Columbus Weddings – Fall/Winter 2018 issue

COLUMBUS’ FIRST BOUTIQUE FOR BRIDESMAIDS

TIPS FOR WRITING YOUR VOWS

42 Featured Weddings

WHY ONE COUPLE DECIDED TO DONATE THEIR WEDDING …

AND HOW THEY DID IT

SIMPLY

Styled

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Contents Fall/Winter 2018

26

SIMPLY STYLED Going back to basics in bridalwear

78 TOP 8 TRENDS FOR 2018 What’s hot in reception décor

132 GOING OLD-SCHOOL Photos deserve to be printed, not just uploaded.

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COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

ON THE COVER: Our model, Akilah West, in the Sottero and Midgley "Kyle" gown and "Sage" earrings from Lovebird Jewelry Collective, both from Twirl, and a Bridal by Worthington ring from Worthington Jewelers (Tim Johnson photo) THIS LOOK: Allure Couture gown, Bel Aire Bridal hairpiece and veil, Lovebird Jewelry Collective earrings, all from Twirl, and Bridal by Worthington ring from Worthington Jewelers

The Jeweler of the Short North 689 N. High St., Columbus, Ohio 43215 614-233-6666 | AlexandersColumbus.com

161 Contents Fall/Winter 2018

i do 12 THE LIST 14 ETIQUETTE 16 COLOR TRENDS 18 PROPOSAL 19 ADVICE 22 DOING GOOD 24 THIS & THAT

style 26 GOWNS Runway trends, reception dresses 48 ACCESSORIES Clutches, hair flowers

138

123

51 RINGS Mixed metals, diamond guide

55 MENSWEAR Accessories, custom ensembles 58 BEAUTY Natural makeup, pre-wedding procedures 62 FLOWERS Guide to bouquets, seasonal blooms

main event 72 CEREMONY Cultural traditions, vow-writing 78 RECEPTION Backyard weddings, seating charts, venue spotlight

images

123 CAKES Pantone color palettes, flavor options

6

in every issue

132 WEDDING-DAY PHOTOGRAPHY Guide to printing, favorite photos

160 THE SHOW 165 INVITATIONS

10 ONLINE

138 ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY Personalizing your session

168 CELEBRATIONS

24 NEW & NOTEWORTHY

170 HOTELS

88 RECEPTION GUIDE

112 CATERING Appetizers, signature drink recipe 122 REHEARSAL DINNER Going fancy or casual

planning

144 VIDEOGRAPHY Package deals

COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

161 MUSIC

8 A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

172 HONEYMOONS

145 REAL WEDDINGS

174 IN YOUR WORDS

175 ADVERTISER INDEX

PHOTOS: TOP, FORGET ME KNOT PHOTOGRAPHY; BOTTOM LEFT, ADDVISION STUDIOS; BOTTOM RIGHT, STYLE & STORY CREATIVE

53 BRIDAL PARTY Color choices, shop Q&A

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editor’s letter

Welcome to

Columbus Weddings

Albany (Page 26)—and our extensive guide to reception venues (Page 88), are back and as helpful as ever.

Planning a significant party, whether it’s for 30 people or 300, is a major task. But it doesn’t have to be a stressful one! Arm yourself with the information found here and on our website at columbusweddingsmag.com, and you’ll be prepared to handle anything your engagement throws your way.

Happy planning!

Emma Frankart Henterly, Editor

PHOTO: TIM JOHNSON

My husband and I are at the age when seemingly everyone we know is getting married. It started in 2012, when we each saw younger sisters tie the knot in July and September. Since then, it’s been a whirlwind of “I dos,” first dances and open bars. The peak of it all was the 2015 wedding season, which began with our own wedding and ended with another of my sisters getting married, much to the chagrin of our father, who financially backed both events.

This year is nearly as crazy: we have the weddings of some of our best friends in back-to-back weekends, one the same day as my husband’s birthday and the big day of Columbus Weddings’ own art director, Alyse Kordenbrock.

You’d think that four years of putting together a biannual weddings magazine would make planning one’s own a bit of a cakewalk, especially when you opt for an intimate, family-only event at a favorite German Village restaurant. But Alyse has discovered that planning a wedding can be stressful no matter the size of the event or your own level of experience with others’ big days.

That’s where I like to come in.

Whether it’s dispensing advice to Alyse or any of my other engaged friends, or crafting a comprehensive guide in the form of the magazine you now hold in your hands, I want to make the wedding-planning process as easy as possible for Central Ohio brides and grooms.

Which is why, in these pages, you’ll find detailed information about the latest trends in wedding gowns (Page 40) and reception décor (Page 78), tips for writing your own vows (Page 76), inspiration for your engagement photos (Page 138) and so much more.

And of course our regular packages, such as our fashion photo shoot—this time featuring gowns from Twirl at The Estate at New

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COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

COLUMBUSMONTHLY.COM PRESIDENT Bradley M. Harmon PUBLISHER/GENERAL MANAGER Ray Paprocki ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Rheta Gallagher

EDITORIAL COLUMBUS WEDDINGS EDITOR Emma Frankart Henterly COLUMBUS MONTHLY EDITOR Eric Lyttle CONTRIBUTORS Katie Annarino, Nancy Byron, Chelsea Castle, Sam Kayuha, Rylan Lee, Heather Lofy, Jackie Mantey, Tami Kamin Meyer, Abernathy Miller-Rinehart, Brooke Preston, Jessica Salerno, Emily Thompson, Peter Tonguette, Sara Wilson INTERNS Georgia Drost, Rylan Lee, Lillian van Wyngaarden

DESIGN & PRODUCTION PRODUCTION/DESIGN DIRECTOR Craig Rusnak ART DIRECTOR Alyse Kordenbrock

DIGITAL

EDITOR Erin Edwards ASSISTANT DIGITAL EDITOR Maya Jenkins

PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO EDITOR Tim Johnson ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR Rob Hardin

ADVERTISING SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Holly Gallucci ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Michelle Crossman, Kyle Nussbaum, Jackie Vosler SALES ASSISTANT Lauren Transue

MARKETING MARKETING MANAGER Lauren Reinhard

ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATIVE & FINANCIAL ANALYST Ryan Koenig LETTERS: letters@columbusweddingsmag.com PRESS RELEASES: pressreleases@columbusweddingsmag.com ADVERTISING: advertise@columbusweddingsmag.com SUBSCRIPTIONS/CUSTOMER SERVICE circsupport@dispatch.com Toll Free: 877-688-8009 EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING OFFICES 62 E. Broad St. P.O.Box 1289 Columbus, OH 43216 614-888-4567

VOLUME 17 / NUMBER 2 Columbus Weddings (ISSN 2333-407X), a Columbus Monthly publication, is published semi-annually by GateHouse Media, LLC. All contents of this magazine are copyrighted © 2018, all rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited materials.

FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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online

WANT MORE WEDDINGS? Check us out online at columbusweddingsmag.com. There you’ll find an expanded Reception Guide database to help you pick the best venue, web-exclusive content that we couldn’t squeeze into the issue and our Bustled blog, which gets regular updates with real, local weddings, planning tips and more.

Insta-Stars We feel your love! Here are some of our top Instagram posts since the last issue. Follow us @cbusweddings for daily #weddinginspo and more.

Don’t forget to follow our social channels, too! We’re on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. columbusweddingsmag

@cbusweddings

@cbusweddings

cbusweddings

This @styleandstory shot at The Ivory Room blew up on our feed, and we can see why—it was posted as a staff fave!

Online Only

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Readers, we want to get to know you better. Take our short survey at cbuswedmag.com/Survey and you’ll be entered to win tickets to the Columbus Weddings Show in January 2019. We’ll give away a pair of tickets to 10 lucky winners, and one grand prize winner will get a pair of VIP Meet & Greet tickets for a private reception with the show’s to-be-announced celebrity guest!

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COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

Now on Spotify!

Wondering what other couples are dancing to at their weddings? We've rounded up the first-dance songs of couples featured in this and previous issues and compiled them into a playlist on Spotify for your listening pleasure. Find us by searching spotify:user:columbusweddings on the Spotify app. We're making more playlists too, so let us know what songs you're choosing for your first dance, grand entrance and more at cbuswedmag.com/Spotify.

When @nicoledixonphoto shot this quiet moment between bride and groom at the Ohio Statehouse, she captured our hearts and yours as well.

A black wedding gown?

Yes, please! Henri’s Cloud Nine was on point with this daring pick at the Runway Show during the Columbus Weddings Show in January.

PHOTO: LEFT, TIM JOHNSON

Can’t get enough of our fashion photos on Page 26? Neither could we.

Here’s a peek at what you didn’t see during our shoot in March. For more images of the gowns in our feature (plus several extra looks not seen in print, like this one), head to cbuswedmag.com/Gowns.

PHOTO: DERK’S WORKS PHOTOGRAPHY

i do

THE LIST 12 • ETIQUETTE 14 • COLOR TRENDS 16 • PROPOSAL 18 ADVICE 19 • DOING GOOD 22 • THIS & THAT 24 FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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i do the list

Your No-Fail Wedding Timeline Fiancé: check. Now it’s all about the attire, the flowers, the DJ and so much more.

Take a deep breath and use this step-by-step guide—courtesy of our friends at Columbus Bride & Groom—and you’ll be on your way to a gorgeous day in no time.

A year before your big day ¨ You’re engaged. Congrats! First things first: Start drafting (and whittling, if necessary) your guest list. It’s time to make the hard decisions. (Having trouble?

Try creating categories for your guests; it makes cutting easier.) ¨ Select a date. ¨ Decide on your general theme. ¨ Create your budget—and determine who’s paying for what.

12 to 10 months out 9 to 6 months out

3 to 2 months out

¨ Book your florist and discuss your vision. ¨ Schedule your hair and makeup trials. ¨ Plan your reception extras, from décor to favors. ¨ Reserve hotel room blocks for out-of-town guests. ¨ Order your save-the-date notices—and send them to your guests! ¨ Plan and schedule your honeymoon. ¨ Find a band or DJ and select your ceremony and reception music. ¨ Research invitation and thank-you note wording.

¨ Schedule your gown fittings. ¨ Address and mail invitations. ¨ Order wedding favors and purchase bridal-party gifts.

¨ Reserve any rental items.

5 to 4 months out

Bride-worthy clutches, Page 48

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COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

¨ Purchase your wedding bands. ¨ Order bridesmaid gowns and accessories and chat with parents about what they’ll wear. ¨ Provide a guest list to your shower host(s). ¨ Select and order suits or tuxes for the groom and groomsmen. ¨ Determine your wedding-day transportation. ¨ Order your invitations. ¨ Register for your wedding gifts. ¨ Begin planning the ceremony with your officiant.

The latest in invitation designs, Page 165

1 month out ¨ Call your attendants to make sure everyone’s set for the big day. ¨ Have your final gown fittings. ¨ Send rehearsal dinner invitations. ¨ Finalize your honeymoon plans. ¨ Write your vows (See Page 76 for tips). ¨ Begin your shower gift thank-you notes. ¨ Pick up your wedding bands. ¨ Finalize your décor, music and menu items, and review your order with your florist. ¨ Get your marriage license!

Final weeks before wedding ¨ Have your programs and table numbers printed. ¨ Plan, order and/or create your welcome bags for out-of-town guests. ¨ Have your dress cleaned and pressed. ¨ Arrange for officiant payment and vendor gratuities. ¨ Pack for your honeymoon.

PHOTOS: ROB HARDIN

¨ Go gown shopping. ¨ Choose your bridal party, including ring bearer and flower girl. ¨ Reserve your ceremony location and determine who will officiate. ¨ If you have pre-wedding wellness goals, start them now. ¨ Reserve your reception spot and select a caterer and cake baker. ¨ Book a videographer and photographer, and plan your engagement shoot.

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i do etiquette

Ask the Expert An etiquette pro tackles your toughest questions.

My parents split several years ago; they don’t speak to each other and have a hard time being in the same room. Other than making sure they’re seated at separate tables at the reception, how can I handle their contentiousness?

At the ceremony, seat your mom in the front row and your dad a row or two behind her.

For the receiving line, the bride’s mom gets the first spot, followed by the groom’s parents and then the bride’s dad. Have a plan on how to handle the full-family photos; clue in your photographer ahead of time about the potential tension, so they can be more sensitive. Your parents can stand on opposite ends for group photos.

When announcing the bridal party at the reception, you can ask the emcee to leave out the parents. Consider giving each parent 14

COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

the opportunity to make a toast. Give each set of parents their own tables to host and fill them in with your friends who know them and/or the friends each parent invited.

If there is one head table, place your parents at opposite ends. Make all your plans ahead of time, so nothing embarrassing happens at the main event.

My future in-laws very generously offered to pay for a photographer. Unfortunately, I can’t stand that photographer’s style. How can I decline their gift without hurting their feelings?

The key to gracefully handling this situation is to maintain a courteous attitude. After conveying your thanks, gently explain that you had hoped to select your own photographer for the wedding. Show them some of the photographer’s work that you are interested in hiring and explain why you like their style. Those who truly care about you will fully understand and move on.

Is there an appropriate way to request cash instead of gifts? My fiancé and I have lived together for several years and have no need for a traditional registry.

Create a digital cash registry and let your parents, close relatives and friends know that when other guests ask what you’d like

as a wedding gift, they can tell them that cash would be most appreciated. A great place to convey your gift preferences is on your wedding website.

Tip for guests: Checks given before the wedding should be made out to the bride or groom (using the bride’s maiden name).

After the wedding, checks should be made out to the bride and groom.

What’s the best way to approach our devout parents about the fact that we don’t want to have an overly religious ceremony? A mention of God is fine, but I don’t want a full Catholic Mass.

Begin by having a conversation with your parents about your intention to have a less religious ceremony. Do so with respect for their beliefs and feelings. If your family is contributing financially to the wedding, you might have to make some compromises. Share with them that you would like to have a ceremony that reflects your beliefs and your relationship with your partner. Explaining why your choices are meaningful to you, rather than why your family’s belief system is wrong or dumb, will keep the conversation focused.

Have a question? Email it to ehenterly@ columbusweddingsmag.com and you could see it answered in our next issue.

PHOTO: © 2018 THINKSTOCK

It’s inevitable: When planning a wedding, even the most conscientious of us will bump up against an etiquette conundrum. From choosing the wording of your invitations (see more about that on Page 166) to awkward situations with future in-laws, your engagement is likely to see a question or two about propriety. We turned to Cathi Fallon, etiquette expert and founder of The Etiquette Institute of Ohio, for answers to some of your questions. —Emma Frankart Henterly

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i do color trends

PANTONE 19-1536 Red Pear

PANTONE 18-1549 Valiant Poppy

PANTONE 18-4048 Nebulas Blue

PANTONE 15-0850 Ceylon Yellow

PANTONE 18-0625 Martini Olive

PANTONE 16-1255 Russet Orange

PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet

PANTONE 15-3520 Crocus Petal

PANTONE 12-0740 Limelight

PANTONE 18-5025 Quetzal Green

FIRST ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: NICOLE DIXON PHOTOGRAPHIC, STYLE & STORY CREATIVE, FORGET ME KNOT PHOTOGRAPHY; SECOND ROW: TOGETHER WE CLICK, NICOLE DIXON PHOTOGRAPHIC ; THIRD ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: HILLARY FERGUSON PHOTOGRAPHY, KIMBERLY POTTERF PHOTOGRAPHY, DAN BUCKLEY PHOTOGRAPHY; FOURTH ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: TOGETHER WE CLICK, LAMBERT PHOTOGRAPHS; FIFTH ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: HILLARY FERGUSON PHOTOGRAPHY (2), TOGETHER WE CLICK

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COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

Hues to Use Twice a year, the Pantone Color Institute— the world’s authority on color trends— releases a palette of colors it predicts will be popular. The fall/winter 2018 roundup is full of autumnal shades, with a few surprises mixed in. Anchored by classic seasonal hues like Red Pear, Valiant Poppy, Martini Olive and Russet Orange, the palette also includes fun tones like Limelight and Quetzal Green.

Of course, the 2018 color of the year—Ultra Violet—is present, as is a softer complement in Crocus Petal. And, lest things get too predictable, Nebulas Blue and Ceylon Yellow round out the bunch. Scanning through the images from this issue’s real couples, it looks like Central Ohio brides and grooms are right on trend. —Emma Frankart Henterly

FIRST ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: DERK’S WORKS PHOTOGRAPHY, DAN BUCKLEY PHOTOGRAPHY, DERK’S WORKS PHOTOGRAPHY; SECOND ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: FORGET ME KNOT PHOTOGRAPHY, LAMBERT PHOTOGRAPHS; THIRD ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: HILLARY FERGUSON PHOTOGRAPHY, DAN BUCKLEY PHOTOGRAPHY; FOURTH ROW: DAN BUCKLEY PHOTOGRAPHY; FIFTH ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: NICOLE DIXON PHOTOGRAPHIC, TOGETHER WE CLICK, HILLARY FERGUSON PHOTOGRAPHY

FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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i do proposal

Déjà Vu History repeats itself for a couple who got engaged in the exact spot where they would later say, “We do.”

BY RYLAN LEE When you know, you know—and Julian Napolitano and Stacia Momany knew.

For the couple, who wed Dec. 30, 2017, marriage was on the table early in their relationship; the only question was one of timing, which fell into place at the beginning of last year.

“We just started talking, like, ‘I think we want to get married this year,’ ” the bride— now Stacia Napolitano—recalls.

From there, the two leaped into planning their wedding.

Step one was the ring. Stacia took the reins and custom-designed it herself. “I think I had

told him before we were really super-serious, ‘When the time comes, I would like to design my ring, if you’re OK with it,’ ” she says.

Julian agreed, and the two worked with a local jeweler to create the piece.

But while Stacia knew she was getting her dream ring, she didn’t know when.

Julian knew he wasn’t off the hook for a proper proposal—surprise and all. And Stacia was impatiently waiting; after quickly finding Julian’s hiding place for the ring, she would secretly try it on when she was home alone.

To maximize the suspense, Julian milked Stacia’s anticipation.

“We went to talk to the flower shop earlier in the month, and he got down on one knee … but then he tied his shoe,” Stacia says. “And then he left me a little note with a picture of a diamond ring for work, saying ‘I love you’ with the drawing of the ring.”

Meanwhile, Julian was anxiously struggling to find the right time to make the engagement official. “[I spent] three very long weeks trying to plan it,” he says.

His first idea was to pop the question on an outdoor walk—but he was thwarted by rain, so back to the drawing board he went.

Fast-forward to just a couple days before the couple planned to tour their wedding venue, the Columbus Athenaeum, with their parents: a lightbulb flashed on. What better way to propose than surrounded by family and in the very spot they would say “we do” only a few months later?

And so, standing on the stage of the Priory at the Athenaeum, Julian finally asked Stacia the question she had been waiting to hear.

Her response?

“I said, ‘Stop it! Stop it,’ ” Stacia recalls.

“I thought he was joking.”

But this time, Julian stayed on bended knee as their parents took video of the moment.

In short order, Stacia realized he was serious.

Just seven months later, on their wedding day, the two retraced their footsteps back to the exact same place, past and present beautifully muddled in a case of “I love you” déjà vu.

“We got married in December, and being out there with him, it brought it all back to me,” Stacia says. “It was really sweet.”

Stacia and Julian Napolitano at the Columbus Athenaeum, the site of their proposal and wedding.

(Christopher Keels Photographer)

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COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

advice i do

Lessons Learned Real couples share tips, tricks and what they wish they’d known before their own weddings.

(Want more tips? Check our blog at cbuswedmag.com/Bustled every Thursday for tips from other couples featured in this issue.)

Jenni and Nick Fisher

Wed on July 8, 2017, at NOAH’S Event Venue If you could do anything differently in your wedding, what would you change and why?

Jenni: If I could do anything differently, I would want the bar to be in the same room/ vicinity as the dance floor. The way our venue was laid out, the bar was outside of the dance floor, therefore breaking up the socializing that naturally happens at the bar versus the dancing on the dance floor.

PHOTOS: KIMBERLY POTTERF PHOTOGRAPHY

What are you happy you spent money on?

J: An amazing photographer, because pictures will last a lifetime and are something we can easily look back at any day of the year. We also loved our favors, which were Buckeye Donuts. I ordered custom doughnut bags from Etsy that said “glazed and delicious from the new Mr. & Mrs.,” which was another personalized touch I loved and wouldn’t go without!

What do you think you could’ve gone without?

J: The only thing I would have done without is a coffee bar.

What do you wish you’d known before you started planning?

J: I wish I would have known how much time and dedication it takes to pull off a wedding.

It is more than just a week prior; we needed every bit of that 15 months of preparation!

FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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i do advice

Sarah and Seth Dunn

Wed on Sept. 16, 2017, at Brookside Golf & Country Club What was your biggest surprise when planning your wedding?

Sarah: All of the different people that had to work together blew our minds. It would have been nice to have a wedding planner.

What do you wish you’d known before you started planning?

S: How far ahead you really have to start planning. We were under the impression that a year would be enough, but it seems that many venues and other wedding professionals are starting to get booked as early as two years in advance.

Did you and your fiancé get into any silly arguments?

S: Seth decided to give the bridal party LEGO Star Wars mini-figures to put in their bouquets/jacket pockets at the last second. Although it was a bit of a disagreement, it ended up being a hit.

Do you have any general advice for engaged couples?

S: Don’t forget the big picture; it is easy to get caught up in all of the periphery.

Abbey and Robin Darr Wed on July 29, 2017, at St. Brigid of Kildare

What are you happy you spent money on?

R: I was pleased that we spent a little more money on a highenergy band, Zack Attack. …

They were slightly outside of our budget, but dancing and the experience the band gave was well worth the extra cost.

A: Several of our friends have also gone to see Zack Attack after our 20

COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

wedding because they enjoyed it so much!

Did you experience any wedding-day snafus?

A: I forgot to bring any bobby pins, and my hair was falling out after we had ridden in the party bus to the ceremony. A family friend was kind enough to run to the nearest drugstore and pick some up for me. My advice would be to make sure you have a point person who can help you out with these silly snafus!

Do you have any general advice for engaged couples?

R: Listen to each other. You are planning your wedding; do what you want to do. Take advice from loved ones, but make decisions based on your intentions.

A: Have some fun with it! I was so stressed to make it “perfect,” and looking back, all that really mattered was my husband, family and feeling so excited the day was finally here.

PHOTOS: LEFT, KIMBERLY POTTERF PHOTOGRAPHY; RIGHT, LAMBERT PHOTOGRAPHS

If you could do anything differently in your wedding, what would you change and why?

Abbey: I would have managed my time prior to the ceremony and between the ceremony and reception more effectively. At times I felt rushed, and I think it took away from the magic of the day.

Robin: I wish I would have talked to my partner about what decisions I could help her make or hash out what parts of the planning I could take off her plate, instead of assuming she wanted to plan it all.

Lauren and Julian Sullinger Wed on Sept. 1, 2017, at Jorgensen Farm Oak Grove What was your biggest surprise when planning your wedding?

Lauren: How many details you are responsible for making decisions about. You’re not just selecting the vendors—you’re selecting the plates, the linens, the forks; you’re selecting the invitation text font, text color; you have to consider the types of flowers you want in all of the bouquets. Things can get very overwhelming.

What do you wish you’d known before you started planning?

Julian: That it is stressful and far from easy. At times, that can get in the way of the moment—but the moment is way more important than the process.

Did you experience any wedding-day snafus?

L: Unfortunately, our daughter’s bouquet was not delivered the day of the wedding, nor were the boutonnieres that we ordered.

Luckily, I have some pretty creative

bridesmaids, and they made magic happen!

Did you and your fiancé get into any silly arguments?

L: Of course!

J: The main issue was our first song.

L: My husband wanted our first dance to be to Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s “Drunk in Love.” I told him that my wedding was not where I wanted my grandmother to have a heart attack and die! As a compromise, he took control of the music list for the DJ. By then, Gramma was at home and in bed.

Do you have any general advice for engaged couples?

J: Enjoy it. Every moment. We laugh and joke about the rough moments through the process.

Also, everything isn’t that serious, because those few hours when you are with your loved ones, nothing else matters but the person you are kissing at the end of the ceremony.

Trent Stechschulte and Logan Smyth PHOTOS: TOP, DAN BUCKLEY PHOTOGRAPHY; BOTTOM, STYLE & STORY CREATIVE

Wed on Aug. 12, 2017, at the Columbus Museum of Art

If you could do anything differently in your wedding, what would you change and why?

Trent: A longer happy hour. We only had an hour, and it flew by.

What do you wish you’d known before you started planning?

T: That you cannot plan every single detail, so don’t try.

Did you and your fiancé get into any silly arguments?

T: The only argument we had lasted about 20 seconds, because we realized it was a dumb argument to have.

It was about what door our guests would exit after the ceremony.

Do you have any general advice for engaged couples?

T: Pick legit vendors. Even if they cost more, it is totally worth it.

FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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i do doing good

Wedding for a Cause The wedding day is among the most important days in a couple’s shared life. This big day will be among the most important ones in the lives of many more.

BY EMMA FRANKART HENTERLY

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COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

THIS PAGE, TOP, Shelby Kiskis and Anthony Johnson pose for an engagement photo; BOTTOM, Johnson helps a child in El Salvador try on a pair of shoes; OPPOSITE PAGE, Kiskis poses with one of the children served by Rock City Church’s mission trip to El Salvador.

PHOTOS: TOP, AUTUMN HARRIS PHOTOGRAPHY; BOTTOM, COURTESY SHELBY KISKIS

On July 21, 2018, after the sun has set on Shelby Kiskis and Anthony “AJ” Johnson’s wedding day, the couple will see some changes.

Kiskis will have a new last name, and a community in La Libertad, El Salvador, will have the funds to manage a new health clinic.

Kiskis, a nurse at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, and Johnson, an officer with the Columbus Division of Police, met through Rock City Church in the Short North. Almost immediately after Johnson proposed in November 2017, Kiskis started brainstorming ways to leverage their wedding to give back to the communities that matter to them. Her first idea tied into Rock City’s annual mission trips to El Salvador, which she and Johnson both participate in.

“I thought, ‘What would it look like to have each table’s centerpiece be a photo of a child [from El Salvador] who needs to be sponsored?’ ” she says. “Even if no one sponsored anyone, what would it look like, just to raise awareness?”

Then, Kiskis started touring venues … and getting price quotes.

Kiskis says she “just couldn’t fathom” how much good the money she’s spending on her wedding could do in a Third World country. “I’ve gone on multiple mission trips,” she says. “It’s hard when you know what a dollar can do overseas, and then tell yourself you’re going to spend $15,000 on yourself for one day.”

A friend mentioned Jorgensen Farms in Westerville, so Kiskis connected with owner Val Jorgensen to talk pricing and availability. After hearing the couple’s budget and why they wanted to keep it low, Jorgensen made a stunning offer.

GOOD DEEDS

Shelby Kiskis and Anthony Johnson would like to thank the following vendors for donating services, in part or full, to their cause: • Authentic Creative Co., videography • Autumn Harris Photography, engagement photos • CandaceLynn Photography, wedding photos • Chiayim Burney of Rock City Church, ceremony music • City Barbeque, dinner • DJ Chill/Not So Loud Silent Party, music • Emily Hwang Beauty, bridal party makeup • Heavenly Bakes, dessert • Independence Newland of Rock City Church, centerpiece card design • Jorgensen Farms Oak Grove, venue and flowers • Momma Can Cook Food Truck, cocktail hour appetizers • Nate Eckhart of Rock City Church, officiant

PHOTO: , COURTESY SHELBY KISKIS

• Willow Layne Lingerie, bridal attire

“I’d been talking to her for five minutes on the phone, and I just said, ‘Well, why don’t I just give you the wedding venue?’ ” Jorgensen says. “She asked, ‘Are you serious? Don’t you want to think about it?’ I said, ‘No. I trust my intuition.’ I felt like if I didn’t offer it to her then, I’d be calling her back that night. … I just felt it was the right thing to do.”

Kiskis credits Jorgensen’s generosity as the catalyst for something bigger than she could have imagined. “When someone gives that boldly and freely—I mean, I didn’t even ask her for that at all—it’s just a huge game-changer.” She and Johnson immediately pledged to donate $5,000 to Total Health, which funds clinics in underserved Latin American communities and staffs them through partnerships with organizations like Rock City. Thanks to a grant-matching program, that $5,000 instantly became $10,000.

Inspired by Jorgensen’s reaction, Kiskis began asking her other vendors if they’d like to jump on board, too. “With all the vendors, we basically said to them, ‘We’re just offering you this opportunity to be a part of the giving aspect of our wedding.’ We didn’t want any vendor to feel like we were choos-

ing them only if they agreed,” she explains.

As of press time, eight weeks before the big day, only one vendor has declined to participate in some form.

“The crazy thing is, everyone is doing it without hesitation,” Kiskis adds. “It just makes you realize, people have amazing hearts.”

Jorgensen is quick to return the compliment. “I don’t want it to be about us in any way,” she says. “It’s really about the children [in El Salvador] and what [Kiskis and Johnson] are doing for them. … If I can’t do this for them, then I shouldn’t be in business anyway.”

Similarly, Kiskis insists she wants none of the praise. “All I did was ask people for things. That’s nothing,” she says, adding that the vendors of Columbus came together to enable that $10,000 donation. She credits her fiancé, too, adding that without his emotional support and financial backing, none of this would have been possible.

In addition to their financial donation to Total Health, Kiskis and Johnson are donating their registry by allowing a family in need to register for items in their stead. The family is a single mother and her daughter who Kiskis says currently lack even basic necessities like beds. And in lieu of favors,

the couple will give their guests each a token to drop into a jar representing one of two charities—Humanize the Badge and the Columbus Dream Center. Each token symbolizes $1 that the newlyweds will donate to that charity.

Johnson and Kiskis want similar-minded couples to feel inspired, not intimidated, by the magnitude of this process. “Find one vendor [who will donate services]. And whatever you would have spent on that, make a donation. Or find a family [in need] and donate part of your registry,” Kiskis suggests. “These are all very easily doable things that people can take that one day that is special and make it a way to also give back.”

“A big part that excites me about this whole thing is that, hopefully, it will catch on.” Johnson adds. “There’s so many weddings that happen every year. Imagine if 50 percent of those weddings said, ‘You know what? I’m going to do something charitable during our wedding.’ Can you imagine the impact that would make, nationwide?”

Interested in donating part of your wedding to a charitable cause? Visit cbuswedmag.com/Donate for tips from Johnson and Kiskis.

FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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i do this & that

By the Numbers

New & Noteworthy

A breakdown of the Columbus wedding market

Average cost of a wedding in 2017

Westerville has two new hotels: the 99-room Aloft Columbus Westerville and the 222-room Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris. While Aloft doesn’t have wedding reception spaces, the new Renaissance boasts multiple ballrooms.

Aloft Columbus Westerville, 32 Heatherdown Drive, Westerville, 614-8996560, aloftcolumbuswesterville.com Renaissance Columbus WestervillePolaris, 409 Altair Parkway, Westerville, 614-882-6800, marriott.com

$99,999-$50,000 2.9% $49,999-$30,000 7.8%

Amount couples spent on their weddings

$29,999-$20,000 16%

17.2 months

$19,999-$10,000 29.9%

Also new to the scene is Attelé Bridal Boutique in Upper Arlington. The appointment-only salon specializes in couture gowns that start at $2,500.

Designers include Rosa Clara Couture, Suzanne Neville and Riki Dalal.

3219 Tremont Road, Upper Arlington, 614-707-2284, attelebridal.com

$9,999 OR LESS 42.5%

Average engagement length

11,862

Wedding size

Number of weddings in 2017

FEWER THAN 25 GUESTS 6% 25-50 GUESTS 11% 50-100 GUESTS 26% 101-150 GUESTS 26% 151-200 GUESTS 18%

14%

201-300 GUESTS 10%

Percentage of couples who traveled to Columbus to marry

MORE THAN 300 GUESTS 3%

Proposals by month

15%

12%

9%

6%

Weddings by month

7.4%

3%

9.4%

3%

8.3%

4%

7.8%

5.1%

7.9%

11.1%

8.2%

14.1%

8.2%

11.1%

7.2%

11.1%

7.0%

13.1%

7.9%

12.1%

6.5%

7.1%

14.2%

5.1%

3%

3%

SOURCE: WEDDING INDUSTRY REPORT FOR COLUMBUS, OHIO, 2018, THE WEDDING REPORT, INC.

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COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

6%

9%

12%

15%

Several properties are renovating.

The Worthington Inn’s upper-floor changes mean that the space will no longer accommodate receptions, but you can still rent a private dining room for your rehearsal dinner or morningafter brunch. In Newark, Cherry Valley Lodge is under new ownership; a $13 million renovation is slated for completion late this year or early next.

The property will get a near-complete overhaul, and its former water park will become a 45,000-square-foot convention center. And Downtown’s Athletic Club of Columbus recently completed renovations on its first floor; read more about the venue in our spotlight feature on Page 85.

