Hannah + Brian’s Timeless Wedding at Greenacres Art Center

July 25, 2021 Nicolette Meade

Hannah + Brian were married in a gorgeous outdoor, floral filled ceremony at Cincinnati’s Greenacres Art Center. Hannah’s vision for a classic, simple celebration came together beautifully starting with an elegant, engraved wedding stationery suite. Crisp white stock with raised border paired with black ink. Wedding ceremony programs were individually stitched. Calligraphy by Haniya Calligraphy. Photography by Kortnee Kate (photos on gray background by Poeme).

Tell us a little about you and Brian. How did you meet? Brian and I met at a fraternity party at Miami University in 2015...very college! I was great friends with some of his fraternity brothers, but never had met Brian. We clicked immediately when we met and really were attached at the hip from the start! We bonded over our love for country music and growing up in Cincinnati. He very quickly not only became my boyfriend, but my best friend and our love for each other has grown ever since!

Tell us about the proposal. Brian proposed in January 2020 after (he would say) years of me asking for him to do so. I was actually very sick and made a joke that when I went to the doctor, he told me that a diamond ring would make me feel better. That night, Brian brought me home a bouquet of roses and said, "I don't have a diamond ring, but here are some roses to help you feel better."

The next day, I was sick in bed in my pajamas all day and Brian cuddled up with me in bed. That afternoon he looked at me and said let's talk about forever. It was a normal occurrence where we would talk about what our lives would continue to look like together, but instead of laying in bed talking, he pulled me out of bed, walked me to the kitchen, and reached up on the top of the fridge (where I cannot see or reach) for a little blue box. After he asked me to marry him, he told me that if I felt well enough that he made reservations at our favorite restaurant. I felt much better (the doctor was right!) When we got to the restaurant, he had both of our entire families surprise me and we all celebrated together.

photo by poeme

Tell us about your wedding day. Both Brian and I will tell you that our wedding day was the best day of our entire lives, not just because we got to marry each other, but because we had the most incredible time. While it was stressful planning the day down to the minute, it caused us both to have peace of mind the day of and truly enjoy it. I had the best morning at my parents' house with all of my bridesmaids and women (and men--my dad, cousin, and uncle/godfather were there as well) that mean so much to me. I was a bit of a wreck for a minute because I did my own makeup, but everything turned out absolutely perfect. Brian spent the morning at our home with the groomsmen and his parents. Brian and I did not see each other until the ceremony and it made seeing each other at the end of the aisle the best moment of our lives.

Our ceremony was so special and meaningful. We had two people who we love dearly read passages that Brian and I picked and to make it even more special, my Rabbi who I have known my entire life married us. After the ceremony, we got to take pictures with our family and bridal party, and we actually really enjoyed it. Anyone who has worked with Kortnee knows that she is in fact THE BEST and made a time that is sometimes dreaded a lot of fun and very easy.

The reception was everything we had dreamed and more. It was truly the most gorgeous setting I have ever seen and every detail that we hoped for was PERFECT. The Downtown Band made everyone's night. After a year and a half of halted celebrations, they made a lot of people's first real gathering the best it could be. From the second they started playing (literally) the dance floor was full.

What detail of the wedding was most important for you? To be very honest, the most important part of the wedding to us was all the details combined. We had a vision for the wedding and wanted to put together a team that could make every aspect of that vision come to life. We had a meeting a few weeks before the wedding with all of our major vendors and we knew then that we had the most incredible team. Together, they truly made our dreams a reality and perfected every detail that we wanted.

What detail was most important to Brian? I leaned over and asked Brian this question, and his response was, "that you said 'I do'." :)

Describe the style of your wedding. The vision that I had for our wedding was classic, simple elegance. With Greenacres as the backdrop, it was already stunning and we wanted to add to the beauty of Greenacres, not compete with it. I had a vision of soft whites with greenery throughout and wanted to be original as well.

Our planner, Elisa Mackenzie helped us form the most incredible team of vendors that brought our vision to life.

For the ceremony, I wanted everything to be organic. My bouquet along with my bridesmaids were gorgeous white roses and along the aisle and altar were clusters of almost wildflower-looking arrangements. For the reception, I pictured a white draped ceiling with large crystal chandeliers filled with greenery and Courtenay Lambert and Fitz the Occasion did just that and more.

What was your wedding stationery vision? For our stationery, Brian, my mom Nancy and I all pictured very traditional and classic invitations. We knew we wanted an off-white base with a black script and Poeme helped us bring that vision to life. From our save the dates to the signage on the big day...it was absolutely stunning and exactly what we had pictured.

Who was the person or resource you most leaned on during the planning process? The wedding planning process was difficult and at times stressful, but someone who was always very level-headed and reliable was my father. If any issues arose, he would comfort us in that it would work out. If difficult decisions had to be made, he always reiterated that it was Brian and my day and that it is about our love. For planning, my mom, Nancy was there every step of the way and more. The woman knows how to plan a party! She is truly my best friend and we think exactly alike. We love planning events and parties together, so the past year and a half with her by my side has been so much fun.

And finally, Elisa McKenzie. She made sure that every detail was perfectly executed and I am forever grateful for everything she did for us. I am so thankful for her, not just that she was the most amazing wedding planner, but that she is someone that I have known for the majority of my life...it made the whole day even more special.

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