Kara + Dan

(October 17, 2021 in Westerville, Ohio)

In this blog post, we will hear from a bride who envisioned a warm and simple fall wedding. With accents of burnt orange and lots of greenery, the couple found a venue that perfectly fit their vision for an outdoor ceremony and indoor reception space. On the day of the wedding, the bride felt calm and shared an intimate first look with her groom before the ceremony. Despite a little wind and veil mishap, the ceremony was made personal and meaningful with the couple's own vows. The reception was relaxed and included homemade cornhole boards and mini pies for dessert. The bride's #1 tip for future brides is to focus on the love and relationship with your spouse and take in the moment where you vow to share your life with each other.

By our real bride, Kara:

What was the vision for your wedding?

We wanted a fall wedding and Dan and I love spending time outside, so we knew we wanted an outdoor ceremony space. Most of our family is in the Midwest and on the East Coast, so we decided to have the wedding in Ohio, where I grew up. We found a venue that was able to work with our vision and allow for a simple outdoor ceremony and had an indoor reception space that didn't feel like a stuffy ballroom. We brought in accents of burnt orange and lots of greenery to highlight the fall vibes we wanted. We had the groomsmen and bridesmaids wear a subtle navy blue to complement the burnt orange colors. The end result was simple and warm, just like we wanted!

How did it go the day-of?

I felt very calm the day of the wedding. We decided to due a first look, which allowed for us to share an intimate moment together before the big ceremony. The fall weather was a little chilly, with a side of wind and my veil flew out of my hair during the first look. We took all our wedding party photos before the ceremony, which allowed us to send more time with family and friends during the evening.

The wind and my long veil added to the day; it allowed for comic relief during the ceremony as I tried to wrangle it so it wasn't knocking my bridesmaids in the face. Dan and I wrote our own vows to share during the ceremony and it really made sharing our love for each other in front of our family and friends personal and meaningful.

We had our wedding cake made from my local hometown market, which was a delicious white chocolate cake and filled with fresh raspberries. This cake was one I grew up having on special occasions. Dan loves pie, so we decided to have mini apple and cherry pies for dessert too! Our reception was relaxed and we brought in our homemade cornhole boards and had a fire pit outside for guests to enjoy the cool fall night.

What is your #1 tip to future brides?

The day is about the love and relationship you share with your soon-to-be spouse, so make sure that is what you are highlighting! It's easy to get caught up in planning everything and making sure all the little details are exactly what you want, but our personal vows and ceremony was my favorite part of the day. Really take in the moment where you vow to share your life with your spouse! When I think of our wedding day that's where my mind takes me; just the two of us, sharing our love in front of our family and friends.

GOWN: MILLIE FROM THE HONEST IN IVORY PRIVATE COLLECTION

PHOTOGRAPHER: ABBY JULIEANN PHOTOGRAPHY

VENUE: THE GOLF CLUB AT LITTLE TURTLE

MAKEUP ARTIST: KENDALL LEIGH ARTISTRY

HAIR: LAUREN POOLE AT THE COTTAGE SALON AND DAY SPA

DJ: VINCE K

CAKE: PALUMBO'S ITALIAN MARKET

PIES: THE ORIGINAL GOODIE SHOP

FLORIST: BOTANICA FLOWERS