Worthington Inn, 649 High St., Worthington, 614-885-2600, worthingtoninn.com Cherry Valley Lodge, 2299 Cherry Valley Road SE, Newark, 740-7881200, cherryvalleylodge.com Athletic Club of Columbus, 136 E. Broad St., Columbus, 614-221-3344, accolumbus.com Finally, we’re sad to note a few closures: Elegant Bride in Dublin, Monaco’s Palace on the East Side and McClain Creations in Newark.

Romanoff’s Classic Tuxedos closed its Downtown and Westerville locations, but its Dublin shop (6387 Sawmill Road) remains open.

INFOGRAPHIC: ALYSE KORDENBROCK

$26,590

Openings, closings and changes in Central Ohio

$100,000 OR MORE 1%

PHOTO: HILLARY FERGUSON PHOTOGRAPHY

style

GOWNS 26 • PRESERVATION 46 • ACCESSORIES 48 • RINGS 51 BRIDAL PARTY 53 • MENSWEAR 55 • BEAUTY 58 • FLOWERS 62 FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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style gowns

Simply Styled When Meghan Markle debuted her royal wedding gowns, they had one thing in common: Both were striking in their simplicity. We worked with the staff at Twirl to choose several gowns that fit this trend, though many of the looks incorporate other popular trends like lace, illusion details and pearls. You’ll find seven of the ensembles we selected, all shot at The Estate at New Albany, on the following pages. Four bonus looks, plus outtakes from the following pages, are at cbuswedmag.com/Gowns.

STORY BY EMMA FRANKART HENTERLY PHOTOS BY TIM JOHNSON

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COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

EMBELLISHED ELEGANCE Allure Couture No. C401 gown, $2,348; Bel Aire Bridal No. 6823 hairpiece, $117; Lovebird Jewelry Collective “Walnut” earrings, $75; Bridal by Worthington ring from Worthington Jewelers, $2,330 (setting only) FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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style gowns

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COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

LOVELY IN LACE Allure No. 3063 gown, $978; Lovebird Jewelry Collective “Amandine” earrings, $114; Bridal by Worthington ring from Worthington Jewelers, $2,330 (setting only)

FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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style gowns

SWEET SERENITY Sottero and Midgley “Kyle” gown, $1,498; Lovebird Jewelry Collective “Sage” earrings, $195; Bridal by Worthington ring from Worthington Jewelers, $2,330 (setting only) 30

COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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style gowns

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COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

TAKE THE PLUNGE Essense of Australia No. D2473 gown, $1,589; Richards Design No. P695 bracelet, $168; Lovebird Jewelry Collective “Amandine” earrings, $114, and “African” necklace, $175; Bridal by Worthington ring from Worthington Jewelers, $2,330 (setting only)

FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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style gowns

BACK IT UP Stella York No. 6651 gown, $1,689; Bel Aire Bridal No. 6780 headband, $158; Lovebird Jewelry Collective “Walnut” earrings, $75; Bridal by Worthington ring from Worthington Jewelers, $3,920 (setting only) 34

COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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style gowns

36

COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

BELLE OF THE BALL(GOWN) Sophia & Camilla No. 9503 gown, $1,038; Richard Design necklaces, $325 for three; Lovebird Jewelry Collective “Brandy” earrings, $162, and “Alice” bracelet, $150; Bridal by Worthington ring from Worthington Jewelers, $2,330 (setting only)

FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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style gowns

BAR NONE Stella York No. 6581 gown, $1,398; Bel Aire Bridal No. V7354 veil, $148; Lovebird Jewelry Collective “Golden Ray” earrings, $125; Bridal by Worthington ring, $3,920 (setting only), and lariat necklace, $565, from Worthington Jewelers; shoes are model’s own 38

COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

STYLING: Laura Wingfield of Twirl HAIR AND MAKEUP: Marnie Morley and Jill Nussman of PENZONE Salon + Spas MODEL: Akilah West of Sigal Models VENUE, FLOWERS: The Estate at New Albany

FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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style gowns

Runway Report What’s hot in bridal for fall and winter

Halter necks or long sleeves; pearl beading or structural details; full horsehair skirts or slit-to-there sheaths—current trends in bridal run the gamut from sweet to sexy and everything in between.

One thing’s for sure: There is no such thing as a “typical” wedding gown anymore.

“I think, for the last decade, the entire industry has been so heavily focused on strapless, and I think people are just kind of strapless-fatigued,” says Beth Rocks, store manager at David’s Bridal in Easton Gateway. Longer sleeves in particular are trending, thanks in part to style influence from figures such as First Lady Melania Trump, who favors voluminous sleeves, and Meghan Markle, who famously wore three-quarter sleeves at her May wedding to Prince Henry of Wales.

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COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

BY EMMA FRANKART HENTERLY

“They have been in probably for the last year; they’re not going anywhere,” says Heather DiMasi, owner of White of Dublin. “Now, though, you’re seeing interesting types of sleeves. You’re seeing more of a bell sleeve, or something that has a little flutter to it, or something that’s just super-unique.”

But options abound for brides who want to rock their Michelle Obama arms, too, thanks to the proliferation of high necklines and halter styles—like the second gown Markle wore for her wedding reception.

“High necks have been trending in our store for a good year, year and a half,” says Laura Wingfield, owner of Twirl in Kenton. “It’s just such a flattering neckline.” Many brides are opting for a high, choker-style neckline that utilizes lace

OPPOSITE PAGE, Kimberly Dwyer chose a Sara Gabriel top with a high lace neckline and an unembellished Willowby by Watters skirt when she wed Patrick. (Forget Me Knot Photography); ABOVE, Lace was a focal point in the gowns of both Cara Barber (left) and Caitlyn Otey (right); Barber chose a sleeveless Allure dress for her July wedding, while Otey’s long-sleeve Justin Alexander gown worked well with her December date (both Derk’s Works Photography); BELOW, Barbie Fazzone was right on trend when she married TJ in a sleeveless, structured Alyssa Kristin gown (Together We Click).

details in a nod to Victorian styles, while others are incorporating the choker aesthetic through a halter detail.

“Some girls don’t want the high neck look all [day],” notes DiMasi, “but you can achieve that with a cape or capelet” that fastens at the throat—another major trend both on and off the runway. A sheer cape is a great alternative to a veil, for example, and can help a bride switch up her aesthetic between the ceremony and reception. “That’s been really fun, to see [brides] transform a simple dress and put an elaborate cape with it, with the intention of then ditching it for the reception,” notes Rocks. “That way, they have that total glamour look at a really affordable price.”

Interestingly enough, a stark opposite of the high neckline—a plunging V-neck— also is gaining popularity. Brides are “really going for it” with a dramatic, deep V, says Rocks, though she notes more modest brides often opt to reel in the drama with an illusion mesh or lace detail.

“Brides do want to kind of be like, ‘Hey, I can do this. I’m brave, I’m fearless, and I am woman,’ ” notes DiMasi. “You can have

it in such a way that you’re not falling out; it’s still modest. But it’s deep, and it’s low, and they love it.”

Another hot look is so pervasive that it’s almost evolved beyond trend to become a bridal staple: “Lace just continues to be so heavily requested,” says Rocks. But forget about standards of old, such as Chantilly or Alençon laces. “They’re changing the patterns a little bit,” notes Wingfield. “They might still be using a corded lace or something to build that pattern, but for the most part, it’s interesting fleur-de-lis or more floral patterns.”

Other incorporations, Wingfield adds, include layered lace—sheet lace under a tulle layer with lace appliqués on top, for example—and illusion treatments, either a loose lace as the illusion cover itself, or a more standard mesh treatment with carefully placed, 3D lace appliqué accents.

Color, too, is seeing a continued rise in popularity. And while blush and metallic hues remain staples, Rocks has seen an increase in brides embracing more unusual hues, including mauve and lavender. DiMasi’s brides have been even more daring, venturing into the world of black and steely-blue gowns.

FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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style gowns

And, as evidenced in our photo shoot on Page 26, there’s also a strong affinity for simple, structural gowns among today’s brides. “Simple never goes out, but we’re seeing a resurgence,” says DiMasi. “The classic, streamlined, very clean look [is in], but with a little bit of something—whether that’s an architectural detail in the back or a bow or something like that.”

Among her brides, she notes, the “little something” often takes the form of a pearl detail: a string draped across an open back or a pearl-encrusted bodice. “That’s kind of a softer look” than the blingy, bedazzled bodices of years past, she says, “but it’s still embellished, and it’s really pretty.”

Of course, the A-line ballgown with a sweetheart neckline remains a top choice for many brides, and with good reason: The design is universally flattering and is a classic option for the conventional bride.

Nervous about going trendy instead of traditional? Don’t be, says DiMasi. “I think brides are afraid to embrace trends because they think it’s going to date them, but we always advise our brides: If you love something that’s trending, you should incorporate that element with more classic elements.” She suggests pairing an ultra-trendy detail such as feathers or fringe with a more classic silhouette, like a drop-waist A-line.

“That way, you are maintaining the timelessness of [your look], but you still have a little attitude,” she explains.

“You’ve seen these girls that have come in that have wanted to be unique and different; still timeless, but they want to make a statement,” DiMasi continues. “I’m so happy to see more of that. I’m happy to see these brides coming in and really embracing what they want to rock on their wedding day.”

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COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT, Cap sleeves and a wide V-neck kept Erin Lee stylish when she married Jordan (Nicole Dixon Photographic); Abbey Darr opted for a lightly embellished Martina Liana gown at her and Robin’s wedding (Lambert Photographs); the Watters Wtoo gown that Kya Knorr wore featured an open back and boho-style lace detail (Sanchez Studio); a high lace neckline suited Molly Youell when she married Donald (Nicole Dixon Photographic); Adrienne Gruber’s Essense of Australia gown featured simple ruching and a sweetheart neckline (Derk’s Works Photography).

COMFORTABLE, A PERSONAL A AND A ALL A ABOUT A YOU.

A Couture Bridal Boutique 23 N. High St. Dublin, OH www.whiteofdublin.com 614-791-2600

style gowns

Second Look The rise of the reception dress

BY ABERNATHY MILLER-RINEHART Thunder rolled in just as Jessie and Josh Anderson’s July reception was getting underway at Little Brook Meadows in Lancaster. They hadn’t planned on the storm, but nothing was going to keep the couple and their friends from dancing all night—including the formalwear.

As soon as Jessie tossed the bouquet, she tossed—er, gracefully exchanged—her flowing chiffon Lillian West gown from Henri’s Cloud Nine in favor of a playful white sundress. Thunder and lightning hadn’t been part of the plan, but wearing a second look for the reception always had been.

Finding the dress is an integral part of wedding planning, but for a growing number of brides like Jessie, two dresses are 44

COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

better than one. More and more bridal boutiques and designers are catering to the “second dress” demographic: brides who love the idea of an over-the-top gown, but also want to party at the reception. Bridal boutique buyers are expecting to see double this wedding season, as the reception dress trend is on the rise.

“About one in every 12 brides come in looking for two dresses for the big day,” says Universe Bridal & Prom buyer Teri Misener. “I love the idea. It’s the best of both worlds.”

According to Misener, when unconventional venues grew in popularity, so did the demand for functional and affordable second looks. Designers and boutiques are catering to those brides with reception-specific designs in every style.

While many brides still prefer to exchange vows in a traditional-style gown, there is more room for personal taste when it comes to a second look. The reception is the bride’s chance to throw the rulebook out the window, without completely breaking Nana’s heart.

“Brides often feel compelled to make everybody happy, so they go more traditional for the ceremony, and then do whatever they want for the reception,” Misener says.

The trend shows no sign of slowing for the 2018 wedding season, but the concept of a second dress is nothing new. In the 1930s, it was common for a bride to change from her nuptial gown into a “going away” dress before she was whisked off on a honeymoon. The modern take on the trend allows the fashion-forward bride to embrace her traditional side and showcase her personal style without compromise.

“Many of our brides fall in love with a dress that isn’t functional for a reception, so they get a second dress to dance all night,” Misener says. “Brides have so many choices now—they can do whatever they want.

There aren’t as many rules.”

A quick switch from the showstopper with a 12-foot train to a fun and flirty cocktail dress or jumpsuit signifies the party can get started.

For Jessie and Josh, there was no question they’d spend their July reception as com-

OPPOSITE PAGE, Jessie and Josh Anderson both chose to change into something more comfortable once the bouquet was tossed at their 2017 wedding; ABOVE, Jessie and Josh in their formalwear (both Sanchez Studio)

fortably as possible because they planned to party as hard as they could.

“It felt so good to change! We danced all night,” Jessie says. “I mean, we would have danced all night regardless, but we got to dance a little wilder in our reception clothes.”

Even their wedding party got in on the trend.

“My best man was like, ‘Thank God!’ when Jessie finally threw the bouquet and he could change,” Josh says. “It would have been miserable wearing a tux in the heat. I mean, we would have got just as crazy; we’d just be covered in sweat.”

Jessie and Misener both suggest defining your budget and style before shopping for either dress. Consider the venue, weather and how you want to feel at your reception.

Whether you choose the dress or a couple of dresses for your wedding day, remember that enjoying yourself and celebrating with your guests is always the main goal.

“Some people will remember the wedding dress,” Jessie says. “But most people will remember the awesome time they had.”

FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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style preservation

Pristine, Pressed, Preserved Keep your gown immaculate for years to come

BY RYLAN LEE When the last champagne glass has been cleared and the first Instagram picture shared, the wedding-day nostalgia will undoubtedly already be setting in. But before you woefully wrap your wedding gown in a plastic bag and tuck it away in your attic, consider instead having it professionally preserved.

“In order to keep the fabrics just like they are now, they have to be stored properly,” says Margaret Butler, bridal preservation specialist at Dublin Cleaners.

Indeed, a wedding dress is not unlike fine wine; it must be stored properly in order to age well.

“It’s like when you cut an apple in half and it turns brown,” explains Greg Butler, Mar-

garet’s husband and Dublin Cleaners’ bridal cleaning specialist. Exposure to air and sunlight cause unwanted yellowing over time. The key to keeping that bridal-white beauty is an acid-free environment that inhibits oxidation.

Preserving your dress does just that: After a cleaning—and repairs, when needed—to make sure the wedding gown is in pristine condition, it’s sealed in an acid-free box to prevent oxidation over time. When you want to take the dress out down the road, the box comes with gloves and handling instructions to ensure it retains a long life.

When it comes to who preserves the dress for you, options include national companies and local cleaners.

Shipping it to a national company might sound convenient, but it also means brides are distanced from what’s being done to their dress—and who’s doing it. On the other end of the spectrum, local experts like Margaret and Greg support brides being more involved.

“When we have finished [cleaning] their gown, we encourage the brides to come in and look at it” before it’s sealed in the preservation chest, Margaret says. “We want them to see it all the way around, top to bottom.”

Victoria Hutta-Magness, who wed Daniel Magness on Aug. 26, 2017, had her wedding gown preserved for posterity … but also because of some pop culture influence.

Andrea Lemasters sought Dublin Cleaners’ expertise based on a recommendation from her seamstress. (Style & Story Creative)

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COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

Your Dress is Here.

Your appointment is waiting.

Experience TWIRL Book Your Appointment Today!

Dublin Cleaners preserved Victoria Hutta-Magness’ gown after she married Dan Magness. (Style & Story Creative)

“I have grandiose ideas,” she says, “like Sex and the City.” It seems—fittingly—that Carrie Bradshaw’s iconic Vogue wedding photo shoot persists in the memory of many a bride.

For Hutta-Magness, staying local was enticing because it allowed her to see and talk with the people handling her wedding gown. “I liked physically handing it to someone and physically picking it up myself,” she says.

Margaret has another theory about why more brides are opting for local cleaners: the wealth of bridal boutiques in Columbus.

Columbus bride Andrea Lemasters—who married Steve Lemasters on July 15, 2017— chose to stay local after a recommendation from her bridal salon’s seamstress. She took the recommendation to heart because preserving her wedding gown was never an “if” question for her.

“My mom has her wedding dress, my sister has her wedding dress and my grandma has her wedding dress,” Lemasters says. She hopes that one day, she too might have a daughter who will want a piece of her dress and the family tradition.

Whatever a bride’s reason for preserving, one thing will always be the same: As time goes by, unpreserved wedding gowns will yellow, and their untreated stains will brown. The only way to ensure your gown stays immaculate is to place it in the care of a qualified professional.

Bridal & Prom Boutique 101 N. DETROIT ST. KENTON • 419-674-4878

Schedule Your Appointment Online - twirlbride.com

(614) 335-9206 www.dublinweddinggowns.com www.dublincleaners.com www.newalbanycleaners.com

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style accessories

So Clutch Phone, lip gloss, mirror … whatever you have, carry your stuff in style on your big day.

PHOTOS BY ROB HARDIN

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT, Adrianna Papell “Sigrid” in silver, $92; MICHAEL Michael Kors medium chain clutch in gold/white, $108; Adrianna Papell “Seta” in latte, $52; I.N.C. “Ninaa” in white, $99.50; MICHAEL Michael Kors medium chain clutch in gold, $108; Adrianna Papell “Stefania” in silver, $68; I.N.C. “Leesie” in champagne/silver, $79.50; Adrianna Papell “Norah” in champagne, $92; I.N.C. “Mahdie” in silver, $129.50; MICHAEL Michael Kors “Jade” in optic white, $298; all from Macy’s.

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accessories style

Kenneth’s Hair Salon tucked a delicate, boho arrangement into Chelsey Scotts’ loose curls when she wed Sonny Unverferth on Oct. 13, 2017.

(Together We Click)

Flower Power The do’s and don’ts of floral accessories in your wedding-day hair

BY CHELSEA CASTLE Fresh or faux, wearing flowers in your ’do is nothing new. But brides are embracing the trend in original ways, incorporating blooms into their hairstyles on their big days. Local florists, hairstylists and brides all have tips on how to make it work and what you need to know to pull off the look in your own way.

If you’re considering wearing flowers in your hair, you have several options: the tradi-

tional flower crown (the larger, more expensive choice), a comb or clip (the simple route) or weaving them loosely into a braid or updo (more boho and creative freedom). Once you’ve decided on a basic method, florists and hairstylists agree that Pinterest inspirations are a great place to start.

Kim Meacham, owner of The Paper Daisy Flower Boutique, usually matches hair flowFALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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©2018 DAVID D ID’ S BRIDAL

the adventure begins Make it a day to remember.

Visit davidsbridal.com or call 877.923.2743 for an appointment.

COLUMBUS, OH

Celebrate

your special day in The Dispatch Place your wedding and anniversary announcements in The Sunday Dispatch by emailing celebrations@ dispatch.com or by calling 614.888.8888.

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COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

Flower crowns adorned the heads of Jessie Anderson and her flower girls.

(Sanchez Studio)

ers to the bouquet or sticks with neutrals, as they’re more photogenic and less likely to distract from the bride.

“We can really use anything, as it’s similar to corsage work; we just have to do it the day of or day before,” Meacham says.

“Baby’s breath [and] succulents are superpopular and great options, because they look nice and last really well out of water.”

Other good, live choices are wax flowers— they’re hearty and don’t fall apart—spray roses and eucalyptus, says Katie McLemore of Bloomtastic Flowers and Events.

While most florists prefer using live versus faux flowers, there is one thing to look out for: “There are some flowers that are the most common for people to be allergic to, so we try to steer away from those in case the bride doesn’t know if she’s allergic, or if other people around her might be,” Meacham explains.

Local newlywed Chelsey Scott loves the live flowers she wore at her October 2017 wedding, but advises brides to keep in mind the accessory’s placement.

“Every time I would lean in or touch somebody, [the flower] would get a little smashed,” she says. “If you have it directly on the side of your head, something to consider is when you’re hugging people or dancing, it might get smooshed.”

When it comes to styling, take into account your hair type. If your hair is fine or thin, a smaller bud would be easier to style because it won’t have a lot of weight.

If your hair is thicker, it can likely handle a larger flower. “The thicker the hair, the more adventurous you can be,” says Gary Motto, a senior director hair artist with PENZONE Salon + Spas.

The biggest advice of all: plan time for a trial hair session. If you’re having live flowers for the big day, Motto recommends getting similar faux flowers from a craft store for your stylist to experiment with in advance.

Square One Salon requires all brides to have a trial to help eliminate potential stress on the big day. It’s also incredibly beneficial to run through what the flower placement will be and how it will feel.

“They’ll do the full hair style,” says Laura Belle, general manager at Square One. “[Brides] will bring in their combs, flowers, veils, whatever hair accessories they’ll be wearing the day of, so they can really feel what that clip is going to feel like in their hair.” That trial run helps the bride and her stylist determine if the bloom has enough staying power on its own or if it needs a clip or a different styling technique to keep it in place, she adds.

Still deciding between real and faux? The latter might be less expensive and easier to work with. Motto says that faux flowers are easier to work with because the stems are sturdier. His solution for live flowers:Wrap masking tape that matches your hair color around the stem to add support.

While faux flowers have their advantages, Meacham is quick to note how precious real ones are, and how beautifully ephemeral they are in their significance.

“That day is super-special, and having real flowers is fleeting, too,” she says. “Real flowers are kind of a luxury and something special, and the fact that they are fleeting and only there in that moment and then they just exist in pictures—something about that is special.”

rings style

Mix It Up With gold, rose gold and silver hues all trending, why choose just one metal for your rings? We turned to Worthington Jewelers and Alexanders Jewelers for some mixed-metal options for guys and gals alike. There’s more to love, too; check out cbuswedmag.com/Rings for close-up views of these pieces and others. —Emma Frankart Henterly

PHOTO BY ROB HARDIN

1 Bruening 18k yellow and white gold band, $1,400; 2 Simon G 18k white and rose gold engagement ring with 0.16ctw diamond band and side accents, $1,540 (setting only); 3 White and yellow gold band in 14k or 18k, $994-$1,514; 4 Jack Kelége 18k white and rose gold engagement ring with 0.92ctw diamond band and halo, $5,750 (setting only); 5 Claude Thibaudeau 14k white and yellow gold engagement ring with 1ct diamond, $5,300, and Jack Kelége 18k yellow gold band with 2ctw diamonds, $3,499; 6 Carlex cobalt and 18k yellow gold band, $1,029; 7 Cobalt and black cobalt band, $444; 8 Bridal by Worthington 14k white and rose gold engagement ring with 0.33ctw diamond halo, $1,595 (setting only); 9 Bridal by Worthington 14k white and rose gold engagement ring with 0.36ctw diamond band and halo, $1,575 (setting only); 10 Simon G 14k gray and rose gold band, $2,400; 11 14k white and rose gold cigar band with 0.35ctw diamonds, $2,490; 12 14k white and rose gold engagement ring with 0.18ctw diamond band, $1,365 (setting only), and Fana Bridal band in 14k white and rose gold with 0.45ctw diamonds, $2,250.

1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 10 from Alexanders Jewelers; 3, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12 from Worthington Jewelers FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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style rings Becky and John Shaffers’ rings, all from Worthington Jewelers (Hillary Ferguson Photography)

Diamonds, Decoded What the four Cs mean for your stone (and your wallet)

BY EMILY THOMPSON From the proposal to the presentation of wedding bands, traditionally the most important engagement and wedding-day accessories are rings. And while you likely already have an idea of what kind of ring you or your partner might want, this may be your first experience buying fine jewelry. Just as with any other investment, you want to do your research so you know what you’re looking for. Start with this guide to the “four Cs” of diamonds, as developed by the Gemological Institute of America: cut, color, clarity and carat.

Cut First things first, says Worthington Jewelers manager Theresa Capace: The cut of a diamond is not the shape of the stone.

Whereas the shape is often a literal description—round, oval, pear—the cut actually refers to how well the stone was cut according to the GIA’s standards.

Not all diamonds are GIA-graded, but many jewelers refer to this system to assess the quality and value of the stone. The grades range from excellent to poor and are based on the symmetry and proportion of the diamond; an excellent-cut diamond is more “brilliant,” or reflects more light and sparkle.

Color Similarly, the GIA grades the color of the stone, from D to Z. “When talking about the color grade of a diamond, what is actually being looked at is the absence of color,” says Gabe Truxall, on-site diamond buyer for the Diamond Cellar. A grade of D means the diamond is completely transparent, like a raindrop—and super rare. Moving down the scale, the stone gets closer to a noticeably yellow tint. As with the cut, the price moves according to grade scale—the higher the grade, the higher the price tag. Diamonds graded as D, E and F are considered colorless, while grades G through J offer more budget-friendly, near-colorless options.

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Clarity “Almost all diamonds have imperfections because they’re formed very deep down in the earth,” says Cheryl Claypoole, marketing manager for Worthington Jewelers. The GIA’s clarity grade rates the imperfections— both internal “inclusions” and external “blemishes”—of the diamond. Here you’re looking at a scale from “flawless” down to three levels of inclusions (with “I3” at the bottom). The diamonds with the lowest clarity ratings have flaws visible to the naked eye. Top grades require magnification and a highly trained eye to see any imperfections.

Carat Here’s where that fifth C—cost—really comes in. Carat refers to the stone’s weight, which ultimately depends on the size and how well it was cut, Truxall says. And the carat weight— a metric carat is 200 milligrams—determines much of the final cost of the ring. “When you hit the 1-carat mark, diamonds automatically

jump in price,” Claypoole says. Going even one step—or “point”—below 1 carat, to 0.99 carat, can make a difference in cost.

If you’re set on 1 carat but your budget isn’t budging, Claypoole recommends considering a half-carat stone with a “halo” setting of smaller surrounding diamonds. Or you could select a smaller diamond—say, 0.9 carat—with a slightly shallow cut that creates a larger diameter and looks, to the naked eye, very similar to a 1-carat stone.

Another option offered by many jewelers, including Diamond Cellar and Worthington Jewelers: Choose a smaller carat size now and eventually trade up to a larger size.

Perhaps most importantly, Capace, Claypoole and Truxall say you shouldn’t push yourself beyond your budget and let a beautiful occasion become a financial burden.

And, as Truxall adds, when you’re in love, the person you’re buying a ring for probably isn’t too concerned about that price tag, anyway.

bridal party style

Color Me Happy Navigate bridesmaid dress colors in a way that works for everyone.

BY CHELSEA CASTLE

TOP, Stephanie Shockey’s bridesmaids wore a blush Bill Levkoff gown from Wendy’s Bridal (AddVision Studios); ABOVE, One of Jordan Guinn’s bridesmaids in a flattering burgundy gown purchased from an online retailer (Hillary Ferguson Photography); BELOW, A variety of cuts in a dusty rose hue worked well for Elizabeth Barry’s ladies (Dan Buckley Photography).

It’s every bridesmaid’s nightmare—or one of them, at least: The bride selects a color that is unflattering. Local boutique owners have sound advice on selecting colors that work for the wedding palette and the bridesmaids’ complexions to avoid such a scenario.

“When choosing bridesmaids’ dresses, the bride should be considerate of her bridesmaids while still remaining true to her vision,” says White of Dublin owner Heather DiMasi. “If the bride knows a color she likes will not be flattering on most people, she should probably avoid choosing dresses in that color—her bridesmaids and her photographer will all be happy.” That hard-to-wear color can then be used in other ways: table linens, floral arrangements or stationery accents.

Times have changed, notes Teri Misener, buyer at Universe Bridal & Prom, and many brides are bucking traditions or unspoken rules about what colors their leading ladies can wear. More and more brides are working with their bridesmaids as a team to find colors and styles that make everybody happy.

“Brides are letting their bridesmaids pick different styles—that in itself is huge, because we never used to see that,” Misener says.

The elegantly mismatched trend—one dress in different colors or one color in different styles—is best achieved when you stay within the same type of fabric and same designer.

This will keep your bridesmaids from looking too “circus-y,” as Misener puts it.

“You want them to look like part of the wedding and not like guests at the wedding,” she says.

Some colors, like black and navy blue, are safe options because they can be universally flattering. Others can be trickier to pull off, DiMasi notes.

“Pale blush is a color that has been trending for some time in weddings,” she says. “It is a beautiful hint of color that keeps palettes neutral, classy and timeless. These pale hues are beautiful on most darker-complexioned women. If you have bridesmaids in your wedding party who are fair, brides may want to consider leaning more toward a blush pink with a tad more color, as the paler tones tend to wash fairer complexions out.”

Brides can try different shades of the same hue—think periwinkle mixed with navy—or mix it up by having everyone weigh in with their color choices and going with popular opinion. But at the end of the day, Misener says, it’s ultimately the bride’s decision.

“In my opinion, it is and always will be up to the bride,” she explains. “It is her special day; you [as a bridesmaid] should be honored to be in this wedding and abide by her wishes. At the end of the day, a happy bride is a happy, happy situation.”

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style bridal party Tanya Hartman with shop dog Chewie at Gilded Social

Made for ’Maids A new boutique in Downtown Columbus focuses exclusively on the bride’s leading ladies.

AS TOLD TO EMMA FRANKART HENTERLY This January, Tanya Hartman bought La Jeune Mariee Maids, the bridesmaid component of the Downtown bridal boutique La Jeune Mariee, moving the shop to a second-floor storefront on Gay Street and renaming it Gilded Social – The Fancy Occasion Shop.

Columbus Weddings spoke with Hartman— former director of the Center for Public Investment Management in Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel’s office—in February, just before the shop’s grand opening celebration.

How does your shop differ from other boutiques?

Well, there aren’t any other shops in Columbus that sell to bridesmaids exclusively; we want to cater to the bridesmaid just as much as the bride. You’re our customer; you’re the one who’s spending money with us, so we’re going to treat you just as great as the bride.

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One thing I’m really proud of is that we have at least one plus-size sample for every line we carry—at minimum, one to two dresses from each line, so customers can see how that designer fits, since every designer cuts on the same pattern for all their dresses.

That’s great! What sparked that decision?

I had a party that came in, probably the second Saturday that I worked myself, and two of the girls couldn’t try on anything in the store. Not a single thing. I was heartbroken for them. We want people to know that at Gilded Social, it’s an inclusive process. We don’t want you to feel like just because you’re not an 8, 10 or 12—and frankly, neither am I;

I’m like a 14—that you still can’t come have a great experience. My whole focus is on that elevated bridesmaid experience.

Is there anything else that elevates the shopping experience at your store?

I am a big believer in, if I as the business owner just spend a little bit more money— having fresh flowers, offering Champagne, having a really nice, open, comfortable space to be in—that makes a difference. We made our dressing rooms just as big as any bridal boutique might make their dressing rooms.

I want people to feel like the experience was worthy of how much they’re spending on these dresses.

PHOTO: TIM JOHNSON

Your background is in politics and government. How did you end up owning your own retail business?

I have always loved weddings, and before I worked for the state, I had my own fundraising consulting business. Being in fundraising lends itself to a lot of event planning, but I really never necessarily wanted to do wedding planning as a career. I loved planning my wedding, but I didn’t know if I would love planning everyone else’s.

Back in September, I started to kind of get the itch to change jobs. I did not know what I wanted to do; I just knew that I wanted to do something creative that I could make a living with. I met Lindsay Fork, the owner of La Jeune Mariee, at the launch of The Scout Guide in mid-October.

Within 10 minutes of us talking, she said, “I’ll sell you my ’maids store.”

I think the first time we talked seriously about the sale was maybe Nov. 2, and we closed on Dec. 8. It went smoothly, I think, because both Lindsay and I were so committed to getting it done, and we wanted to have it totally separate at the end of last year. It was fast, but that was a good way to do it.

menswear style

LEFT AND BOTTOM RIGHT, Albert Watson’s custom ensemble included two different jackets for his Sept. 9, 2017, wedding to Ashley (Hillary Ferguson Photography); TOP RIGHT, Trent Stechschulte and his husband, Logan Smyth, both opted for custom tuxedos for their wedding at the Columbus Museum of Art (Style & Story Creative).

Tailor-made Custom suits and tuxedos provide added flair.

BY PETER TONGUETTE For many grooms, a well-tailored, off-the-rack suit or a spiffy rented tuxedo is all that’s needed to walk down the aisle in style.

Some husbands-to-be, however, want duds that stand out.

In planning his marriage to Ashley Turner in September 2017, Albert Watson sought the services of Persona Custom Clothiers.

“We wanted to do something fresh, something exciting, something new,” Watson says, “and [to] switch it up a little bit.”

Persona fashioned a pair of suits for Watson. For the wedding, he donned an elaborately patterned green jacket with black lapels; instead of going the traditional route, he allowed himself to be inspired by the colors chosen for the wedding by his bride-tobe. “She had the color scheme that we put together, and so I just went from there,”

Watson says. For the reception, he slipped into a gold jacket with black lapels. Both, Watson says, fit him perfectly.

In fact, pinpoint measurements are the hallmark of custom clothing. For example, Balani Custom Clothiers in the Short North makes note of 30 measurements, including the wrist and shoulder pitch, to create a suit—more than might be required to create a typical wedding dress, according to Balani president Christian Boehm.

“In any given day, someone can walk in the door that looks like Santa Claus, looks like Arnold Schwarzenegger, looks like Danny DeVito or looks like Michael Phelps,” says Boehm. “We have to not just fit them but also listen, as part of the consultative process, to how they want to be perceived on their special day.”

