Kate + Sam’s romantic October wedding day overflowed with joy and an exuberance that shines right through their photos. A dreamy, subtle softness flows through the day, from the elegant lace details of Kate’s dress to that perfect bright fall light to rich texture of the velvety cream cake. The thick scent of ivory roses nestled with blush blossoms and hints of eucalyptus must have filled the Hyde Park Country Club’s reception hall to the delight of everyone. Kate takes us back through the day that provided a lifetime of treasured memories for her, Sam and all their loved ones. Gorgeous photos by Kortnee Kate Photography.

What's your style?

Silver vs. Gold: Gold

Flats vs. Heels: Flats

Silk vs. Lace: Lace

Urban vs. Rustic: Urban

Salty vs. Sweet: Sweet

Diamonds vs. Pearls: Diamonds

Flower vs. Fern: Flower

Sand vs. Snow: Snow

Lipstick vs. Lip Gloss: Lipstick

What was your initial vision for your wedding?

All we really wanted was to make it fun! We were so thrilled to be getting married and beyond excited to be hosting our friends and family in Cincinnati. We wanted our ceremony to be personal and our reception to have delicious food, a fun band, and beautiful décor / fun details to pull it all together.

Tell us about the proposal.

It was a Saturday in August – we had a lovely day and Sam suggested we go down to a pier at Hudson River Park on the west side for a drink before dinner at our favorite restaurant in New York (L’Artusi). After a bit of rigmarole trying to find a nice spot, we arrived at the end of a pier with hardly anyone around. After some nervous fidgeting, I’m sure Sam could tell I was anxious and he got down on his knee and popped the question.

Describe your wedding day. Is there a particular moment that remains in your memory most vividly?

The entire day was just so joyful and I smile every time I think about it – there really is no way to anticipate the emotion you feel when you get to marry your partner and all of your incredible family and closest friends have travelled to celebrate with you. For me, the MOST memorable moment was definitely when the doors opened in the church and I saw Sam for the very first time. I was shaking with excitement and I was smiling SO hard I thought my face might explode! (another favorite memory for me was when I was getting ready at Hyde Park and heard the band practicing our first dance song - we had asked them to learn it and hearing it live for the first time gave me chills).

Tell us a little about you and Sam.

Sam and I are both from Cincinnati and met in high school through mutual friends. We remained friends for a long time – through going our separate ways to college (me to UVA and Sam to Miami) and to trying new cities after graduation (me to New York City and Sam to Atlanta and Nashville). After reconnecting in Cincinnati over the holidays, we decided to give the long distance relationship a shot and shortly thereafter Sam moved to New York. We currently work and reside in New York and spend our time exploring the city, trying new restaurants and shows, and of course watching Cincinnati sports.

Were there any wedding planning challenges?

Not really thanks to my mom!!! We were pretty lucky that we already knew where we wanted to get married and knew a lot of great vendors we were excited to work with. One thing that was tricky was figuring out logistics around hotels and busses because we had a lot of out of town guests but that ultimately all worked out!

What aspect of wedding planning did you enjoy most?

I’d have to say it would be a tie between meeting with our vendors and tallying up our reply cards! All of our appointments were so fun – dress shopping, picking out linens, designing stationery, meeting with our florist, creating a set list with the band, cake tasting, sampling escort card cookies, etc. And as soon as the RSVPs started coming in, it really felt like the wedding was coming to life – nothing could replace the energy and love our guests brought to our wedding day.

Tell us about your venues and why you chose them.

Our ceremony was at Armstrong Chapel United Methodist Church – I grew up going to church there with my family and always knew it’s where I wanted to get married. My parents were married there in 1978 and my sister and brother in law were married there in 2010 so it was a pretty special place for us.Our reception was at Hyde Park Golf and Country Club – my sister’s reception was here as well and I thought her wedding was incredible so it was an easy pick. I also thought it was nice to be in a space our family is familiar with, where we knew the staff was excellent, and where we could get ready the day of and watch our reception get set up.

What was your favorite detail? Did you DIY anything?

I can’t take credit for anything DIY but everyone we worked with created the most perfect details for our day. Courtney Talty made us amazing escort card cookies on which she wrote out every name in icing script; instead of a sparkler exit we opted for lit balloons which were really fun and beautiful; Robin’s flowers in the church and at the reception were unbelievable; and of course all of our Poeme details (programs, menus, signage) tied everything together and we made cozies with our design for the bar.

What song did you choose for your first dance?

Dance With Me Baby by Ben Rector

Where did you spend your honeymoon?

Europe! We spent two weeks in Italy (Rome, Florence, and Venice) and Paris – visiting lots of sites, drinking delicious wine, and of course eating amazing food and gelato.

CREATIVE PARTNERS

Kate's Dress: Monique Lhuillier dress from Bridal and Formal | Kate's Accessories: Pearl earrings and pearl bracelet from my mom (my sister wore the same bracelet in her wedding) | Kate's Shoes: Christian Louboutin nude pumps | Bridesmaid Dresses: Joanna August (color: Tangled Up in Blue; bridesmaids picked their own cut) | Sam's Attire: J.Crew tuxedo, Allen Edmonds shoes, cufflinks from Krombholz Jewelers | Groomsmen Attire: The Black Tux tuxedos and Happy Socks | Flowers: Robin Wood Flowers |Planner: Sally Slack, Essence Event Planning | Event Coordinator: Angie Neises, Hyde Park Country Club | Catering: Hyde Park Country Club | Late Night Snack: Skyline Chili | Cake: The BonBonerie (opera cream & white chocolate romance with raspberry preserves) | Lighting: Goodwin Lighting | Band: Clueless (formerly known as Johnny Clueless) | Ceremony Venue: Armstrong Chapel United Methodist Church | Reception Venue: Hyde Park Golf and Country Club | Hair: Amanda Guilmette from BRIDEface | Makeup: Nancy and Penny from BRIDEface |Video: Kortnee Kate In-Motion |Photography: Kortnee Kate | Cookie escort cards: Courtney Talty | Rentals: All Occasions Event Rental | Transportation: Savannah Night

Read our interview with Kate + Sam's florist, Robin Wood Flowers.