Cincinnati Wedding in Mount Adams
This post won’t even begin to scratch the surface of the top snowflake on the tippity top of the iceberg of how special Abby & Sean are nor how amazing their wedding day was.
I‘ve had the honor of knowing Abby & Sean for several years now. The words spoken about them on their wedding day by their friends, family and each other perfectly encapsulated how easy it is, how much fun it is and how lucky anyone is to know & care about them. Both of them are so kind, empathetic, selfless, fun(ny), and so so easy to celebrate. Their love is the stuff that inspires books & movies (the REALLY good ones); those closest to them know it and those who have known them for an hour (including my second shooter that day) know it and can feel it.
Arguably (really, it’s a toss up) my favorite highlight of the day was Abby & Sean leading a parade of all the guests from the church down the street to the reception hall after the ceremony. When Abby said they were going to parade, I thought she meant a casual, low-key stroll between the two buildings. HA, I was wrong. It was a PARADE and a half, with Abby, Sean, and a few musicians leading the pack of their family & closest friends to the after party. It shut down the whole street and the onlookers loved every second of it. The energy was unreal; no one participating in that parade would rather have been anywhere else. This five-minute span was not just a highlight of the day but a highlight of my wedding photo experience as a whole.
A few other of my favorite highlights:
The bridesmaids’ dresses - I mean, obsessed. I fully support the trend of moving away from the perfectly cohesive, monochromatic vibe of bridesmaid dresses. The different styles and different shades of pink and orange looked SO good together and were the perfect way to compliment a springtime wedding. While we did meet a teeny bit of rain and some overcast throughout the day, you could hardly tell because of the vibrancy and energy from the dresses and the people.
The standing ovation by the bridesmaids for Abby’s parents at the girls’ getting ready Airbnb - This was one of those moments that was so brief, completely unplanned and the exact type of moment that makes a wedding day (an subsequent wedding photos) extra special and memorable for everyone involved. We had just photographed Abby’s first look with her dad and photos with her parents upstairs in the Airbnb where the ladies were getting ready, and we were preparing to do Abby’s first look with her bridesmaids. Abby’s parents and myself headed downstairs to where the bridesmaids were waiting, and without prompting, they all burst into enthusiastic cheers and applause for Abby’s parents as they came down one by one. Knowing how much Abby’s parents mean to her and all the time they have spent around her friends over the years, while the applause were humorously timed by the bridesmaids, I knew they were completely genuine in the love and respect they have for their friend’s parents. It’s a perfect example of one of those moments of non-romantic love that is so frequent and special during a wedding day; it’s a time not only to celebrate the couple and their love, but it’s a time to appreciate connection of all kinds and the memories that come with it.
The private vows - Abby & Sean chose to read their personally written vows privately to each other overlooking the Ohio River Valley. Both of their vows were adoring, funny, vulnerable, so heartfelt without being an ounce cheesy, and so intentionally written. They both laughed, cried and soaked in a few moments alone together before the rest of the day’s festivities and celebration began. The bit of light rain that started near the end made for some beautiful, romantic portraits and a whole lot of good luck, even though I know these two don’t need it.
The speeches - All four of the speeches knocked it out of the park. Abby’s dad’s speech had everyone laughing and crying and crying from laughing. Abby & Sean said a few brief words of gratitude mixed with humor. As her dad said in his toast when he knew Sean was the one for his daughter, no one makes her smile and laugh more than Sean, so photographing their authentic joy throughout the day was pretty damn easy. Abby’s maid of honor’s speech was witty and nostalgic, drawing on the unique experience of having known both Abby and Sean separately since childhood. Sean’s best man took it home with a speech that had the entire (large) room roaring with laughter at every sentence.
The dancefloor - One thing that makes Abby smile and laugh more than most other things is watching and joining Sean on a dance floor. Sean doesn’t just love a dance floor, he commands a dance floor. I knew all the guests were in for what was bound to be one of the most energetic and highly participatory dance floors in wedding history and my prediction ended up being pretty spot on. No one fact check me on that, I’m sure I’m right.
Photographing weddings and sessions for people I know is the most amazing part of this little job of mine. Not only am I beyond flattered by each and every request to capture the memories of people I know, but I also cherish the trust those who book me have in me to be present in these special, one-of-a-kind moments with them and document their story authentically. Abby & Sean’s wedding day was a perfect example of this. It was also so fun for me to see, photograph and catch up with so many familiar faces that I hadn’t seen since college among the wedding party and guests of their wedding.
Cheers to Abby & Sean and their inspiring love.
Abby’s 5-star review: “If I could leave Gretchen Wittry Photography a 100+ star review, I would in a heart beat. I simply cannot say enough good things about Gretchen as a photographer. We hired Gretchen to take our engagement and wedding photos and we are beyond happy with how our gallery turned out. My family and I will be cherishing all of these photos for a lifetime. As a professional, Gretchen is organized, efficient, responsive, and so hardworking. She was patient and always willing to provide thorough input, advice, and answers to any of the many questions me/my family had throughout this wedding process. Additionally, Gretchen also made me and my entire wedding party feel so comfortable and confident too (she has the best prompts to keep you giggling and looking your best). I think it is also so important to note that all of the other vendors that I hired for the wedding also had nothing but wonderful things to say about Gretchen. They appreciated her kindness and flexibility. Please do yourself a favor and hire Gretchen for your next event ASAP! You will not regret working with her :)”
Creative Partner Team
Venue: Monastery Event Center @monasteryeventcenter
Videography: Heartful Films @heartful_films
Florals: Piepmeier, The Florist @piepmeiertheflorist
Hair: Bella Beckham @maneandcolor
Makeup: AKA Esthetics @aka_esthetics
Dress: Mikaella Bridal by Paloma Blanca @mikaellabridal
Bridal Shop: Lace Bridal Couture @lacebridalcouture
Tux: Men’s Wearhouse @menswearhouse
DJ: Perfect Day DJs @perfectdaydjs
Photography: Gretchen Wittry Photography @graphsbygretch