Balani grooms have control over an array of details, including the fabric, lapel types and buttons. Carissa Abele, custom stylist at Balani, says that all tastes can be accommodated.

“I have a mix, actually, between very conservative, black-tie weddings and also some more fashion-forward, funkier patterns,” she says.

For clients who want the ultimate customization, Abele says she can design a suit or

tux with a monogram or wedding date sewn under the jacket collar.

For their wedding in August 2017, Logan Smyth and Trent Stechschulte looked to Balani to craft custom, albeit very traditional, tuxedos. The decision “was really more so for the fit, to make sure they looked great,” Smyth says.

At Balani, garments can be made in six to eight weeks, but Abele advises planning early.

“I recommend people doing it as soon as six months prior to [the big day],” she says.

“Typically, the grooms seem to be a little bit more last-minute than the brides, who have to actually order their outfits about eight months in advance.”

Approximately three weeks before the wedding, Abele says, a fitting ensures that any weight fluctuation since the measurements were taken is accounted for.

With the right planning, menswear made to order can have a life beyond the exchange of vows.

“It’s kind of a keepsake thing,” Smyth says. “Ideally, we’ll still fit in them for several years. Even if we outgrow them, we’ll still have that to hold onto.”

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style menswear

Thinking Outside the Box Grooms share the hidden meaning behind their favorite wedding accessories.

BY KATIE ANNARINO Whether it’s LEGO cufflinks or socks that proclaim the wearer’s favorite football team, modern grooms are trading the traditional for the unique in their accessories, creating memories that will stand the test of time along the way.

“When most people think of a suit or tuxedo, they think of it as being cut-anddried, but men are choosing to personalize them,” says Jon Roberts, store manager at American Commodore Tuxedo. “Whether it’s cufflinks for the guys as a groomsmen gift or Superman socks, they are creating keepsakes and having fun with the process.”

Navin Muni and Navya Parsa, who were married on Aug. 5, 2017, wanted to incorporate unique style choices into their traditional Indian wedding ceremony.

Usually, Indian grooms wear a kurta— a traditional tunic-style garment that, for weddings, is typically white and red—but Parsa knew that Muni didn’t want to wear the traditional colors. When she went to India to purchase various items for the wedding, she was on the lookout for something more unique for her husband-to-be.

“He’s all about colors, so I found him a really nice blue, red and green outfit,” she explains. “The kurta was blue with accents of gold and green. It was very colorful.”

Muni’s decision to wear non-traditional colors during the ceremony was not his only unique style choice. He also donned hot-pink LEGO cufflinks and art-inspired socks for the reception as a means of incorporating the couple’s own story into the wedding.

“I wanted to be traditional and also stand out, compared to everyone else,” he says. “I did the dark suit, but Navya knows I like to stand out, so she gave me the cufflinks for my birthday with the idea that I would wear them on the wedding day. It was the perfect present.”

Muni wanted to return the favor. “For the reception, I wore two different socks,” he explains. “One of Navya’s favorite paintings 56

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT, Navin Muni sported LEGO cufflinks from his wife, Navya Parsa (Style & Story Creative); Tim Kerrigan displayed his love for the Goonies on his sleeve (Together We Click); Jeff Kopco’s nod to personal style was more subtle (Derk’s Works Photography); a checkered tie suited Nick Fisher just fine (Kimberly Potterf Photography); Patrick West opted to have his initials embroidered on his cuffs (Dan Buckley Photography); Ron Thorpe chose a classic watch as a finishing touch (Together We Click).

Donald Youell gave his groomsmen socks representing their favorite collegiate football teams to personalize their looks on his wedding day. (Nicole Dixon Photographic)

in the world is ‘The Birth of Venus’ by Sandro Botticelli, so I found a pair of socks that had that. I wore another sock with a Norman Rockwell painting of a boy and his little girlfriend and a dog, which represented us, because we have a puppy as well.”

The painting, “Boy and Girl Gazing at the Moon”—also known as “Puppy Love”— depicts a young couple entranced by the moon, seated on a rickety bench that wraps under their weight. His arm wraps around her and she leans into him, resting her head on his shoulder. Muni’s choice to incorporate these iconic works of art reflected his desire to set their story apart from so many others, as well as honor his bride’s personality.

For him, it wasn’t about creating an experience for their guests as much as it as it was about being a part of an inside joke or intimate secret that highlighted their unique journey as a couple.

On a day that will yield thousands of pictures, many of which will be posted on social media sites and remain there indefinitely, it’s becoming even more important to couples that those images represent them.

“We live in an era of more and more pictures, and grooms want to feel like themselves in those moments,” says Roberts.

Couples that want to remain consistent with a traditional, formal style might have concerns that adding bold accessories would disrupt the integrity of their wedding. However, it’s becoming acceptable to include those details even if they don’t fit perfectly with the overall style of the event, Roberts says.

Donald “Rudy” Youell, who married Molly (Koniewich) Youell on July 29, 2017, wanted to include the very details that would stand out, and, like Muni, he used socks as an accessory that tells a story—and wanted his groomsmen to do so as well.

“Some of the groomsmen wore their alma mater; most were just favorite college football teams,” he says. “I’m a big goofball and a football fan, and I wanted to do something subtle but fun for the guys— plus, I felt like I needed to put my own stamp on the day.”

For Youell, presenting his groomsmen with their own individualized socks was the perfect way to put his stamp on the wedding and give keepsakes that people would hold on to.

“Not only do those touches personalize the wedding for them, but they are presenting a fun atmosphere for the groomsmen and building camaraderie,” says Roberts.

Meticulous care and attention is given to those invisible details, yet many times, those unique accessories are hard to spot.

However, in Youell’s case, the socks were front and center.

“Some of my groomsmen got their suits fitted, but a few of them didn’t try them on [until] right before,” he recalls. “Some of their pants were a little tight, so when they walked around or sat down, you could definitely see the socks. I loved it.”

Not only are accessories a great way to personalize a wedding, they provide a level of comfort and authenticity for grooms like Youell, a self-proclaimed “jeans and t-shirt” kind of guy.

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style beauty

Molly Youell opted for a light pink lip and minimal eye makeup on her wedding day.

(Nicole Dixon Photographic)

Au Naturel Achieve a naturally beautiful glow on your wedding day

BY EMMA FRANKART HENTERLY

If there’s one constant about beauty trends, it’s that they never stick around for long.

Today’s brides are shying away from the ultra-intense glam makeup looks of the last few seasons, instead favoring a softer, natural aesthetic for their big days.

“I definitely think that [natural makeup] is something that brides have been doing this year a lot,” says Sophia Ruhe, aesthetician and makeup artist at PENZONE Salon + Spa Dublin. “I think it’s because they want to look more like themselves.”

Think: Less heavy-duty contour and dramatic, smoky eyes, and a shift toward dewier, romantic vibes that draw attention to your best features. “I think it has a lot to do with the more understated look and 58

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wanting to be able to recognize themselves, but still feel really pretty,” says Amber Ready, a makeup artist and hair stylist at J. Bentley Hair Studio and Day Spa. “Trends in general—even with hair—everything is becoming a lot more soft and romantic.”

Ruhe achieves this style of makeup by focusing on soft, pink or peachy blushes with lots of natural-looking highlight for that dewy glow.

“I really try to emphasize their eyebrows and their eyes as well,” she adds. “No one wants winged eyeliner anymore, so I have to make sure that I open up the eyes without putting too much of that eye makeup on.”

Ruhe and Ready, as well as J. Bentley aesthetician Kelly Vavrek, all agree that the best way to emphasize the eye without heavy

makeup is by creating long, fluttery lashes.

If your lashes are naturally long and full, Ready suggests a combination lash perm and tint; the former adds curl and lift to the lashes for about 10 weeks, while the tint darkens the existing lash to the tip for four to six weeks.

For those who need more of a boost, Ready and Vavrek recommend either eyelash extensions, which bind individual false lashes to your natural hairs and lasts six to eight weeks, or a serum such as Revitalash, which adds length and fullness in about six weeks that lasts as long as you continue using the product. Of course, using the everpopular false lashes for just the wedding day itself is a great option as well.

“A lot of brides will [tell us], ‘I want to look like I have a Snapchat filter on my face,’” Ready says. “They want to look smooth and airbrushed or filtered, essentially.” And while she and Vavrek aren’t seeing many clients request airbrushed makeup specifically—thanks to advancements in primer, foundation and setting sprays that can achieve a flawless finish on their own— Ruhe still uses the professional application technique on many of her brides.

The final component to achieving a flawless, natural wedding-day look, Ruhe adds,

ABOVE, Chelsey Scott’s wedding-day makeup matched her laid-back, boho vibe (Together We Click); BELOW, Becky Shaffer’s matron of honor created a classic look for the big day (Hillary Ferguson Photography).

is having a great skincare routine in place long before the big day. “Sometimes, when they come in for their trial makeup, I’m like, ‘OK, you have homework. You need to add a moisturizer to your skincare routine. That way, the day of your wedding, we don’t have to use as much makeup.’”

According to Ruhe, an ideal skincare routine should start at least six months before your wedding and include a cleanser, a serum that contains vitamin C and two moisturizers—one with SPF for daytime wear and one with retinol for the evening.

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style beauty

Prep Work Plan to start your beauty routine long before your wedding day.

BY EMMA FRANKART HENTERLY

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that heals and we can see how your skin is responding to that pigment, at the following appointment we do shading.” She says clients typically wait four to six weeks between the two appointments, and she recommends that brides come in for their initial consult about six months before the wedding. That gives the skin time to heal after the final shading appointment, which gives a soft, powdery finish to the brow.

Squeamish about the idea of a brow tattoo? Don’t be; Maynard says anyone who can handle tweezing or waxing should be able to get through a blading procedure. “Your first pass is just a little scratchy,” she explains.

“Then we’re going to apply a numbing gel, and that reduces the sensation.”

Whether you’re looking for a simple facial or a more intense, months-long regimen, the key is to get an early start on a personalized treatment plan. “The great thing about our office is that we have many options,” says Maynard. “We are not an advocate for a treatment. … We are an advocate for our patients. We want each patient to have a customized directive.”

FOR THE GUYS

Skincare treatments aren’t just for the ladies! Dina Maynard, an aesthetician and director of medical aesthetics at The Sullivan Centre, has several noninvasive recommendations for grooms who don’t want to worry about recovery time: Ultherapy – This procedure uses ultrasound to tighten and lift the skin, especially around the eyes and brow. “Many men start to have a heavy brow [as they age],” Maynard says. “Their brows fall down, and it closes the eyes. So all this does is just open up the eye so subtly; it makes them feel like their brow isn’t as closed and heavy.”

Microdermabrasion – An advanced exfoliation technique, microdermabrasion uses crystals—or, in the case of The Sullivan Centre, a diamondchip-tipped wand—to gradually slough off impurities in the top layer of skin.

Intense pulsed light – IPL uses fluorescent light to treat a number of skin concerns. “It reduces oiliness through the nose and the cheeks; it can reduce redness, visible veins, capillaries and, of course, any of those little brown spots,” Maynard says.

PHOTO: © 2018 THINKSTOCK

To the newly engaged, the days of hair and makeup trials are a long way off. And while beauty goals certainly don’t rank high on the list of immediate priorities, like setting a date and a budget, the savvy bride would do well to start thinking about them early in the planning process.

“We love it when brides come in and say, ‘I just got engaged!’ ” says Dina Maynard, an aesthetician and director of medical aesthetics at The Sullivan Centre. That amount of lead time, she explains, allows a bride to work with her aesthetician to identify goals and develop a plan to achieve them.

“It’s really looking at the skin as an organ and making sure that as a whole, it’s going to be beautiful in your dress,” Maynard says. “Most women … are wearing sleeveless, strapless, open dresses, and we want to make sure that the skin of the face, the neck, the chest, the shoulders and the back all blend beautifully together.”

Brides often opt for a multiservice package that starts with a chemical peel, she explains, which is followed four weeks later by a microneedling treatment. Four weeks after that is an intense pulsed light treatment. Combined, those services reduce acne scarring, fine lines and brown spots—the three main skin concerns for most women, according to Maynard.

Another popular pre-wedding procedure for brides is microblading, the new, semipermanent brow tattoo technique. Microbladed brows are designed to fade in six months to two years, so you can keep up with evolving brow trends. (Compare, for example, the pencil-thin brows of the ’90s with the fuller styles favored today.)

“What I tend to do for most people is what we call ‘blade and shade,’ ” says Maynard. “We start out creating the structure of the brow, creating strokes. And then as

style flowers

What’s in a Name?

Do you know the difference between a posy and a nosegay? Is a composite bouquet stylistically appropriate for your bohemian gown? Wonder no more. These illustrations explain everything there is to know about different types of bouquets; real-life examples on the following pages show local florists’ take on a few of the most popular. —Emma Frankart Henterly

ILLUSTRATIONS BY MAYA JENKINS PHOTOS BY ROB HARDIN

1 CASCADE What it is: A dramatic “waterfall” of flowers and greenery that literally cascades from the hands of the holder 6 NOSEGAY What it is: A versatile, compact cluster of blooms with stems cut to a uniform length and wrapped in ribbon

Perfect for: Outdoor and formal ceremonies alike, depending on stems used and the size of the arrangement 2 COMPOSITE What it is: Less common but no less striking, this arrangement is composed of the buds and petals from a single type of flower, arranged to look like an enormous version of that flower.

Perfect for: Brides who want to make a big impact without carrying an armful of blooms 62

Perfect for: Brides and bridesmaids in casual and formal weddings alike 3 ROUND What it is: A classic bridal bouquet, characterized by a large, even globe of similarly colored or sized flowers

4 POMANDER What it is: A perfect sphere of flowers that dangles from a ribbon, which doubles as a handle

Perfect for: A formal wedding in a church or ballroom

Perfect for: Flower girls and junior bridesmaids, as well as aisle décor

COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

5 HAND-TIED What it is: A large, densely packed arrangement of blooms with a healthy dose of greenery and a variety of shapes and textures Perfect for: Bohemian brides and outdoor weddings

7 POSY What it is: A petite arrangement of flowers, often small enough to be held in one hand Perfect for: Bridesmaids, as well as brides who don’t want to haul around a large arrangement

ORCHARD LANE FLOWERS Large and loose, this wild hand-tied bouquet features roses, garden roses, peonies and scabiosa. The ruffly blooms are complemented by structured hyacinth, mini calla and leucadendron blooms.

Fern, ruscus and blackberry leaf add volume and texture.

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style flowers

DESANTIS FLORIST Orange leonidas roses and rust hypericum berries star in this posy, which is accented with gold-painted eucalyptus leaves and variegated pittosporum.

A rust-and-gold ribbon wraps the stems.

This textured posy features yellow and gold ranunculus with purple solidago and seeded eucalyptus. A yellow ribbon, accented with raffia, leaves some of the stems exposed.

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THE PAPER DAISY FLOWER BOUTIQUE The dramatic boho cascade is anchored by striking pink protea blooms and roses, with accents of spray roses and cymbidium orchid.

Silver dollar eucalyptus and cedar boughs create length in the arrangement.

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style flowers

Cool Blooms These seasonal alternatives to sunny weather’s favorite looks prove fall and winter weddings deserve the spotlight, too.

BY JACKIE MANTEY Mother Nature loves you: Almost anything you want in a floral arrangement is possible now, no matter what time of year you say “I do.”

Mother Nature loves you not: There are a few caveats to finding this foliage.

“Between the growers in California, Holland and South America, many flowers that were once seasonal are available almost yearround,” says florist Kim Meacham. “Even some of those, when ordered off-season, are expensive and the quality isn’t reliable, so we always make that [clear] to couples and have a few backup options available.”

Meacham’s the owner of The Paper Daisy Flower Boutique in the Short North, beloved for its cozy but cosmopolitan style—and its canine team member, Melvin Stanley.

Roses, dahlias, mums and more made up the bridal bouquet at Elizabeth Barry and Robert Keller’s wedding.

(Dan Buckley Photography)

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“He has quite a few customers who stop in just to see him,” Meacham says. “He obviously loves all flowers like the rest of us, but his favorites are the pet-friendly varieties like roses, orchids and snapdragons.”

Professionals like Meacham know the rules of horticulture—from finding the best bloom for your Best Dog or knowing which plants are available when, without costing you an arm and a leg (or those dream heels).

If visions of sun-kissed peonies and peach-colored blooms dance in your head, Meacham and Kasey Conyers of Orchard Lane Flowers (another Central Ohio weddings mainstay, located in Clintonville) have suggestions for making floral selections that are right for the season, but still accomplish the look you’re dreaming of.

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TRY: DAHLIAS Peonies were once only available for a short time in the spring. Now, thanks to Alaskan greenhouses, Meacham says, they’re in-season again in mid to late summer. That doesn’t mean fall and winter brides need to cut the incredibly popular peony out of their plans, but they should be prepared to pay a price.

“Winter peonies are going to be extremely costly, as they are flown in to the U.S. from far-away farms in the Southern Hemisphere,” Conyers says. “They aren’t the most economical choice, but we can get them from other parts of the world if we need to.”

In-season peonies, Conyers says, should cost around $8 to $9 per stem. During the off-season you can expect to pay closer to $15 to $20 per stem.

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Meacham offers the similarly lush and bulbous dahlia as an alternative seasonal statement flower for fall.

“The Café au Lait dahlia is especially beautiful for weddings,” Mecham says, adding that they’re available from local growers into October.

This generous, dense bloom comes in other classic wedding colors—dusty peach, ivory, champagne and creamy pink—and has an elegant, ombre-like fade throughout its layered, geometric petals.

COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

Why stick to a season at all?

“Brides are having a lot of fun with their colors and breaking from the traditional ‘holiday’ or ‘winter’ colors,” Conyers says.

“They’re doing what feels right for their wedding, even if it’s not what you’d expect to see at that time of year.”

Blush pink, whites and heavy greens are still trending no matter what the weather, Meacham adds. Indeed, a good florist can make your wedding colors come to life no matter the season.

“We’re seeing a large range of colors and blooms being used in the winter,” Conyers says. “We had a lot of fun this past winter with bright whites, crisp greens and a touch of blue.”

If you like the traditional red holiday color palette, consider adding some contemporary fullness to it, she says: Mix a touch of blush with bright and deep reds and a strong burgundy.

TOP, DeSantis Florist created nosegays of calla lilies, hydrangea and more for Jen Swearingen and her ladies (AddVision Studios); MIDDLE, Jennifer Iuni assembled her own bouquet of roses, carnations, calla lilies for her November wedding (Hillary Ferguson Photography); BOTTOM, a mostly white bouquet of dahlias, astilbe, lisianthus, blue thistle and roses suited Ali Hillard Williams her wedding day (Lambert Photographs).

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Gilded Social CLOCKWISE FROM TOP, A late September wedding meant loose bouquets with roses, blue thistle, lisianthus and scabiosa for Kara Grant and her ’maids (Forget Me Knot Photography); Hilliard Floral Design created a wild arrangement of king protea, calla lilies, dahlias, lisianthus and more for Caitlyn Otey’s December wedding (Derk’s Works Photography); Maranda Amornyard West carried roses, mums, ranunculus, stock and more in bright blues and peaches in October 2017 (Dan Buckley Photography).

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White-on-white also makes a big impact, lending a high-end feel to a winter wonderland. Texture is key here: Allwhite arrangements of hydrangea with other textured flowers, Conyers suggests, subtly adds a richness to the look that can take it from simple to stunning.

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TRY: SATURATED JEWEL TONES Let the spring brides keep the all-light looks. A traditional range of fall wedding colors (think dark reds and burnt oranges) is still hot, and florists “tend to see more corals, yellows and oranges in the fall,” Meacham says.

There’s no denying the staying power of the blush-colored wedding trend, though, and if a light floral tops your color-lust list, try adding a complementary jewel tone to dramatize the composition. A juicy garnet, dark as pomegranate, with a splash of diamond-bright white adds class and balance to champagne pink’s bubbly style. Or add some emerald-colored greenery to elevate the rustic romance of fall’s burnt sunset hues.

“We love to mix in jewel tones or a make nice range of blush to pink, to fuschia, to burgundy for a really gorgeous color theme,” Conyers says.

“Our brides that trust our design skills allow us to take their color inspiration

and let us develop that into something with a little more depth.”

INSTEAD OF: TULIPS

TRY: AMARYLLIS, ANEMONE …

AND TULIPS Tulips are an iconic symbol that spring has sprung, but an all-white bouquet of tulips could be a striking selection for a bridal bouquet in the winter. And, surprise, they’re available pretty much year-round, Conyers says.

The amaryllis, a colorful cousin of the lily, and the eye-catching anemone are two popular flowers that are also available for winter weddings, Meacham adds.

INSTEAD OF: FLOWERING BUDS

TRY: WINTER’S BOUNTY “There are still things like flowering branches that are not available any time other than spring and really don’t have a good substitute,” Meacham says.

So florists get creative with the accents winter does provide, and just like accessorizing, editing floral accents is essential.

Meacham says well-placed evergreens and pine cones are lovely accents that can enhance the mood—not to mention the scent—of a magical winter setting. Red roses, pine leaves, berries and minimal greenery are among Conyers’ suggested accents for frosty-weather flowers.

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Megan and Brett King chose a popular Christian ritual—the lighting of the unity candle—for their October 2016 ceremony at Liberty Presbyterian Church.

(AddVision Studios)

From India to Africa to the American South, wedding traditions are as unique as the couples who celebrate them.

Keeping with Tradition

BY JESSICA SALERNO

Weddings center on tradition, and while many couples are throwing the rulebook out the window, those who incorporate cultural or societal traditions often look back on those classic moments as the most special. In weddings especially, the rituals the newly married couple perform can take on an even deeper meaning, connecting them to their heritage or creating a new memory to cherish.

Navya Parsa always knew she would incorporate the major aspects of a Hindu wedding into her ceremony.

“The most common thing we think of when it comes to American or Christian weddings is exchanging rings,” she says. “In India and most Hindu cultures, they didn’t exchange 72

COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

rings—although they do now because of the more modern Western convention. Our version of exchanging rings is when the groom ties a necklace on the bride’s neck.”

Parsa is describing the mangalsutra, a necklace that is traditionally tied with three knots by the groom. She cites this part of the ceremony as one of the highlights of her wedding to Navin Muni on Aug. 5, 2017.

“Each Indian culture is a little different and has their own version,” she says. Typically, the bride’s and groom’s families each have a pendant that the officiant puts on a special thread. “It’s a really simple cotton thread that he’s blessed and rubbed in turmeric and some vermillion paste, so it’s

yellow,” she explains. “During the wedding ceremony, the groom will tie the string on the bride’s neck, and after the ceremony the priest sanctifies the thread and will switch it out with a gold chain. Traditional Indian women who are married will wear a mangalsutra rather than a wedding band.”

Parsa says another important part of Hindu weddings is the time the couple is officially married, and it’s incorporated throughout the ceremony in various ways. The priest looks up each person’s horoscope to determine what specific time they should be officially wed.

Parsa says another of her favorite moments during the wedding was a ritual that takes place during this specific time.

“What we do to signify that is, we both have to place our hands on each other’s hands and make a vow or promise to each other,” she says. “Typically the bride and groom cannot see each other before that moment and they hold a curtain in front of the groom, who’s sitting at the altar.

When the bride walks in, she sits on the other side of the veil and the priest asks each of them to put their hand on each other’s heads from underneath the veil. When the priest has decided it’s time, he drops the veil.

I remember thinking ‘Oh my gosh, we’re actually married right now.’”

Most of Parsa’s guests were Indian and understood the rituals being performed, but to help those who might be less familiar with the Hindu wedding traditions, she created a program and timeline cards to map out everything that was happening and what it meant during their multiday ceremony.

Other Hindu traditions during the wedding included the groom placing toe rings on the bride, another signifier of a married woman, and walking together around a fire seven times, making seven different vows for each circle around the fire. With each circle, the bride and groom alternate who is leading the other—an indication that they’re equal within the bonds of marriage. (You can learn more about what takes place during a traditional Hindu wedding weekend in our photo essay on the following pages.)

For their September 2017 wedding, Ashley and Albert Watson considered many different rituals to symbolize their new union during the ceremony. One of the traditions they ultimately decided on was one they had seen others do for years growing up: the African ritual of jumping the broom.

“I always wanted to jump the broom at my wedding,” Ashley says.

During the tradition, the couple holds hands and jumps together over a broom, which might be elaborately decorated and is placed on the floor or held slightly above it.

Ashley says the tradition is a way of symbolizing coming together in their marriage, where the bride and groom are “jumping out” of being single and entering into a new phase of life together. It can also symbolize “sweeping away” a couple’s former, single life and all the problems that come with it.

“It played out exactly as I had hoped,” Ashley says. “It was wonderful.”

And though cultural traditions passed down generations can be significant, embracing new ones can be just as meaning-

Ashley and Albert Watson jumped the broom during their Aladdin Shrine Center wedding.

(Hillary Ferguson Photography)

ful. For their June 2016 wedding, Elizabeth Fiorile and Colin Kindgren chose a tradition that highlighted the spirit of their day.

“It’s a southern tradition, and we loved the idea that [to have] good weather on your wedding day, you have to bury a bottle of bourbon upside down in the ground that you’ll be married [on],” Fiorile says.

This tradition isn’t feasible for many—an indoor wedding is obviously problematic, and even outdoor venues require staff permission to dig up the grass. But for Fiorile and Kindgren, having the reception in the expansive front yard of their own home provided a workaround. (Their actual ceremony took place at the chapel at St. Charles Preparatory School.)

“There were so many fun elements of being married at home, this being one of them,” Fiorile says. “We were totally in control in whatever we wanted to do and it was really important to us to that the whole day feel like a big party, like an extension of ourselves.”

In another nod to tradition, Fiorile says they chose to serve Italian wedding cookies in lieu of cake, along with limoncello drinks, because it’s something her Italian family enjoys frequently after dinners, especially during the holidays.

As for the bourbon bottle, they dug it back up later and had a celebratory shot with their guests. The tradition seems to have worked: Fiorile notes that the weather was, indeed, beautiful.

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A Beginner’s Guide to an Indian Wedding Indian wedding traditions are as varied as their practitioners; we created this overview based on the ceremony of one Central Ohio couple, Navin Muni and Navya Parsa.

A traditional Indian Hindu wedding is a multiday affair with ceremonies taking place at specific points over several days. Before the day of the wedding itself, the bride and her female guests participate in a mehndi ceremony. Here, the women’s hands and feet are covered in intricate henna designs (1). Following that is a sangeet—a celebratory event with lots of dancing and sometimes dinner (2).

The wedding day itself starts with the baraat (sometimes spelled barat), a processional of the groom—who rides a horse adorned with festive attire—and his family and friends to the ceremony venue (3). The bride’s parents greet the groom and his family at the venue in a milni ceremony. The mother of the bride places a tilaka marking on the groom’s forehead (4) and performs an aarti blessing.

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PHOTOS: STYLE & STORY CREATIVE

BY EMMA FRANKART HENTERLY

When the bride enters the room, accompanied by male family members, she and the groom are separated by a screen (5, 6).

Together with their parents and the priest, they sit under a mandap—a four-pillared altar for the ceremony. When the priest decides the time is right, based on the couple’s horoscopes, the screen is dropped. The ceremony itself can consist of any number of rituals, but it often starts with the exchange of floral garlands called varmalas (7).

Other rituals within the ceremony may include the placing of the mangalsutra necklace around the bride’s neck, signifying her new status as a married woman, and the laaja homam, where the couple pours an offering of puffed rice into a sacred fire called the vivaah homa (8). There’s also the saptapadi, where the bride and groom take turns leading each other around the sacred fire seven times, making seven sacred promises, and the ashirwad blessings that close the ceremony.

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Write On! Writing your own vows doesn’t have to be daunting.

BY JESSICA SALERNO When it comes to your wedding, virtually everything can be personalized to fit you and your partner, including the vows you read to one another. These days, many couples choose to forego reciting more traditional vows in favor of writing something that feels more true to them.

That’s what Mindy and Damian Ettish had in mind when they considered the vows for their own wedding.

“We wanted it to be real and write vows that were representative of us,” says Mindy.

They weren’t having a traditional church ceremony and decided to create vows that were more personal in lieu of the standard promise of “for better or for worse.”

TOP, Mindy and Damian Ettish share their personal, heartfelt vows; BOTTOM, Lauren and Julian Sullinger’s vows were silly and sweet (both Dan Buckley Photography).

I promise to love you each and every day, to support you in all your efforts. I look forward to sharing my dreams with you and building those dreams into reality. I promise to rejoice in times of happiness and sustain you in times of trouble. I promise to make a home where you can be yourself and we can grow as one.

–Mindy Ettish, in her vows to husband, Damian

The couple started researching online, looking for templates that weren’t centered on religion. Mindy says she and Damian wanted to make sure the vows were the right length and tone and for their guests to feel like their words felt true to the couple, not as if they were reading something generic.

But while you and your partner might know you want to write your own vows, it can be intimidating to share some of your deepest feelings in front of a crowd, even if it is composed of loved ones.

Chase Waits of Columbus Wedding Officiants understands the hesitation some 76

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couples feel and says he works with them to find a solution that fits their comfort level for the ceremony while also expressing heartfelt sincerity.

“Sometimes couples will give me words they want to say about one another and have me read them aloud so they repeat after me,” Waits says. “Or sometimes, they’ll just have me read their letters to one another as part of their ceremony.”

Waits says that often, the couples who prefer to make their vows more personalized don’t know where to start, so he suggests a few prompts to get them thinking before they put pen to paper.

“Usually I tell them the couple of pieces you want to include in your vows [are] why you’re choosing to get married and what

brought you to this point,” Waits says. “Tell a story about when you first fell in love or you knew you were going to get married to one another.”

For couples who do write their own vows, Waits will review them separately to ensure they’re striking a similar tone. This is also what Lauren and Julian Sullinger asked Mark Harris, Lauren’s brother and their officiant, to do as well.

But first, Lauren and Julian collaborated with Harris on ideas they had and sentiments they wanted to get across. She says this helped her brother convey the appropriate tone and feeling throughout the wedding, because he understood them as a couple.

“We wanted to intertwine things about us and our relationship,” Lauren explains.

Do you promise to be there for Lauren, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, and during Thursday night live airings of Grey’s Anatomy? Do you promise to love Lauren unconditionally, showing unrelenting love in the midst of the most challenging situations—even when she sings top-100 hits but sounds like Mariah Carey circa 2017?

–Julian Sullinger’s vows to his wife, Lauren

“We’ve been together for 14 years and wanted to interject those things into our vows and make it light-hearted and fun.”

Fun details, like Julian being a Cleveland Browns fan and Lauren’s love for Justin Timberlake, were included. Lauren searched online for ideas about what other couples had included and used that as inspiration.

“The first few vows were more along the traditional lines of ‘I promise to love you,’ and then veered out into things that were funny and entertaining,” Lauren explains. Their guests loved the vows, she says, and were laughing along with the couple the entire time.

Do you promise to uplift Julian, spiritually, mentally and when the Browns blow a lead and lose at the buzzer (again)?

–Lauren Sullinger’s vows to her husband, Julian

For those feeling unsure or anxious about reading vows in front of their guests, Waits advises against it. Not fully enjoying the ceremony and anxiously waiting for your part to speak shouldn’t be how you remember those moments.

“You don’t want all your focus to be on the vows and whether or not you are speaking your words the right way,” Waits says.

Mindy suggests couples focus on themselves when writing their vows and try to avoid outside pressure to conform to commonly accepted phrases.

“The last thing you want to do is follow someone else’s words just because it sounds pretty, or generic ones because that’s what people are expecting,” she says. “Truly express how you feel and promise your love for each other.”

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main event reception Victoria Hutta-Magness and Daniel Magness’ dramatic Tuscan tablescape at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens’ Wells Barn included gold candelabras, elegant florals and gold-rimmed chargers.

(Style & Story Creative)

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Trends TOP 8

FOR 2018

What’s been hot in the first half of the year and what experts think will continue to smolder

BY EMMA FRANKART HENTERLY

The times, they are a-changin’, and while some aspects of a reception—like great music and an open bar— will never go out of style, local couples are embracing a variety of new and interesting ways to make their receptions uniquely theirs.

Here are a few of the most popular trends we and other Central Ohio wedding experts are noticing.

typical evening affair. Either way, a non-Saturday wedding will almost always be less expensive, says Karlie Halverson, senior event manager at Creekside Conference & Event Center in Gahanna. “Our Saturdays do get booked up, but that doesn’t shy couples away from booking those Fridays and Sundays,” she notes.

1. Alternate Wedding Days

2. Different Table Setups

Most couples still choose to get married on a Saturday—for many, the prospect of an entire day to prepare and an entire post-wedding day to recover is appealing—but more and more brides and grooms are embracing the concept of getting hitched on a different day.

