PHOTO BY BRITTANY BAYS
Build-Your-Own
BY KE VIN MICHELL
The venues, vendors and wedding planners of NKY can make your dream wedding a reality
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lanning a wedding is hard work and it can be even tougher to make it the one-of-a-kind event that perfectly reflects the personalities of you and your spouse-to-be. But take heart, engaged couples of Northern Kentucky—everything you need to make your special day perfect is here in Northern Kentucky. This is why NKY Magazine has put together this guide to building your own Northern Kentucky wedding. We start with choosing the perfect venue and then move to other necessary pieces to build on the theme, from selecting a planner to bring your idea to life to all the flourishes that can make your reception one that every guest will fondly remember.
START WITH A VENUE If you’re looking for wide open spaces and a pastoral setting, look no further than two properties about a half-hour southeast of Newport. The Stables Entwined Event Venue in California, Kentucky, is a giant wood barn built in 2016 that can hold 160 people comfortably and up to 260 when tent space is added. The venue also has a 3,250-square-foot patio area. Just a few miles downriver in Melbourne, right on the south bank of the Ohio River, lies
The Inn at Oneonta. The historic inn at the center of the 25-acre property was the only building left standing in Oneonta after the 1937 flood of the Ohio River. Michelle and Travis Faris purchased the property a little over five years ago and have been hosting weddings in its picturesque setting ever since. “There’s so much history, there’s so much natural beauty, there’s so much uniqueness to the venue that guests leave talking about it for years to come,” owner Michelle Faris says. Ceremonies can take place inside the chapel on the grounds or outside in a gorgeous gazebo area right on the riverbank. Looking for the perfect place for an elegant non-religious ceremony or traditional reception after a church wedding? Covington and Newport have a lot to offer. Mansion Hill Sanctuary, at 417 E. Sixth St. in Newport, offers a beautiful space with warm, bright hardwood and stained-glass windows as well as a wedding chapel for ceremonies, over 1,800 square feet of reception area and a spacious bridal suite and annex that can also be utilized throughout the wedding day. Covington’s Metropolitan Club, located high up in the RiverCenter Towers, offers a flexible reception space with an exceptional
Kadie Ruff & Colin Heim held their wedding at Drees Pavilion in Devou Park
panoramic view of downtown Cincinnati and the river valley to the west. With its ballroom and grill room combining for 3,750 square feet of entertaining space, there’s plenty of room for a big party featuring the club’s delicious gourmet menu offerings. Summit Hills Country Club can offer a similarly spacious and elegant reception space while integrating a touch of the outdoors as the pristine golf course serves as a backdrop. Any couples looking for a hip space to help make their celebration extra special aren’t hurting for choices, either. Devou Park’s Drees Pavilion features perhaps the best view on the south bank of the Ohio River, heightened by a beautiful terrace and gazebo that can be utilized for the ceremony and reception. The venue also offers special lighting packages to add a unique and vibrant tone to your reception. Leapin Lizard, located at 724 Main St. in Covington, is in a building that has been reimagined many times over. Starting as a United Methodist church when it was built in 1886, it has been transformed into an eclectic event space that merges elements like its original stained-glass windows and a working pipe organ with the soul of an art gallery and concert venue. If you’re looking for trendy, look no further than The Loft at Braxton Brewing. The brewing company’s new event space on the second floor of its Covington taproom www.BestofNKY.com
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36 East Fourth St., Cincinnati, OH 45202
Seamlessly blending classic opulence and comtemporary elegance, The RenaissanceÂŽ Cincinnati Downtown Hotel features breathtaking 40-ft. domed ceilings, setting an unforgettable stage for your next social or corporate event. To start planning, call 513.333.0000 or visit RenCincinnatiWedding.com
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blends an industrial feel with great amenities and, of course, easy access to Braxton’s array of beers and hard seltzers.
