Homestead Wedding in Smithville, Ohio

Katie and Colton said “I do” at her childhood home — a gorgeous farm that served as the most meaningful and picturesque setting for their day. From getting ready in the bedroom she grew up in to walking down the aisle through the same yard where she once ran barefoot, every detail felt personal and full of heart. But nothing topped the moment they walked back up the aisle — hand in hand, as husband and wife, with their sweet daughter Lila in their arms (followed closely by, Reese, their “fur kid” who served as the ringbearer).

When I met with Katie and her Mom about a month before the wedding, it was clear this wasn’t just a celebration — it was a labor of love. They were pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into making the space perfect, especially her Dad, and I just knew then… this one was going to be special.

With the threat of rain all week, and I’m not talking just a few sprinkles, I’m sure they were stressed and scrambling, but as luck would have it, the rain cleared out just ahead of time, and we had what turned out to be an absolutely perfect day for a very deserving couple.

The moment when the bride finally gets dressed is usually a very emotional one, but the words exchanged between daughter and Mom were so special, even my assistant and I were getting a little teary eyed!

Katie and Colton kept things traditional and didn’t see each other before the wedding, so we coordinated the timeline to make sure she would be hidden back in the house when he arrived. As much as I love a good “first look” ahead of time, this is actually my preference as a photographer….maybe I’ll do a blog post another day explaining why.

They Knew on the First Date: Wooster, Ohio Wedding at Willow Haven Event Center

Both Andrea and Craig were hooked on each other from the first date - set up by their friends who obviously are Master Matchmakers (whether they knew it or not - pictured below) and now eight years later, here we are - Mr. and Mrs.!

I met the couple last fall for their engagement session and knew good things were to come - I’ve been looking forward to this wedding for months now! We ended up with a perfect June day - not too hot, not too cold, and slightly overcast (ok, perhaps the last part is my idea of perfection, not every bride and groom’s).

Willow Haven has some beautiful little nooks for photos (the getting ready rooms are also one of my favorites around the area - spacious and bright!). One of my favorite photo nooks happens to be on the backside of the barn down a little gravel drive- totally worth standing on the hill in the gravel (in my humble opinion) - the light in that spot is always perfect!

There are two ceremony spaces - one inside and one outside. I’m always thankful when we have beautiful weather and can be outside! The past few years have seen some major upgrades to the outdoor space - including new pew benches and paved path.

Venue: Willow Haven Event Center

All THREE sisters were engaged at the same time! Had to have a little fun with that one! Once formal photos are finished up, pressure is off and it’s time to get down, let loose, and celebrate!

Merena and Charlie: Gorgeous Wedding at Thunderhead Pines in Smithville, Ohio

Charlie & Merena’s Big Day 6.1.24

This was actually a new venue for me! Surprising, considering my business is in the same town, but there are just so many venues nowadays. I am always excited to go somewhere new, and it seems more often than not, that is what I do anymore!!!

We had an absolutely beautiful June day. It was the kind of summer day that just couldn’t get any nicer - moderate temps, a little bit of a breeze, blue skies and just enough cloud cover to soften the sunlight. Well, I guess technically we aren’t quite into summer yet, but close enough!

I have to say, I felt welcomed right away when facilitator, Caden, gave me the rundown of the venue layout and schedule. He is absolutely fantastic at his job and made this an easy place to work. (The lovely doggy that greeted me was a close second.)

Like usual, my day started with what we call ‘flat lays’ in the industry….most of the rest of y’all call them detail shots. The bride’s Momma made really cute little bags for all the bridesmaids, some of the jewelry was family heirlooms, plus the bride’s perfume was a gift from her brother and the boots from her Grandmother, as well as a family bible that the ringbearer would carry down the aisle, so we absolutely needed to capture those! Family was a big part of this day, even when it came to the little things, and I loved that about their day.

The next part of my day normally focuses on candid shots of everyone getting ready. Every wedding is different (of course!) but this is usually one of my personal favorite parts of the day to capture.

