Lauren + Mario were married in an intimate outdoor ceremony on a beautiful fall day in Cincinnati. The celebration, that included only 40 guests, took place at Lauren’s parents home on one of those October days when the light is diffuse and all the colors pop. The ceremony was followed by a tented reception with clear sailcloth, allowing the natural light to work its magic. Robin Wood Flowers created absolutely gorgeous florals of deep red and golden dahlias, pink and peach roses all nestled in dark greenery. Lauren was stunning wearing the dress of her dreams, a sleek, fitted gown by designer Brandon Maxwell.

Lauren’s mom was key to mapping out all the design elements into a cohesive look. The paper details were natural and modern with a neutral autumn color palette of mushroom, taupe, and copper. The main invitation pieces were letterpressed on thick white stock with a combination of sans serif and classic, traditional fonts to keep it fresh for an elegant meets contemporary look. The cocktail napkins featured a loose linen pattern with Lauren and Mario in script copper foil.

Speeches were given and glasses were raised as the sun set. Delicious bites from Eat Well Cincinnati were served. Guests were seated at long family style tables set with crisp, textured linens under warm cafe lights. Modern, circular dinner menus paired beautifully with copper cutlery, low table arrangements, and taupe candles. The day was captured by the Brothers Martens Photography.

We created a welcome ensemble for guests who had responded they would be in attendance. This prepared guests for the weekend by providing details such as directions, accommodation, a note to dress warmly for outdoor events, and guidelines for social distancing. And who doesn’t love a custom illustrated watercolor map!? All their paper details were printed on thick stock with smooth corners creating a lovely cohesive vibe.

Tell us a little about you and Mario.

We are best friends. Mario and I have been close for years and I think have always known we were meant to build a life together. It’s been the greatest joy to witness each other’s growth and success over these years and to now be sharing in those moments as husband and wife is everything we’ve always prayed for.

Tell us about your wedding stationery vision and how it came together.

First, Kristen is an absolute genius. Second, my mom has impeccable taste. They both worked through the vision of clean, sophisticated and elegant. The stationery may be one of my favorite parts of the wedding. Everything was beyond perfect. We loved how luxurious but simple it all felt.

What part of the wedding planning process was the most fun or interesting?

My mom was an integral part of making sure the wedding was everything I dreamed of. I am so thankful for her, she really does have the best eye for details and design. I’d say getting to have her by my side throughout the process was the best part.

Tell us about the proposal

While it was a long time coming (in my mind at least) in typical Mario fashion, the proposal itself was a bit spur of the moment and definitely a surprise. Mario makes me laugh like no one else, the proposal was no different. I’ll keep the details between us, but we still laugh about it whenever it gets mentioned.

How would you describe the style of your wedding?

The wedding was an intimate dinner party with our family and very closest friends. We had incredible food, great cocktails, a cozy atmosphere at my parents home, and did not stop laughing the entire night. We are so blessed with an incredible support system and everyone that we needed there was a very special part of our day.

Tell us about your wedding day - take us back through it!

It was everything we’ve ever dreamed of. The whole weekend was incredible. Mario and I really wanted our family and friends to have a relaxing weekend and to enjoy spending time together.

Friday evening our dear friends Beth and Rick Naylor, hosted a Welcome Party for our guests at their home. We had a wood-fired pizza oven food truck come in for dinner and had the best time enjoying a laid back night with everyone.

Saturday morning Mario and I went to get coffee with my mom and dad which was the perfect way for us to start the day (any time we are in town, it’s a part of our weekend routine, getting coffee with them). We then came home to start getting ready.

What detail of the wedding was most important for you and Mario?

For Mario and I both, it was really about just spending time with our loved ones. That’s all that mattered at the end of the day.

Mario’s daughter, Milan, got ready with my mom, sister and me. It was so special to have her there, part of the entire day, getting to experience the excitement and love we were all feeling.

I got to wear the dress of my dreams which was designed by Brandon Maxwell, it fit like a glove, thank goodness!

I have to say, seeing my dad for the first time was really special. He and I are very close and it meant a lot to be able to share that moment with him. Mario and I didn’t really want to do a formal first look, so he came down while I was with my dad and got to be a part of that moment too. I’d had Mario convinced I was wearing a short suit dress so he was surprised to see the gown! The mayor of Montgomery presided over our small ceremony in my parents backyard. Mario and I actually wrote the entire ceremony so it was very special. We had a fun cocktail hour with a specialty drink, Harvest Punch, that was a huge hit!

Dinner and speeches followed which was probably the highlight of the night. The food was so incredible. Eat Well Cincinnati was amazing! My dad, sister, uncle and Mario’s brother all gave wonderful speeches it meant a lot to Mario and I. We think it brought our families together in a way that hadn’t happened before. It was beautiful. After dinner Mario danced with his mom and daughter to “You are the Best Thing” by Ray Lamontagne and I danced with my dad to “My Little Girl” by Tim McGraw. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Mario and I danced to one of our favorite songs, “Best Part” by Daniel Caesar and HER. My sister created playlists for the entire evening which were amazing! So we had a blast on the dance floor late into the evening.

Advice for couples planning a wedding during these unprecedented covid times?

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s been to keep our loved ones close, hug them tighter, and make sure to say I love you as often as possible. Remember what’s most important. The party can wait, cherish the time with family and friends.

CREATIVE PARTNERS

Ceremony & Reception Venue - Private home | Photographer - Brothers Martens | Florist - Robin Wood | Wedding Planner - Ann Travis Events | Cake - The BonBonerie | Hair & Makeup - Megan Kramer at Blend Artistry  | Music - On a Limb Jazz Trio | Catering- Eat Well Cincinnati | Lauren’s Wedding Dress - Brandon Maxwell | Bridesmaid Dresses - Alexander Wang | Rentals - All Occasions Event Rentals