“Friday and Sunday are great options,” says Ann Marie Orren, director of catering at Scioto Reserve Country Club in Powell. Fridays are especially popular in the fall, she notes, when football season can create a Saturday conflict for die-hard Buckeyes fans. “They’re doing their post-wedding brunch down [on campus]; they’re doing a tailgate party and letting out-of-town guests experience what an OSU tailgate is, because not everyone does a tailgate like OSU.” Sundays, meanwhile, can be even more versatile, offering options for midday brunch fêtes or a more

Move over, eight-top rounds; there’s a new table in town.

“We have been doing a lot of Tuscan tables,” says Beth Joseph, wedding and social event manager at Irongate Equestrian Center. She’s referring to a table setup that puts a larger number of guests—typically 18 to 20 at Irongate—around a rectangular table, seated family-style. “There’s just a lot more room for conversation and getting to know other people at your table.”

Whether you go all Tuscan or mix some rectangles in with your rounds, having a nontraditional seating chart can make a big visual impact. And when used instead of a traditional head table, it can allow members of the wedding party to dine with their dates—and to see the newlyweds, instead of being seated several spaces away from them on the same side of the table.

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main event reception

3. Dramatic Head Tables Speaking of head tables, couples are increasingly investing in unique décor to make the seats of honor stand out, says Orren. At Scioto Reserve, couples often capitalize on the banquet room’s 200-degree view of the golf course as a backdrop, hanging florals and other elements above the head table to make it more prominent.

“Couples do like to have their head table stand out,” says Halverson. The look can be achieved simply, with uplighting against a textured wall, as Elizabeth Barry and Robert Keller did for their August 2017 wedding at dock580, or it can be an all-out extravaganza. Navya Parsa and Navin Muni, for example, opted for a jaw-dropping wall of flowers and greenery behind their head table, while Albert and Ashley Watson chose massive white thrones and a pipe-and-drape setup.

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP, Mindy and Damian Ettish accented their head table with balloons and vines (Dan Buckley Photography); whimsical napkins paired with gold chargers and votives dressed up Caitlyn and AJ Otey’s tables (Derk’s Works Photography); Abbey and Robin Darr chose a sparkle linen to make their cake table stand out (Lambert Photographs); gold centerpiece items stood out against Lindsey and James Boyd’s colored, patterned tablecloths (Kimberly Potterf Photography); Lakshmi Rangaswamy and Matthew Rooks hung a sparkle linen and other elements behind their sweetheart table (Erica Ott/Rich Buchanan Photography).

4. Statement Linens Choosing linens may seem like one of the duller tasks in planning your wedding, but it doesn’t have to be. Joseph notes that many couples are sticking with basic ivory, white and cream for the guest tables, while opting for a few eye-catching accents. Unexpected colors, such as navy and eggplant, or textures, like the uber-popular sequined tablecloth, are popping up on head tables, cake tables, appetizer buffets and more.

“Velvet is very in right now,” says Halverson, “especially for winter.” The heavier fabric does best on a cake table, she notes, which also seems to work well with a sparkly, sequined linen.

5. Elevated Tablescapes Tera Gore, owner of Irongate, says her couples are opting for bigger, bolder table arrangements with lots of glass and greenery.

Tuscan tables especially can lend themselves to a centerpiece design with a high “wow” factor—they offer more space than a standard round table and a different format to play with. Couples are swapping out a single centerpiece on a round table for a series of vignettes placed along the length of a Tuscan one, all anchored by a runner or some greenery, Joseph adds.

But smaller details can play a big role, too.

“We’re seeing a lot more chargers now than we were a couple of years ago,” notes Orren. The plate that goes under your dinner plate can make a great impact, especially when it capitalizes on another trend. “Brides and grooms are really wanting to make that statement with their [tablescapes],” she adds, and a clear glass or bright gold charger is a beautiful, easy way to do it.

The Hocking Hills Wedding Chapel is where you’ll frame memories for years to come in our stunning log chapel, gazebo and outdoor stone fireplace. Professional landscaping will take your breath away in any season! All-inclusive wedding packages are available to make your wedding day unforgettable and stress-free.

Customizable options are available on every package to fit your own unique needs.

Accommodations for lodging are also available onsite to celebrate not only your wedding day, but also your entire wedding weekend. Elope with your fiancé or include close friends and family of up to 65 guests.

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6. Metallics Metallic elements are still dominating the field when it comes to wedding décor.

While gold and rose gold continue to have their place in the sun, Halverson says silver shouldn’t be discounted, either. “I have a lot of winter weddings that like to do a lot of silver and white, and keep it very clean and pretty and kind of icy-looking—like a winter wonderland,” she says.

Mixing metals has been popular as well, she adds. “So if we have silver flatware, they might do a gold accent on the table with another silver accent to tie into the silverware.” Gold flatware, too, is gaining popularity as a luxe take on a typically overlooked element of dinner.

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Think Gahanna first for your Wedding and Reception.

Need help planning your special day in Ohio’s Herb Capital? Visit Gahanna’s complimentary services include: • Free VIP Vendor List.

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7. Guest Books (That Aren’t Books) “I would say that I haven’t seen a ‘normal’ guest book in maybe 10 to 15 weddings now,” Halverson says. “Everybody likes to do something a little bit differently these days.”

Take the Watsons, who asked guests to pair a Polaroid selfie with a signature in their guest book. Another popular option is the “thumbprint tree”—guests dip their thumbs on an ink pad, then press their prints onto a tree or other image and add a signature next to it. And, of course, signing the mat of a large photo or a piece of wall art has been hugely popular for some time as well.

But some couples are taking things even further.

“We’ve had couples with benches that either the groom or the father of the bride or somebody in the family made, and then they have all their wedding guests sign that,” says Orren. “Then, that becomes a piece that goes into their home that they can always look back on.”

Your Storybook Garden Wedding & Reception

In a Beautiful Victorian Setting

KELTON HOUSE 586 East Town Street Columbus, Ohio 43215 614.464.2022 keltonhouse@cs.com www.keltonhouseevents.com

ABOVE, Mindy and Damian Ettish hired a caricature artist to entertain guests (Dan Buckley Photography); LEFT, a guest signs Barbie and TJ Fazzone’s guest book sign (Together We Click).

8. Overall Experience More and more, Orren says, couples want their wedding day to be fun and memorable for everyone involved, not just themselves.

“They’re moving away from your traditional favors and going to having a photo booth with memories that the guests can take home, or a caricature artist, something that they can physically take home with them so that when they see it a month or two months later, the guests are reminded of the wedding.”

Photo booths and caricature artists are joining other experiential elements—like a recent wedding that included a bourbon tasting—at Irongate as well, Joseph notes.

Another interesting trend, at least at Scioto Reserve, is a twist on the receiving line.

Instead of greeting guests as they file past or going table to table after dinner, Orren sees many couples making a game out of what otherwise can be an exhausting task. The DJ announces that the newlyweds are about to make their rounds to take a photo with every table, but they only have the length of one song (or two, if it’s a large party) to do it.

“The first couple tables are very normal,” Orren says. “But as they make their way around the room, the photos get funnier and funnier. … And then the bride and groom have 20 to 25 very unique photos of them interacting with their wedding guests.

It gives the guests something to do while they’re finishing up dinner, and it also just starts the night off on a really high note.”

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main event reception

Backyard Bashes Having a wedding at home might seem convenient, but the decision comes with a slew of factors to consider.

BY SAM KAYUHA Looking out into the backyard of a house on the market, a prospective buyer might imagine the possibilities it contains: It might play host to games of catch or bocce ball, cookouts or graduation parties. What most people probably would not see is the setting for a wedding ceremony. But with proper planning, the backyard can serve as an ideal spot for the exchange of vows.

Just ask Lindsey Boyd; she and husband James Boyd have known each other since they were children, and they had always seen the backyard of James’ childhood home in Lancaster as the venue for their June 2017 wedding.

“I grew up in his backyard, and it was always a dream to do it there,” Lindsey says.

“We didn’t consider any other option.”

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TOP AND ABOVE, Lindsey and James Boyd held their reception at his parents’ home in Lancaster.

(Kimberly Potterf Photography)

In the Boyds’ case, logistical challenges had already been considered. But there is always the looming threat of bad weather, and the nasty proclivity that major events have to not go according to plan.

Which is why Lindsey, herself an event coordinator at Ohio State University, suggests working with a planner. She and James hired Tracie Zody to be the behind-thescenes guru for their big day.

“You’re basically building a venue from scratch,” Lindsey says. “We told [Zody] our vision, and she ran with it.”

Zody is an event planner and designer with Bliss Wedding & Event Design. She is also the owner of Z Creative and Design Exchange, a rental company that she created after having trouble finding the equipment she wanted for her events. She stresses the necessity of having a planner for backyard weddings, which require considerations that more traditional venues don’t.

“Backyard weddings are, logistically, very difficult,” she says. “It’s important to hire a planner that knows how to order tents, generators and port-a-potties. These kind of weddings are very popular, but they are also about double the amount of work.”

The first and most important piece of equipment that needs to be considered in the planning phase is the tent. The primary line of defense against unpredictable Ohio weather, the tent is the hosts’ only guard against moving an entire wedding party inside their home.

First, the yard has to be level; any dips or hills will need to be evened out. After the tent comes necessities like a dance floor, restrooms, generators, tables and chairs, dishes and silverware—all in addition to typical rentals like linens.

The process of unloading the equipment and setting it up can be a logistical struggle as well, which is why Zody offers a service that puts her onsite a few days before the wedding.

“A lot of coordination is needed, so I’m on the property five days in a row,” Zody says.

“If the wedding is on a Sunday, the tent is brought in on Thursday and the other rentals on Friday. On the day of, I bring in the flowers. It runs like a well-oiled machine.”

Every backyard is unique, which means that every backyard provides its own unique challenges. James’ parents’ backyard, for example, required the rental trucks to drive through an adjacent cow pasture.

But despite the effort required to pull off the big day, it can be especially rewarding in a familiar space. “Our wedding was perfect and unique,” Lindsey says. “It was a childhood dream.”

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main event reception Long, family-style seating suited Bailey and Ron Thorpe’s vision for their Strongwater Food & Spirits reception. (Together We Click)

Take a Seat Skirt those seating chart woes with these simple tips.

BY SARA WILSON Making the seating chart is an oft-dreaded task, and with good reason: It can get complicated, fast. Between drama about proximity of certain guests to each other to whether Great-Aunt Sally will be offended by sitting too far from the head table, figuring out who sits where can feel like a nightmare. Fortunately, Kasey SkobelConyers—owner of wedding-planning business Bliss Wedding & Event Design and florist Orchard Lane Flowers—is here to help with pro tips and suggestions.

Skobel-Conyers recommends laying things out on good old-fashioned pen and paper—or to make rearranging names even easier, Post-it notes.

“We provide our clients with a completed guest list in Excel, and they can fill in the table numbers once they’ve been decided on,” she says. “There are plenty of online seating tools, but you’ll need to upload your guest list to their program, and that can create a margin for error that isn’t fun to correct later.”

Some couples use their wedding as an opportunity to play matchmaker, sitting two single people together who have never met before or opting for the notorious “singles table.” This may not be the best plan.

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Erin and Jordan Lee chose to sit at the head of a Tuscan table at their wedding. (Nicole Dixon Photographic)

“I know it may sound like a good idea to force people to mix and mingle, but this can be really uncomfortable for your guests and not necessarily a great memory. [Sit] family with family, friends with friends, as long as they mix well together,” SkobelConyers advises.

What about divorced parents? It depends on their current relationship. If they’re in good standing, you can seat them together at a family table. But if they have trouble being cordial, Skobel-Conyers says it’s best to “seat them at separate tables and not right next to each other. Seating the grandparents and any immediate siblings—aunts, uncles—helps fill in those tables’ seats.”

When it comes to seating arrangements,

Skobel-Conyers says brides sometimes don’t realize how big a task it can be. Through her wedding-planning company, she offers a service that manages couples’ RSVPs and organizes the final guest list to make the seating process easier.

If all else fails, consider using escort cards rather than assigned seating. Escort cards, a more casual choice, allow your guests to seat themselves at the table you designate for them, giving them a choice in who they sit next to.

At the end of the day, wedding invitees want to have a good time. Considering what seating options are best for your crowd will show that you care, and will make for happy guests at your event.

reception spotlight main event

Rejuvenated and Ready for Action Having recently completed renovations, the Athletic Club of Columbus is the perfect space to host your Columbus-chic wedding.

PHOTO: BOTTOM, TIM JOHNSON

BY RYLAN LEE Versatile in use but steadfast in its classic aesthetic, the newly renovated Athletic Club of Columbus is poised to host a day of memories.

The private social and athletic club— housed in a six-story Downtown building, the longevity of which earned it a place in the National Registry of Historic Places— is open to nonmembers who wish to host a wedding reception in its Italian-influenced, Spanish Renaissance Revival environs.

“There’s always something we’re looking to improve,” says Lisa Sullivan, events manager for the ACC. In May, the club wrapped up its latest round of renovations of the 100-plus-year-old building, which improved some of the members-only commodities as well as the first floor space that greets the venue’s visitors.

While most of the ACC’s facilities and restaurants are exclusive to members, the building also houses event spaces on its second floor that are available to everyone— meaning a wedding is the perfect excuse to enjoy the luxurious aesthetic of the typically exclusive club.

In fact, the ACC hosts around 50 weddings each year thanks to a versatile ballroom space. “[The ballroom] can divide into two spaces, so it really easily can accommodate ceremonies and receptions,” explains Sullivan.

The large, L-shaped ballroom, ideal for parties of around 250, features a carpeted dining section and a hardwood lounge space, complete with a picturesque fireplace, that’s perfect for post-dinner dancing.

The ACC also offers on-site catering, says Sullivan.

ABOVE, Andrea and Steve Lemasters held their July 2017 reception at the Athletic Club of Columbus (Style & Story Creative); BELOW, The basement bowling alley

Along with the main ballroom, there are six smaller “parlor” rooms on the second floor that wedding parties can use. They can fill a variety of wedding-day needs, from a kids’ entertainment space to a bridal party room to a space for vendors to eat.

For couples wanting to take their big day to the next level, the possibilities for entertaining extend beyond the second-floor ballrooms. The big crowd-pleaser? “The basement floor,” says Sullivan, which is brimming with after-party potential.

“It’s got the bowling alley, it has a billiards table and it has the ping-pong table,” Sullivan says. There you can jam out to your favorite tunes either through the house system—you can use the club’s Spotify or simply hook up your own phone—and enjoy personal slideshows or classic movies on the two large

screens that drop down over the bowling lanes. And don’t pass on the full-service bar, which can serve drinks and delectable latenight snacks to quell stomach rumblings.

Several floors above, couples and some of their guests have overnight options as well.

“Our top floor has eight hotel rooms: four regular rooms and four suites,” says Sullivan. The newlyweds receive a complimentary room for the night of the wedding, but couples also can rent out rooms to get ready before the wedding or to put up other guests that night.

With a variety of spaces, the Athletic Club of Columbus offers not only a glamorous backdrop for your wedding day, but also the ability to make the day uniquely yours.

“There’s nothing like it in the city,” says Sullivan.

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Reception Guide

COMPILED BY EMMA FRANKART HENTERLY

Trent Stechschulte and Logan Smyth wed in the Columbus Museum of Art’s Derby Court; their reception followed in the same venue. (Style & Story Creative)

We’ve got you covered with details on more than 150 Central Ohio venues.

Visit cbuswedmag.com/Receptions for even more information on these facilities.

DOWNTOWN

Brewery District, Downtown, Franklinton, German Village, Olde Towne East Athletic Club of Columbus 136 E. Broad St., 614-221-3344 accolumbus.com/weddings A knowledgeable and dedicated staff, combined with beautiful wedding venue facilities, ensure your vision of elegance and style becomes an unforgettable reality.

Each wedding is as individual as you are! % $  ≥ Audubon Center 505 W. Whittier St., 614-545-5475 grange.audubon.org On the Whittier Peninsula, the Audubon Center is a hidden haven offering indooroutdoor space. %$ 

Columbus Weddings partner vendor

The Bluestone 583 E. Broad St., 614-884-4646 liveatthebluestone.com For your ceremony and reception, The Bluestone offers a beautifully remodeled former Baptist church in Downtown Columbus, with soaring stained-glass windows, cathedral ceilings, a beautiful outdoor patio and unique features throughout. %  $  ≥ The Boat House at Confluence Park 679 W. Spring St., 614-469-0000 boathouserestaurantoh.com At the confluence of the Olentangy and Scioto rivers sits the perfect location for weddings, with a full-service events team.

Four spacious banquet rooms have expansive floor-to-ceiling glass windows and panoramic views of the city. %   ≥

Maximum reception size (seated): 99 people or fewer 100 to 149 people 150 to 199 people 200 to 249 people 250 people or more

Capital Club/DoubleTree Suites 50 S. Front St., 614-545-7799 capitalclubcolumbus.com Unique setting with views of the Scioto River; ideal for rehearsal dinners, wedding brunches and intimate receptions % $  ≥ The Columbus Athenaeum 32 N. Fourth St., 614-222-6338 columbusmeetings.com Historic landmark with 10 event spaces.

Inclusive wedding packages add value to the bottom line. Clients can customize their bar based on what their friends and family drink. Grand spaces make for a beautiful backdrop. % $  ≥ Columbus Museum of Art 480 E. Broad St., 614-221-6801 columbusmuseum.org The Columbus Museum of Art is newly expanded and now includes additional interior and exterior spaces nestled among galleries and gardens filled with a worldrenowned art collection. %$ 

Ceremony space available Outdoor space available Rental fee Caterer onsite/exclusive offsite caterer Choose caterer from approved caterer list

Outside caterers allowed/negotiable Minimum spend/guest count required May bring outside alcohol No alcohol allowed [no symbols] Information not available

The information in these listings is based on details provided by the venues involved and staff research. A listing does not necessarily mean that Columbus Weddings recommends the venue. Submit listing updates and corrections at cbuswedmag.com/RGsubmit.

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Dreams do come true

Kimberly Potterf Photography

at the Hilton Columbus Downtown

Your vision is our purpose.

Allow our team of experts to make your wedding wishes a reality.

Your beginning starts here.

401 North High Street | Columbus, OH 43215 Contact Blaire Blechinger, Senior Catering Manager T: +1 614 484 5275 | E: Blaire.Blechinger@Hilton.com columbusdowntown.hilton.com

main event reception guide Copious 520 S. High St., 614-947-1520 copiouscolumbus.com Enjoy the clean, modern aesthetic and fresh, contemporary cuisine. Customize an experience as unique as your love.  %$  ≥

The Wells Barn at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens was the perfect backdrop for Victoria Hutta-Magness and Daniel Magness’ reception. (Style & Story Creative)

COSI 333 W. Broad St., 614-629-3135 cosi.org/events A prime riverfront setting, magnificent architecture, world-class exhibit areas and mission to inspire make COSI unmatched in originality and value. After more than 53 years of creating memories, they have events down to a science. %  $  ≥ Crowne Plaza Columbus Downtown 33 E. Nationwide Blvd., 614-461-4100 ihg.com Inclusive wedding packages available; no offsite catering % $  ≥ Cultural Arts Center 139 W. Main St., 614-645-7047 culturalartscenteronline.org A beautiful garden courtyard and gallery space for an intimate summer wedding that you may custom-design to fit your dreams. %$ Dock580 580 N. Fourth St., 614-464-9999 dock580.com Beautiful Downtown view; unique two-floor facility; urban feel, exposed brick, steel beams

Adam Lowe Photography

Select 2018 dates still available 1777 East Broad Street | www.fpconservatory.org 614.715.8100 | eventsales@fpconservatory.org

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Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens 1777 E. Broad St., 614-715-8100 fpconservatory.org Four unique venues, including stunning indoor and outdoor garden settings, create timeless memories of your wedding. %  $   ≥ Galbreath Pavilion at Ohio Theatre 39 E. State St., 614-469-1045 capa.com/venues/venue-rental Outside catering is welcome with no additional cost; tables and chairs available for additional rental fee % $ ≥

wedding receptions + rehearsal dinners + bridal showers

restaurant & bar

50 W. Bridge St., Dublin, OH 43017

6880 North High St., Worthington, OH 43085

614.718.1818

614.888.1818

Germania 543 S. Front St., 614-461-8095 germaniacolumbus.org Germania is a charming site with spacious indoor accommodations and a beautiful garden overlooking the historic Brewery District. %  $  ≥ Goodale Park Shelterhouse 120 W. Goodale St., 614-645-3337 columbus.gov Conveniently located close to Downtown in historic Goodale Park, this facility has the option to reserve an outdoor ceremony location at the picturesque gazebo located next to a peaceful pond. %$≥ Graystone Wine Cellar 544 S. Front St., 614-228-2332 graystonecolumbus.com Full-service banquet facility housed in the historic limestone vaults of the 1875 Schlee Brewery %≥ Greater Columbus Convention Center 400 N. High St., 614-827-2500 columbusconventions.com Newly expanded and renovated, the GCCC offers beautiful ballrooms with colorful, customizable lighting, catering by Levy in collaboration with Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, attached parking and hotels across from the Short North and Arena District. %$ Greek Orthodox Cathedral 555 N. High St., 614-224-9020 greekcathedral.com Couples can choose from four preferred caterers and bring their own alcohol. $  Hawk Galleries 153 E. Main St., 614-848-4700 hawkgalleries.com/cameron-mitchellpremier-events An airy, light-filled, 5,000-square-foot contemporary space accented with 100-yearold character—including tin-plated ceilings and beautifully displayed art—Hawk Galleries provides a unique, artistic ambiance for weddings and receptions. %$ High Line Car House 550 S. High St., 614-882-7323 highlinecarhouse.com Historic brick walls, high beam ceilings and windows create a setting you’ll love. Their FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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main event reception guide

Have everything go as planned.

Or even better

team ensures that every detail is thoughtfully considered so your whole event is just as beautiful as your venue. %$ ≥ Hilton Columbus Downtown 401 N. High St., 614-384-8600 hiltoncolumbusdowntown.com Centrally located between Downtown and the Short North, the Hilton offers elegant spaces, dynamic service and exquisite culinary options for a wedding celebration to remember. % ≥ Hotel LeVeque, Autograph Collection 50 W. Broad St., 614-224-9500 hotellevequecolumbus.com Let the stars bear witness to your wedded bliss. At Hotel LeVeque, your level of sophisticated radiance is limited only by the boundaries of your imagination. $≥

The Columbus Marriott Northwest

Grand Ballroom | Gourmet Cuisine | Glamorous New Greatroom Gorgeous New Honeymoon Suite & Gorgeous New Guest Rooms

We focus on the details so you can focus on the celebration!

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The smallest details to the grandest events.

Huntington Park 330 Huntington Park Ln., 614-462-5250 clippersbaseball.com A one-of-a-kind experience: Exchange your vows at home plate after your bridal party enters the ceremony through the dugouts of the Columbus Clippers. Reception is just a few steps away, overlooking the Columbus skyline. %$  ≥ Hyatt Regency Columbus 350 N. High St., 614-463-1234 columbusregency.hyatt.com The Downtown hotel offers multiple ballroom and event spaces.

The Ivory Room 2 Miranova Pl., 614-221-2347 ivoryroom.cameronmitchellpremierevents.com Located in Downtown Columbus, The Ivory Room is a chic, modern space with a stunning panoramic view of the city. % $  ≥ Juniper 580 N. Fourth St., 614-464-3333 juniperrooftop.com Juniper is Downtown Columbus’ first rooftop restaurant, gin bar and event space, offering an unrivaled experience of the Columbus skyline and night sky with its panoramic glass rooftop. %$  ≥ Kelton House Museum & Garden 586 E. Town St., 614-464-2022 keltonhouseevents.com An extraordinary site for your storybook wedding ceremony, reception, rehearsal dinner, bridal shower or other event; yours will be truly special in this elegant, 19thcentury Victorian home and garden. %$

Full Service Event Center with Three Separate Ballrooms Wedding Receptions Indoor & Outdoor Ceremonies Rehearsal Dinners Bridal Showers 92

COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

5462 CENTER ST. HILLIARD, OH 43026 614-777-1211 WWW.MAKOY.COM

The Kitchen 231 E. Livingston Ave., 614-225-8940 thekitchencolumbus.com Tucked away in German Village, The Kitchen offers an upscale alternative to traditional venues. Its interior boasts a general purpose flex space with natural light, exposed brick and restored architectural details from floor to ceiling. % $  ≥

L.A. Catering & Event Center 670 Harmon Ave., 614-358-5252 la-catering.com L.A. Catering, a division of LifeCare Alliance, offers full-service buffets, corporate gatherings, picnics, weddings and receptions with priceless memories. %$ 

Caitlyn and AJ Otey take a spin at the Ohio Statehouse.

(Derk’s Works Photography)

Lincoln Theatre Ballroom 769 E. Long St., 614-469-1045 lincolntheatrecolumbus.com Newly renovated and restored ballroom in the historic Lincoln Theatre; outside catering welcome with no additional fees % $ ≥ Lindey’s Restaurant 169 E. Beck St., 614-228-4343 lindeys.com Full-service venue for receptions, rehearsal dinners and bridal showers $ ≥ North Bank Park Pavilion 311 W. Long St., 614-645-3337 columbus.gov Located in the Arena District with a premier riverfront location on the bank of the Scioto, this venue offers breathtaking views of Downtown and contemporary design. It’s fully customizable to make your big day unforgettable. %$≥

Style & Story Creative Photography

An Unforgettable Experience...

200 Degree View overlooking Golf Course and Outdoor Ceremony Garden Exceptional Culinary Experience

Complimentary Planning Meetings

Private and Spacious Bridal Suite & Groom’s Quarters

Stunning Outdoor Ceremony Garden with Rock Waterfall Backdrop

7383 Scioto Pkwy, Powell, OH 43065

I

Like us on Facebook at Scioto Reserve Weddings

(740) 881-9082

I www.SciotoReserve.com

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Rated Best of Weddings by The Knot 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016

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main event reception guide Ohio Statehouse 1 Capitol Sq., 614-466-2251 ohiostatehouse.org The Ohio Statehouse is available to serve as your perfect wedding location. The package includes a wedding coordinator, security, parking, tables, chairs and equipment. Make a statement—make your wedding historic at the Ohio Statehouse. %  $   Red Brick Occasions Event Center 118 E. Main St., 614-868-0025 or 614-863-9281 redbrickoccasions.com Urban, industrial space with brick walls, hardwood floors, gold-framed mirrors, chandeliers and soft lighting that can be styled as casual, rustic or elegant Renaissance Columbus Downtown 50 N. Third St., 614-228-5050 renaissancecolumbus.com Stylish design; flawless service; imaginative food  %  $   ≥ Schmidt’s Banquet and Meeting Haus 240 E. Kossuth St., 614-449-4038 schmidthaus.com Two beautiful banquet rooms located above Schmidt’s Restaurant. Meals are served buffet-style; four individual menus available. A single chair lift to the party rooms is available; a professional, yet personal, atmosphere. % $ ≥

The Columbus Athenaeum’s Large Theater hosted Carrie Lymanstall and Ryan Harrison’s ceremony and reception.

(Lambert Photographs)

­

1570 Polaris Parkway and Lyra Drive | 614-433-7307 94

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Sheraton Columbus Hotel at Capitol Square 75 E. State St., 614-365-4500 sheratoncolumbuscapitolsquare.com Sheraton is ready to make your wedding dreams come true, with sophisticated venues and an outstanding Downtown location. Intimate gathering or formal affair, our wedding team will be at your side from start to finish. %≥ Southern Theatre 21 E. Main St., 614-469-1045 capa.com/venues/southern-theatre Historic 1896 theater available for ceremonies and receptions; outside catering welcome with no additional fees %$≥ Station 67 Event Center 379 W. Broad St., 614-564-9530 facebook.com/station67oh Located near Downtown and Franklinton, this venue originally was a transportation hub adjacent to the raised railway tracks of Downtown. Renowned for its pagoda-style clock tower, Station 67 is a beautiful destination for any event.  %  $  ≥ Strongwater Events 401 W. Town St., 614-928-3170 events.strongwatercolumbus.com The multi-room space exudes an urban warehouse aesthetic throughout the gallery great room, which has original saw tooth window skylights; the adjoining annex features a hand-laid bar and an attached, private, open-air courtyard. %  $   ≥ Taylor Mansion 1400 E. Broad St., 614-537-3684 taylormansioncolumbus.com Historic Downtown mansion; great for ceremonies; picturesque grounds

The Perfect Place for Your Dream Day

The Vault 35 E. Gay St., 614-225-1000 vaultbanquets.com The Vault is truly one of Columbus’ bestkept secrets. Your guests will depart knowing they have experienced something very special. % $ ≥ Via Vecchia Winery 485 S. Front St., 614-893-5455 viavecchiawinery.com This Old World, functional winery and event space in the Brewery District is a unique building with exposed wood beams, brick arches and historic charm. A lighted brick alley is ideal for ceremonies. % $  ≥ Vue Columbus 95 Liberty St., 614-454-1877 vuecolumbus.com A modern, urban event space with a creative design and passionate vision that specializes in modern and stylish wedding receptions and is host to FLIP, a cancer prevention nonprofit.  %  $  The Westin Columbus 310 S. High St., 614-228-3800 westincolumbus.com Historic grand ballroom with marble floors

5400 Little Turtle Way, Westerville | 614-212-4000 | littleturtlegc.com

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main event reception guide Tiffany and Jonathan White share their first dance and cut their cake at The Blackwell Inn. (Sanchez Studio)

and floor-length stained-glass windows; impeccable service % $  ≥ YWCA Columbus 65 S. Fourth St., 614-627-1219 eventscw.org Host your wedding in the new, stylish, intimate ballroom in a historic setting. Your event helps make it possible for the homeless women and families that the YWCA serves to rebuild their lives. % $ 

Clintonville Woman’s Club 3951 N. High St., 614-268-5525 clintonvillewomansclub.com Private club house in a ravine setting at not-for-profit pricing %   ≥

Clintonville, Short North, University District, Worthington

The Club at The Ohio State University 181 S. Oval Dr., 614-292-2262 ohio-statefacultyclub.com On the OSU campus between the Oval and Mirror Lake Hollow; featuring large picture windows, chandeliers, a three-story spiral terrazzo staircase, in-house catering and day-of wedding coordinator; exclusive access to the club during your wedding %  $  ≥

Antrim Park Shelterhouse 5800 Olentangy River Rd., 614-645-3337 columbus.gov With a quaint park setting, two fireplaces and a customizable space, this location is perfect for smaller weddings with up to 85 people. %  $ ≥

Crowne Plaza Columbus North-Worthington 6500 Doubletree Ave., 614-885-1885 crowneplaza.com/columbusnorth Unique, 4,800-square-foot grand pavilion; complete wedding packages available; group rates; 7,500-square-foot ballroom; ceremony sites %  $ ≥

The Blackwell 2110 Tuttle Park Pl., 614-247-4000 theblackwell.com Setting a standard in romantic elegance; complete wedding services created by inhouse wedding coordinator %≥

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel ColumbusWorthington 175 Hutchinson Ave., 614-885-3334 doubletree3.hilton.com 17,000 square feet of flexible event space; all you need under one roof for your special day %  $ ≥

NORTH (NEAR)

Catering by Design Banquet Hall 6465 Busch Blvd., 614-436-7391 cateringbydesign.com Large ballroom with built-in bar and space for wedding % 96

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Fawcett Event Center 2400 Olentangy River Rd., 614-292-4021 fawcettcenter.com Located on the perimeter of the Ohio State

University campus, the Fawcett Center offers a ballroom with exposed brick walls, high ceilings, a patio with a scenic view and a custom lighting feature. %  $  ≥ The Haimerl Center 1421 Morse Rd., 614-262-7389 haimerlcenter.com Capacity for up to 300 for dining and dancing in 4,000 open square feet of space; rates include access to tables and chairs, plus ample free parking. %  $ Holiday Inn Columbus 7007 N. High St., Worthington; 614-436-0700 ihg.com Featuring two ballrooms, the larger of which is almost 4,000 square feet; the junior ballroom is just over 2,000 square feet.