FIND A PLANNER With many venues, there is a planner on staff to help you utilize the space to make your wedding ideas come to life. This is particularly true for many of the outdoor and pastoral options. For example, the Farises and their part-time staff at the Inn at Oneonta can handle setting up their venue and provide food and bar service while supplying couples their list of preferred vendors for fleshing out the rest. “(We’re) a small business,” Michelle Faris says. “It’s very personalized and customized to the client.” Also, there are many experienced wedding planners in the region who can take the hard parts of planning off your hands and work their magic. Elisa MacKenzie is a certified Master Wedding Planner and owner of Elegant Events based in Fort Thomas. MacKenzie has seen trends come and go and just about every wedding concept under the sun. One commonality between them, though, is gleaning a couple’s personality and using that to create the look and feel
Having the perfect dress to match the occasion is every bride’s goal. Styles to match your personality and wedding theme can be found at Donna Salyers’ Fabulous Bridal.
www.BestofNKY.com
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walk into the door and say, ‘Obviously this is Harry and Sally’s. This is them.’” But making the perfect wedding day for the happy couple and their guests doesn’t require a massive budget. Along the same lines, the details of planning make the whole experience more enjoyable for everyone. “For me it’s about taking care of the guests’ needs and that is hip on any level,” says MacKenzie. “It’s about flow and timing and execution and weaving one event into the other gracefully and keeping people informed.”
CREATE A LOOK
Mansion Hill Sanctuary in Newport offers an adaptable event space with a warm, traditional aesthetic that can work for both ceremonies and receptions.
that they have in their minds. Nowadays, she’s says the details are key. “It’s no longer about big centerpieces and big, fancy linens,” MacKenzie explains. “It’s
definitely more about what I call ‘branding’ an event. Really putting your stamp on it so it doesn’t look like the other six or eight weddings you went to that season. People should
Donna Salyers and her boutique, Donna Salyers’ Fabulous-Bridal at 601 Madison Ave. in Covington, have been a part of the Northern Kentucky bridal industry for a long time. She knows that most brides come in with a very strong idea about their dress, but she’s also seen a sea change in how varied those ideas are. “Weddings have never been more individual,” Salyers says. “I think you can be as creative and individual as you wish and feel very comfortable and confident about it.” And while brides will come in with a picture of their perfect dress, there’s always room to find something different.
NKY MAGAZINE MainStrasse Events: Gone for Good?
Blink comes to Covington
Inside the Vent Haven Museum
Braxton Brewing keeps expanding Exclusive: New NKY Tri-ED CEO Lee Crume
761 DOCTORS IN 66 SPECIALTIES
The Steel Woods and Full Event Calendar PAGE 14
PLUS Garren Colvin St. Elizabeth Healthcare
Lytle Thomas Heritage Bank
Dan Tobergte Gr aydon
Rodney Cain
Bank of Kentucky, Wiseway Supply
SUMMER 2019 VOLUME 9 ISSUE 2
84
OF YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS, SHOPS, SERVICES AND MORE! PLUS:
GUIDE TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS
THE REGION’S 64 The New Newport on the Levee
TOP DENTISTS
FALL 2019 VOLUME 9 ISSUE 3
Chad Coe, UC HEALTH WINTER 2019 VOLUME 9 ISSUE 4
Go to www.BestofNKY.com to get your COMPLIMENTARY subscription to Cincy and NKY Magazine.* *Only NKY residents and businesses will receive NKY Magazine.
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Boone Links Golf and Event Center 19 Clubhouse Drive • Florence, KY 41042 859-371-7550 • boonecountygolf.com
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he brand-new Boone Links Golf and Event Center clubhouse was completed in August 2019 and is a must-see! Amenities include a gorgeous banquet room that seats 225 guests with panoramic views of the golf course, a wedding ceremony venue complete with a gazebo and a large patio area for your reception guests, plus a private covered patio, stone fireplace, bridal suite, enhanced dining menu, audio/visual hookups and ample free parking. Additional amenities on site include two indoor high-definition golf simulator lounges, 18-hole miniature golf course, awesome outdoor seating areas with water features and a party deck.
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We are ready to host your next function! Call (859) 334-4853 to book your Special Event.
The NEW clubhouse is a MUST SEE! The gorgeous dining room seats 225 guests with panoramic views of the golf course. It’s a complete wedding venue with outdoor ceremonial gazebo, bridal suite, enhanced dining menu, and ample parking. boone_links_V1.indd 1
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www.BestofNKY.com
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The Stables Entwined Event Venue is beautifully located among the majestic countryside in California, Kentucky just 20 miles south of Cincinnati, Ohio. The Stables offers a setting that can be anything from country chic to totally unique. No matter which type of wedding a couple is looking for, The Stables offers a beautiful backdrop for the special day. Our event wood barn was built 2016, large main level, loft seating with iron scenes, large stage, pool table, staging kitchen, bridal dressing room and groom’s cabin. The Stables is complete with outdoor experiences including a 50’ x 65’ patio, grain bin bar, playground, pavilion, and fire pit. All of this alongside a pond nestled between the countryside and trees makes for a picturesque setting for any event. Pricing in the Menu Selection.
