Victorian Era Inspired Wedding
Clare & Jeremy
CINCINNATI WOMAN’S CLUB
Before we jump into Clare and Jeremy’s wedding we have to acknowledge how intinal their wedding day journey was. These two lovers met when they were in high school while lifeguarding at Clifton Meadows Swim and Tennis Club. They both grew up in the Cincinnati neighborhood of Clifton and attended Walnut Hills High School together. After high school they went out West and attended University of California, Berkeley. After they graduated Jeremy was offered a job in DC and they moved back East right before the pandemic. With the start of a new job for Jeremy and a new career path in writing for Clare, Jeremy couldn’t wait any longer for Clare to be his wife.
When Clare and Jeremy reached out to me they had a clear plan of not only what they wanted their wedding day to look like but their engagement session. Since they both are deeply connected with Clifton, they made sure everything surrounding their wedding involved their childhood neighborhood. So, this journey started with doing their engagement pictures at the swimming pool they spent so much time together at as kids.
The wedding day began at Clare’s childhood home in Clifton. It fit in perfectly with her vintage inspired wedding. The house was actually the backup plan for the wedding ceremony and reception if venues were still closed due to Covid, but luckily it didn’t come to that. Clare’s Dad helped us hang the dress safely from the siding on the back of the house over the deck. Upstairs Clare, her sisters, and the rest of her bridesmaids got ready for the day in Clare’s childhood bedroom. They said it reminded them of getting ready for school dances when they were kids.
Clare kept to her vintage theme with every aspect of her day, including her attire. She opted for a pair of cream Gucci slingback heels with gold hardware. Her laced handkerchief was her something borrowed and her ring was designed and handcrafted by her sister. She gave her bridesmaids a color palette and allowed them to select their own attire for the wedding. They did not disappoint. The burnt oranges, tans, and yellows they selected were the perfect way to tie in the wedding colors.
When it came to doing a first look these two were 100% on board and they knew exactly where they wanted to go. That’s right, another Clifton favorite, Mt. Storm Park. The day was a nice September overcast day so the light was beautifully defused making way for those classic vintage feel pictures. When you’re in love as much as these two are capturing the raw emotions are easy. Jeremy was in awe with Clare and how gorgeous she looked. I have to admit, she did look pretty amazing in her Lam Couture dress. Like I always say, “the simple things almost always turn out to be the most beautiful”.
I try to encourage all my couples to do a first look. Not because I can’t appreciate the traditional wedding day but because it allows for more time for wedding day pictures without the stress of having to squeeze everything into cocktail hour. Since they opted for a first look we had plenty of time to take our time and be intinal with the pictures we created in the environment we were in. A lot of the times when couples choose not to do a first look the bride and groom pictures get put at the very end on the photo list during cocktail hour. And if the timeline is running behind the couple’s pictures is often where the time is taken away from. But that was not the case at Clare and Jeremy’s wedding. They prioritized their wedding pictures before the ceremony so that they could get the pictures they wanted and spend time with their guest during cocktail hour.
The ceremony and reception was hosted at The Cincinnati Woman’s Club in Clifton. The building and its grounds are nicely manicured on acres of land lined with lush mature trees. The wedding ceremony took place in a large room attached to the outdoor balcony. Clare’s Godmother gifted them a full wedding flower spread that created gorgeous contrast on the stage behind Clare and Jeremy. To set the mood for the Victorian like wedding ceremony the lights in the audience were dimmed and a spotlight was set on the altar. Although this was not a religious ceremony Clare and Jeremy did include the traditional Jewish custom of stepping on the glass at the end of the ceremony.
Cocktail hour took place in the tint that was set up on the terrace while the reception dinner was held in the dining hall. Clare’s Godmother did a magnificent job with the flower arrangements on all the tables. The beautiful fall colors paired perfectly with the victorian style chairs and decor of the venue. The place settings were elegantly placed with full menus and name cards for the guest.
During cocktail hour guest were serenaded with classical music played by The Link Ensemble while they mingled with the bride and groom.
The reception dinner was one for the books. The food just kept coming. There was no shortage of food and since the bride has a gluten allergy there were plenty of gluten free options to go around, even the top tier of her cake was gluten free. This was a big deal for my assistant who also has a gluten allergy. She never gets to enjoy wedding cake but today she did and it was delicious.
For the reception we went back outside under the tint. These folks know how to throw a party. The Link Ensemble packed up for the evening and Airwave took over for the reception. They kept everyone on the dance floor the entire night. My favorite part of the night was watching some of the traditional Jewish wedding reception dances. The one I was looking forward to seeing was the Hora and this reception did not disappoint. Clare and Jeremy were lifted up in chairs and past around the reception floor. When they were ready to be put down both sets of parents were lifted into the air as well. The joy and smiles on everyone’s faces was magical, especially since this was a lot of people’s first times coming together since the pandemic began.
Clare and Jeremy’s wedding will be one I always remember because of the amount of time, effort, and thought that they put into planning every part of their day. They left no details out. Everything served a purpose and fit together like a finished puzzle.
Vendors:
Photography: Kenyatta Davis Photography
Dress: Lam Couture
Menswear: Bloomingdales and Men’s Warehouse
Bakery: Maribelle Cakery
Wedding Ring: Handcrafted Adornment
Ceremony & Cocktail Music: The Link Ensemble
Reception Music: Airwave
ARE YOU READY TO BOOK?