Conveniently located in central Columbus, with flexible pricing options for all budgets. %  ≥ J. Liu in Worthington 6880 N. High St., Worthington; 614-888-1818 jliurestaurant.com Providing a flawless and memorable wedding celebration is their main goal. From intimate to large weddings, all are welcome at J. Liu’s exquisite ballroom, which can accommodate any style décor, from casual to eclectic. %  ≥ Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph 620 N. High St., 614-227-0100 lemeridiencolumbus.com

Celebrate your vows while expressing your individuality at Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph. The artistic city is filtered into extraordinary event spaces, making it the perfect choice for a ceremony, reception and rehearsal dinner. % $  Marriott Columbus University Area 3100 Olentangy River Rd., 614-549-3615 osumarriott.com Opened in August 2017, Marriott Columbus University Area features a 6,636-squarefoot grand ballroom, private courtyard, in-house catering and Marriott-certified wedding planners. Your out-of-town guests will enjoy Marriott’s restaurant, lounges, complimentary shuttle and 240 guest rooms. %  $  ≥ The Ohio Union 1739 N. High St., 614-292-5200 ohiounion.osu.edu Nestled in the heart of Ohio State’s picturesque campus and offering the perfect backdrop to your perfect day. Learn more about the summer wedding options via email: ohiounionevents@osu.edu. %$ The Table 21 E. Fifth Ave., 614-291-4555 thetablecolumbus.com A full-service, farm-to-table restaurant offering a locally sourced and globally inspired menu. %   ≥

Whetstone Park Shelterhouse 3901 N. High St., 614-645-3337 columbus.gov Connected to the Park of Roses and featuring gorgeous garden views and two fireplaces, the venue is customizable to fit your every need and has options for outdoor ceremonies in the rose garden. %  $≥ Worthington Hills Country Club 920 Clubview Blvd. S, 614-885-9516 worthingtonhills.com The second-floor ballroom, updated in 2016, overlooks the championship golf course. Excellent food, professional service and beautiful location are just a few of the reasons to celebrate your day at Worthington Hills Country Club. % $  ≥

NORTH (FAR)

Delaware, Lewis Center, Polaris, Powell and beyond The Barn at Stratford 2690 Stratford Rd., Delaware; 844-369-2276 barnatstratford.org Rustic, 3,600-square-foot, 1848 bank barn owned and operated by the Delaware County Historical Society; 6 beautifully landscaped acres; centrally located north of 270 %  $ Bridgewater Banquet & Conference Center 10561 Sawmill Pkwy., Powell; 614-734-9800

• Comfortable, elegant setting • Groups of up to 200 people • Beautiful gazebo for the perfect outdoor setting

bridgewaterbanquetcenter.com Elegant and spacious; large marble foyer; bridal suites; extensive menu options Brio Tuscan Grille 1500 Polaris Pkwy., 614-410-0310 brioitalian.com Experience a taste of Tuscany; five private rooms are perfect for showers, rehearsal dinners and receptions.  Brookshire 405 Greif Pkwy., Delaware; 740-548-8188 brookshire.biz New facility; scenic wooded surroundings; large patios; indoor and outdoor ceremonies; large gazebo and indoor waterfall Camp Mary Orton 7925 N. High St., 614-885-1023 campmaryorton.org Historic lodge features original wood floors, high-beamed ceiling and 14-foot-wide stone fireplace; terrace overlooks expansive lawn Columbus Zoo & Aquarium 4850 W. Powell Rd., Powell; 614-724-3679 columbuszoo.org Beautiful indoor and outdoor facilities accentuated by the exotic backdrop of the world’s wildlife; a truly unique wedding experience % $  ≥ Eddie Merlot’s 1570 Polaris Pkwy., 614-433-7307

• Plentiful menu options from casual to gourmet • Professional staff to handle your every need • Located minutes off I-71, at the Sunbury exit

1150 Wilson Rd. Sunbury, OH 43074

Tel: 740-965-3663

Alisha Yoder - ayoder@thenorthstargolfclub.com www.thenorthstargolfclub.com

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main event reception guide eddiemerlots.com Multiple private dining spaces can accommodate up to 60, or rent all or part of the restaurant for larger events.

Glenross Golf Club 231 Club House Dr., Delaware; 740-657-3752 glenrossgc.com Eclectic venue with a wonderful view of the golf course Hilton Columbus/Polaris 8700 Lyra Dr., 614-885-1600 hilton.com AAA Four-Diamond luxury hotel, including outdoor patio with fire features; 15,000 square feet of ballroom space surrounded by 3,500 square feet of foyer space %  ≥ Hilton Garden Inn Columbus/Polaris 8535 Lyra Dr., 614-846-8884 columbuspolaris.hgi.com Experience the newly refreshed Hilton Garden Inn Columbus/Polaris, ideally located in the thriving business and entertainment district of Polaris. %$ Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club 3737 Village Club Dr., Powell; 740-881-6500 golfkinsale.com The main room has hardwood floors, a large marble fireplace and French doors leading to a patio that overlooks the 18th green. %  $  ≥

Barbie and TJ Fazzone listen to their best man’s speech at the Club at Corazon. (Together We Click)

Photo Credit Katie Lee Photography

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The Jessing Center 7625 N. High St., 614-985-2215 boscandbrie.com The Jessing Center is located on the beautiful campus of the Pontifical College Josephinum, featuring beautiful, barrel vault ceilings, a dance floor and catering by the award-winning Bosc + Brie. $  Little Bear Golf Club 1940 Little Bear Loop, Lewis Center; 740-548-8532 littlebearvillage.com Weddings and receptions in elevated, majestic room overlooking golf course lake; first-class facility at an affordable price %  $   Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center 100 Green Meadows Dr. S, Lewis Center; 614-880-4300 nwhotelandconferencecenter.com Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center sets the standard for romantic wedding venues in Columbus with a comprehensive array of wedding services to create a unique and intimate experience. %  $  ≥ Scioto Reserve Country Club 7383 Scioto Pkwy., Powell; 740-881-9082 sciotoreserve.com Outdoor ceremony garden with rock waterfall backdrop; complimentary, spacious bridal suite and groom’s quarters with all-day access; 200-degree view in ballroom overlooking golf course; on-site coordination; wedding cake included %  $  ≥ Wedgewood Golf and Country Club 9600 Wedgewood Blvd., Powell; 614-793-2600 wedgewoodgolfcc.com The ballroom’s overall design reflects the storied history of Wedgewood, but with a modern, romantic feel. The look and size of the space offers a modern flair that will appeal to most couples. %  $  ≥

NORTHEAST

Easton, Gahanna, New Albany, Westerville and beyond Bent Tree Golf Club 350 Bent Tree Rd., Sunbury; 740-965-5140 ext. 3 benttreegc.com Offering all-inclusive wedding reception packages; the banquet room features a beautiful golf course view and can accommodate up to 150 guests. %  $  The Beverly Mansion 6681 State Route 229, Marengo; 740-398-1316 thebeverlymansion.com The historic Beverly Mansion is located on 40 breathtaking acres and offers the ideal setting for weddings, photos and more. The 1914 building offers unparalleled charm that lends priceless character to any gathering. %  $

Weddings and Events at The Athletic Club of Columbus in the heart of downtown Columbus, since 1912 136 East Broad Street • accolumbus.com • 614.221.3344

@accweddings

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main event reception guide

A heartfelt embrace between Lauren and Julian Sulinger at Jorgensen Farms Oak Grove (Dan Buckley Photography)

Bloomfield Meadows Barn 650 State Route 314, Centerburg; 614-354-8468 bloomfieldmeadows.com Rustic barn venue in the middle of 20 rolling acres on a berry farm. The heart-shaped pond is the perfect place to hold your ceremony. %  $ Brio Tuscan Grille 3993 Easton Station, 614-416-4745 brioitalian.com Experience a taste of Tuscany; private and semiprivate rooms in the heart of Easton are perfect for showers, rehearsal dinners and receptions. Clover Valley Golf Club 8644 Johnstown-Alexandria Rd., Johnstown; 740-966-5533 clovervalleygolfclub.com The banquet room is in a beautiful setting overlooking the golf course. They offer a choice of reception and beverage packages that can be customized to suit your needs.  $ Columbus Airport Marriott 1375 N. Cassady Ave., 614-383-3610 columbusairportmarriott.com The Columbus Airport Marriott is one of the largest hotel banquet facilities in the city, with more than 14,000 square feet of meeting space, exhibit and pre-function areas. Call to schedule a site tour today. % $  ≥ Creekside Conference & Event Center 101 Mill St., Ste. 300, Gahanna; 614-416-8188 creeksidecec.com The Creekside ballroom can be divided into 100

COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

four salons to accommodate various reception sizes. Guests enjoy gorgeous floor-toceiling views overlooking Creekside Plaza. %  $ ≥ Embassy Suites Hotel Columbus 2700 Corporate Exchange Dr., 614-890-8600 columbus.embassysuites.com Have it all in one place—ceremony, reception and guest accommodations. Entire facility was remodeled in summer 2016. % $ ≥ The Estate at New Albany 5216 Forest Dr., New Albany; 614-255-6455 theestatenewalbany.biz Modern wedding and event venue featuring both indoor and outdoor ceremony spaces, high ceilings and an abundance of natural light. %  $   ≥ Everal Barn & Homestead 60 N. Cleveland Ave., Westerville; 614-901-6515 westerville.org Historic, rustic barn and homestead located in the heart of Westerville in Heritage Park.

The perfect place for any event, this is a truly unique setting where heritage and hospitality meet. %  $  The Golf Club at Little Turtle 5400 Little Turtle Way W, Westerville; 614-625-2934 littleturtlegolf.com The ballroom is a stunning space for weddings with a seating capacity of 300. The limestone fireplace, high ceilings and rustic beams give the space a warm ambiance.

Floor-to-ceiling windows show off our scenic views. %  $  ≥

The Grand Barn at The Mohicans 23164 Vess Rd., Glenmont; 440-263-8546 themohicans.net Rustic, elegant barn wedding venue located on 75 wooded acres with treehouses and luxury cabins for your guests. Two of the treehouses were built by the guys on Animal Planet’s Treehouse Masters. %  $  Grins & Pickin’s CampFarm 1 County Rd. 170, Marengo; 740-625-6011 grinsandpickinscampfarm.com Surrounded by a peaceful country farm setting, the Big Pole Barn rental includes seating for 40, three buffet tables, a stage and a fire pit. %  $ Hilton Columbus at Easton 3900 Chagrin Dr., 614-414-5000 hiltoncolumbus.com Newly renovated hotel and ballrooms accommodating 50 to 700 guests. Contact the catering team to discuss your wedding reception. % $  ≥ Irongate Events 12298 Croton Rd., Croton; 740-893-8001 irongateequestriancenter.com Award-winning, luxury, rustic, private wedding and special event venue located just 20 minutes northeast of New Albany. %  $  ≥ Jorgensen Farms Historic Barn 5851 E. Walnut St., Westerville; 614-855-2697 jorgensen-farms.com Elegant, charming and spacious, this year-round organic farm wedding venue is a one-of-a-kind experience for you and your guests, from the farmhouse to the flower

field to the crystal chandeliers in the barn. %  $  Jorgensen Farms Oak Grove 7500 Harlem Rd., New Albany; 614-855-2697 jorgensen-farms.com Edgy, modern and super-chic, but still connected to gardens and nature; say “I do” beneath 100-year-old oak trees, serve cocktails in a vintage greenhouse and dine inside the twinkling Main Hall overlooking the beautiful outdoors. %  $ ≥ The Lakes Golf and Country Club 6740 Worthington Rd., Westerville; 614-882-2582 lakesclub.com Sprawling Augusta-style clubhouse; private club available to nonmembers %  $  La Navona 154 N. Hamilton Rd., Gahanna; 614-532-5711 lanavona.com Elegantly rustic reception venue and gorgeous outdoor ceremony space; all packages include three-course meal, open bar, DJ, venue rental, floor-length linens in 100 color choices, setup and teardown, private bridal suites and more. %   ≥ Landoll’s Mohican Castle 561 Township Rd. 3352, Loudonville; 419-994-6350 landollsmohicancastle.com

From an intimate wedding to a large reception, packages are designed to make your dreams come true. The Wedding Terrace is an ideal location for a romantic ceremony, with the castle as a picture-perfect backdrop. %  $  Medallion Club 5000 Club Dr., Westerville; 614-794-6987 medallionclub.com Located on a lush golf course with fountains and lakes throughout, this is a beautiful location for a classic wedding. The professional, friendly staff go above and beyond to provide exceptional wedding services. %  $  ≥ New Albany Links Golf Club 7100 New Albany Links Dr., New Albany; 614-855-8532 newalbanylinks.com Beautiful indoor and outdoor venues for both ceremony and reception; spacious event tent outside, vaulted ceilings and mahogany bar inside. %  $ ≥ NOAH’S Event Venue 175 E. Main St., New Albany; 614-943-9886 noahseventvenue.com A high-end venue with knowledgeable staff ready to help you make the memories of a lifetime. The contemporary design and customization options make them a premier venue for weddings and other celebrations. %  $

NorthStar Golf Club 1150 Wilson Rd., Sunbury; 740-965-3663 thenorthstargolfclub.com On the north side of Columbus, NorthStar will provide you with the perfect atmosphere for your big day. The full-service facility offers first-class service at an affordable value. %  $  ≥ Renaissance Columbus WestervillePolaris Hotel 409 Altair Pkwy., Westerville; 614-882-6800 renaissancewesterville.com Discover the unique Renaissance Westerville-Polaris Hotel, inspired by the picturesque beauty of an upscale lake house and its surroundings. %  $  ≥ Royal American Links 3300 Miller Paul Rd., Galena; 740-965-5122 royalamericanlinks.com Charming, Scottish-inspired castle built into a rolling hill; stunning ballroom of high beams lends itself to light, whimsical, charming, rustic and highly elegant palettes; full-length balcony overlooks beautifully manicured golf course. %  $  Valley Dale Ballroom 1590 Sunbury Rd., 614-873-3344 valleydaleballroom.com Established in 1918, Valley Dale remains one of the few last great American ballrooms.

It is newly renovated and listed on the

Now partnered exclusively with three exceptional wedding vendors:

485 South Front Street • Columbus, OH 43215 614.893.5455 • viavecchiawinery.com

dmummaw@ccuisine.cc 614-436-4949

info@cateringbymilos.com 614-224-0272

ekreindler@gyclinens.com 614-230-7709

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main event reception guide National Register of Historic Places. Made From Scratch Catering manages the facility. %  $   ≥ Villa Milano 1630 Schrock Rd., 614-882-2058 villamilano.com Elegant facility; family-owned; homemade food made on premises % $ ≥

NORTHWEST

Dublin, Marysville, Plain City and beyond Bravo Cucina Italiana-Bethel 3000 Hayden Rd., 614-791-1245 bravoitalian.com Upscale, affordable Italian restaurant with three semi-private spaces  Brookside Golf & Country Club 2770 W. Dublin-Granville Rd., 614-734-4091 brooksidegcc.com The vintage feel of Brookside’s Tudor-style clubhouse and beautiful grounds provides a romantic ambiance for any occasion. %  $  ≥ Burnt Toast Flowers & Alpaca Farm 18230 Raymond Rd., Paris Township; 614-547-3276 burnttoastfarms.com A distinct destination property offering 20 acres of meadows, flowers fields and alpacas. The biodynamic farm follows the

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Kya and Michael Knorr’s ceremony on the patio of The Grand Barn at The Mohicans (Sanchez Studio)

PHOT H TO O BY CU CUR U TIS UR SW WA WALL ALL ALL LIS IS INC. NC C..

French agricultural tradition: chemical-free.

The rustic, pristine and beautiful venue offers custom, locally grown floral services. %  $ Club at Corazon 7155 Corazon Dr., Dublin; 614-504-5235 clubatcorazon.com Surrounded by a beautiful lake and manicured vineyards, the 57,000-square-foot Tuscan-style clubhouse is the perfect setting for an intimate affair or a grand gala.

Multiple wedding packages are available, or create your own.

The Columbus Marriott Northwest 5605 Blazer Pkwy., Dublin; 614-791-1000 marriott.com A Marriott-certified wedding planner will work with you to make your day unforgettable.

The Country Club at Muirfield Village 8715 Muirfield Dr., Dublin; 614-764-1714 tccmv.com Exclusive country-club setting with a view of the golf course and a beautiful, new, outdoor patio Der Dutchman 445 S. Jefferson Ave., Plain City; 614-873-3414 derdutchman.com On-site events; also catering off-site  ≥ x

A PICTURESQUE LOCATION FOR

WEDDINGS, CORPORATE EVENTS, HOLIDAY PARTIES, & MORE

Indoor & Outdoor Ceremony Spaces • Grand Ballroom Event Coordination • On-site Catering

101 Mill St, Suite 300, Gahanna

• 614.416.8188

•

CreeksideCEC.com

Dorral Farm 11101 Hinton Mill Rd., Marysville; 614-889-9128 dorralfarm.com Featuring 80 acres of beautifully maintained grounds with two ponds with fountains. The climate-controlled barn has a huge fireplace, large picture windows and is handicap-accessible. Your wedding is the only event that day. %  $    Dutch Mill Greenhouse 18443 State Route 4 N, Marysville; 937-642-0511 dutchmillgreenhouse.com Family-owned and operated garden center offering a unique venue for weddings, showers and more. With indoor and outdoor space and plant material included in rental price, it’s perfect for all seasons.

On-site event coordinator available. %  $ Embassy Suites by Hilton Columbus-Dublin 5100 Upper Metro Pl., Dublin; 614-790-9000 columbusdublin.embassysuites.com Newly renovated Grand Ballroom and guest suites; Embassy Suites Columbus/Dublin can host your ceremony, reception and overnight guests. %   ≥ The Exchange at Bridge Park 6520 Riverside Dr., Dublin; 614-793-2263 catering.cameronmitchellpremierevents. com/venues/the-exchange.aspx A contemporary, open event space with hardwood floors and raw stone details in

Reserve your your Wedding Wedding Reception Reception at at Reserve

Paddock Pub Pub and and Paddock Links of of Groveport Groveport Links Call 614-610-9688 or visit our website thepaddockpub.com 1005 Richardson Rd., Groveport FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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Navya Parsa and Navin Muni share a moment alone before their reception at the Hilton Columbus at Easton. (Style & Story Creative)

Dublin’s New Bridge Park neighborhood, which offers stunning views of historic downtown Dublin and the majestic Scioto River %  $  ≥ Golf Club of Dublin 5805 Eiterman Rd., Dublin; 614-792-3825 golfclubofdublin.com From an intimate gathering for 50 to a party of 200, they can accommodate your guests, promising a memorable experience full of traditional Irish warmth and cheer. %   Tartan Fields Golf Club 8070 Tartan Fields Dr., Dublin; 614-7920900 tartanfields.com Whether you envision a small, intimate ceremony or a lavish affair, they’ll customize the wedding of your dreams, taking care of all the details so you can relax and create memories to last a lifetime. %  $  ≥

EAST

Bexley, Granville, Reynoldsburg, Whitehall and beyond Bryn Du Mansion 537 Jones Rd., Granville; 740-587-7053 bryndu.com Elegant mansion, landscaped patio areas 104

COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

and lawn site for tent; 7,200-square-foot lodge-like facility; may bring in alcohol %  $ Buxton Inn 313 E. Broadway, Granville; 740-587-0001 buxtoninn.com Hotel, event space and dining in a historic venue %  $  ≥ Cherry Valley Lodge 2299 Cherry Valley Rd., Newark; 740-788-1200 cherryvalleylodge.com Cherry Valley Lodge offers some of the most experienced wedding specialists and the most unique and beautiful spaces.

Contact a wedding specialist to make your dreams come true. %   ≥

The Granville Inn 314 E. Broadway, Granville; 740-587-3333 granvilleinn.com The historic Granville Inn offers an Old English setting with a variety of menu options, full bar service and guest accommodations. %   ≥ The Greenhouse at Vista 2600 Hennessey Dr., Nashport; 740-453-4758 vistagolfcourse.com Unique facility offering a one-of-a-kind experience. From April through October, the Greenhouse has a beautiful, live flower wall that is the perfect ambiance for any occasion, giving an outdoor feeling to your indoor event. %  $

Columbus Country Club 4831 E. Broad St., 614-300-5199 columbuscc.com A beautiful, Georgian-style mansion on a picturesque golf course that can host intimate events or grand galas. %  $  ≥

Jefferson Country Club 7271 Jefferson Meadows Dr., Blacklick; 614-759-7500 jeffersoncountryclub.com Jefferson is a prestigious country club offering spectacular views. It’s available to nonmembers for weddings, showers and rehearsal dinners. %  $  ≥

Crossroads Wedding & Event Center 169 Fairway Blvd., Whitehall; 614-501-7422 crossroadsevents.vpweb.com Four rooms available for up to 200 people.

Bring your own food and beverages. Lots of free parking; great for the budget-minded bride. % $ ≥

Jeffrey Mansion 165 N. Parkview Ave., Bexley; 614-559-4300 bexley.org/facility-rentals Jeffrey Mansion is located in Bexley’s beautiful Jeffrey Park and offers an indoor and small outdoor space for weddings and receptions; max 128 guests. %  $≥

Kindred Tasting Room 505 Morrison Rd., Gahanna; 614-528-1227 kindredbeer.com Cool, fresh space with relaxed vibe that’s perfect for showers, bachelorette parties or intimate receptions; bar wows with premium wines, specialty cocktails and draft beer; conveniently located just off I-270, minutes from Easton. %  $ ≥ The Robert C. Walter Student Commons 2010 E. Broad St., 614-252-6714 stcharlesprep.org Featuring high ceilings and brick details; Catholic affiliation not required Tall Timbers Banquet and Conference Center 13831 National Rd. SW, Reynoldsburg; 740-927-7603 talltimbersonline.com Offering options to accommodate a variety of budgets, with linen, china, tableware and Chiavari chairs available. Our event coordinators will help you choose the best package for your wedding; couples can bring their own alcohol. %  $  The Virtues Golf Club 1 Long Dr., Nashport; 740-763-1100 thevirtuesgolfclub.com Located in the foothills of the Appalachians, the celebrated course and banquet facility has breathtaking views from all angles. They offer a complete selection of packages to help make planning your

wedding enjoyable. %  $  ≥ Weatherington Woods 3625 Olde Falls Rd., Zanesville; 740-995-0374 wwvenue.com Situated close to town on 2 acres of beautiful country setting. Rental includes both wedding and reception in one place. Have your day … your way. %  $ Wolfe Park Shelterhouse 105 Park Dr., 614-645-3337 columbus.gov Conveniently located close to Downtown, just outside all the hustle and bustle, the venue features lots of natural lighting, a fireplace and a bridal suite. It’s customizable to fit your needs. %  $≥

WEST

Fifth by Northwest, Grandview, Hilliard, Upper Arlington Amelita Mirolo Barn 4395 Carriage Hill Ln., Upper Arlington; 614-583-5330 amelitamirolobarn.com Located in Sunny 95 Park, this unique facility blends the historic beams of one of the community’s oldest farm structures with an airy, modern space perfect for weddings and other special events. %  $  ≥

Bravo Cucina Italiana-Lennox 1803 Olentangy River Rd., 614-291-8210 bravoitalian.com Upscale, affordable Italian restaurant with three semi-private spaces  Courtyard by Marriott Columbus OSU 780 Yard St., 614-453-4420 marriott.com/cmhwg The Courtyard by Marriott Columbus/OSU is conveniently connected to The Grand Event Center and situated among the brickand tree-lined walkways of Grandview Yard. %  $  ≥ Courtyard Columbus West 2350 Westbelt Dr., 614-771-8999 marriott.com Experienced, Marriott-certified wedding consultants work with you to make your event uniquely yours. % $  ≥ Gregory Lashutka Event Center 3479 Riverside Dr., Upper Arlington; 614-645-3337 columbus.gov Located on Griggs Reservoir, this venue is perfect for intimate weddings. Dam Tender’s house, built in 1816, was just renovated to include a cozy event space and outdoor patio. Enjoy beautiful views of the reservoir. %  $  ≥ The Grand Event Center 820 Goodale Blvd., 614-453-4300 thegrandeventscenter.com

T he ReceptionHouse AT R AY M O N D M E M O R I A L

You and your guests will enjoy an unforgettable celebration in our remodeled Reception House ballroom situated on a picturesque golf course. The venue is ideal for your indoor and/or outdoor ceremony and reception. Please call to arrange a tour so you can see, touch and taste why more bride and grooms are celebrating their big day at The Reception House by Schmidt’s.

3860 Trabue Road • Columbus, OH 43228 • (614) 276-6127 • raymondreceptions.com • facebook/raymondreceptions C E N T R A L LY L O C AT E D N E A R U P P E R A R L I N G T O N , D U B L I N & H I L L I A R D

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main event reception guide The Grand Event Center offers a fresh approach to weddings. It brings desired amenities and modern style to one of Columbus’s most vibrant areas for an experience unlike any other in Ohio. %  $  ≥ Griggs Reservoir Boathouse 3033 Thoburn Rd., 614-645-3337 columbus.gov Located on Griggs Reservoir, this gorgeous and unique building has the perfect view.

With windows surrounding the Scioto Room and a patio overlooking the reservoir, this facility gives you a warm feeling yearround. %  $  ≥ Heritage Golf Club 3525 Heritage Club Dr., Hilliard; 614-684-7112 heritagegc.com The clubhouse of this prestigious, private club sits on 350 acres of beautifully landscaped scenery, including a premier golf course and lakes. It is an ideal choice for couples seeking a sophisticated country club wedding. %  $ ≥ Makoy Center 5462 N. Center St., Hilliard; 614-777-1211 makoy.com Located in Old Hilliard; 1920s art deco ambiance, large dance floor, staging and state-ofthe-art sound system %  $ ≥

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Seth Dunn lifts his bride, Sarah Dunn, during their reception at Brookside Golf & Country Club.

(Kimberly Potterf Photography)

Swim & Racquet Club 3500 Kenny Rd., Upper Arlington; 614-451-3762 swimandracquet.com Small wedding venue with neutral décor $ The Ohio State University Golf Club 3605 Tremont Rd., 614-514-3663 ohiostategolfclub.com The golf club has a spectacular veranda with a complete overview of the 18th green on the Scarlet Course. Banquet menu options include a large selection of hors d’oeuvres, dinners and even gourmet desserts. %  $  ≥ The Reception House at Raymond Memorial 3860 Trabue Rd., 614-276-6127 raymondreceptions.com A newly renovated banquet facility; custom menus WatersEdge Event and Conference Center 4643 Trueman Blvd., Hilliard; 614-876-2200 watersedgeevents.biz All-inclusive packages include facility, service staff, linens, food, beverage, cake, DJ and centerpieces. %  $  ≥

Where high design meets today’s green technology for the ultimate culinary experience.

Website: www.dinner4two.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/Dinner4Two Twitter: @Dinner_4_Two Instagram: instagram.com/dinner_4_two#

BUSTLED

CAPTURE EVERYTHING YOU NEED BEFORE YOUR BIG DAY AT

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SOUTHEAST

Groveport, Lockbourne, Pickerington and beyond Barn at Rush Creek 29130 Klump Rd., Sugar Grove; 740-746-8704 barnatrushcreek.com Located in Hocking Hills on a private 200acre farm; breathtaking scenery includes a pond, meadow and, of course, the hills. %  $ ≥

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD AT OUR NEWLY REMODELED HOTEL

Berwick Manor 3250 Refugee Rd., 614-235-7100 the-berwick.com The Berwick has been a family-owned and operated company since 1955, specializing in homemade Italian goodness. Offering full-service banquet services, including all of the linens, china, silverware, glassware and service staff. %  The Clock Tower Premier Banquet & Conference Center 4500 Eastland Dr., 614-759-9371 columbusclocktower.com A unique, 7,000-square-foot venue that features a blend of European-influenced architecture and Hollywood ballroom elegance % $ ≥ Foxfire Golf Club 10799 State Route 104, Lockbourne; 614-224-3694 foxfiregolfclub.com Country setting at a beautiful 36-hole golf club 20 minutes south of Columbus; two patios

Our beautiful ballroom, premier catering ser ices, and on-site e pert planners make us the perfect setting for our edding. Sa , I do, at the modern and elegant Embass Suites b Hilton Columbus-Dublin , coming Fall 2018.

Embass Suites b Hilton Columbus-Dublin 5100 U e Me Place D blin, Ohi 43017 614-602-0114 c l mb d blin.emba i e .c m *Service of alcohol subject to state and local laws. Must be of legal drinking age. 2018 Hilton. indicates a trademark of Hilton.

Groveport Town Hall 648 Main St., Groveport; 614-836-3333 groveport.org FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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main event reception guide Lakshmi Rangaswamy and Matthew Rooks share a dance at the Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel. (Erica Ott/ Rick Buchanan Photography)

This ballroom, built in 1876, features period décor, a 16-foot ceiling, hardwood floors, a concert stage and chandeliers. %  $x Hickory Lakes 12495 Ault Rd., Pickerington; 614-837-2143 hickorylakes.blogspot.com Located on 88 acres; two facilities for ceremony and reception %  $  Hocking Hills Wedding Chapel 29301 Klump Rd., Sugar Grove; 740-746-8704 facebook.com/hockinghillsweddingchapel Form memories for years to come in the stunning log chapel, gazebo or by the outdoor stone fireplace. All-inclusive packages make your wedding day unforgettable and stress-free. Customizable options are available. %  $ ≥ Hoover YMCA Park 1570 Rohr Rd., Lockbourne; 614-389-4602 ymcacolumbus.org/hoover/rentals Enjoy 65 acres of sun-dappled lawns and shady woods, only minutes from Downtown Columbus. It’s the natural place to explore, learn, work, relax and play. %  $≥ Laurel Run Farm 21541 Laurel Run Rd., Nelsonville; 614-848-4700 cameronmitchellpremierevents.com/ venues/laurel-run-farm/ 108

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Located in the pristine wilderness of Hocking Hills, Laurel Run Farm offers a charming and luxurious event space. Positioned on 140 acres, the venue offers breathtaking views and privacy, perfect for your special day. %  $  ≥ Little Brook Meadows 100 Edgewood Dr., Lancaster; 740-689-9129 littlebrookmeadows.com Have your rehearsal dinner, ceremony and reception all on the property; up to 20 guests can stay overnight in the house on the property.

Retreat at Turnberry 11680 Refugee Rd., Pickerington; 614-645-3337 columbus.gov The perfect location for a rustic wedding feel. Open space, a very large kitchen and a private park setting set this facility apart.

This location is customizable to fit your every need. %  $≥ Stuart’s Opera House 52 Public Sq., Nelsonville; 740-753-1924 stuartsoperahouse.org Stuart’s Opera House is a beautiful, historic theater located on Nelsonville’s Public Square. A brand-new lobby features a reception area of more than 4,000 square feet for more than 250 guests with a catering kitchen and full bar. % $≥

SOUTHWEST

Galloway, Grove City and beyond Aladdin Shrine Center 1801 Gateway Circle, Grove City; 614-782-2490 aladdineventcenter.com The Aladdin Shrine Center is a perfect location for weddings from 50 to 250. A private patio and gazebo allow for an intimate outdoor ceremony, and an elegant ballroom is perfect for your reception. %  $  The Ballroom at Oakhurst 3223 Norton Rd., Grove City; 614-878-6443 ext. 223 oakhurstgc.com Offering timeless elegance and class, this upscale wedding venue is a historic Columbus gem with beamed ceilings, hardwood floors and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the golf course. Your wedding here will be both unforgettable and luxurious. %  $  ≥ Big Run Park Shelterhouse 4201 Clime Rd., 614-645-3337 columbus.gov Surrounded by woods, this secluded site gives a private feel to your event. Very large, customizable space to suit larger weddings. %  $≥

Imagine your dream event here!

EXCLUSIVE...PICTURESQUE...UNFORGETTABLE...TIMELESS

Located just right outside of Johnstown. 105-acre facility surrounded by horses, rolling green pastures and a country backdrop with space to host both your ceremony and reception from 50 guests up to 1,200 guests seated. Whether you dream of your wedding overlooking the stream and pastures or in the magnificent arena, there are limitless beautiful settings for your special day here at Irongate Equestrian Center.

Call today to schedule your personalized tour

12298 CROTON RD • CROTON, OH 43013 • 740.893.8001 Info@IronGateEquestrianCenter.com • www.IrongateEquestrianCenter.com

main event reception guide

columbus ohio's premiere axe throwing lounge

NOW Booking Axe Throwing Reservations Bachelor/ette Parties Wedding rehearsal dinners Catering available www.TheDuelingAxes.com

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309 S 4th Street Columbus, OH 43215 Darby House 925 Darby Creek Dr., Galloway; 614-878-4527 darbyhouse.cameronmitchellpremierevents. com Darby House is a historic, 1,200-acre private estate located just 20 minutes west of Downtown Columbus. It offers a rustic, chic setting for picturesque indoor and outdoor ceremonies. %  $  ≥ Heimat Haus Party & Picnic Center 4555 Jackson Pike, Grove City; 614-875-6005 heimathauspartyhouse.com Three shelter houses; picnic pavilion holds 400 to 500 depending on setup; play area for children; picnic tables; walk-in cooler %  $ The Mercantile 8 E. Third Ave., Mt. Sterling; 740-505-8775 facebook.com/fleaandfarmmercantile Vintage, rustic, unique and totally unexpected %  $

Sunday, August 12 Noon — 4 p.m.

