Putting a ring on it, as Beyonce would say, is the easy part; it’s putting on the celebration that tests a bride and groom’s creativity. Here, area couples show that
2013
‘happily ever’ after can be a creative, gorgeous, and even stress-free experience.
By Alia Orra 1
modern glass
2.
Emily and Nate Haupricht July 16, 2011
the story
“We both went to Northview High School,” Emily, a nurse anesthetist, says of her physician’s assistant beau. “We had an eight-year long-distance relationship, so if you can make it through that, you just kind of know.”
location
Toledo Museum of Art Glass Pavilion.
(1 & 2) “It’s so modern and
so clean and chic. I wanted to do something a little non-traditional from the beginning,” Emily says.
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3
dress and shoes
A sleek one-shoulder Amsale gown and vivid purple shoes by Me Too. (3)
4
suit
Ticknor’s, ticknors.com.
Erika Rapp, at the time the TMA’s chef; now owner/chef of Registry Bistro, registrybistro.com.
event designer/coordinator
Elite Events, www.eliteeventstoledo.com
florist
Bartz Viviano, www.bartzviviano.com. “My bouquet was honestly, hands down, my favorite detail of my wedding,” Emily says. (4)
photographer
Mary Wyar Photography, marywyar.com
favors
Emily commissioned blown-glass purple bulbs from an artist in Seattle.
cake
Petit Fours Patisserie & Cafe at the Oliver House, www.oh-petitfours.com
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food
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musically inclined — 2.
Kati and Bryan McDougle August 13, 2011
the story
1
“He was my friend’s little brother. Years later we ran into each other in Bowling Green and I was like ‘Oh my gosh, he grew up!’” McDougle says. “[We] fell in love with each other going to Dave Matthews concerts, and always shared this mutual love of music and being outdoors.”
2 location
The ceremony and reception were held at Toledo Country Club. (3) “Holding everything in one location makes it really easy for all your vendors, guests and for you.”
3
decor
The Dave Matthews Band inspired elegant but subtle details throughout the wedding. Sheet music was turned into cones that held rose petals, quotes from songs were attached to straws (2) and tables were named after song titles.
cake
Jane’s Cakes of Perrysburg baked a cake inspired by Kati’s wedding dress. (www.janesweddingcakes.com)
food
(1)
The bride and groom added some non-traditional foods to the menu that reflected their tastes: Hungarian cookies made by Kati’s grandmother, and Bryan’s favorite food, nachos.
music
event designer/coordinator
florist
Bartz Viviano, www.bartzviviano.com.
Kati opted for DJ Decorative Sound (www.decorativesound.com). “I would’ve loved to have a huge band, but they can get expensive and sometimes unpredictable.”
guest book
Rather than a traditional guest book, Kati’s brother-in-law Mike Hoeps drew a Dreaming Tree that guests signed. It’s now framed and hanging in their home.
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Elite Events, www.eliteeventstoledo.com. (Kati works as a wedding planner at Elite Events.)
photographer
Mary Wyar Photography, marywyar.com
Cont’d. on p. 11
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Cont’d. from p. 9
grand and theatrical 2.
Mercedes McFarland-Jackson and Thomas Jackson November 10, 2012
1. 3.
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2
the story
3
“We met on Match.com,” Mercedes says. “We went for coffee one afternoon, met up again for drinks that same night, and were fairly inseparable since then. Life is so random — until I met Thomas, I never thought I could be so compatible with someone.”
location
The bride and groom settled on Toledo Club (1) (www.toledoclub.org) for their ceremony and the Valentine Theatre (www.valentinetheatre.com) for their reception. (4)
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4. 5.
suit
Men’s Wearhouse, www.menswearhouse.com. “[Thomas] actually had tuxedo shoes, and he brought the Chucks (3) just for some fun pictures and the reception,” Mercedes says. The groom and his groomsmen ended up sticking with the Chucks for the rest of the day, per the grooms’ orders!
wedding designer/ coordinator
Elite Events, www.eliteeventstoledo.com
dress and shoes
The gown (2) was Allure Couture by Allure Bridal from a boutique in Chicago (www.allurebridals.com) ; the bride’s something blue were velvet Gucci heels from Nordstrom.
food
Georgio’s, www.georgiostoledo.com
veil
The 40s-inspired hairpiece was from online wedding boutique Twigs and Honey, www.twigsandhoney.com.
photographer
Jem Photography, momentsbyjem.com Cont’d. on p. 13
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Cont’d. from p. 11
outdoor elegant
2.
Jennifer and Carson Poupard, Monroe June 16, 2012
the story
“We met on a camping trip with some friends,” Jennifer says. “From the first day, it felt like we knew each other forever, and we were inseparable after that.”
location
The backyard of their first home in LaSalle, Michigan.
dress
Jennifer’s original dress was lost in a bridal store fire six days before the wedding. “I was devastated,” Jennifer says. Luckily, she was able to find a new dress (2) that was fitted within four days at Atlas Bridal (www.atlasbridalshop.com).
3.
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2 1.
photographer
2.
Jem Photography, momentsbyjem. com. “Their stuff [makes you] look like you’re in a magazine.”
invitations
Lamour Printing Co., www.lamourprinting.com. “We picked one that looked elegant, because we wanted people to know this was a formal backyard wedding, not a barbecue.”
florist
4. 5.
Debs Flowers and Gifts, (1), www.debsflowersmonroe.com.
program
The listing of the day’s events also doubled as a fan. (3)
Place Cards
3
Rather than go the traditional route and order paper place cards, the couple wrote guests names on unique, hand-picked stones.