Experiences we provide:
Stallion Experience
Friday 12pm to Sunday 12pm Rehearsal, Ceremony, Reception 2 Night Accommodation for 12 guests
Yearling Experience
16 hours Friday, Saturday or Sunday Ceremony & Reception
Falabella Experience
5 hours Friday Saturday or Sunday Reception Only
Murder Mystery
A beautiful bride is murdered at her rehearsal dinner party. Can you solve the murder in 4-8 hours?
859-630-1053 | stablesentwined.com
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K ALEIGH TURNER PHOTOGR APHY LIBBYCARLTON
“It may or may not be what she had in her mind, but she knows it when she sees it,” says Salyers. “And it’s always a very exciting, happy occasion—I guess it’s like love at first sight.” There’s also so much room for creativity in the bridal party’s wardrobe. Brides can have fun with selecting six different styles that fit a theme or color for their bridesmaids or think even further outside the box. A popular trend is also having a second dress for the reception. Salyers points out that this gives the bride another moment to wow her guests when she enters the post-ceremony celebration. MacKenzie says that the right vendors can enhance the look and feel of a wedding. Vincent Lighting in Erlanger is her top choice for décor lighting to really elevate the look between pin spot lighting, track lighting and anything else. For details that span beyond the special day itself, Always & Forever Wedding Service in Union is a stationary and wedding favor provider that MacKenzie says is the best deal in the city. “(Karen Franxman) does custom work and she can really help you pull that look
Distinctive dresses for each member of the bridal party and ornate flower arrangements are two ways to make the look of your wedding unique.
or that feel or that theme into everything from stir sticks to cocktail napkins to hashtag signs to invitations and programs and place cards.”
MAKE A MEMORABLE RECEPTION The grand finale of a perfect wedding day is where a couple’s personality can shine the
n amazing wedding begins with you... and a spectacular view!
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www.metropolitanclub.net
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Full-Service Wedding Coordination In-House Catering & Beverage Service Classically Trained Executive Chef Since 1991 New Renovation of Club & Ballroom Complete in Spring 2020 Gorgeous Panoramic Views of Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky Professionally Trained Staff
@ MetClubCov www.BestofNKY.com
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Everything You Need For The Big Day FULL SERVICE CATERING AND FOUR DIFFERENT VENUES To Handle Any Part Of Your Wedding Plans AWARD-WINNING CHEFS Will Customize Menus Just For You DEDICATED SPECIAL EVENTS TEAM That Delivers Your Event Your Way
Contact
THE SPECIAL EVENTS TEAM mvgevents@mvgrllc.com 513-934-7670
@miamivalleygaming @MVGOHIO miamivalleygaming.com
JUST OFF 1-75 EXIT 29
Must be 21 to gamble. Problem Gambling? Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-589-9966) or visit www.org.ohio.gov
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Images By Sabrina
The Stables Entwined in California, KY, offers a rustic setting for weddings
brightest. Michelle Faris has noticed one thing that’s become popular for outdoor receptions at The Inn at Oneonta is making little living room-style spaces outside.
