February 21st, 2013

Real Wedding, Rachael and Brian, Cincinnati, Ohio

Timing is everything, you’ve probably heard that a time or two. And for Rachael and Brian, the perfect timing brought them together. After meeting during their first year at the School of Advertising Art (SAA) in Ohio, they didn’t think much of the encounter, but when they began sitting next to each other in class and working on projects together, it became evident that the timing was finally right and that they belonged together. The couple shares a love of vintage items and family heirlooms, so they planned to incorporate both into their wedding day. And with the backdrop of a rustic nature center, the woodland theme developed perfectly and was captured by 1326 Studios. We are so in love with the all the vintage flair featured in today’s post and we love how Racheal and Brian were able to incorporate so many unique and personal family items into their day. After a seven year courtship, their wedding day was a huge celebration of love, family and of course – perfect timing. Congratulations to the couple and thanks to 1326 Studios for sharing these images with us.

Who, What, Where ~ Ceremony/Reception: Krippendorf Lodge, Cincinnati Nature Center. Photography: 1326 Studios. Food: Elegant Fare. Invitations: printed by FourAmbition. Flowers: Blossom’s Florist. Dress Shop: Bridal and Formal. Dress Designer: Maggie Sottero. Suits: Mens Warehouse

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From the bride, Rachael…

Brian and I both attended the School of Advertising Art (SAA) in Ohio. Our first year we didn’t talk much and we were in relationships with other people. Our second year, we both became single and had several classes together. Seemingly by coincidence, we ended up working on more and more projects together. As we neared graduation, we sat next to each other every day in class and made each other laugh constantly. When Brian was out sick for a few days, I noticed that I really missed him. I even went to the trouble of asking a friend for his number to check on him. Soon, we made plans outside of school. A few months later we were officially dating. I knew I wanted to marry Brian after just three weeks. After almost seven years together it finally happened.

With our wedding being at a nature center a woodland theme was inevitable. We also wanted something with a romantic/vintage vibe. To help pull the two together we used blush pink, robin’s egg blue, ivory, and brown in our color palette and incorporated lace and doilies into our decor. The vases for all our centerpieces were made using old jars, bottles, and cans. Some were wrapped with doilies. Others were made with twigs that were glued around cans and held together with lace ribbon. The invitations for our wedding were designed and made by me. Brian and I are both graphic designers, so we knew we wanted to create something unique and special to send to our guests. Each invite was screen printed and wrapped with a fabric belly band.

We love vintage items and heirlooms. On our wedding day I wore a pink star sapphire ring my dad gave my mom on her 21st birthday and a bracelet my grandmother gave me. I also had a broach my grandmother made pinned to my bouquet. Brian carried his great-great-great grandfathers pocket watch and wore a ruby ring his grandfather wore on his wedding day.

There were so many wonderful parts of the day. Being surrounded by all our closest family and friends was truly a blessing. One of our favorites was right after the ceremony. We took a moment to ourselves to just enjoy each others presence and not be surrounded by people. It was very brief, but wonderful.

One of the funnier moments was when my dad walked me down the isle. We were both so confused by the officiant before heading down. He was motioning us to move to the right a little bit, so we were more centered on the isle. We took his had gesture as “trade places”! We switched back and forth at least 2 times before we figured out what he was telling us. I don’t think anyone really saw us do it, but I was cracking up so they definitely head me laughing.

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Tags: family heirlooms nature center Ohio outdoors outside Real Wedding vintage

February 13th, 2013

Real Weddings: Kelli and Jason, Burton, Ohio

As is the case with many of our Middle of the Map couples, Kelli and Jason were originally set up by friends. However on their first meeting, one could say the timing just wasn’t right, and they went their separate ways. However, flash forward to one year later, and the two met again, the stars aligned and sparks flew, and as Kelli put it “we’ve been together ever since”. Kelly and Jason love the outdoors, they’re aspiring farmers, and they’re also big fans of all things DIY and vintage. It only made sense to create an event that captured all of these elements on a hot July evening. Everyone pitched in to make it happen, and all the details are a testament to their amazing team of family and friends. Thank you so much to Kelli for sharing all the details of the day, and to Mary Wyar Photography for the lovely pictures!