4
Favor
“Our gift to our guests were Evergreen trees (4), so they could watch love grow. We have friends who have them growing in their yards, so that’s neat.” Cont’d. on p. 15
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Cont’d. from p. 13
palatial pink
2.
Kim and Nick Nadaud June16, 2012
the story
“We met in Chicago — we were in medical school together,” Kim, a Dallas native, says of her Perrysburg-bred beau. “We started as really good friends. We both are in the same profession and that kind of helped. We both like to laugh, and we don’t take life too seriously.”
location
Photos were taken at the Toledo Museum of Art; the pretty-in-pink reception was held at the Carranor Hunt & Polo Club, 419-874-4292.
3.
event designer/coordinator
Brittany Craig, Crowning Celebrations, Toledo, www.crowningcelebrations.com
1.
photography
1.
1
2
Jennifer Mott, www.jennifermott.com
dress
The Gown Shop, Ann Arbor, thegownshopannarbor.com. (1) (The shop is owned by a Perrysburg native.)
florist
4.
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5.
Bartz Viviano, www.bartzviviano.com. Mercury glass vessels (2) from the mother of the groom’s Perrysburg shop, Sheffield Road (www. sheffieldroad.com), decorated table tops and added a silver contrast to the pink elements throughout.
favor
Guests went home with two freshly baked croissants, jam and specially designed tea bags that looked like the bride and groom for the morning after. (3)
a dose of culture
During the reception, Kim and Nick wore traditional Vietnamese wedding attire in a nod to her cultural heritage. “I just wanted to have a little bit more of a family tradition that could be a part of the reception,” Kim says. Cont’d. on p. 16
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glow ball
2.
Ashley and Andy Carrasquillo August 4, 2012
1
the story
“We actually met when we were 17 in high school. I went to Maumee, and he went to Springfield,” Ashley says. The couple dated for only two months, parting ways to attend different universities, but found themselves reunited after crossing paths on an evening out post-college graduation. “We feel like it was fate.”
1.
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2
1.
location
Ashley wanted a tent wedding, but didn’t want to risk a rain storm ruining the fun, so cabanas (3) and draping recreated an outdoor feeling in the Grand Plaza Hotel ballroom (www.hoteldowntowntoledo.com). The Historic Church of St. Patrick provided a traditional backdrop for the ceremony.
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4
decor
Candles hanging from cabanas provided a glow, and garden-like flowers added to the outdoor ambience they couple wanted to create.
5.
place cards
The bride and groom’s families were each football fanatics. In a tribute to their mutual love of the game, tables were named after college and professional football stadiums, and escort cards had the team’s mascot name and table number.
cake
Swanton’s Sugar Shack 1. Specialty Sweets, (1) www.sugarshackspecialtysweets.com.
event designer/coordinator
favors
Brittany Craig, Crowning Celebrations, www.crowningcelebrations.com.
A cigar roller provided an authentic Cuban feel — a gift from the bride to her husband (2). La Casa De La Habana, www.lacasatoledo.com.
photographer
Considering Lilies Photography, Perrysburg (4) www.consideringlilies.com. Cont’d. on p. 18
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Cont’d. from p. 17
ethereal elegance Erica Carstensen and Adrian Vitou August 4, 2012 the story
“We first met in math class in high school,” Erica says. “We always knew we were soul mates.”
location
The bride started with a location she knew well: her parent’s beautiful lake house (1) on Dewey Lake in Irish Hills, Michigan. She held the reception there, and the ceremony at Hidden Lake Gardens in nearby Tipton, Michigan. “We wanted a unique location that gave us the opportunity to express our individuality,” Erica says.
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3
decor
The bride and groom went for a mid-century modern vibe, (2) using their own furniture for the lounge areas and cake table. “Our taste is simple and clean,” Erica says. “We wanted our wedding to be an extension of our home.”
florist
Beautiful Blooms by Jen, beautifulbloomsbyjen.com (3)
dress/shoes/veil
J.Crew, www.jcrew.com
groom’s suit and shoes J.Crew, www.jcrew.com
photographer
Mary Wyar, www.marywyar. com. “Mary doesn’t do pedestrian photography,” Erica says. “She has her own unique perspective combined with extreme technical ability.” Cont’d. on p. 20
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black and white affair Cathy Skutch McDonald and Kristy McDonald April 14, 2012 the story
wedding planner
location
cake
“We met on match.com in late 2008,” Cathy says. “The rest is history, as they say.”
4.
Brittany Craig, Crowning Celebrations, www.crowningcelebrations.com Eston’s Bakery (1), estonsbakery.com
Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza at the Amtrak Station, www.toledoportauthority.org
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2
photographer
Grand Lubell, www.grandlubell.com. “We were having some issues as a same-sex couple trying to work with different vendors,” Cathy says. “Bob Lubell said ‘I’d love to work with you.’ He was fantastic.”
linens
Elegant black and white patterns were used throughout. (2) I Do Chair Covers and Linens, www.idochaircovers2.com
3
florist
Keith H. Brooks Florist, www.keithhbrooks.com (3)
food
Premier Catering, www.premiercateringtoledo.com
the officiant
Detroit-area Rabbi Miriam Jerris led the ceremony. “When it was all said and done, we got a standing ovation,” Kristy says. “It kind of dawned on us that we weren’t just getting married — people looked at us kind of like pioneers. It was bigger than us.” Cont’d. on p. 22
There’s more online ... Meet cool Toledo vendors at www.ToledoCityPaper.com.
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