“We have plenty of green space but sometimes they’ll bring pieces (of furniture) from family members’ houses or go through a rental company and just have a
little cute area, either under the tent in the reception area or in the green space on our property,” she says. Music is a key element and MacKenzie recommends Nancy James, a nationally recognized soprano who has experience working in almost every church in the region, and The Northern Kentucky Brotherhood Singers. The quintet recently worked a wedding where they sang the cocktail list before the reception and took requests the rest of the evening. Flourishes in decoration can come from the incredible florists in the area, such as Yellow Canary in Covington and Ford-Ellington Floral & Wedding Design in Fort Thomas. Whether you’re looking for little accents or full walls and arches of plants, these vendors can transform a venue to fit your theme. Little surprises can really elevate a reception as well. Treats for guests—MacKenzie calls Moonrise Doughnuts in Covington “a really cool find”—are always a plus, while interactive elements are becoming more and more popular. Live paintings have taken the wedding industry by storm and Heidi Vermeil, based in Bellevue, can be present at a ceremony and reception to create a painting that will memorialize the event forever in a unique way. n
Metropolitan Club
50 E. RiverCenter Blvd. #1900 • Covington, KY 41011 859-491-2400 • metropolitanclub.net
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our Perfect Reception Starts with an Amazing View! The Metropolitan Club is a fullservice event venue on the Covington riverfront with breathtaking, panoramic views of that Cincinnati skyline and Northern Kentucky. Our Grill and Ballroom can accommodate seated weddings of 220 guests, rehearsal dinners and engagement parties. The entire club is also available for groups up to 400. With a wide variety of cuisine and spirits prepared special for your event and our commitment to excellent service, we will ensure that you have an event to remember and cherish. You will experience the personalized service of a private club with professional staff on your special day, including planning of your event, complimentary day-of-event coordination and assistance with vendor recommendations. Bridal suites and groomsmen dressing rooms are included in the venue rental, and several hotel partners are within easy walking distance. We would be honored to host your special day! WEDDING PROFILE 1 26met_RDP.indd NKY MAGAZINE
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Newport Syndicate
18 E. Fifth St. • Newport, KY 41071 859-491-8000 • newportsyndicate.com
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or 25 years, the Newport Syndicate has put the “wow” in our events. We pride ourselves on personal service. Our planner sees to every detail, and then attends your event to ensure that all your details come to life. Our Grand Ballroom takes you back in time with special effect lighting, a massive antique bar, incredibly large dance floor and an elevated stage. The bar, with its close proximity to our large
dance floor, is the right mix for a great time. Our Ambassador Room is such a unique space that it stands alone in the Tristate. It has elegant columns, a large bar, a sunken dance floor with a built in DJ booth, a glass room overlooking the dance floor, special effect dance lighting on the dance floor as well as on the bar. You get the best of both worlds: a classy dinner experience and a fun party your family and friends will never forget.
Your rehearsal dinner is the kickoff party to an incredible wedding. We have three private rooms with great food and décor. Gangster’s Dueling Piano Bar is located inside our complex, which is the perfect after party for your event. Our Chef provides a tasting for you to select just the right menu. We include all the extras without any surprises. Our 25 years of experience will show at every event.
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Renaissance Cincinnati Downtown Hotel 36 East Fourth St. • Cincinnati OH 45202 513-333-0000 • renaissancecincinnati.com
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ay “I Do” in the city’s most elegant wedding venue, featuring a central downtown location and breathtaking 40-foot domed original ceilings in Burnham Hall that you simply have to see to believe. From our chic Private Dining Room, per-
fect for showers or an intimate rehearsal dinner, to our spacious Executive Suites, ideal for primping and prep, our hotel is destined to delight in a way that no other wedding venue can. Situated in the historic Bartlett Building, we blend contemporary style and
classic opulence. Let us design your perfect day…a celebration that reflects your love for each other, your distinct sense of style and your exceptional sophistication. Allow our historically charmed hotel to be your blank canvas to create, imagine and inspire.
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Stables Entwined Event Venue 2777 California Crossroads • California, KY 41007 859-630-1053 • stablesentwined.com
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he Stables Entwined Event Venue is located in the majestic countryside just 20 miles south of Cincinnati and offers a beautiful backdrop for your special day. Our Hemlock wood barn, built in 2016, includes a large main level, loft seating, an entertainment stage, a bridal suite and a groom’s cabin.
Stables Entwined is complete with outdoor experiences that include a large patio, grain bin bar, playground, pavilion and fire pit. All of this is set alongside a pond nestled among the countryside and trees that makes for a picturesque setting for any event. The Stallion Experience is a 48-hour rental for a two-day event hosting up
to 190 guests, with overnight accommodations for 12 guests. The Yearling Experience is a 12-hour rental for a oneday event that can accommodate up to 190 guests. The Falabella Experience is 5-hour rental for up to 190 attendees. Stables Entwined Experiences are complete with tables, chairs, linens, decor, staff, parking attendants and more.
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