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Who, What, Where ~ Ceremony/Reception: Burton Century Village. Photography: Mary Wyar Photography. Rentals: Hodgepodge Vintage Rentals. Dress: BHLDN. Bridesmaids: Nordstrom. Food: Culinary Occasions. Beer: Southern Tier Brewery. Tent: Lasting Impressions. Bus rental: Precious Cargo. Everything else was created, gathered, and decorated by Kelli, Jason, and their amazing friends and family!

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from the bride, Kelli…

Our wedding was very DIY, from the homemade strawberry jam that I made as the guest gift, to the table runners, to the bunting hanging in the tent. It was an adventure that all of our friends and family helped make so special but my favorite was that my close friends and family member each baked a pie for our dessert table- many of who had never made a pie before in their life. Jason and I had a small wedding cake but the pies were so great we never even cut the cake!! We also offered a special celebration punch at our cocktail hour called Chatham Artillery Punch- so many hands went into making this rather elaborate drink- and rather strong! Whoa was it good though.

There were several heirlooms included in our day. I had a hanky that my great great grand mother held on her wedding day, as well as my mom and sister. And my mother-in-law gave me a hanky that her great great grand mother made and brought over to America from Bohemia. The ring pillow my nephews carried was knitted by my grandmother and my sister used it in her wedding too. My mother gave me pink champagne glasses from the depression era that she found in a vintage store as a gift she gave us for our engagement that we used all night.

We had our wedding at The Burton Century Village- someplace I grew up going to as a little girl. The view was amazing and it meant so much to us to have the farm as our back drop. We are lovers of nature and the country side so the setting with the century homes and the farm there were just what we wanted!

Our ceremony was our favorite part of our wedding day. We wanted to be sure we did not have any thoughtless traditions, and that it reflected us in every way. Jason built the arbor we stood under as my wedding gift which is now in my garden- he even went to far as to put a branch from the tree that he made my engagement ring box from as part of the arbor. My best friend married us, and we wrote our own vows. His close friend bluegrass band played the music for our ceremony and the wedding so it was all the songs we wanted to hear. I can still close my eyes and see Jason’s face when he said “I do”, with that big happy smile. I will always remember that moment. And then when we were married and the ceremony was over my parents surprised us and had bagpipers playing as we walked down the aisle together! It was such a special day- and I know it is for so many couples but seeing all of our friends and family come together to help us and make the day so special will be what I cherish most.

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Tags: DIY projects hand made Ohio outdoor Real Wedding vintage

December 13th, 2012

Real Wedding: Katie and Joel, New Carlisle, Ohio

When Katie and Joel decided to marry at her parents dairy farm, they knew it would take a lot of hard work, but they had a feeling it would all be worth it. After commissioning a good friend to create a piece of art that would inspire their day, they got right to work DIYing every whimsical detail that followed. With the help of their loving family and supportive friends, they spent seven months cleaning, painting, re-wiring and preparing the grounds. Although the weather had been finicky leading up to it, nothing could stand in the way of this rustic and oh-so-charming celebration. Briana Snyder Photography was on-hand to document just how seamlessly a working dairy farm was transformed into the most romantic spot on earth.
Surrounded by the ones they love (and several farm animals too!) Katie and Joel knew all their hard work had paid off.

Thanks to Briana Snyder Photography for sharing these beautiful images with us, and to Katie and Joel for reminding us that love is the perfect reason to roll up your sleeves.

Who, What, Where ~ Ceremony & Reception: Katie’s Family Farm. Photography: Briana Snyder Photography. Catering: Amanda Starry, friend of Katie. Cake and desserts: all made by Katie, her sister, and mother. Wedding gown: Venus, Wendy’s Cincinnati Bride. Wedding shoes: Dillards, shoe clips by Snestina. Bridesmaids’ dresses: Dillards. Bridesmaids’ sashes: flowers handmade by Meredith, Bluebird Studio and finished with sashes by Jackie. Flowers: Katie’ s mother. Graphic design: Kristin Sullivan Calhoun. Music: Seth and Hannah Jones (Katie’s sister and brother-in-law)

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From the Bride, Katie…

Joel and I didn’t have a theme in mind when we began planning our wedding, but we both come from wonderfully large and loving families. More than anything, we wanted our wedding day to center on family. It had been a quiet dream of mine to marry at my family’s farm, a place rich with meaning and memories for me. I almost couldn’t believe it when Joel thought the farm would be a wonderful place to begin our marriage, and my parents agreed! I asked a graphic designer friend to create some original artwork that would be a symbolic centerpiece for the wedding, and she freehanded a beautiful tree that perfectly illustrated family and new life. We displayed the tree at the reception and used the graphic to create our own invitations and programs.