NATIONWIDE HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER 100 Green Meadows Dr. S Lewis Center Get tickets at:

CbusWeddings.com #CbusWeddingsBoutique

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The Old Blue Rooster Event Center 11575 Lithopolis Rd., Lithopolis; 740-438-0717 oldblueroosterevents.com Beautiful, indoor rustic barn venue with an outdoor ceremony area; heated and airconditioned; plenty of restrooms; bar area %  $  The Paddock Pub & Links Event Center 1005 Richardson Rd., Groveport; 614-610-9688 thepaddockpub.com Located at the Links at Groveport, the

Paddock Pub is casual spot serving American fare. The Links Event Center can host your wedding; event consultants will handle all the details at this full-service facility. % $  ≥

THIS PAGE AND PREVIOUS, Pinnacle Golf Club hosted Stephanie and Austin Shockey’s ceremony and reception. (AddVision Studios)

Pinnacle Golf Club 1500 Pinnacle Club Dr., Grove City; 614-539-0722 discoverpinnacle.com Beautiful, unique spaces; breathtaking views; exceptional service and outstanding cuisine %  $  ≥ Rustic Beauty Wedding and Event Venue 11933 Scioto Darby Rd., Orient; 614-578-4289 rusticbeautyevents.com New facility on 125-acre farm with two ponds and shelter house Westgate Park Shelterhouse 3271 Wicklow Rd., 614-645-3337 columbus.gov Updated facility with fireplace, bridal suite and plenty of space to host your large wedding. Offers a beautiful patio with a gorgeous view of the recently renovated pond and mature trees. %  $≥

Photo Credit Adam Lowe Photography

To add your venue to the guide, go to cbuswedmag.com/RGsubmit

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main event catering

Bite-Sized Don’t let your entrées have all the fun—the hors d’oeuvres you serve during cocktail hour can be stars of their own show. Cameron Mitchell Premier Events whipped up some tasty treats that prove great things really can come in small packages. —Emma Frankart Henterly

PHOTOS BY TIM JOHNSON

Elevated Style Colossal Crab Spoon With English cucumber and Louis sauce Pink Peppercorn Macaron With foie gras, balsamic macerated peaches and black pepper caramel Ahi Tuna Tartar With pickled fennel and pistachio on a crispy rice cracker Roasted Faroe Island Salmon With crème fraîche, caviar and chef’s garden wildflowers 112

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Simple and Elegant Blue Cheese Crostini Cambozola blue cheese, honey pearls and micro greens on toasted focaccia Smoked Gouda Bite Toasted and fried quinoa-crusted smoked gouda with gremolata Compressed Watermelon With crumbled feta and balsamic glaze Chicken Meatballs With Thai barbecue sauce and pickled vegetables

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Updated Classics Steak Frites Beef tenderloin and roasted garlic aioli on focaccia batard Pickled Deviled Egg With goat cheese, Parmesan and micro greens Devils on Horseback Smoked bacon-wrapped Medjool dates Summer Yogurt Parfait Greek yogurt, house-made coconut sugar granola, fresh berries and Tupelo honey

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If you can

Modern Twists Blueberry Meringue Shooter Blueberry meringue, blueberry lemon cream cheese mousse and graham streusel

dream it, we can do it.

Cosmo Jell-O Shot Watershed vodka, cranberry Jell-O and gold leaf Braised Beef Compressed short rib with whipped sweet potato, crispy shallots and popcorn shoot Buffalo Chicken Spring Roll With shaved celery salad, parsley leaves and blue cheese dressing

Catering Elegant & Affordable Full menus including Food Stations, Antipasto Spreads, Buffet, Family Style, and Butler Service Alcohol & Facility Location Services Available Email catering@carfagnas.com or visit us at carfagnas.com FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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main event catering Ashley and Albert Watson’s reception dinner included comfort foods like candied yams and stuffed chicken.

(Hillary Ferguson Photography)

Play with Your Food Get creative with your reception menu.

BY NANCY BYRON Grilled cheese. Short ribs. Eggplant lasagna. Tacos.

Many local couples are steering away from the traditional chicken-or-beef choices for their wedding reception menus, embracing the chance to personalize their big day down to the last detail.

“I decided that the only thing I really needed to eat at my wedding was macaroni and cheese,” says Jordan Guinn, who chose City Barbeque to cater her outdoor reception in October 2017.

Pulled pork is her husband’s favorite food, so the menu included those two items as well as brisket, baked beans and a salad.

“Everyone said it was delicious,” Guinn says.

“People were going back for seconds and thirds.”

Any concerns Guinn or her husband, William “Preston” Guinn, may have had about dripping barbecue sauce on their wedding attire were allayed when two servers intercepted them as they headed for the buffet.

“They got each food that we wanted and served [it to us], so we wouldn’t accidentally 116

COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

ruin what we were wearing,” she says. “They carried our food back to our table for us, as well, which was great for me considering I’m clumsy and would have wound up tripping or something on the way back.”

For Becky and John Shaffer, wanting food they like and plenty of choices to accommodate guests’ diets prompted them to put new twists on more traditional reception entrées. The couple, who wed in October 2017 and held their reception at Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center, served chicken saltimbocca, brown sugar honey mustard salmon, eggplant lasagna, beef tenderloin, tricolor fingerling potatoes and tricolor carrots.

“That saltimbocca business is delicious,” says Becky. “And I’m personally not a big chicken person. My husband hates salmon and actually loved the way this one was prepared and ate all of it at the tasting. I was kind of floored by that. The eggplant lasagna really surprised us both. [Being] the meat-and-potato people we are,

vegetarian isn’t really our gig, but this was an excellent dish.”

Their guests raved about the food choices, too.

“No one was disappointed with their dinner,” Becky says, adding that her only regret was not being able to eat all the food she wanted that night because her wedding dress was too tight and her stomach too small.

For Emily Cutright Kopco and husband, Jeff Kopco, a food truck provided a more casual atmosphere at their reception and gave guests plenty of options. The menu also incorporated their favorite food: tacos.

“We were planning a backyard wedding, but it rained and we had to find another venue and switch most everything at the last minute, but we decided to keep the food truck,” Cutright Kopco says. “It was more relaxed, and people could eat at their own leisure.”

Since the weather was wet, the food truck operators provided door-to-door service.

“They were nice enough to come in, take orders and then bring the food back in when it was ready,” Cutright Kopco says. “That was really good customer service.”

In addition to brisket tacos, the menu included grilled cheese, brisket sandwiches, chicken wraps, chicken sandwiches, hummus with vegetables and salad.

“We got married Labor Day weekend and these were perfect end-of-summer, barbecuestyle foods,” Cutright Kopco says. “And the food was phenomenal. We were at another wedding the weekend after ours and people were still raving about our food.”

Bob Selhorst, president of Bosc + Brie, says these couples are not the exception, but rather the new rule in wedding reception menus.

Wherever. Whenever. However.

We are far more than a catering company – we’re in a class of our own as the premier catering and event planning company serving Columbus and Central Ohio.

We will expertly plan, design and coordinate each and every detail of your special day. Our skilled and experienced team will help bring your vision to life, creating an unforgettable experience for you and your guests.

Visit our website to start planning today.

Brisket, pulled pork, mac ’n’ cheese and beans from City Barbeque kept guests full at Jordan and William Guinn’s reception. (Hillary Ferguson Photography)

614.848.4700 l CameronMitchellPremierEvents.com

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main event catering “I’ve been doing this for 30 years, and when I started, everything was so traditional,” he says. “The millennials are less stilted.

It’s more of a party. Things are getting more casual. The food is, too.”

For example, Selhorst is catering more brunch receptions for those choosing to marry on a Sunday morning.

“We’ll do scrambled eggs, thick-cut maple bacon, French toast or waffles with pecan sauce or peach sauce, sausage and a fruit bar,” he says. “For appetizers, we’ll do a cereal bar with almond milk and soy milk, and a yogurt bar. People love the cereal bar.”

Selhorst says modernizing old mainstay entrées is also popular, so instead of traditional beef options like prime rib, roast beef or a filet, couples might opt for his short ribs.

“We do three different sauces with it: an espagnole sauce, a mushroom and demiglace and a tomato-based hunter sauce,” he says. “People just love them. We also do a lemon-oregano chicken everybody likes and a blackberry balsamic chicken with goat cheese that’s very popular.”

“We’re also doing more and more full-on, unabashed vegan wedding receptions,” he continues. “For those, we find some creative

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT, A gourmet cheese tray at Emily Cutright Kopco and Jeff Kopco’s reception, which was catered by the Paddy Wagon food truck (Derk’s Works Photography); balsamic-glazed salmon, collard greens with turkey, broccoli and peppers and more from Ashley and Albert Watson’s wedding (Hillary Ferguson Photography); Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center served fun twists on wedding classics for Becky and John Shaffer and their guests (Hillary Ferguson Photography); self-serve bruschetta gave guests of Mindy and Damian Ettish something to snack on during cocktail hour (Dan Buckley Photography).

All proceeds benefit the clients of LifeCare Alliance

Great Catering

Great Cause FOR A

Specializing in Event Elegance

614-358-LALA (5252)

la-catering.com PROUD PARTNER

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You want perfection...

A doughnut-and-cookie table was a big hit among Becky and John Shaffer’s guests. (Hillary Ferguson Photography)

LET THEM EAT …

DOUGHNUTS? It’s not just the main entrées at wedding receptions that are getting makeovers. Couples are branching out in new directions with their cakes and even adding late-night snacks for guests who stick around until the wee hours.

Becky and John Shaffer opted for both doughnuts and cookies in lieu of a traditional, multitiered wedding cake at their reception.

“I don’t even remember seeing the doughnuts,” Becky says. “Those things flew off the table.”

The couple also brought in pizza and hired an ice cream truck for some late-night sustenance at their Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center reception.

Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph offers an ice cream sundae bar, a miniature dessert bar and made-to-order bananas foster and cherries jubilee as alternatives or additions to a traditional wedding cake.

ways to make a carrot taste like bacon. I have a chef who can do that.”

Some couples are even incorporating family recipes into their reception menus.

“We’ve had people ask, ‘Can you do my grandmother’s cabbage rolls?’ or ‘Can you make my mother’s wiener schnitzel?’ For the bride and groom, it’s a great way to say, ‘Thank you; we’re going to do this in your honor.’ Those things are fun. We get the recipe and go with it.”

Becky says couples shouldn’t be afraid to personalize the food at their wedding reception.

“Go with what you love to eat,” she advises. “It is your night and ultimately should be everything you want it to be. No

The hotel’s late-night snack options include sliders, flatbreads and even German Villageinspired foods such as bratwurst, homemade pretzel bites and mini cream puffs.

“Late-night snacks are perfect for re-energizing guests who have been dancing and drinking and now want something informal and fun to nibble on as they socialize,” says Sheri Brock, catering sales manager for The Joseph.

The slider station includes gourmet fries and mini chocolate shake “shots,” she says; another fun pairing is tomato soup shooters with a mini grilled cheese wedge.

“More couples are opting out of wedding favors and prioritizing some of the budget with creative menu enhancements,” Brock says.

“We love to entertain,” says Becky. “And making sure everything we served was not only delicious, but fun and exciting, was our No. 1 priority. We definitely kept our guests well-fed all night long, and they all seemed to love it.”

one says you have to serve certain foods on your wedding day. You do you.”

Selhorst agrees.

“I tell couples to get what they like,” he says. “It’s their day. We’ll adapt and do what they want us to do.”

Just be sure your guests are fed in a timely fashion, Cutright Kopco adds.

“We went to a wedding once and had to wait until 10 o’clock to eat,” she says. “I understand it’s your day, but when you’re planning your food, you have to think of your guests as well. Have appetizers if you’re going to do a late sit-down dinner.

And, if you’re having a bigger reception, offer three or four meal choices so there’s something for everyone.”

We’re ready!

EVENT CENTER 118 E Main St. | Columbus, Ohio 43215 614-868-0025 • info@ RedBrickOccasions.com RedBrickOccasions.com

ideas inspiration FIND AND

at the

October 14 Noon — 4 p.m.

BRIDGEWATER BANQUET AND CONFERENCE CENTER 10561 Sawmill Parkway Powell Get tickets at:

CbusWeddings.com

#CbusWeddingsBoutique

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Drink Up PHOTO BY TIM JOHNSON There’s something about winter that makes us want to curl up by the fire with a nice bourbon cocktail. But when at a reception, we’re more likely to crave a refreshing thirst-quencher so we can get back out on the dance floor. This cocktail, created by the folks at Made From Scratch Catering, offers the best of both worlds.

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All Access “Our clients are always looking for ways to create an unforgettable experience for their wedding guests. Offering a memorable first impression with a wellthought-out ‘greet’ drink is a nice way to set the tone for the reception,” says Selena Browning, director of catering at Made From Scratch, which teamed up with locally based Simple Times to create a number of handcrafted cocktails. “Sourcing local is a top priority for both brands, so working together was a perfect marriage—pun intended. When creating the Blackberry Bourbon Smash, the main driver was featuring fruit that calls Ohio home. Blackberries grow in abundance here and bring local flavor to a cocktail that’s loved nationally.”

kstage pass to the Arch c a b r City You Visit ColumbusMonthly.com and sign up for our weekly newsletter that includes special events, important conversations, exclusive giveaways and more.

Blackberry Bourbon Smash Servings: 1

INGREDIENTS: 1.5 ounces bourbon 3 ounces Simple Times blackberry lemonade mixer ½ ounce fresh lemon juice Combine all ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker and shake. Strain into a rocks glass, add ice—crushed is best, but cubed works, too—and garnish with lemon and a sprig of mint.

Let our talented staff of planners, coordinators, chefs, and servers assist you in every aspect of planning and executing your wedding, ensuring every dining experience is as effortless as it is elegant.

Catering and Event Planning boscandbrie.com 614.985.2215

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main event rehearsal dinner

A Range of Options

For an experience as special as that found at Beck & Mohawk, allow the Lindey’s team to elevate your next special event. Reserve one of our private rooms or bring Lindey’s to you.

169 E. BECK ST. COLUMBUS, OHIO 43206 614.228.4343 LINDEYS.COM

Voted Columbus’ best restaurant 2010-2018.

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Rehearsal dinners can vary from classic to casual.

BY TAMI KAMIN MEYER It wasn’t difficult for Victoria Hutta and Daniel Magness to decide where they wanted to hold their rehearsal dinner on Aug. 25, 2017.

“We choose Lindey’s because we had several date nights there, so it was special to us,” says the bride, now Victoria Hutta-Magness.

Not only had the pair spent many memorable evenings at the German Village landmark, the restaurant also offered something else the couple valued: privacy. The eatery features an upstairs dining area complete with a private bar, so revelers needn’t worry about outsiders interfering with their experience.

“The ambiance at Lindey’s is great,” says Hutta-Magness. In addition to soft candlelight and comfortable surroundings, the food itself was excellent, she adds.

Her tip for ensuring wedding parties are successful at securing hard-sought spaces, such as Lindey’s, for their special events?

Start planning early. Schedule meetings as far in advance as Daniel Magness and Victoria Hutta possible to increase the likelihood at Lindey’s. that your date is available.

Concerns about whether poputhere and ready to go when we were done lar locations were available were not an rehearsing,” she says. “And who doesn’t issue for John Shaffer and Becky Fluke (now love City Barbeque?”

Becky Shaffer). The couple hosted their Oct. According to Randy Arehart, regional 13, 2017, rehearsal dinner in the backyard catering sales manager for City Barbeque, of their Westerville home.

According to Becky, several factors an increasing number of couples rely on went into their decision. First was cost. the regional chain for their rehearsal din“We went all-out for the wedding day— ner eats. In fact, in his five years with the appetizers, food, dessert table, ice cream company, he’s seen a rise in catering orders truck, after-hours pizza—so I wasn’t super not only for rehearsal dinners, but for wedinterested in spending a ton on the rehearsdings as well. al dinner,” she says. Also, many out-ofTo what does he owe this phenomenon? towners, some with children, attended, so “The food may be casual, but the experihosting at home injected flexibility into ence is delicious, satisfying and affordable. the event.

Don’t confuse elegance with deliciousBut that’s not to say that anyone left the ness,” he says. party hungry.

When it comes to your own rehearsal The couple opted to have City Barbeque dinner, there’s no right or wrong answer. cater their rehearsal dinner, and Becky says As long as the food is good and the aesshe could not have been more pleased. “I thetic matches your vision, you’re sure to was able to order ahead online, have my set up an evening that’s (almost) as special sister-in-law go pick it up and it was all as the day that follows.

PHOTO: COURTESY VICTORIA HUTTA-MAGNESS

SPECIAL EVENTS & CATERING

cakes main event

Sweet Shades We gave local bakers a set of colors from Pantone’s Fashion Color Trend Report (see Page 16) and told them to go wild; here’s what they created.

PHOTOS BY ROB HARDIN AND TIM JOHNSON

RUFFLED FEATHERS Featuring gold-leaf feathers,

by Jan Kish-La Petite Fleur

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main event cakes

STRUCTURED STYLE Featuring 3D sugar veil details, by Our CupCakery

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SIMPLY MARBLE-OUS Featuring hand-painted marbleized details, by Jan Kish-La Petite Fleur

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main event cakes

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SWEET SUCCULENTS Cake and assorted desserts

by Our CupCakery

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main event cakes Jan Kish-La Petite Fleur baked her classic White Swan cake with English lemon curd, raspberry reduction and vanilla buttercream for Victoria Hutta-Magness and Daniel Magness. The cake also featured Kish’s All-American Chocolate cake with amaretto buttercream.

(Style & Story Creative)

Taste Test Local bakers offer much more than basic flavors.

BY EMMA FRANKART HENTERLY By the time your cake tasting rolls around, four to eight months before your wedding, you’ll probably be sick of making decisions. You might even be tempted to just ask for the ubiquitous crowd-pleasers—chocolate and vanilla—and call it a day.

That would be a mistake.

Today’s flavor options run the gamut, and with many local bakers offering dozens of types of cakes, frostings and fillings, the possible combinations are seemingly endless.

Here are a few of our top picks from Our CupCakery in Dublin and Jan Kish-La Petite Fleur in Worthington.

The Classics One combination that’s often requested by clients of Jan Kish-La Petite Fleur is the cake that won an episode of TLC’s Ultimate 128

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Cake Off in 2010, says owner Jan Kish. It’s a White Swan cake—which Kish calls “your classic white wedding cake”—with English lemon curd, vanilla buttercream and raspberry reduction.

Another favorite flavor combination, chocolate and peanut butter, is especially popular during football season, says Linda Kick Molter, wedding consultant at Our CupCakery. “We have what we call the ‘backwards buckeye,’ because it’s a chocolate cupcake with a chocolate ganache filling and then a peanut butter frosting,” she adds. “We also do a peanut butter cake with a chocolate frosting, which I think is delicious.”

New Twists on Old Favorites Pull an Emeril Lagasse and kick things up a notch by adding an unexpected twist to your flavors. “We have a chili chocolate cinnamon [cake]” that is surprisingly popular, says Kish. “It’s extra bittersweet, but you get a kick of cinnamon that comes up.”

Kick Molter says her bakery’s pumpkin caramel and apple cinnamon cakes are in demand among those who want to go beyond a traditional spice cake, especially in the cooler months.

All in the Family “If you have been raised on a cake that you absolutely love and you would like it to be part of your wedding cake, give us the recipe,” says Kish. She and her team can test it to make sure it tastes just like what Grandma used to make before incorporating it into your dessert.

Kick Molter recalls doing this for a groom whose mother made a chocolate cake using a boxed mix and a jar of cherry pie filling.

“We’ve never had an experience that was awful with a recipe we were given,” she notes.

Truly Unique Our CupCakery has an orange Creamsicle-style cake that Kick Molter loves, but cautions that “people either really like that, or they don’t like it very much at all.” When choosing a polarizing flavor, it’s best to also offer a more traditional, neutral choice, she recommends.

Kish’s popular Persian Love cake has a unique flavor profile as well: rosewater, cinnamon and cardamom, with a pistachio buttercream icing. And her Banbury Rose cake has an English influence, with candied lemon and orange peel, rosewater, almonds and rum-soaked currants.

Advertiser Directory CAKES

Jan KishLa Petite Fleur jankish.com 614-848-5855 633 Oxford St., Worthington

Our CupCakery ourcupcakery.com 614-659-1555 16 N. High St., Dublin CATERERS

Bosc + Brie boscandbrie.com 614-985-2215 7625 N. High St., Columbus

Cameron Mitchell Premier Events cameronmitchell premierevents.com 614-848-4700

Carfagna’s Catering carfagnas.com 614-846-6340

City Barbeque Catering citybbq.com 614-538-1230

L.A. Catering la-catering.com 614-358-5252 670 Harmon Ave., Columbus

Made from Scratch Catering made-from-scratch.com 614-873-3344 7500 Montgomery Dr., Plain City

Schmidt’s Restaurant Banquets and Catering

Subscribe to

schmidthaus.com 614-444-5050 CEREMONIES

Hocking Hills Wedding Chapel hockinghillswedding chapel.com 888-222-4691 29301 Klump Rd., Sugar Grove RECEPTION VENUES Please see our full reception venue directory on Page 86.

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Go to columbusmonthly.com or call 877-688-8009.

Creative Cuisine creativecuisine columbus.com 614-436-4949 839 Busch Ct., Columbus

Adrienne and Shawn Gruber’s cake was made by Our Cupcakery (Derk’s Works Photography).

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TWO BIG DAYS TO PLAN

your BIG DAY

January

12 & 13

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RUNWAY SHOWS

PHOTO: STYLE & STORY CREATIVE

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WEDDING-DAY PHOTOGRAPHY 132 • ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY 138 VIDEOGRAPHY 144 • REAL WEDDINGS 145 FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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Going Old-School Options for bringing your wedding day photos off the screen and into your hands

BY RYLAN LEE The wedding has passed, the honeymoon is celebrated, and the gifts are put away. Now, the final bit of anticipation—seeing your photos from the big day—is over as well, and you’re faced with the inevitable decision: What do you do with all those photos?

These days, most couples get their photos digitally, either via thumb drive, online gallery or both. In an era where computers are more ubiquitous than bookstores and social media dominates downtime, this makes sense.

Maranda Amornyard West and Patrick West share a kiss on their wedding day.

(Dan Buckley Photography)

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But what about the tangible stuff—the 8-by10s, the photo albums, the canvas prints?

For many couples, this is where paralyzing indecision sets in. Not only is it a question of what to order—will that shot look better on a canvas or in a 5-by-7 frame?—but also of whom to order from. Fortunately, you have an expert on your side: the photographer who took the images. Several local professionals share their tips on choosing what to print and how; read on for their advice.

TO ORDER OR NOT TO ORDER Let’s tackle the big one first. Should you even order any prints?

“I want [couples] to really focus on what are they going to look at in 10, 20 … years,” says Kimberly Potterf of Kimberly Potterf Photography. Whether it’s an album to bring out for family and friends or a framed picture hanging in your bedroom, the physical iterations of wedding photos are something couples can turn to throughout their marriage.

And while digital photos can live out their lifetime on various social media websites, as your phone background or simply as an online gallery to scroll through, there is something decidedly different about having the physical image.

“When you’re holding a beautiful print, I think there is an emotional connection to it,” muses Christopher Keels of Christopher Keels Photographer.

Another point to consider is technology.

If history repeats itself, as it tends to do, the rapid tech evolution means a high risk of today’s media becoming obsolete tomorrow … or so say the floppy disks from their place in the landfill heap. And with Apple already on the forefront of the anti-USB movement—the brand’s newest laptops have ditched traditional USB ports for a slimmer USB-C option—it’s possible that those thumb drives may not be convenient storage solutions forever.

OPTIONS! OPTIONS! OPTIONS! Erica Ott, wedding photographer for Rick Buchanan Photography, voices the thoughts of many couples trying to pick the ways they want to remember their wedding: “It’s a very overwhelming process, and I think that’s also a barrier for some people, too, just because there’s so much to choose from.”

So let’s break down your options. The three most popular are standard prints, custom-framed photos and photo albums, but the options hardly end there.

Starting with the basics, there’s the standard print. These are your 4-by-6s, 5-by-7s and 8-by-10s.

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images wedding day photography “I think it’s important to have a little bit of everything in print. Personally, I print my favorite images from my personal life that will tell the story of my life,” says Nicole Dixon of Nicole Dixon Photographic.

Think of these as a blank canvas for a host of possibilities.

One such possibility is framing your photos. Whether it’s an addition to your desk or your mantel, a framed image can be a beautifully simple reminder of that special day.

And if adorning your walls with a splash of color—as well as romance—is what you’re keen on, consider canvas prints. They will display your memories the same as a framed picture, but with added depth and texture.

Another option for your photos is the tried-and-true: the photo album—or, as Potterf calls it, a storybook of a couple’s day.

Artisanal and thoughtful, a wedding album is an artistic reminiscence on a couple’s wedding. More so than framed images or canvas prints, it is a relic for couples to really spend time with. For family members or close friends who couldn’t make it to the wedding itself, a photo album also can be the perfect way to share the highlights of your wedding.

Along those lines, couples can also opt for a photo book. Like an album, a photo book compiles many images from your wedding into a page-turner. But where a wedding album is a more artistic combination of elements—the type of paper, the layout of the photos, the fabric of the cover, with photos typically glued to a page or inserted into sleeves—a photo book takes the clean-cut route, mimicking the style of professional coffee table books by printing the images directly onto the paper.

BUYER BE WARY Once couples decide what do with their photos, the next step is the “how.” Couples can go through their photographer or endeavor to do it on their own.

There are a bevy of budget options available: photo kiosks at convenience stores and big-box retailers, as well as online budget printers like Shutterfly and Snapfish. All of these are convenient and cheap, two things that probably sound appealing to a couple who have already spent a lot of effort and money on their wedding day.

But that convenience and price come with an expense of a different sort.

“A lot of times, some of those super easy and really affordable [options] are not done as intentionally,” says Jennifer Derkin, chief operations specialist for Derk’s Works Photography. When it comes to that 134

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Kimberly Dwyer and her husband, Patrick, printed individual photos from their wedding day to frame and display in their home. (Forget Me Knot Photography)

magic photo destined to hang in your home, intentionality is pretty important.

As the adage goes, you get what you pay for. A lower-priced print often suffers from inferior appearance, whether that’s due to the teenager behind the one-hour photo counter not calibrating the printer’s colors correctly or the mass-production attitude of an online printer focusing on quantity of prints created, rather than their quality.

By contrast, most photographers have close relationships with professional printing companies that help them create tailormade, high-quality pieces.

“All of our computers that we do all of our editing on are color-calibrated, and they are meant to match the [professional] printers we use,” says Ott. When it comes to standard prints, there are a lot of perks for going through your photographer. On top of a photographer’s

relationship with reputable, high-quality printers, there’s also the matter of the photos themselves.

“We can only really give each image a minute or two [of editing for digital output] … but, in general, we like to take the image the rest of the way when we’re actually printing and producing it,” says Keels. After all, your digital photo package will include hundreds of photos, and getting an image ready for digital sharing requires very few edits. More thorough care often is required for photos selected for print. Printing through your photographer—as opposed to taking those edited-for-digital-sharing files to a low-cost company or kiosk—ensures you’ll be receiving the most refined version of your photo.

If your photographer does not offer prints, Derkin recommends Artifact Uprising and Mpix as two quality options available to the public.

Kimberly Potterf Photography captured a sweet moment between Jenni and Nick Fisher on their wedding day.

Photo books from Kimberly Potterf Photography (top) and Derk’s Works Photography (bottom)

GIVE THANKS

In addition to the typical choices, there are a wealth of other ways to bring your wedding day photos off the screen and into your hands.

One option is to turn them into unique and personal thank-you cards. These cards will not only feel more personal to your guests but also bring back the memories of that special day for them.

Pro tip: On your wedding day, have your photographer take a photo of the pair of you holding up a “Thank You!” sign. This will ensure those thank-you cards will be picture-perfect.

CRAFTED WITH CARE Albums and photo books, perhaps more so than any other product, may seem the most tempting to tackle DIY-style, but Dixon cautions against the impulse. “Usually after a wedding people are all wedding-ed out, and it’s just one of those things that never gets done,” she explains.

On top of lower-quality photos in the album itself, the process of making an album can be more arduous than couples are prepared for after the hustle and bustle of the wedding. From selecting the photos to deciding on the best placement to tell the story of the day, creating a beautiful album requires a lot of planning.

“My goal is to take as much of the work out of it for them,” says Potterf, who specializes in wedding albums.

And while budget printers like Shutterfly aim to make the process easy, the quality

of the final product itself isn’t always up to snuff. “It’s mass-produced versus going to a craftsman, says Potterf. “It’s hiring someone to make a custom piece of furniture versus going to IKEA.” And, like IKEA furniture, DIY photo books and albums can lack the solid construction required for a sturdy product that will stand the test of time.

The sentiment is true of canvas prints and custom-framed pictures, too. There are easy budget routes for both, but going through your photographer can mean those wall ornamentations are thoughtfully constructed. After all, your photographer is invested in the final product’s quality, too.

“No one is going to care about the quality of their photos more than that photographer,” says Potterf.

And, as Derkin reminds, it’s not just a picture that’s being displayed: “That’s a piece of art in their home that’s also a memory.”

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I definitely could not pick just one. What I will say is how important family is to me. I owe everything to my mom and dad. They have always been there to support me, love me and give me great advice. … Seeing the photos of my mom helping me get ready and my first reveal with my dad warm my heart.

—Caitlyn Otey, who married AJ Otey on Dec. 2, 2017, at the Ohio Statehouse (Derk’s Works Photography); see the photo of Caitlyn and her mom on Page 41

Our Favorite Photo Four couples share the shots that make them swoon.

In all likelihood, you’ll love nearly every photo taken on your wedding day. After all, it’s pretty hard to dislike any image that represents so much joy. But sometimes, an image or two stands out above the rest as being truly unexpected, or sentimental, or just plain ol’ pretty. For these couples, that certainly was the case.

—Emma Frankart Henterly

We love the one with our wedding party, since we did not capture a lot of photos with all of us together in such a neat location.

—Ali Hillard Williams, who married Dave Williams on Sept. 30, 2017, at Sheraton Columbus Hotel at Capitol Square (Lambert Photographs)

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One of our top favorite pictures is of our flower girl and dog of honor. The flower girl and ring bearer were our adorable twin niece and nephew, and the dog is our 2-year-old chiweenie. They stole the show with their cuteness.

—Kimberly and Patrick Dwyer married on Dec. 31, 2017, at the Westin Columbus (Forget Me Knot Photography)

I love … the one of our family, with my dog and stepson.

It has my whole world in one picture—and the kiddo is actually smiling and the fur lady is behaving!

—Becky Shaffer, who married John Shaffer on Oct. 14, 2017, at Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center (Hillary Ferguson Photography)

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images engagement

Personality POSING WITH

Make sure your engagement photos show who you are as a couple with these tips.

BY HEATHER LOFY

Engagement photos get a lot of play time.

More often than not, a couple includes them in a save-the-date. And let’s be honest: You’ll blast them throughout your social media channels the moment you receive the files from your photographer. That’s why it’s so important to inject some personality into your engagement photos.

So how do you begin to plan a think-outside-the-box shoot? Start with your photographer. He or she can guide you on all the major factors, including location, wardrobe and even props. Location is usually the first detail to nail down.

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“We start with location and look and feel,” says Sarah Williamson of Together We Click. “Some people want more urban, some want more greenery, some want to do lifestyle shots in their home or a place they got engaged or met. Figuring out the overall vision is important. We have a questionnaire for the couple to fill out so we can make sure everyone is prepared. It’s knowing their story and what they are all about in advance.”

Carmen Hall of Forget Me Knot Photography agrees that location is important— picking something significant to the couple is a foolproof way to go.

“I always want them to choose something that is more meaningful to them,” Hall says.

“If they got engaged at a certain park, or met at a certain bar or restaurant, I like to incorporate some of that into their engagement session.”

Mindy Amornyard and Damian Ettish, married on May 20, 2017, took their engagement photos during the fall 2016.

An exploration of parks around Columbus helped them settle on a unique spot.

“We didn’t want to go the super-predictable route,” says Mindy (now Mindy Ettish).

“We did a little bit of research and went to some other parks that people don’t always go

Mindy Amornyard and Damian Ettish sought out a quirky park for their engagement photos.

(Dan Buckley Photography)

to. We Googled ‘Columbus parks’ and visited several well before the date of the photos. We visited one or two every weekend to scope out what would work best for us. We also got to walk around the parks, which was nice.”

They stumbled upon a small park on Clintonville’s southern border called Glen Echo, which offered a different backdrop for photos. Glen Echo has a bridge with a mural of birds inside, along with a creek and beautiful foliage surrounding it all. Their session was the first time that their photographer, Dan Buckley of Dan Buckley Photography, had taken photos there.

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT, Grandview hotspots were the perfect locales for Kara McElroy and Alex Grant (Forget Me Knot Photography); Ashley Turner and Albert Watson opted for a casual setting and attire (Hillary Ferguson Photography); Lauren Harris and Julian Sulinger found an artsy wall to serve as a backdrop (Dan Buckley Photography); Megan Payne and Brett King got drinks during their engagement session (AddVision Studios).

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“It allowed us to get several unique shots with [the park’s] variety of rock faces and graffiti,” says Buckley. “Before leaving the park, Damian surprised Mindy with flowers and that made for some fun photos. The second half of the shoot was at the Scioto Mile at sunset, where we got the photo of Damian carrying Mindy that they used for the save-the-date.”

Kara McElroy and Alex Grant, who were married on Sept. 30, 2017, also wanted locations for their photos that were a bit different and showed off their personalities. They chose Stauf’s Coffee Roasters and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams in Grandview for

some of their shots, scheduling the session in their favorite season: fall.

