Anna + Brian - Strongwater Wedding
Columbus, Ohio
Great venue. Check
Amazing floral design. Check
Popsicle cart. Check
Jeni's Ice Cream. Check
Wedding cake flown in from New York. Check
Navy blue tuxedo. Check
Gorgeous couple with big city style. Check
Anna + Brian carried themselves with class and confidence. When they walked into a room they did it with such graceful class with a touch of spunk (laughter, silliness, etc). They moved through their wedding day with ease and joy, taking in each moment as it unfolded. They did so because they knew who they were and what was important to them, and knew in the end those things were all that mattered. They trusted us to capture it all, which gave them the freedom to be who they were and enjoy every moment.
Sophisticated, classy, stylish, creative, joyful, confident, graceful, thoughtful, intentional are all words we would use when describing Anna + Brian. Two people that don’t question who they are today because they value where they have come from and have visions of where they are going. They have faith in themselves to get there and trust the people around them. Working with them was a dream because this trust and confidence allowed them to be fully present, taking in every moment as it happened, with laughter and smiles along the way.
Venue: Strongwater Food and Spirits
Makeup: Blushed by Victoria
Florist: Jewelweed Floral Studio
Dress: Stella McCartney
Tuxedo: Bonobos
Wedding Cake: Milkbar NYC
Popsicle Cart: J-Pops
Ice Cream: Jeni's
Caterer: Made From Scratch
Lauren + Max - Put-In-Bay Wedding
Lake Erie Coast
"Ohio."
"Why Ohio?"
We get this question often, and the answer has never been entirely clear, even for us. I didn't grow up here, so I don't have that innate sense of "home." At the same time, our kids were born here. Mindy's family is here. There's something special about this place. The closer we become with our neighbors, our church, and our photography community, the more the question becomes irrelevant. But besides the people, we're consistently surprised by this amazing state. The more we explore, the more we come to discover, and the more we appreciate where we live.
And so it was at Lauren + Max's wedding. Seeing the western coast of Lake Erie for the first time, and riding the ferry to Put-In-Bay, we had visions of our travels to the Pacific Northwest, and even in a sense, our trip to Italy's coast. This is a landscape that we honestly didn't know existed right here in our backyard. But unlike the PNW or Europe, being at their wedding still gave us a feeling of belonging, which is a comfort that anyone can relate to.
Ohio. Because this is home.
Leah + Graham - A Backyard DIY Wedding
Michigan
This one was special. Leah + Graham invited us up to Saginaw, Michigan to be a part of their wedding weekend, which took place in Leah's mom's backyard (aka garden). They planted wildflowers which were used for the bouquets, they planted vegetables which were used for dinner, and they planted goodwill and joy in the hearts of everyone who attended.
We just love the all-hands-on-deck approach to weddings. Getting your family involved produces a genuine response of love, commitment, and care from the people closest to you, and this was so evident all weekend. Leah's sister picked veggies, while Graham's mom mixed sangria. Graham assembled the sweetheart tent while his best friends set up the ceremony audio. Leah's mom delicately arranged the decorations lining the aisle and the cocktail party. Her uncle smoked a pig. It was beautiful to witness.
Add to all of that a threat of rain, and you'd think panic and frustration might take over, but the way their families handled everything was graceful and patient. The rain also gave us an excuse to come back the following day for portraits in the sun.
Proof that simplicity wins and family is first.