In keeping with the family theme, almost everything about the wedding was DIY and carried about by my parents, siblings, in-laws, and close friends. We had our work cut out for us, too—we had just seven months to transform a working dairy farm into the beautiful, idyllic setting I pictured in my mind. The biggest job was clearing the barn of old machinery, tools, and five-foot round bales of hay, then fixing the floors and electrical wiring to make it a safe environment for the reception. We used materials from around the farm wherever possible. We covered a few holes and gaps in the floors with the old license plates my grandpa had collected decades earlier, and created chandeliers with six huge drill wheels and Christmas lights. We washed dozens of old house shutters to use as décor, and painted milk cans and ancient window frames to add color. Most of the flowers (including those used in the bouquets) came from my mother’s flowerbeds.

I loved every detail about my wedding, so it’s hard to pick out a favorite—but I really enjoyed putting together the table décor. I used old books from my collection and a bunch that I borrowed from friends to create centerpieces, and found rustic candleholders for each table. I chose fabrics with vintage prints and colors to add a fun element. Joel ordered personalized golf pencils for guests to use to fill out the madlibs he created, and my sisters and I sewed burlap bags to hold coffee beans (favors for the guests).

My favorite part of the wedding is something so completely intangible that it’s hard to describe. There was a feeling in the air that not even the fireworks set off by my youngest brother could explain. It was the feeling of togetherness, of kinship, between our families and friends that made the evening feel fitting, right, and blessed. After so much effort and so many prayers, our wedding day was the welcome culmination of God’s perfect timing.

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Tags: barn DIY farm homegrown Ohio outdoors rustic wedding

April 25th, 2012

Real Wedding: Leila and Alex, Cincinnati, Ohio

One of the things that struck me the most about Leila and Alex’s wedding was the amazing venue. The Bell Event Center is a cathedral that has been converted into a space for both ceremony and reception. This idea is so unique, and Leila says they were drawn to the location by the beautiful architecture, stained glass, and courtyards. Not to mention the hundreds of candles that make that create a romantic ambiance. A big thank you to Leila for sharing all the details of the day, and to Sunny Studios for the lovely images.

Who, What, Where ~ Ceremony/Reception: The Bell Event Centre. Photography: Sunny Studios. Flowers: Inspired Floral Design. Cake: Tres Belle Cakes. Videography: Lifetime Films. Invites: M Hopple & Company. Wine Tags: Nation Band and Tag.

Even more details and loveliness…

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From Leila…

Alex and I started dating in 2005 while we were in high school. I was a baby 15 year old sophomore and he was a hunky senior soccer player. We was smitten and quickly we realized that we were meant for each other…but at that age we had a lot we needed to do before we got married. We dated long distance for two years while Alex was in Birmingham, Alabama at school and then when I graduated from high school I headed to Birmingham for school too! We are so completely opposite- he is a quiet, analytical, computer programmer and I am a loud, giddy, elementary art teacher, however we complemented each other perfectly…as they say opposites attract and this was the case for us! We were deeply in love and in November of 2009 Alex proposed in front of our huge family.

Instead of a ring pillow, we made a box for my nephew to carry down the aisle. We painted it gold and wrote “With This Ring” on the top. We have it in our home now and it always reminds us what these rings mean to us. We also did something really special to honor my grandmother. She and my mother have always used hankies instead of tissues. I ordered 150 hankies and wrote a poem to describe how special these are to me. I pinned the poem on every hankie and thought about the special women who would be receiving these. It was such a wonderful way to honor my grandmother and incorporate her into our wedding day even though she would not be there to share the day with us. We also had a caricature artist do caricatures for our guests because Alex and I have had quite a few done over the years!