“We used to walk up to Stauf’s every Saturday with our dog, so we even had our dog in some of our photos,” says Kara (now Kara Grant). “We live in Grandview, so we didn’t want to go too far for our photos. We thought these places would really capture what we wanted.”

Since weather in Ohio can certainly play a factor in photos, look for spots that have an indoor option as a backup. You might just get a shot you weren’t expecting. Jennifer Nickle and Guiseppe Iuni also did location research before their March 2017

Jennifer Nickle and Guiseppe Iuni avoided unpleasant weather by taking photos at the North Market (Hillary Ferguson Photography).

engagement photos. The North Market and the Hilton Columbus Downtown provided them with both backdrops.

“We did Jennifer and Guiseppe’s session when the weather was kind of cool,” says Hillary Ferguson of Hillary Ferguson Photography. “We were trying to figure out where they could go that was different. They have a favorite place they like to get tea, so we ventured around the North Market. We bopped around and took advantage of those places.”

Another way to nab a unique shot is to incorporate another element, like a pet or something special to the couple. Ferguson loves animals and encourages couples to bring their pet along to the shoot. Hall agrees, and if her couples bring a pet or other props, she’ll start with those photos first. She recommends bringing a friend or family member to take the pet once those photos are done, so as not to interfere with the rest of the shoot.

Hall shares that besides pets, it’s a good idea to keep things simple and avoid going over the top.

“I want it to be more about the couple instead of things,” she explains. “Sometimes props can take things away from them or their personality. I’m all for something small.”

Hall got creative at Stauf’s during her shoot with Kara and Alex: A coffee cup with the engagement and wedding dates written on it helped reinforce the “engagement” aspect of the photos.

ideas AND inspiration

FIND

at the

Sunday, October 14 Noon — 4 p.m.

BRIDGEWATER BANQUET AND CONFERENCE CENTER 10561 Sawmill Parkway Powell Get tickets at:

CbusWeddings.com #CbusWeddingsBoutique

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Molly Koniewich and Donald Youell cozied up at a farm during their photo session. (Nicole Dixon Photographic)

ideas inspiration FIND AND

at the

August 12 Noon — 4 p.m.

NATIONWIDE HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER

100 Green Meadows Dr. S Lewis Center Get tickets at:

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#CbusWeddingsBoutique

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You can’t forget about clothbecause the groom was from ing: Personality also shines Ireland and loved the sport.

PRO TIPS: through in what you wear.

Ultimately, what makes you Together We Click provides » Avoid tiny patterns and and your partner feel the most prints on your clothes, couples with a style guide to comfortable is the route you which can blur together give them an idea of what might should go to ensure your phoand be hard to distinwork well in their photos. tos are fun and unique. guish in a photo.

“Our approach is to be “We wanted everything yourself, but amp it up a little » Get a hair and/or makeup to be like us,” says Kara of trial for your big day before her engagement shoot. “We in terms of wardrobe and stylyou take your engageing,” Williamson says. “Some weren’t super fancy. We only ment photos, so you can people struggle with that. They get a feel for how the look changed our clothes once. We ask, ‘What should I wear?’ didn’t try to fit a mold. This is translates on camera.

We help them come up with what we wanted, and it turned » Start your photos with a that visual element as well. out so well because it was so quick drink at your favorite candid and felt so real.”

We want it to be a little more bar or restaurant. Stick to fun than jeans and a T-shirt.

Planning aside, what can you just one—you want to be Maybe it’s wearing a suit or a do during your actual photo relaxed, not overindulge. fun dress or even a tutu. We session to get a shot unlike use Pinterest a lot to suggest anyone else’s? Be yourself. things that might work.”

“It’s awkward for everyone Although you might be inclined to match in the beginning,” shares Ferguson. “The clothing, Hall likes pieces that complement biggest thing when I start working with coueach other instead. Your favorite colors can ples is I [encourage] them to have fun and be fun, and mixing patterns and textures don’t feel stupid. Sometimes the couple just also adds a different element. laughing and being themselves brings out If you’re the types who prefer to think big, their natural personalities instead of feeling you can go completely out-of-the-box with a super posed. They might say something to themed shoot. Ferguson recounts one where the other person that looks or feels natural, the couple chose a ’50s theme at the 94th opposed to the awkward prom-type photo.”

Aero Squadron Restaurant near the airport.

And if you’re nervous for your photos, “They dressed the part and played the role trust your photographer and the process. very well,” she says.

“We knew having a very good photograAnother of Ferguson’s couples embraced pher was important,” Mindy says. “We did a soccer theme, shooting at Crew Stadium our research on the [photographers] who

Chelsey Scott and Sonny Unverferth decided on a laid-back photo session at their home. (Together We Click)

matched our style. We wanted to make sure the overall look we were going for matched.

We met with Dan beforehand and he had a lot of good recommendations. He had said to us before that he doesn’t really like posed photos. He said, ‘I’ll capture you guys. You do you, and we’ll go from there.’ Photos are super awkward anyway, so he made it more comfortable in that sense.”

From the photographer’s perspective, they’ll always step in to give direction when needed. Hall says that she and other photographers are aware that the last time a couple most likely took professional photos was during their senior year of high school.

“Right at the beginning, I’ll start with a standard photo of them looking at the camera,” Hall says. “Then from there, I like to tell them certain things. I tell them to say certain things to each other to evoke emotions and reactions out of them.”

At the end of the day, your photographer is your biggest ally.

“As photographers, we are looking for the overall pretty picture,” Williamson says. “We’ll always place the subjects in good lighting and good background, and see what happens from there. We want it to feel natural. We’re really getting to the point of who they are.”

forever LOVED DERK’S WORKS PHOTOGRAPHY

WWW.DERKSWORKS.COM @derksworks

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Advertiser Directory PHOTO BOOTHS

The Columbus Photo Booth Co. thecolumbusphotoboothcompany.com 614-961-8648 PHOTOGRAPHERS

AddVision Studios addvisionstudios.com 614-505-6070

Christopher Keels Photographer christopherkeels.com 614-487-8035

Derk’s Works Photography derksworks.com 614-887-7502

Forget Me Knot Photography Megan and Brett King hired AddVision Studios for their wedding photography and videography.

All in One Some photographers can help you capture your wedding in more than just still images.

BY PETER TONGUETTE As Megan King was weighing how to best document her October 2016 wedding, she first focused on hiring a photographer.

King’s stepmother, she recalls, recommended AddVision Studios. The vendor’s location, near Worthington Hills, was a hop, skip and jump from where King grew up (and where she and her husband, Brett, currently reside). The brideto-be was soon sold on the studio.

“They were wonderful to work with,” King says. “Stereotypically speaking, guys can maybe not get quite as excited about the picture part as brides do, but they made Brett feel so comfortable and just himself.”

When King, who was aware that AddVision also provides videography services, made up her mind that she wanted both still and moving pictures, she knew where to turn.

“They were able to jump right in,” says King.

“It made it so much easier to have everyone under one roof.”

Experts say couples are increasingly drawn to vendors that offer both photography and videography, like AddVision.

“You don’t wake up a week from the wedding and go, ‘Man, I really wish we went with chicken instead of filet,’ ” says Bryce Koechlin of AddVision. “The video is the one thing [that] if they don’t get, they wish they did.”

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forgetmeknotphoto.com 614-332-6900

Hillary Ferguson Photography A potential for cost savings is among the benefits of hiring one vendor to do both jobs.

Koechlin says his company offers bundle pricing for those who opt for both services.

Aesthetic considerations can be just as important as financial ones, however. Husband-and-wife duo Caleb and Meg Sanchez of Sanchez Studio say that the photos and videos they produce are designed to go hand-in-hand.

“When we shoot both, I shoot all the photos and Meg does all the video, and we don’t hire a second shooter,” Caleb says. “Meg and I have a very similar eye.”

Video is a vibrant part of their business; according to Caleb, about 40 percent of clients seek photography alone, but the remaining 60 percent is divided between couples who want photography and videography, or videography alone. The studio offers a range of video packages, including a 3-to-5-minute film with highlights and an 8-to-10-minute film featuring an audio message and the reading of vows.

“We always say to couples, to convince them that doing video is worth it, [that video allows them] to re-live their day in a way that they never would be able to by looking through their photos,” says Meg. Among the studio’s satisfied clients is Tiffany White, who married Jonathan in August 2017. She was glad to find a company with the ability to point and click and select “record.”

“I had heard of other people saying, ‘We hired another videographer, and we got this really boring footage of our wedding that didn’t have any personality,’” White says.

“We got both sides—we got great photos, but we also got a fun video.”

hillaryferguson.com 614-270-0282

Nicole Dixon Photographic nicoledixon.com 614-718-0892

Our Dream Photos by James DeCamp Photography ourdreamphotos.com 614-367-6366

Provence Boudoir/Lambert Photographs provenceboudoir.com lambertphotographs.com 614-329-9916

Shoot 2 Studios shoot2studios.com 614-256-2508

Together We Click togetherweclick.com 614-323-5013

Stephanie and Austin Shockey (AddVision Studios)

real weddings images

Real Weddings A peek inside the wedding albums of 13 local couples

PHOTO: TOGETHER WE CLICK

BY EMMA FRANKART HENTERLY

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Jen Sonnanstine & Shane Swearingen July 22, 2017 If you looked up “modern love” in the dictionary, you just might find a portrait of Jen and Shane Swearingen. The pair met online and 18 months later, they had moved into their new home together. That’s where Shane asked Jen to marry him in a proposal complete with music, decorations and a sweet speech. He surprised her again on their wedding day nine months later by arranging for umbrellas to shade their guests during their outdoor ceremony. “I will always remember that!” Jen exclaims. She adds that she’ll also remember the time she and Shane took for themselves, “to enjoy the moment, the day and the fact that we finally were married.”

CEREMONY, RECEPTION, CATERER: Club at Corazon PHOTOGRAPHER: AddVision Studios BRIDE: Essense of Australia gown and a veil from Wendy’s Bridal; shoes and accessories from Nordstrom HAIR, MAKEUP: Formality Onsite Hair & Makeup

by Tiffany GROOM, GROOMSMEN: Romanoff’s Classic Tuxedo RINGS: Diamond Cellar BRIDESMAIDS: Azazie.com REHEARSAL DINNER: Brio Tuscan Grille CAKE: The Flour Pot Cakes FLOWERS: DeSantis Florist MUSIC: T.E.A.M. DJ INVITATIONS: R&J Bardon Printing & Graphics TRANSPORTATION: Fun Bus

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Columbus Weddings partner vendor

real weddings images

Vendors CEREMONY, RECEPTION, CATERER: Columbus Athenaeum PHOTOGRAPHER: Christopher Keels Photographer BRIDE: Fiore Couture gown and a veil from Henri’s Cloud Nine; shoes from Amazon; accessories from from Henri’s Cloud Nine and Macy’s MAKEUP: Makeup by January HAIR: Rosemary & Pine Salon GROOM: Macy’s RINGS: Sawchuk Jewelers, Carioti Jewelers BRIDESMAIDS: Adrianna Papell via Dillard’s GROOMSMEN: Men’s Wearhouse REHEARSAL DINNER: Arepazo

Stacia Momany & Julian Napolitano Dec. 30, 2017 It’s not every bride who gets to see her ring before she’s been proposed to; rarer still is the bride who’s in her wedding venue when the question gets popped. But such was the case for Stacia and Julian Napolitano. (Don’t believe us? Flip to Page 18 for the whole story.) The ceremony itself was crafted with great care, says Stacia.

“I spent a lot of time selecting the perfect song for each moment of the ceremony and reception,” she explains. Family was key on the big day, too: Stacia’s brother-in-law got ordained to officiate; the newlyweds surprised Julian’s parents with a 40th anniversary dance to “their” song; and the speeches from both sets of parents and Stacia’s sister were especially heartwarming, Stacia says.

CAKE: The Suisse Shop FLOWERS: Madison House Designs MUSIC: Columbus Pro DJs VIDEOGRAPHER: Columbus Wedding Videos INVITATIONS: Minted.com GUEST ACCOMMODATIONS: Renaissance Columbus Downtown FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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Elizabeth Barry & Robert Keller Aug. 4, 2017 Elizabeth Barry and Robert Keller’s engagement story isn’t full of weepy declarations of love or elaborate flash mobs. In some ways, it’s even better. “[We were] in our kitchen the night before the anniversary of the night we met five years previously,” Elizabeth says. “He handed me the ring and said, ‘I’m tired of waiting. Want to do this?’ I laughed and said—” Well, we can’t print her exact response, but suffice it to say it was enthusiastic. Parents played an important role in the big day: Elizabeth’s father conducted the ceremony and Robert’s father gave a beautiful toast, while Robert’s stepmother made ringbearer pillows from Elizabeth’s mother’s wedding gown.

Vendors CEREMONY, RECEPTION, CATERER: dock580 PHOTOGRAPHER: Dan Buckley Photography BRIDE: Essense of Australia gown from Wendy’s Bridal; shoes from Target; heirloom jewelry; accessories from Overstock.com GOWN PRESERVATION: Dublin Cleaners HAIR, MAKEUP: Design by Anne Girton GROOM, GROOMSMEN: Men’s Wearhouse RINGS: Diamond Cellar BRIDESMAIDS: Azazie.com REHEARSAL DINNER: Due Amici CAKE: Our CupCakery FLOWERS: The Flowerman MUSIC, PHOTO BOOTH: Josh Staley Productions INVITATIONS: Shutterfly.com TRANSPORTATION: Cardinal Transportation GUEST ACCOMMODATIONS: Drury Inn & Suites Columbus Convention Center

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Columbus Weddings partner vendor

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Adrienne Pambianco & Shawn Gruber Oct. 5, 2017 We love a good unity ceremony, and Adrienne and Shawn Gruber certainly had one for the books. In a nod to Shawn’s profession as a police officer, the couple was handcuffed together after the pronouncement of marriage. Still handcuffed, they followed the Columbus Police & Fire Pipes & Drums back down the aisle during the recessional. “I remembered back to another wedding where the Columbus Police & Fire Pipes & Drums concluded the ceremony, and it was amazing to hear,” Adrienne says. “So once Shawn slapped on our handcuffs to show our new unity, everyone was even more surprised to hear the bagpipers as they opened the ceremony doors.”

Vendors CEREMONY, RECEPTION: NOAH’S Event Venue

RECEPTION CATERER: The Berwick

PHOTOGRAPHER: Derk’s Works Photography

CAKE: Our CupCakery

BRIDE: Essense of Australia gown, a veil and accessories from Gabriele European Bridal; shoes from Nordstrom

FLOWERS: Maria Lynn Floral

HAIR, MAKEUP: Candyce Hatmaker

VIDEOGRAPHER: byBloom Films

GROOM, GROOMSMEN: Men’s Wearhouse

INVITATIONS: Etsy shop By Invitation Only

RINGS: Jared, the Galleria of Jewelry

TRANSPORTATION: Cardinal Transportation

BRIDESMAIDS: Azazie.com

GUEST ACCOMMODATIONS: Hampton Inn & Suites New Albany Columbus and Courtyard by Marriott Columbus New Albany

REHEARSAL DINNER: Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants

MUSIC: Friend of the couple

SUNDAY BRUNCH: Soulshine Tavern & Kitchen FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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Victoria Aepli & John Kuchno Dec. 9, 2017 Victoria and John Kuchno’s meet-cute certainly is one we haven’t heard before. John, then a junior at Ohio State, walked into his apartment with his roommate one evening “to see a random girl eating the brownies [my roommate’s] mom had made for us,” he says. But this was no break-in; a mutual friend had invited Victoria over to meet John. When she left, John—who had just been drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates and was planning to leave school—assumed he’d never see her again.

How wrong he was. John played for several minor league teams and was released just a few months before their December wedding. “I remember being petrified for the first dance—on multiple occasions I have said that I would rather blow Game 7 of the World Series than be the center of attention for my first dance—but nailing it anyway,” John says, crediting the success with—what else?—ample practice.

Vendors CEREMONY: St. Patrick Church

REHEARSAL DINNER: Martini Modern Italian

RECEPTION: The Vault

RECEPTION CATERER: Boardwalk Catering

PHOTOGRAPHER: Forget Me Knot

CAKE: Short North Piece of Cake

BRIDE: Lazaro gown, a veil and accessories from Henri’s Cloud Nine; shoes from David’s Bridal

FLOWERS: Springdale Garden Center

GOWN PRESERVATION: Columbus Lace Dry Cleaning HAIR, MAKEUP: Simply Makeup & Hair GROOM, GROOMSMEN: JoS. A. Bank RINGS: Diamond Cellar and Heirloom, Argo & Lehne Jewelers BRIDESMAIDS: Azazie.com 150

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MUSIC, DAY-OF COORDINATOR: Buckeye Entertainment VIDEOGRAPHER: Kyler Holland INVITATIONS: Paper Source TRANSPORTATION: Xtreme Limo GUEST ACCOMMODATIONS: Residence Inn by Marriott Columbus Downtown and Holiday Inn Columbus Downtown – Capitol Square Columbus Weddings partner vendor

real weddings images Vendors CEREMONY, RECEPTION: Aladdin Shrine Center PHOTOGRAPHER: Hillary Ferguson Photography BRIDE: Paloma Blanca gown from La Jeune Mariee; Christian Louboutin shoes; “something old” and Kay Jewelers accessories GOWN PRESERVATION: Columbus Lace Dry Cleaning MAKEUP: TruGlam

Ashley Turner & Albert Watson III Sept. 9, 2017 Is there anything cuter than a flower girl? We can’t say for sure, but if there is, it has to be a flower fairy. Ashley and Albert Watson’s wedding featured six of them. What’s a flower fairy, you ask? We’re not sure either, but we know they have face paint, wings, tutus and a whole lot of sass.

Other details we love about the Watsons’ big day include the regal thrones at their head table, Albert’s fly duds (see more shots of his suit jackets on Page 53) and what looks like a hilarious garter removal. For Ashley, though, a few things stand out: Albert’s visible emotion when she came down the aisle, her bridesmaid’s speech, the first dance and the sparkler send-off. Ultimately, though, “everything was very special to me, because I planned my entire wedding and just seeing it come to life was very magical,” she says.

HAIR: CEB Beauty House GROOM: Persona Custom Clothiers RINGS: Kay Jewelers and Koulian Jewelers BRIDESMAIDS: White by Vera Wang via David’s Bridal GROOMSMEN: Men’s Wearhouse REHEARSAL DINNER: Roosters RECEPTION CATERER: The Berwick RENTALS: Connie Duglin Linen, A Vision of Elegance Event Rentals and WeddingChairsColumbus.net CAKE: Capital City Cakes FLOWERS: Battiste LaFleur Galleria MUSIC: Dommy “Huge Deal” Styles of Power 107.5 and DJ Boogie VIDEOGRAPHER: Central Ohio Wedding Video PHOTO BOOTH: Picture Perfect Photobooth Rentals INVITATIONS: Designed by family member TRANSPORTATION: Classic Limousines of Columbus

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Lindsey Reedy & James Boyd June 3, 2017 High school and (college) sweethearts Lindsey and James Boyd tied the knot at the place where their love blossomed: James’ parents’ home. “This was the place he asked me to be his girlfriend in 2007.

This was the place where he would walk me to my car after family dinners. This is the place where I realized I was going to marry this man,” Lindsey says. “The largest tree on the property blossomed large, white flowers that happened to fill the aisleway beautifully, just as planned.” The couple opted to read private vows to one another during their first look, and James’ parents gave a blessing of their own during the ceremony. “I woke up the next morning so sad that it was over,” Lindsey recalls. “I was ready to do it all over again!”

Vendors CEREMONY, RECEPTION: Groom’s parents’ home

RECEPTION CATERER: Creative Cuisine

PHOTOGRAPHER: Kimberly Potterf Photography

RENTALS: Lasting Impressions Event Rental

BRIDE: Hayley Paige gown from IVY Bridal Studio; veil from Etsy; Tiek shoes; kate spade new york accessories

CAKE: Kittie’s Cakes

HAIR, MAKEUP: Simply Makeup & Hair GROOM, GROOMSMEN: Pursuit

FLOWERS: Village Flower Basket MUSIC: Conspiracy Band VIDEOGRAPHER: Little Tree Studios

RINGS: Blue Nile and Worthington Jewelers

CONSULTANT: Bliss Wedding & Event Design

BRIDESMAIDS: Show Me Your MuMu via Nordstrom

SUNDAY BRUNCH: Rooftop of 250 High, catered by Panera

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Columbus Weddings partner vendor

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Alexandria Jackson & Charles Pritchard Sept. 2, 2017 Not many couples can say they got engaged remotely, but Alexandria and Charles Pritchard can. Alexandria had just arrived in Houston after traveling by car from their home in San Antonio. Charles, an owneroperator truck driver, called from the road; he had Alexandria’s parents on the line as well, and told Alexandria to look in the trunk of her car.

Inside—where it had been during the entire four-hour car ride—was a small box. “As I opened the box and saw the ring, he proposed then, with my parents on the phone,” Alexandria recalls. The couple opted to wed in Columbus to accommodate Charles’ father, who couldn’t travel; unfortunately, he passed away shortly before the wedding. Alexandria says that Charles’ lighting of a memorial candle in his father’s honor was one of the most memorable moments of the day.

Vendors CEREMONY, RECEPTION, CATERER, SUNDAY BRUNCH: Hilton Columbus at Easton

BRIDESMAIDS: Jasmine Bridal via Panache Bridal & Formal (Houston, TX)

PHOTOGRAPHER: Lambert Photographs

REHEARSAL DINNER: McCormick & Schmick’s

BRIDE: Oleg Cassini gown and a veil from David’s Bridal; shoes and accessories from Dillard’s

RENTALS: Lasting Impressions Event Rental

GOWN PRESERVATION, INVITATIONS: David’s Bridal MAKEUP: Friend

CAKE: Capital City Cakes FLOWERS: Oberer’s Flowers MUSIC: Hazel Tanner, DJ

HAIR: Dwain Thomas at Salons

by JC (Houston, TX)

VIDEOGRAPHER: TRUE Video

GROOM, GROOMSMEN: Men’s Wearhouse

PHOTO BOOTH: Picture Perfect Photobooth Rentals

RINGS: Helzberg Diamonds FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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Elizabeth Fiorile & Colin Kindgren

Vendors CEREMONY: Chapel at St. Charles Preparatory School

REHEARSAL DINNER: Wells Barn at Franklin Park Conservatory

RECEPTION: Bride’s parents’ home

RECEPTION CATERER: Cornucopia

June 25, 2016

PHOTOGRAPHER: Nicole Dixon Photographic

Can you say “hot for teacher?” Elizabeth Fiorile can; she first met Colin Kindgren when he was her TA in her first class of freshman year at Boston College. The pair remained friends and began dating several years after they had both graduated. For their reception at Elizabeth’s parents’ home, they strove to provide the ultimate homey feel by bringing furniture and rugs from the house out to the driveway and tent— many of the pieces were sourced from Grandview Mercantile and J.A. Baker estate sales, she says. The newlyweds had a little late-night surprise in store for guests, too: “Everyone was thrilled to see cases of White Castle sliders toward the end of the night,” Elizabeth says.

BRIDE: Lela Rose gown from Belle Vie Bridal Couture (Chicago; now closed); shoes from Barney’s New York; accessories from Diamond Cellar

RENTALS: Lasting Impressions Event Rental and Event Source

GOWN PRESERVATION: Columbus Lace Dry Cleaning MAKEUP: Columbus Aesthetic & Plastic Surgery HAIR: April Brooks at Salon Lofts GROOM: Saks Fifth Avenue RINGS: Heirloom and

Diamond Cellar

BRIDESMAIDS: Dolce & Gabbana via Saks Fifth Avenue

FLOWERS: Rose Bredl Flowers & Garden MUSIC: Larry Lee & The Back In The Day Band via Class Acts Entertainment STATIONERY: Happy Menocal and Peabody Papers CONSULTANT: Garrett Hospitality Group TRANSPORTATION: Cardinal Transportation and Bexley Beat GUEST ACCOMMODATIONS: Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph SUNDAY BRUNCH: Bride’s family’s home, catered by Bleu & Fig

GROOMSMEN: Nordstrom 154

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Columbus Weddings partner vendor

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Vendors CEREMONY: Cambridge Country Club (Byesville) RECEPTION, GUEST ACCOMMODATIONS, SUNDAY BRUNCH: Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel

Lakshmi Rangaswamy & Matthew Rooks

PHOTOGRAPHER: Erica Ott / Rick Buchanan Photography GOWN, ACCESSORIES: Purchased in India

July 30, 2017 Like many couples, Lakshmi “Lucky” Rangaswamy and Matthew Rooks met through mutual friends.

Unlike other couples, however, they soon discovered that they were neighbors. “We could see each other from our balconies,” Lucky remembers. “Very ‘Romeo and Juliet!’ ” The wedding itself was made possible with the help of friends and family, too. The decorations, including the beautiful mandap—the arch under which Lucky and Matthew were wed—were made by friends. Both the bride and groom say their favorite part of the day, however, was their first look. “It was euphoric when it was just us early in the morning, before the day started,” Matthew says.

SHOES: DSW HAIR, MAKEUP: Guys and Dolls Hair & Tanning Salon GROOM: Purchased in India RINGS: Genesis Diamonds (Cincinnati) BRIDESMAIDS: Each chose own gowns REHEARSAL DINNER: Fairfield Inn & Suites

by Marriott Cambridge RECEPTION CATERER: In-house and Saffron Patch CAKE: Groom’s mother FLOWERS, CONSULTANT: Dahlia Occasions MUSIC: Crown Entertainment (Cleveland) VIDEOGRAPHER: Mark Batke INVITATIONS: VistaPrint.com

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Tiffany Blair & Jonathan White Aug. 26, 2017 Tiffany and Jonathan White’s engagement nearly got off on the wrong foot. On Dec. 23, 2016, Tiffany was mad. She spent the entire morning fuming at Jonathan because the pair was about to endure what she calls “yet another holiday of being asked by every relative, ‘When are you getting married?’ ” (The couple had been dating for seven years, after meeting as lab partners at the University of Dayton.) She was so angry, in fact, that the morning proposal Jonathan had planned didn’t happen; it wasn’t until later that afternoon, in the front seat of his car, that he was able to ask. Fortunately, they spent the rest of the day celebrating with family. The celebration continued eight months later, when they finally said, “we do,” at the historic St. Leo Church in Merion Village.

Vendors CEREMONY: St. Leo Church

RINGS: Jared, the Galleria of Jewelry

RECEPTION, CATERER, GUEST ACCOMMODATIONS, SUNDAY BRUNCH: The Blackwell Inn

BRIDESMAIDS: White by Vera Wang via David’s Bridal

PHOTOGRAPHER, VIDEOGRAPHER: Sanchez Studio BRIDE: Sample gown from Lillian’s Bridal (Dayton); veil from David’s Bridal; shoes from DSW; heirloom accessories

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REHEARSAL DINNER: The Boathouse at Confluence Park RENTALS: Kosins Tents & Events (Dayton) CAKE: Bride’s mother FLOWERS: The Flowerman

HAIR, MAKEUP: Haven Salon (Vandalia)

MUSIC, PHOTO BOOTH: Josh Staley Productions

GROOM, GROOMSMEN: Macy’s

INVITATIONS: Minted.com Columbus Weddings partner vendor

real weddings images

Vendors CEREMONY, RECEPTION: Columbus Museum of Art PHOTOGRAPHER: Style & Story Creative GROOMS: BALANI Custom Clothiers HAIR, MAKEUP: Le Rêve Makeup & Hair RINGS: Scott’s Custom Jewelers BRIDESMAIDS: Adrianna Papell via Macy’s GROOMSMEN: Macy’s REHEARSAL DINNER: Martini Modern Italian RECEPTION CATERER: Cameron Mitchell Premier Events CAKE: Giant Eagle Market District

Trent Stechschulte & Logan Smyth Aug. 12, 2017 People in long-term relationships often talk about being able to finish each other’s sentences. Trent Stechschulte and Logan Smyth took that trope one step further, when they unknowingly bought each other matching wedding gifts. Despite promising not to get each other gifts, Trent hired Cody Heichel to paint a watercolor version of a photo taken just after Logan proposed in Venice. Unbeknownst to Trent, Logan had the same idea—and then some. Logan convinced staff at the Columbus Museum of Art to hang his commissioned work—an oil painting of the Punta della Dogana, where they got engaged, by Marco Ortolan—in the museum for the evening of their wedding. “I had no indication that this was happening,” Trent remembers. “He goes, ‘Does that look familiar?’ And I was like, ‘Oh yeah. Nice!’ … I definitely thought it was a coincidence.” That’s when Logan told him, “It’s yours.” The couple plans to hang both paintings in the home they’re currently building—the oil in the study and the watercolor above the fireplace in the dining room.

FLOWERS: Rose Bredl Flowers & Garden MUSIC: Bexley String Quartet and Kyle Hayse of BeatSquad Entertainment INVITATIONS: VistaPrint.com TRANSPORTATION: Cardinal Transportation GUEST ACCOMMODATIONS: Hyatt Regency Columbus SATURDAY BRUNCH: Basi Italia FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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Vendors

Chelsey Scott & Sonny Unverferth Oct. 13, 2017 When Juniper opened on the roof of the Smith Bros building in Italian Village, we knew the first wedding we’d see from the venue would be a stunner … and we weren’t wrong. Chelsey Scott and Sonny Unverferth threw the kind of laid-back-butbeautiful bash that is made for magazines. Guests dined on selections from a cheese and charcuterie board and a raw bar; there also was sushi and fried chicken for those looking for something more substantial. Sonny, a graphic designer, created the event’s welcome sign, and his mother planned a surprise flash mob to “Uptown Funk” to get the party going.

The day also featured amazing weather, Chelsey says, noting that they were able to keep Juniper’s retractable roof open all night to better enjoy views of the Downtown skyline.

CEREMONY, RECEPTION, CATERER: Juniper PHOTOGRAPHER, VIDEOGRAPHER: Together We Click BRIDE: Daalarna Couture gown from B. Loved Bridal Boutique; shoes from DSW; heirloom accessories MAKEUP: Mary Moore Makeup HAIR: Kenneth’s Hair Salon GROOM: Ticknors Men’s Clothier RINGS: Mociun Jewelry and Home Goods (New York) and heirlooms REHEARSAL DINNER: Third & Hollywood CAKE: Kittie’s Cakes FLOWERS: EcoFlora MUSIC: The Bicho Brothers INVITATIONS: Designed by the groom TRANSPORTATION: Bexley Beat GUEST ACCOMMODATIONS, SUNDAY BRUNCH: Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel

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Columbus Weddings partner vendor

PHOTO: SANCHEZ STUDIO

planning

THE SHOW 160 • MUSIC 161 • INVITATIONS 165 • CELEBRATIONS 168 HOTELS 170 • HONEYMOONS 172 • IN YOUR WORDS 174 FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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Get Inspired The Columbus Weddings Boutique Shows give brides the chance to gather information and inspiration throughout the year.

BY EMMA FRANKART HENTERLY

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For tickets and more information, visit cbusweddings.com.

Scenes from the spring Columbus Weddings Boutique Show

PHOTOS: KAYLA RUTHERFORD

It started with the Columbus Weddings Show, a two-day bridal expo extravaganza each January. In 2016, the Dispatch Consumer Shows group expanded its offerings to include two smaller, one-day Columbus Weddings Boutique Shows. This year, we’re expanding again, adding a third Boutique Show to the lineup.

“We saw such great success with the Boutique Shows in 2016 and 2017 that we decided to host a show in every season,” says Kayla Rutherford, marketing manager for Dispatch Consumer Shows. “We’ve found that brides and grooms really appreciate having those extra opportunities throughout the year to connect with vendors and learn more about the wedding-planning process.”

The first Boutique Show of the year was held April 22 at Nationwide Hotel & Conference Center in Lewis Center. Up next are summer and fall iterations, on Aug. 12, again at Nationwide Hotel, and on Oct. 13 at Bridgewater Banquet & Conference Center in Powell. Like the spring event, the summer and fall shows will run from noon to 4 p.m.

The Boutique Shows offer a more intimate alternative to the hustle and bustle of the January show, but their smaller size doesn’t mean fewer resources. All three Boutique Shows feature dozens of vendors spanning virtually every aspect of the planning process, plus opportunities to win major prizes.

For instance, the spring show offered giveaway packages from vendors including Henri’s Cloud Nine and Worthington Jewelers.

“The Boutique Shows are smaller than our annual show in January, but there’s still so much to do,” Rutherford says. “Caterers and bakers bring samples; jewelers have ring options to try on; boutiques hire strolling models to show off the latest styles. Plus, there’s a free mimosa—who wouldn’t want to spend an afternoon like that?”

In addition, attendees of the summer and fall shows can enter to win VIP Meet & Greet tickets for the 2019 Columbus Weddings Show’s to-be-announced celebrity guest. Past guests have included David Tutera, Randy Fenoli and Bill and Guiliana Rancic.

music planning

Kara and Alex Grant used Class Acts Entertainment to find their band, Paradise Island.

