Matthew and I met online and quickly bonded over pictures of our pets being silly. On our first date, we ate at Chipotle, played mini-golf )Julia won), and stopped for froyo – all of which are still some of our favorite things to do! After a little over a year of lots more fun (and Julia winning many more rounds of mini-golf), Matthew proposed in July 2021. While his initial proposal didn’t go as planned (too windy for a hot air balloon ride), we had a romantic trip to the Newport Aquarium that ended with Matthew proposing and Julia saying YES!
Our wedding day was just about perfect, much colder (and snowier) than expected! The day started with Matthew and his “grooms people” (his brother and sister-in-law Nicole) getting ready at their parent’s house while Julie and her matrons of honor (best friends Patty and Michelle) got ready at the bridal suite at Walden Ponds Golf Club. We had a traditional Catholic Ceremony at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Hamilton, Ohio. We had planned an early afternoon brunch and brief reception for about 50 of our family and close friends at Walden Ponds Golf Club. Village Pantry Catering made a delicious brunch, including two on-site omelet chefs so that each guest could have precisely what they wanted to eat. The highlight of the reception was the desserts. We have a beautiful cake from Three Sweet Girls Cakery, three different flavors of Graeter’s Ice Cream with do-it-yourself sundae toppings, and even customized M&M’s with our initials and wedding date on them. Another highlight was the guest book, where guests decorated pages with Polaroid selfies, stickers, and sweet notes. The reception was full of laughter and good food, and while probably quieter than most other weddings, it was perfect for us!
My mom, two sisters, and sister-in-law came to Bridal and Formal as our first stop when we were dress shopping. We enjoyed working with our consultant, Lacrecia, and the variety of dresses to choose from. I was happy that I could take my time and think about my choice and that Lacrecia listened to what I wanted and helped me stay within my budget.
Lacrecia was terrific to work with! She listened to what I was looking for, and even though I wasn’t sure about my dress when it was on the hanger, she suggested it, and it turned out to be the perfect gown for me. My mom, sisters, and I were so happy with the experience!
This beautiful wedding couldn’t have been possible without these amazing vendors:
Wedding Location: Hamilton, Ohio * Ceremony Location: St. Ann’s Catholic Church * Reception Location: Walden Ponds Golf Club * Bridal Gown: Sottero & Midgley, style Tovah * Bridal Headpiece: Bel Aire Bridal, style 6963 * Bridesmaids Gowns: B2 by Jasmine Bridal, styles B233057 & B243010 * Photographer: Cherry Red Shoe Photography * Cake: Three Sweet Girls Cakery * Ice Cream Sundae Bar: Graeter’s Ice Cream * Food: Village Pantry Catering * Flowers: Tom Bowling (friend of Julia’s at work) * MakeUp: Dawn Mallery (Mary Kay) * Hair: Donna Essert (Julia’s aunt)