Alex is the IT specialist at his 100 year old family business that makes identification tags. We thought it would fun to incorporate this into our wedding, so we had his cousin design a tag in eggplant with our monogram that we used as wine tags.

The only place we took pictures, other than at The Bell, was at P&G Gardens. Alex and I have driven past this beautiful landmark so many times and every time we dreamed of having our wedding pictures taken there. As I stepped out of the limo to show my gorgeous dress to my groom, I was filled with excitement because finally we were here to take our wedding pictures at the place we had dreamt of for 6 years!

The favorite part of our wedding day would have to be seeing each other for the first time!! It felt so real and we were able to soak up the moment. Then we were able to enjoy every second of the evening!! We had such a blast taking pictures and laughed more in that little bit than we had in a long time. Having that moment actually be there was so incredible! My suggestion to every couple is to just relax and enjoy their wedding day! All of the details will come together, and if something goes wrong you’ll have no idea! Just take a deep breath and enjoy…because the wedding day is wonderful, but married life is even better.

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February 10th, 2012

Real Weddings: Phil and Cristina, Glendale, Ohio

Phil and Cristina have one of those classic love stories you might see in a romantic comedy these days. Girl meets boy, girl likes boy, they date for awhile, then boy disappears. They re-connect, as friends mind you, and then girl has an epiphany, she loves the boy, and the rest turns out to be history. Something else that really struck me about these two is just how important their faith and presence of God in their relationship is. Here at Middle of the Map I see all kinds of weddings, but for Phil and Cristina their ceremony was super personal, and in all ways an expression of their relationship not only with each other, but also with their faith. They kept things super traditional, Cristina wore a blusher veil, and they didn’t see each other before the ceremony. The bride, an artist herself, says she saw their day as a blank canvas, and wanted to fill it with lots of special details. They chose their venue, the Glendale Lyceum because it felt incredibly romantic, which is exactly the look and feel that Phil and Cristina wanted for their day. A big thank you to Cristina for sharing all the details from their day, and to Jenna Davis for her lovely images.

Who, What, Where ~ Ceremony/Reception: Glendale Lyseum. Photography: Jenna Davis Photography. Flowers: Kroger. Catering: Vonderhaar’s Catering. Cake: Sandy Maffey. Dress: Wendy’s Bridal. Tuxes: President Tuxedo.

From the bride…

Phil and I first started talking online summer of 2007. We attended the same church and he couldn’t help but comment on an opinion I had posted about the nintendo game Mario Cart, which he played avidly in college. Our “everday conversations” through email lasted a little over two months before I asked to meet Phil in person. We went out to dinner on a double date, and we hung out a couple times after that, and then Phil went MIA for 3 weeks! I heard from Phil again in spring of 2008 when he was going through a really rough time with his health, and we hung out strictly as friends. I was working on a bachelor’s degree for Art Education and I would be student teaching at the beginning of the school year. I remember the day my Advisor told me I would be student teaching at Bridgetown Middle School; the same school Phil teaches 8th grade History!! A pivotal moment in our realtionship was the night I went with him to be baptized at the church we attend. It was a really special bonding experience. Almost exactly two years later, Philip asked me to be his wife.

I was especially happy with how the “do it yourself” projects turned out!! Of course, I would have never accomplished it all without the help of my amazing family! The biggest and most rewarding project we tackled was making the wedding invitations I am so glad I decided to take on the challenge. Other projects included: putting glitter on over 100 white pumpkins to use as ‘escort cards’ and decoration throughout the hall; my dad used my grandma’s homemade caramel corn recipe to make one of our two favors (we would make it as a family when we were kids; the best part was shaking the bag of popcorn to coat it with caramel); I made the programs and programs “sleeves”. The beautiful purple pockets that hung from every other chair holding two programs and bubbles to be used at our exit; I was so excited to see that project evolve.

My favorite part of the day was seeing Philip’s reaction as I came down the aisle as he saw me for the first time. I could see the emotion on his face as he processed and took in what was happening. I knew he was extremely nervous but all I saw was joy! The entire night was so much fun, from our bubble exit, to pictures, speeches, our first dance (and lots more dancing).

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