(Forget Me Knot Photography)

Hard Rock

(NOT SO)

Make choosing a live band a snap

BY PETER TONGUETTE

Before he married Kara McElroy in September 2017, Alex Grant had made up his mind that he wanted to include live music on his wedding day.

He even was certain of what kind of music he did—or did not—want his guests to hear.

“We wanted to be able to hit a few different genres,” Grant says. “We didn’t want it to just be rock ’n’ roll or new-school stuff.”

The couple was less sure of who to hire to play the tunes. “I was scouring the internet trying to find bands,” Grant says. “I came across a lot of stuff [that made me think] … ‘Oh, this could be good.’ They weren’t that good.”

In the end, Alex and Kara turned to Class Acts Entertainment, a booking agency that offers assistance in the selection and hiring of bands for wedding ceremonies and receptions.

“They guided us in the right direction,” Grant says. “We went out and watched the band that

we ended up choosing. We watched them play three times.”

When the big day rolled around, the couple’s choice, Paradise Island, hit all the right notes.

“They basically had three lead singers, and all kinds of totally different vibes,” Grant says.

“You got a good spectrum of music, which, when you’re at a wedding, you’ve got the young people, the old people. Paradise Island made everybody happy.”

Such results are the goal of booking agencies, which function as matchmakers between those hiring entertainers and the entertainers themselves, says Ailsa Prohn, a booking agent at Class Acts.

“Especially for a wedding, people who are booking a band have never booked a band before,” Prohn says. “We really help them with the ins and outs, as well as recommending a group that would work for them.”

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The perfect music for...

the perfect wedding.

Dancing with family and friends to live music was a highlight of Andrea and Steve Lemasters’ wedding, Andrea says. (Style & Story Creative)

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In consulting with Class Acts, couples who haven’t zeroed in on a particular act can inform the agency of their budget and the sort of music they prefer; with those parameters in place, Prohn returns with a list of potential bands.

“I would go through and pick the ones that I think would fit the best, and then check their schedule, see if they’re open, and come back and let the bride or groom know,” Prohn says. “More often than not, people are not sure of what’s out there.”

As couples winnow down their choices, Prohn says they should feel comfortable with a band’s emcee. “That’s the person who’s going to be on the mic the whole night,” Prohn says. “You want to make sure that you like that person and that you think

that they’re going to facilitate a really great evening for you.”

Prohn also advises checking out a band in person—as Jenni and Nick Fisher, who were married in July 2017, did before they settled on Fusion Band.

Jenni stumbled across the band by accident at a bridal show; Nick saw them at a subsequent performance at Easton Town Center.

“It’s hard to really get a sense of what they sound like unless you are there live,” Jenni says. “What sold us is that it wasn’t an allmale or all-female band. They have about six people, but there is a male and a female lead vocalist. … They have such a wide range of songs, then, that they could do.”

John Pollock, the frontman of Street Players, says that seeing an act in person, includ-

Fusion Band kept the party going at Jenni and Nick Fisher’s wedding.

(Kimberly Potterf Photography)

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ing in bars or lounges, can reveal more than just musical style.

“If a bride is interested in seeing us … we can send them a CD, they can look at some videos, but they really have to come out and see firsthand how it is that we interface with the wedding audience or with an audience in general,” Pollock says. “We are very interactive. … There is a dialogue that goes back and forth between the audience in between songs.”

Once a band has been picked, Prohn says that couples shouldn’t be reluctant to request a song or two, as long as it’s compatible with the style of the group. “I would not encourage people to ask a funk band to play a metal song,” she says. “Most of the time, it’ll be like, ‘If we can’t play this song, we’ll put it on the break playlist that we DJ for you so that you can still hear it.’”

Musicians should take the lead in selecting the bulk of the program and picking its order. For example, Jenni and Nick Fisher received a list of songs in Fusion’s repertoire and crossed off those they were certain they did not want included. “Just kind of trust that they’re going to transition it really well,” Jenni says. “Ultimately, that was like a sense of freedom.”

Street Players, for example, often work through an event in chronological musical order, first emphasizing music of the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s; the thinking is that younger guests will stay longer, so some contemporary tunes can be saved for later. “By the time we get to that 11 or 12 o’clock point in the party, the median age of the group, the people that are remaining, is much younger,” Pollock says. “[Playing] a higher percentage of current music toward the end of the evening is certainly a better fit.”

Even the way a space is organized can make an impact on a band’s performance.

Pollock cautions against situating a band at one end of a rectangular room, for example.

“From midway through the ballroom to the far end, those people might as well be in a different room,” he says. “If at all possible, I ask [couples to] … place us in the center of one of the longest walls, have the dance floor in front of us and have the tables kind of in a horseshoe around the dance floor.”

Such suggestions are made with the aim of making the music heard as memorable as the vows exchanged.

“This will be the largest party that most people plan in their lifetime,” Pollock says.

“They want it to be a success—a success measured by: ‘Did everybody that was there have a great time?’”

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planning music

First-Dance Romance Pick a first-dance song you’ll love.

BY JACKIE MANTEY Seth and Sarah Dunn’s first date was to see “Guardians of the Galaxy.” The action flick’s soundtrack has a lot of standouts (we’ll get to that in just a second), but the song the future-Dunns loved most was Blue Swede’s radio immortal, “Hooked on a Feeling.”

“It stuck with us,” Sarah says. “It was the perfect song when it came time to pick [a first-dance song], as it wasn’t ordinary, and frankly, a little weird. Just like us.”

Ooga chaka! Ooga chaka! Ooga ooga ooga chaka!

“Guardians of the Galaxy” also skyrocketed another song into first-dance stardom—“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell—according to David Luke Kurtz, co-owner of D&M DJ Entertainment.

“A lot of influences that happen in the market are from the movies,” he says. “A lot of old music is being used in movies nowadays, and couples are using them in their weddings.”

Once a classic, always a classic. For example, at a recent wedding deejayed by D&M,

Adrienne and Shawn Gruber’s first dance to a reggae rendition of a classic love song. (Derk’s Works Photography)

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the brides selected Billie Holiday’s greatest hits as the background music for cocktail hour and dinner.

But that song selection for the first dance can feel nerve-racking for many couples.

“Let’s face it,” Kurtz says, “this is a moment you can’t take back.”

He adds that a good DJ can help guide you to a song that’s just your style. His team starts the communication process long before the couple hits the dance floor.

“I want them to feel like the DJ that’s going to do their show is somebody who understands that and wants to be part of the conversation,” he says.

Many couples go with a song that’s a current hit (“Perfect” by Ed Sheeran has been making the rounds, Kurtz says), a tried-andtrue classic (think “At Last” by Etta James or “In My Life” by The Beatles) or a love song from their youth (“All My Life” by K-Ci & JoJo).

“Trends are based off of when a person graduated from high school or college.

That’s usually the music they want at their reception,” Kurtz says. “That’s when they don’t have time to listen to music anymore.

Everybody lives in a time bubble. … Certain people, though, relate to each other in music.

They’ll pick a song that’s not the norm.”

Take Adrienne and Shawn Gruber, who wed on Oct. 6, 2017, and shared their first dance to a reggae version of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by UB40.

“I grew up listening to oldies and the Elvis verion,” Adrienne says. “Shawn started listening to more reggae artists after a family trip to Aruba.”

The couple took classes at Arthur Murray Dance Studio and learned a choreographed piece for their first spin on the floor as a married couple. But the song choice was a huge part of making their moment so special.

“Having a song that means something to both of you, versus just a popular song on the radio at that time, made it more emotional for us both,” Adrienne says. “Leading up to the wedding, we would hear the song, whether by chance or by one of us putting it on, and it would just excite us even more.”

Sarah Dunn also recommends picking a song that means something to both of you, regardless of whether you’ve heard it at a wedding before.

“The first dance was memorable regardless of the song choice,” says Sarah, who married Seth on Aug. 16, 2017. “However, I will say the fact that it had something to do with our history was important. Make it count. Pick one you both love.”

Get more first-dance inspiration from our Spotify playlist! Just search spotify:user:columbusweddings on the app. You can add to the playlist, too; tell us what songs you used in your wedding at cbuswedmag.com/Spotify.

invitations planning

Envelope liners are great ways to add a pop of color, as are the silk ribbon belly band and matching wax seal.

A decked (read: raw) edge and muted, toneon-tone palette lends a soft and romantic vibe.

The sheer ribbon belly band adds dimension.

Hot off the Press Just like jewelry metals and gown designs, invitation styles vary with the trends. We turned to Short North stationer On Paper to see what’s hot in paper products right now. For even more trends and views of the complete suites on this page, visit cbuswedmag.com/Invites. —Emma Frankart Henterly

PHOTO BY ROB HARDIN

The navy palette and clean, bold type put a modern spin on the florals printed on the envelope liner and the back of the invite itself.

Calligraphy-inspired type is all the rage, as are floral elements and a blush and burgundy palette.

A semi-opaque vellum belly band has the date printed right on it; the clean, bold typography throughout lends a modern feel.

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planning invitations The invitation to Victoria HuttaMagness and Daniel Magness’ wedding used formal verbiage.

(Style & Story Creative)

The Write Stuff Your invitation’s phrasing is more important than you might think.

BY BROOKE PRESTON Even in the digital age, invitation wording is fraught with obscure etiquette standards. It can be difficult to discern the best way to honor all relevant parties in a way that befits your own wishes and style.

Jason Fletcher, owner of Avant-Garde Impressions on the North Side, and Beth Breese, store manager at On Paper in the Short North, highlight three factors that can affect wording: time and formality of the ceremony, whether the ceremony is religious or secular, and who’s hosting (read: paying for) the event. Read on for their takes on which traditions are evolving—and which have endured.

Spell it out: Formal invitations write out the time, date and year with words rather than numerals. “On mostly informal invitations, we’re seeing a lot more of that trendy look, like a large date in center with the time on one side and day on other side,” notes Fletcher.

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On time: Your time should be listed as “o’clock” or “half past,” says Breese, and forget about using “a.m.” or “p.m.”

According to tradition, “Anything before noon is noted on the invitation as ‘in the morning,’ anything before 5 p.m. is ‘in the afternoon,’ and anything after that is ‘in the evening,’” says Fletcher.

Dress it up: Fletcher explains that the dress code can be listed in either bottom corner.

An optional add, it is included most often for formal events like black-tie.

Honour and pleasure: Fletcher notes that for weddings held in a house of worship or a very formal venue, invitations “request the honour of your presence.” (And yes, that “u” is necessary.) In most other cases, couples “request the pleasure of your company.”

In good faith: Breese notes that certain faithbased ceremonies follow specific, traditional wording. “If a Catholic couple is having a full

nuptial Mass at their ceremony, one would say ‘the honour of your presence is requested at the nuptial Mass uniting [names of the couple], in the sacrament of Holy Matrimony,’ she explains. For traditional Jewish weddings, “you definitely want the groom’s parents mentioned beneath his name—‘son of [parents’ names]’—because it’s the idea that two families are coming together,” Breese adds. “The bride’s parents get top billing, but it’s really important in most cases that the groom’s parents are included on wedding invitations of Jewish couples.”

Pay to play: Traditionally, a bride’s parents pay for the wedding and are therefore listed at the top of the page as the ones extending the invitation. If both couples’ families split the bill evenly, the groom’s parents would follow the bride’s at the top. But, Fletcher notes, “things are changing ... a lot of the parents aren’t paying for the wedding. In

those cases, couples put ‘together with their families’ or they just go right into it. I don’t think it’s bad etiquette, especially if the parents aren’t hosting the wedding.” For samesex couples, Breese recommends listing the families in alphabetical order, though there’s no singular convention.

Present tense: “We advise against mentioning the registry in terms of the invite suite,” Breese says. “Instead, save that for your wedding website, or let your bridal party field those questions.”

All grown up: Breese and Fletcher agree that an adults-only wedding should not be mentioned on the invitation itself. “If someone’s really concerned about that, I like to recommend an inner and outer envelope set that allows people to be super-specific about who is invited. If their kids aren’t named on [the envelopes], it should be understood that they aren’t invited. If it has to be done, the language we prefer is ‘respectfully, ours is an adults-only celebration/event,’” Breese says. Fletcher prefers, “We kindly request the evening be an adults-only event.”

Breese stresses that while conversation around etiquette can be stressful, such guidelines are actually designed to help both hosts and guests feel at ease. “Etiquette is actually meant to keep everyone comfortable; it’s not meant to trip anyone up,” she explains. “There are rules, but more as a starting point. If those rules are going to make someone important to the couple uncomfortable, we need to revisit how we’re going to word things.”

January

12 & 13

Cardinal Hall Ohio Expo Center 717 E. 17th Avenue

TWO BIG DAYS TO PLAN

your BIG DAY

CbusWeddings.com #CbusWeddingsShow Jessica and Tim Kerrigan chose a more modern design and wording for their October 2017 wedding invitation. (Together We Click) FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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planning celebrations

Party Time Stumped on what to do for your bachelor or bachelorette party?

Let our flowchart help you decide.

Take a road trip to Hocking Hills and rent lodging from Valley View Cabins.

With 14 options accommodating two to 20 people—all of which include a hot tub, fire pit, grill and more—and easy access to area hikes and attractions, you’ll be set for an unplugged weekend.

BY EMMA FRANKART HENTERLY I’m feeling the call of the wild What do you think about the great outdoors?

FIRST THINGS FIRST: Do you want to imbibe on your big weekend?

Bottoms up

Easton is about as outdoorsy as I get

I prefer to stay sober

Want to take a class?

I know enough already

Learning is fun

Want to catch a show?

I make my own fun

Entertain me

Need a laugh?

Give me some tunes

Want to bar-hop?

Crack your best jokes

Hit up Funny Bone Comedy Club at Easton. With headliners like Jay Pharoah (Aug. 10-11), Fortune Feimster (Aug. 26) and Christopher Titus (Nov. 16-18), belly laughs are all but guaranteed.

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Franklinton’s Columbus Idea Foundry offers workshops on everything from welding and leatherworking to painting and jewelry-making. You can also shop members’ wares, watch demos and participate in make-and-takes during monthly Franklinton Fridays events.

I’ll camp out at one or two spots

The more stops, the better

The Big Bang Piano Bar in the Arena District has long been a Columbus bachelorette staple, but guys will find plenty to love here, too—the talented “dueling” pianists entertain the masses with wide-ranging covers and witty banter.

Head to Gahanna for the Herbal Cocktail Trail, a program of the city’s visitor’s bureau. Pick up a passport at the Visit Gahanna Visitor Center, then collect six stamps from participating businesses to get a branded cocktail glass.

Grab a pizza from Mikey’s and kick back at the newly opened Dueling Axes in Downtown. Toss a few, hang out in the lounge area and toss a few more.

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PHOTOS: © 2018 THINKSTOCK AND DISPATCH FILE

Buckeye Raceway on the West Side features electric carts with top speeds of 45 mph on a year-round indoor track. Get your heart pumping on the quarter-mile track, then check everyone’s lap times to see if anyone can beat the fastest racer of the year.

Schedule a tour of Watershed Distillery in the Fifth by Northwest neighborhood, then stick around for a delectable dinner (and craft cocktails, natch). You can extend the evening with late-night revelry at nearby Hofbräuhaus Columbus, where dancing on tables and giant beer mugs are par for the course.

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614.436.4949 creativecuisinecolumbus.com FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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planning hotels

Local honeymoon suites and packages to make your perfect day complete

BY NANCY BYRON

Nationwide Hotel & Conference Center’s specialty suite bedroom (top) and sitting area (bottom)

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PHOTOS: COURTESY NATIONWIDE HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER

Get a Room!

You’re sweaty, tired and your ears may even be ringing a little, but this is your wedding night and you want it to be as memorable as the whirlwind day that preceded it. That’s why selecting the right place to spend your first night as a married couple should not be an afterthought.

“Couples spend so much time planning their wedding and catering to the needs of family and friends, and oftentimes booking their own room is one of the last things on their list,” says Austin Ackerson, sales manager for Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph.

Don’t let that be you; read on for a look at what some Central Ohio hotels and inns are doing to pamper newlyweds on their wedding nights.

PHOTO: COURTESY LE MÉRIDIEN COLUMBUS, THE JOSEPH

THE BUXTON INN This historic 26-room inn on Granville’s main street provides one of its largest and best rooms to couples who book a full-service wedding at the property.

“The one that is most used for honeymooners is our Granger Suite,” says general manager Jennifer Valenzuela.

This first-floor king suite features a marble walk-in shower, 500-thread-count sheets, hardwood floors and a decorative fireplace.

“Every room at the Buxton is different,” Valenzuela says, noting that some overlook the courtyard’s flower gardens while others have a private porch or balcony.

Couples can add locally made chocolates, a bottle of wine or a cheese board to their wedding suite package as well.

“The inn is very private, because it is not set up in the traditional way a hotel is,” she says. “The rooms are in historical homes that have been converted into hotel rooms.

People are always amazed, because honestly there is no comparison. Why not experience something different?”

HILTON COLUMBUS DOWNTOWN At the ultra-modern Hilton Columbus Downtown, great views can be had inside and out. The hotel’s location—at the nexus of the Short North, Arena District and Downtown—affords sweeping views of those neighborhoods from its upper floors.

And quality, contemporary art throughout the public spaces and in the rooms provides visual interest even when the skies are gloomy.

Couples who host their wedding at the hotel receive an upgrade to a deluxe suite, along with Champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries (or another favorite snack) and turndown service, says marketing manager Presley Patterson. The suites also include a king bed, separate lounge area, wet bar, blackout curtains, glass-enclosed shower and additional half bathroom. And the art you’ll find inside? It’s all commissioned from Ohio artists.

For extra accoutrements, book a room on the executive level to gain access to an exclusive lounge, which offers continental breakfast and evening snacks and beverages.

HILTON COLUMBUS/POLARIS Giving newlyweds room to unwind after their big day is one of the goals at Hilton Columbus/Polaris.

Those who hold their reception there receive a complimentary, 520-square-foot king suite with a parlor and extra-large shower for their wedding night.

The presidential suite parlor at Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph

“You’re going to be down in the ballroom until midnight, so it feels good to have a little space to relax for the night,” says Lauren Hayes, catering manager. “I love that we give not only a room, but one of the nicest rooms we have as a thank-you for inviting their friends and family to enjoy their night with us. It’s always received extremely well.”

The Hilton also sends up Champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries or some other “good-night” gift for the couple, she adds.

A couple’s massage in the on-site Papillon Day Spa can also be added to the newlywed package, Hayes says, as can late check-out and a farewell brunch.

“We do the brunches in a private space, so you don’t have to have breakfast with other overnight guests getting in the way of your family time,” she says. “We want to make sure we’re giving them the best experience possible.”

LE MÉRIDIEN COLUMBUS, THE JOSEPH A large soaking tub, along with a pair of posh bathrobes and a bottle of Champagne, highlight the complimentary executive king suite available to couples who have their reception at Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph.

“The suite also offers floor-to-ceiling windows,” says sales manager Austin Ackerson, adding that the hotel’s spa suite is available for brides and their ’maids to get ready on the wedding day.

The spa suite is a unique space within the hotel that allows for customized spa treatments in a private setting. It features a stonetiled rain shower, a mirrored wall with spa chairs and candles, plus a heated mosaic chaise lounge overlooking the Short North. The suite can be rented for a minimum of four hours for

$400 and includes two bottles of bubbly, but is not an overnight sleeping room.

Couples who have their reception in another location, but want to spend their wedding night at The Joseph, also can get pampered.

“We offer a romance package including a Champagne toast at check-in and a rose petal turndown with chocolate,” Ackerson says.

NATIONWIDE HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER No request is too small if it will make a wedding night complete for couples hosting their receptions at Nationwide Hotel & Conference Center.

“We can have their dinner from the wedding reception brought to their suite and put in a warmer box because, a lot of times, the couple doesn’t have time to eat at their own reception,” says Bryan Wright, director of catering. “We recently had a wedding where the groom absolutely loved mac ’n’ cheese, but the bride refused to have it at the reception, so she arranged for us to have a huge family-style serving of it waiting in the room for him. The options are endless.”

Nationwide also provides newlyweds with a complimentary overnight suite with some bubbly and chocolate-covered strawberries.

“It’s always a pleasant surprise [for the couple] when that little detail is covered for the night,” Wright says. “And with our 15-acre campus and all the greenspace, it’s a nice getaway that’s still centrally located.”

No matter where couples opt to spend their first night as newlyweds, Wright suggests selecting a spot that will be memorable for years to come.

“Every venue is different,” he says. “Just find somewhere with character or somewhere that’s meaningful to you.”

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planning honeymoons Snorkeling at Galapagos Island

The Getaway Guide Whether it’s a sandy beach or a rugged mountaintop, a lot goes into planning your perfect honeymoon.

Early on a January morning, newlyweds Elizabeth Fiorile and Colin Kindgren—married June 26, 2016—stood on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and watched the sun rise.

It was a moment for the pair to take in just where they were and how they’d gotten there.

It had been a four-day trek to the peak.

But before that came a year of planning.

Daydreams of an exotic honeymoon rarely include the hours of internet research, careful planning and even vaccinations that precede the trip. But that’s the reality: The greatest getaways take an even greater deal of preparation.

There’s a lot to consider when planning a honeymoon, which is why couples should start planning early. “[Couples] should start doing research 12 months out to determine what their budget is, whether they have any frequent flyer points they’ll be able to use … [and] 172

COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2018

the destination,” says Jeannie Guileri of Hilliard-based travel agency Active Travel.

For Caitlyn and AJ Otey, who wed Dec. 2, 2017, planning their honeymoon in the Galapagos Islands proved to be a hefty task.

Between snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, scuba diving, wildlife-spotting and enjoying local cuisine, the couple was determined to make the most of time spent there.

Australia, says Guileri, is another destination couples will need to plan out by the day.

With so much to see—the Sydney Bridge, the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru—detailed planning is critical to making all the puzzle pieces fit.

But for couples going a more traditional route and jetting off to Europe, think the opposite. “[Couples] have it in mind to go to a ton of different places or cities within a week, but then a lot of times that can kind of be

too much,” says Jennifer Kon, travel agent for Compass Travel. While it might be tempting to cross a handful of European countries off your list because they’re all so close, Kon warns that this can create more stress than relaxation.

Of course, relaxing might not be the top priority for you and your spouse. It certainly wasn’t for Fiorile and Kindgren. Both have busy work lives, so their honeymoon was a rare excuse for a full two weeks of vacation—and they wanted to make those two weeks count.

“It was one of those bucket list things that I’ve wanted to do for a really long time,” Fiorile says of tackling Kilimanjaro. “You can talk about it forever, but when are you really going to make that move to spend the money and plan the time?”

The pair spent a little over a week hiking the mountain with a group of

PHOTO: © 2018 THINKSTOCK

BY RYLAN LEE

PHOTOS: TOP, COURTESY ELIZABETH FIORILE AND COLIN KINDGREN ; BOTTOM, © 2018 THINKSTOCK

international adventurers like themselves.

For the rest of their honeymoon, the couple headed to Zanzibar for the more typical honeymoon relaxation.

The time couples have to take off can be a large factor in the destination they pick.

More distant or exotic locations will translate to longer vacation time, says Guileri, citing flight time as a major deterrent in such trips.

Bora Bora, Thailand, New Zealand—all sound ideal for a scenic, once-in-a-lifetime trip. But honeymooners should consider the long flights needed to get there. To get to the Maldives, for example, you can expect to be in the air for nearly 30 hours.

So, although the typical honeymoon trip might be a week, Guileri suggests taking 10 to 14 days when traveling to any of those distant destinations.

The Oteys set aside 12 days for their Galapagos adventure. But with roughly a 10-hour flight there, they opted to break up travel. Flying in, the couple spent a night in the Ecuadorian city of Guayaquil, and on the way home, a day and a night in Quito, Ecuador’s capital.

Flights, hotels and excursions are all common expenses. But there’s also a lot honeymooners may not consider.

Entry visas, for example, can sometimes prove much more complicated than couples expect. While there are many tourist-friendly countries—which issue visas upon arrival without a fee—there are others that have more restrictions. Case in point: Kenya, popular for its safari offerings, which requires at least one blank page in a passport and proof of departure ticket. A certified travel agent can be a helpful resource in determining these types of travel considerations far in advance.

Getting properly vaccinated is another key consideration; not only are certain vaccinations recommended for visiting travelers, but some countries require them for entry.

An International Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever is common for many destinations, including typical exotic honeymoon spots like Thailand or Cambodia.

Even if your trip doesn’t necessitate any specific vaccinations, it’s a good idea to be upto-date on tetanus and Hepatitis A (which can be spread through contaminated food and water).

On the trip itself, there’s the question of cultural immersion. While Europe may not be too much of a culture shock for most Americans, couples spending their vacation in exotic and adventurous destinations will find themselves faced with new customs and habits.

Colin Kindgren and Elizabeth Fiorile at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro

For instance, Galapagos has a specific requirement when using the restrooms, says Caitlyn. Whether you’re out at a local restaurant or back in your hotel, toilet paper is something for the trash can.

“I understand every culture’s different,” she says. “It was just very different doing that.”

For Fiorile and Kindgren, the culture shock took the form of the obvious lack of technology that came with scaling a mountain. But the change was a welcome one, says Fiorile.

“I would suggest that everybody go on their honeymoon without technology. … I thought that that was really a blessing.”

Feeling overwhelmed yet? Fear not. Central Ohio is home to several agencies staffed by pros who can take on the most complicated aspects of planning for you.

“We never would have been able to plan that trip without a travel agency,” Caitlyn says.

All of those pieces and parts—figuring out vaccination requirements and the visa process, and even just selecting a destination for your timeline and interests—can be neatly handled by a travel agent. Plus, he or she will be able to offer insider suggestions on the must-do activities of every location.

“We can handle almost anything and everything, from the usual things that people think about, like making those flight and hotel reservations and recommendations, down to making restaurant reservations or helping with something special, like if they want a private dinner,” explains Kon. FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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planning in your words

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BY EMILY CUTRIGHT KOPCO

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Dueling Axes

We had planned a backyard wedding at our home in Berwick for an entire year, because we had just bought this house and we thought we could save some money. We chose Labor Day weekend, thinking the weather would be fine in September.

The week before, we decided to get a tent. So in our backyard, there are some power lines, and a tent wouldn’t fit. We had to put it in the front, which didn’t leave us much space.

Then, two days before the wedding, the forecast said 100 percent chance of rain. We decided we just couldn’t take that chance. We called up everywhere, and everywhere was booked.

Jeff finally called The Kitchen, and luckily, they had an opening. I’m sitting at work and I get a text from Jeff: “Hey, I’m booking a venue.”

And I was like, “Wait, wait, wait, we have to talk about this!” He said, “It’s a done deal.

It’s booked.”

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I didn’t see the venue until right before the ceremony; I had never been to The Kitchen. Our whole setup was different; I told our planner, Marti Babcock of All Together Now, “Just make it look good however you like it, and we’ll go with it.”

We didn’t order a lot of flowers for the original location since there’s so much greenery in our backyard. That was one of our cost-saving measures. So last-minute, we didn’t have enough flowers. Marti had to go—I think she went to North Market—and get some extra flowers.

So all day, it was raining and we were outside taking photos and laughing; we were like, just let it keep raining now, because we’re inside, we don’t have to stand under a tent and be cold; we can dance and have fun now.

Emily Cutright Kopco and Jeff Kopco married on Sept. 2, 2017, at The Kitchen.

Visit Gahanna visitgahanna.com 614-418-9114 167 Mill St., Gahanna

PHOTO: SANCHEZ STUDIO

as told to Emma Frankart Henterly

Advertiser Index Find more information on these vendors at cbuswedmag.com/Marketplace A AddVision Studios....................................................................... 143 Alexanders Jewelers........................................................................ 5 American Commodore.................................................................. 57 Athletic Club of Columbus............................................................ 99

B

J J Bentley Studio & Spa.................................................................. 59 J. Liu Restaurant & Bar................................................................ 91 Jan Kish-La Petite Fleur............................................................... 129 Jazz Arts Group.......................................................................... 162 Jorgensen Farms.................................................................... 98, 111

K Kelton House................................................................................ 83

L L.A. Catering.............................................................................. 118 Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph................................................ 9 Lindey’s Restaurant & Bar.......................................................... 122

Barn at Rush Creek....................................................................... 77 Bates & Brown.............................................................................. 13 Bosc + Brie.................................................................................. 121 Brio/Bravo Restaurant Group........................................................ 81 Buckeye Raceway........................................................................ 169

Made from Scratch Catering/Valley Dale Ballroom....................... 85 Makoy Center............................................................................... 92

C

N

Cameron Mitchell Premier Events............................................... 117 Carfagna’s Catering..................................................................... 115 Christopher Keels Photographer.................................................. 141 City Barbeque Catering............................................................... 113 Classic Limousines of Columbus................................................... 67 The Columbus Athenaeum.......................................................... 106 The Columbus Marriott Northwest.............................................. 92 Columbus Museum of Art............................................................. 85 The Columbus Photo Booth Co.................................................. 133 COSI............................................................................................. 83 Creative Cuisine.......................................................................... 169 Creekside Conference & Event Center........................................ 103

D David’s Bridal................................................................................ 50 Derk’s Works Photography......................................................... 143 DeSantis Florist............................................................................. 67 Destination Grandview................................................................. 77 Diamond Cellar............................................................................... 1 Dinner 4 Two.............................................................................. 107 Dublin Cleaners/New Albany Cleaners......................................... 47 Dueling Axes............................................................................... 110

E Eddie Merlot’s............................................................................... 94 Embassy Suites by Hilton Columbus-Dublin............................... 107 The Estate at New Albany/Brookshire/WatersEdge..................... 2, 3

F Forget Me Knot Photography...................................................... 142 Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens...................... 90

M

Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center..................................... 91 New Era Weddings................................................. Inside back cover Nicole Dixon Photographic......................................................... 139 NorthStar Golf Club..................................................................... 97

O On Paper..................................................................................... 167 Orchard Lane Flowers................................................................... 67 Our CupCakery.......................................................................... 129 Our Dream Photos by James DeCamp Photography................... 139

P The Paddock Pub & Links Event Center..................................... 103 The Paper Daisy Flower Boutique................................................. 68 Party Pleasers.............................................................................. 163 Provence Boudoir/Lambert Photographs..................................... 135 PENZONE Salons + Spas.............................................................. 61

R The Reception House at Raymond Memorial............................. 105 Red Brick Occasions Event Center.............................................. 119

S Schmidt’s Restaurant Banquets and Catering.............................. 102 Scioto Reserve Country Club........................................................ 93 Shoot 2 Studios........................................................................... 141 Square One Salon & Spa............................................................... 59 Stuart’s Opera House.................................................................... 99 The Sullivan Centre......................................................................... 7

T

G

T.E.A.M. DJ................................................................................ 163 Together We Click....................................................................... 133 Twirl............................................................................................. 47

Gilded Social................................................................................. 45 Golf Club at Little Turtle.............................................................. 95

U

H Henri’s Cloud Nine Bridal...................................... Inside front cover Heritage Golf Club........................................................................ 82 Hillary Ferguson Photography.................................................... 135 Hilton Columbus Downtown........................................................ 89 Hocking Hills Wedding Chapel..................................................... 81

I Irongate Equestrian & Event Center........................................... 109

Universe Bridal & Prom................................................................ 45

V Via Vecchia Winery..................................................................... 101 Visit Gahanna............................................................................... 82

W White of Dublin............................................................................ 43 Worthington Hills Country Club................................................... 95 Worthington Jewelers....................................................... Back cover FALL/WINTER 2018 COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

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happily ever after

Fairy-Tale Ending When Victoria and John Kuchno exited St. Patrick Church in Downtown Columbus, they were thrilled to see it was “Hallmark snowing,” as Victoria puts it. In addition to setting the stage for what she says was a magical day, the sudden snow shower created a perfect photo op for Forget Me Knot Photography.

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NEW ERA

WEDDINGS NEW ALBANY LINKS

- Beautiful indoor & outdoor venues seating up to 250 - Stunning ceremony patio complete with trellis - Indoor cocktail area with gorgeous mahogany bar

GLENROSS GOLF CLUB

- Ornate ballroom seating up to 175 - Exposed brick & detailed woodwork - Outdoor ceremony area with charming gazebo

ROYAL AMERICAN LINKS

- Charming indoor venue seating up to 250 - Wood beam accented cathedral ceilings and fireplace - Picturesque balcony with French doors and garden views

GOLF CLUB OF DUBLIN

- Elegant indoor venue seating up to 250 - Chandelier accented vaulted ceiling and hardwood floors - Exquisite bridal suite complete with vanity & dressing room

BENT TREE GOLF CLUB

- Intimate indoor venue seating up to 150 - Outdoor ceremony area and patio overlooking perfectly-groomed fairway - All-inclusive packages available for your convenience

CLOVER VALLEY GOLF CLUB

- Banquet room capable of accommodating up to 175 guests - Beautiful setting overlooking the golf course

- VISIT: NEWERAGOLF.COM -