Nick and Kristina had a beautiful winter wedding in Toledo on December 21st. The ceremony took place at Christ the King Catholic church and the reception was held at the Nederhouser Community Hall at Olander Park in Sylvania. In between, we stopped at the Toledo Botanical Gardens for some wedding portraits and bridal party photos. It was a 50 degree day but we were lucky enough to find a tiny bit of snow lingering on the ground. Ohio is truly the land of strange weather combinations and it actually worked out perfectly for us!
Amie and Anthony did things right. They had a beautiful location that was large enough to accommodate all their guests. They had tents covering the dance floor and the dinner seating. The tents also offered a backup plan for the ceremony in case it was raining. There was an endless supply of cold drinks to combat the summer heat and everyone had a wonderful time. I would like to share three tips for any couples who are planning an Ohio wedding outside in the summer.
Have I ever told you that the reception is my favorite part of the wedding day? The whole day is truly wonderful and rewarding. There is just something about the reception that makes me happy. I get to play with lighting. I get to document natural moments, not posed bodies. People finally relax after the stress and structure of making sure the rest of the day has gone the way it was planned. It is almost as if the bride and groom can breathe a sigh of relief when they sit down for dinner.
So when do I get to see the true personalities of my couples? I see who they are in every detail of their day. Rebecca and Mark had so many beautiful and sentimental details in their wedding. The decor, food choices, attire, and venue all spoke to who these two are. My favorite part of the whole day had to be the reception. Mark and Rebecca really kicked back and enjoyed every minute of it. They danced and laughed. They enjoyed their guests company and made everyone feel welcome.
Everything about this wedding day went so well. Our weather was amazing. The timeline was comfortable. Everyone looked great and the wedding party was so much fun to work with. It makes me so happy to see a couple have friends and family support them and celebrate them on their special day. Everyone was working hard to make sure the day went off without a hitch.
Victor and Suzie decided to have an intimate ceremony with only family and close friends. It was a very special event. We definitely laughed during the couple’s lighthearted vows. There were so many smiles as we saw Suzie and Victor’s commitment celebrated. What beautiful moments I get to document as a wedding photographer!
When I ask couples what they most want documented, I get a wide variety of answers. For some it is the details, for others the wedding party as a group. Mackenzie and Ian said that they wanted me to document people having a good time at their wedding. I can 100% do that. It is one of my favorite things. Their guests made my job easy. Everyone had a wonderful time dancing, and eating, and congratulating the couple. The reception was held at the Master’s Building at the Wyandot County Fairgrounds. It was spacious and comfortable. The DJ, Nyte Flyte, kept the timeline on track and gave all the guests some great entertainment.
I have many adventures as a second shooter. I shoot weddings all over Ohio, not only for myself, but with other photographers. I have an awesome network of wedding photographers who give me work when I am not busy with my own clients. This season I have 17 dates set up to second shoot. That is a lot of Saturdays, but I truly love it. Everyone I work for does things differently and I often learn something new. Being a second shooter allows me to experiment with creative techniques and hone my skills.
