COVER STORY // Kayley and AJ // Shaker Heights Country Club + Hanna Gardens Cleveland History Center // Cleveland, Oh

COVER STORY

Kayley and AJ

SHAKER HEIGHTS COUNTRY CLUB AND HANNA GARDENS CLEVELAND HISTORY CENTER CLEVELAND, OHIO

PRETTY DETAILS

How we met: It all started on a random Thursday night in February 2013. AJ and I met at a social event while we both attended Miami University of Ohio. The event was Aspen Ski themed, and even through the ski goggles and 80’s gear I knew there was something special about AJ. We exchanged numbers and went on our first date a week later…and the rest is history! We finished school two years later and began a long-distance relationship. I began grad school in Pittsburgh, and AJ returned home to Cleveland.

Proposal: During my last year of grad school, AJ and I planned a Christmas trip to Florida with his family. Because Christmas is a HUGE deal to me, I decided to fly and meet AJ and his family in Florida on Christmas night, as to not miss Christmas morning with my siblings and parents. Of course, my flight was delayed and I did not arrive until 1am (little did I know until after the fact that this ruined AJ’s proposal plan). The next morning everyone opened Christmas gifts and settled into vacation mode. The plan was to take family photos on a lake at sunset near my now brother-in-law’s house. On the way to the lake, AJ was acting a bit strange (very jumpy and full of energy), I checked his pockets and did not see anything that resembled a ring box so I shrugged it off as excitement to all be together as a family. We began taking pictures as a family then it turned into only couple’s pictures. When it was our turn for pictures, AJ got down on one knee and proposed. It was the most perfect moment, and the best moment of my life (until I said “I DO”)!

The Ohio Wedding Collective// Vendor Guide// Spring 2020

INSPIRATION

VENDORS

Venue Cleveland History Center (Ceremony)// wrhs.org Shaker Heights Country Club// shakerheightscc.org

Photographer The Cannons Photography// thecannonsphotography.com

Caterer Shaker Heights Country Club// shakerheightscc.org

Sweet Treats Nothing Bundt Cakes// nothingbundtcakes.com

Florist Blossom Cleveland//blossomcleveland.com

Bridal Boutique Brides by the Falls// bridesbythefalls.com

Grooms Attire The Groomsmans Suit// thegroomsmansuit.com

Hair + Makeup Stella and Shay// stellaandshay.com

Entertainment Billy J DJS// billyjdjs.com

The Ohio Wedding Collective// Vendor Guide// Spring 2020

Wedding: Where do I begin picking my favorite moments from this day, can I say every moment was my favorite ?? Our wedding day was everything we could have dreamed. One of my favorites moments/details of our day was the first look. All of the stress of planning and emotions leading up to the wedding day disappeared the second I saw AJ the morning of our wedding. To me, it was very important to have the alone time with my soon-to -be spouse before celebrating with all of our family and friends. Our photographers were amazing and truly made our wedding day perfect. The Cannon’s kept us on schedule throughout the day, while capturing every event (and candid’s) as they came. I absolutely loved both our ceremony venue (Western Reserve Historical Society) and our reception venue (Shaker Heights Country Club). The WRHS provided the elegant/historical/garden theme I envisioned and everything was perfect (even the 90 degree heat!). All of the staff at both locations were extremely helpful, we did not have to worry about any of the details throughout the entire day. My most favorite part of the day, of course, was saying “I DO.” A unique part of our ceremony was we tied a literal “fisherman’s knot”, where the bond only gets tight the more you pull on the strings and never parts. We kept the rope, and intend to eventually put it in a shadow box for our home.