremony and reception.
Did I mention reception? I sure did! They danced.
They tossed.
They caught.
They had cake. Check out these cupcakes from The Cupcake Collection. Delicious and beautiful!
Then they danced some more. These, friends, know how to bust a move!
Love forever,
Columbus Wedding and Portrait Photographer
I just got home from the beautiful wedding of Gretchen and Wendell!
I couldn’t wait to show you this fabulous sneak peek from my favorite moment of the day!
This happened just after they exited their ceremony; they are elated!
I can’t wait to show you more, you two love birds!
Enjoy your honeymoon!
Love,
Wow! Time has certainly been just passing me by this fall! It seems like only yesterday I shot this fabulous wedding–but it’s been a month and a half!
Mr. and Mrs. DeMay, you are wonderful! I am so honored to have captured your joyful day and I have loved seeing you happily married since that day!
Here’s a rundown on the fabulous day.
I was sick.
Like–I took off three days from my full-time job that week. Went to the doctor’s office twice that week.
By the time the wedding day came around, I had finally figured out the perfect mixture of meds to keep me going. I believe I was on about three or four different medications and, of course, adrenaline. I always bring tissues with me to weddings for the brides, but this time I had extra for me.
But seriously, this wedding kicks boo-tay!
Check it!
Be on the lookout for the details.
The guys had a blast before the ceremony.
Kim was such a happy bride. Seriously. All she did was smile.
These girls were fun! And beautiful!
I like the nice touches this couple put together for their wedding party.
The bride and groom decided to forgo the first look (which I LOVE). They had a prayer together before the ceremony.
Ray was so nervous before Kim arrived.
These two love birds were married at Rustic Hills Country Club in Medina, Ohio. This gazebo is so cute!
This guy gets the award for best reaction to seeing his bride! #winning!
And for good reason.
The wedding was precious. And there may or may not have been a quote or two from The Princess Bride. I happen to be partial toward the man in the suit. The one who is clearly in charge here. ;)
They chose a sand ceremony to symbolize their love and commitment to one another.
I love the exchange of rings. The bride and groom are always so giddy since they are formalizing their commitment to one another.
And they’re married!
Obviously, Ray is delighted!
Seriously, didn’t even stage the groomsmen’s reaction to Ray’s ring.
But seriously, my favorite moment of the day right after the bride and groom have left the wedding location. Usually I get at least a second with them before the craziness resumes. They usually chat a bit and sometimes I sneak in a pose or two. This is the moment I look forward to all day long.
What an epic bridal party! You guys rocked! Thanks for being up for all of my crazy ideas!
Here are the many faces of Rayberly. Love these two!
Seriously, Kim. Your. Shoes. Stole. The. Show.
Aw, the bride and groom were actually nice to each other when they cut the cake. My mother would be proud of them.
First dance. This time deserves to be frozen for ever. In love with these moments.
I have a soft spot for father/daughter dances. Love how he looks at Kim.
Seriously. There are no words for how awesome these faces are.
And BAM. They’re married!
I can’t believe you are finally married! Thanks for letting me peek inside your day and capture the memories to preserve for your forever love!
Blessings,
Columbus Wedding and Portrait Photographer
Ray and Kim
PS: I got to dance with the preacher man. He’s a hunk.
PSS: Remember how I was sick the week leading up the wedding? This girl–she seriously saved my life. Thanks, Jess, for helping me out!