Merena and Charlie wanted to keep things traditional and not see each other before the ceremony, but did want to exchange written vows in private. Having that special time together beforehand always helps ease a nervous bride or groom.

The main event of the wedding was up next - the ceremony! This was a special family affair as well, as Uncle Phillip officiated.

What happens next after the ceremony? Usually lots of chaos, lol!! Family photo time…sometimes we (very lovingly) call it “Herding of the Cats” (c’mon, you have to have a sense of humor about your job…and family). No doubt, someone will try to hide or continue to walk away no matter how many times you tell them not to. It happens at every wedding. So future brides and grooms, take note….its going to happen, roll with it, and let me worry about getting them all gathered as quickly as possible. Then we head onto bridal party, and finish up with the very best part, portraits of the bride and groom, before heading on to CELEBRATE and PARTY TIME!

I was so excited to see that Merena and Charlie are fellow Godzilla fans! Best cake table, hands down (although I probably would have had to add a Mothra and Hedorah in there somewhere).

No wedding is possible without a great team of vendors.

Venue: Thunderhead Pines and Instagram

Floral: Colonial Florists

Baker: Miss Amy’s Bakery and Instagram

Catering: Village Catering and Facebook

Bridal Attire: Ivory Room Wooster and Facebook

And don’t forget to follow Perception Studio on Facebook and Instagram

Hannah and Mark's Windy Spring Wedding at Nickajack Farms: North Lawrence, Ohio

Hannah and Mark were married this past Saturday at Nickajack Farms in North Lawrence, Ohio. I don’t think any of us were expecting the winds we had, even though the forecast was predicting a breezy day. One word summed them up: excessive! The lights flickered multiple times, debris kept flying past the windows, and the barn doors were slamming with each gust. Not going to lie - I was a little disappointed we couldn’t shoot outside since this is such a fun venue, but also glad we still had a beautiful indoor space to shoot in, and that it was warm and cozy without gail force winds and rain. While I would brave those if a couple wanted to, it made my day easier not to figure out how to! We were just fortunate to keep power…just one road over, the electric poles were completely sheared down, and trees uprooted from the ground. We were lucky.

Not a secret - I have been looking forward to this wedding this whole past year! Hannah is an animal loving introvert like myself, while Mark is an outgoing guy who I can tell likes to make everyone laugh and doesn’t take life too seriously (a good quality to have). If I were to guess, Hannah keeps him a bit more grounded, and he brings Hannah out of her shell, which balances their relationship out perfectly. Plus, they both have fantastic families that I enjoyed spending time with! I am so happy for the two of them to have found each other.

This wedding had a great team of vendors I would love to give a shout to! The beautiful floral was provided by Nikki’s Perfect Petal Designs.

Her gorgeous gown is a Lazaro design, purchased from Matina’s Bridal and the groom’s attire is Men’s Wearhouse. The bridesmaid’s dresses are from David’s Bridal. Hannah’s (and the bridesmaids) hair and makeup was provided by Beauty MARK by Jaclynn Bower.

Tim Greathouse is a great officiant! He does an excellent job making ceremonies more personal, and not just your dry, traditional ceremony. He doesn’t stumble on words and has a great speaking voice…..which let me tell you, not all officiants can boast about. He’s one of the best and someone I would recommend if you’re in the market for an officiant.

And, the person who brought this whole party together and kept people dancing the night away, Kevin with Midnight Music DJ Service! Not only does he have good taste in music, you can tell he loves his job, which is a huge part of being successful in this industry. Not all djs are created equally, but I wholeheartedly would recommend Kevin for your big day. And lastly, the cake! Oh my goodness, I could stand by the cake table all day and just take in some big whiffs! It smelled divine, but this Type One diabetic wasn’t in a place to sample it this day….though I’m sure it was fantastic…I’ve had Nothing Bundt Cakes before, and they are so moist and tasty!