There is so much to say about Jill + Jonathan’s fabulous downtown Columbus wedding at Strongwater Food & Spirits in Franklinton, that I’m not sure where to begin! I know many weddings strive to be unique to the couple, but I think this might have been one of the best examples I’ve seen where every detail truly felt like *them*. Because Jill and Jonathan are both teachers, many details of their Memorial Day weekend wedding day reflected a classroom theme, and because they’re both vegan, the wedding was entirely vegan!! (even the ice cream – it was delish!) And oh yeah… THAT DRESS!
I had an assistant for the entire day (thanks, Ashley Ford!), so we started our day apart – she with the guys at their Clintonville home, and I with the girls at the Renaissance hotel downtown. Jill’s dress was actually her mother’s, slightly altered to make it her own, and I was just blown away by it! Flowers delivered by EcoFlora completed the look perfectly. Jonathan and his guys joined us at the hotel, and we staged their First Look at on the rooftop of the Renaissance. The wedding party joined us for some additional portraits on the rooftop and the urban alleys nearby, then we hoped on a bus and traveled to Franklinton for additional portraits!
While we were finishing up portraits in Franklinton, Jill surprised Jonathan with knit ginger beards she had for everyone in the wedding party including herself! I was in on the plan, and distracted Jonathan while everyone put them on. He turned around and LOVED it!! I was cracking up! Everyone has a little ginger beard envy!
From there, it was onto the wedding festivities at Strongwater! Guests were greeted by the classroom theme at every turn, from chalkboards and composition notebooks, to custom pencil favors and all their stationary designed as written on notebook paper or from an old-school typewriter! There were more than a few tears at their tented ceremony out in the courtyard between Strongwater and 400 West Rich, especially while Jill and Jonathan recited their own vows to each other.
After the ceremony, it was onto the party! But I couldn’t but notice the gorgeous light outside as the sun set, so I asked Jill and Jonathan to step outside with me for just a handful more portraits during dinner, and they agreed! After dinner and toasts, guests were invited back outside to the courtyard for dancing. To say we had a blast would be an understatement! These two are truly two of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet. Thank you to Jill and Jonathan for inviting us to capture your most amazing day!
