Cincinnati Wedding Day with Reception at The Transept

How were your personal styles reflected in your wedding day?

I think both of our styles are pretty classic with modern touches and this was reflected in our choice of venue, clothing and décor. We liked the simplicity and the natural beauty of the venue which I think contrasted well with the larger brighter flower arrangements.

Nelson-Domet Wedding @ 2017 Maxim Photo Studio

How did you decide on your venue? Why was it the perfect choice?

As soon as we walked into our venue, The Transept, I loved it. We both really liked that it had a unique history as a former church that had been restored. Also, the simplicity of the space combined with the high ceilings, dark wood and beautiful stained glass windows make for a beautiful venue. We also wanted a place where we could have both the wedding ceremony and the reception and at The Transept you get that combined with a great caterer and service. It really was a perfect choice for us!

Tell us about finding your dress.

My mother lives in Portland, Maine so she flew in for the weekend to go wedding dress shopping with me. Normally it takes me a while to make big decisions but I somehow managed to find a dress in one day after only going to two shops. I think it helped that it was just myself and my mother, and that I really wanted to find one while she was there with me. We were texting pictures to both of my sisters, one who lives in Germany and another who was away at college, to get their opinions as well. I really loved the classic style of the dress combined with all of the different layers of lace.

April + Luke met because their dogs, Max and Millie, were scampering around the dog park and Luke's dog, Max stole Millie's ball! That chance encounter was the start of a beautiful love story. April + Luke were married in Over-the-Rhine at The Transept, a former gothic church, whose long windows allow natural light to stream making for a gorgeous atmosphere. The day was captured by Maxim Photo Studio.

How did you and Luke meet?

Luke and I met at Otto Armleder dog park one summer. We are both dog lovers and spent a good amount of time there with our dogs (Max and Millie). His dog stole my dog’s ball and they were chasing each other around the park. What’s funny is that we take our dogs to the park all the time now and they never play with each other. But that one time was all it took for an introduction between myself and Luke.

April Nelson - Nelson-Domet-20170812-132449-web.jpg

Tell us about the proposal.

We were taking our dogs for a walk along the path at the dog park (the same park where we met). It was a beautiful fall day but a little chilly so there weren’t many other people out and about. Luke wanted to stop on a bench to rest, which I thought was a little strange, since we hadn’t walked very far! I thought something was wrong, but then he proposed and it all made sense!

What was your favorite detail?

I loved my flowers so much. When I walked into the room for the first time upon arriving to the venue I remember being so excited at how great the flowers and the centerpieces looked. From the tall centerpieces to the smaller arrangements combined with the lanterns and votive candles, I could not have been more pleased with how everything turned out.

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

The “first look” moment which we did prior to the ceremony sticks out in both of our minds. We had a lot of fun spending that time together before the wedding to take pictures and hang out before the whirlwind of the wedding and reception. Of course, the ceremony itself was so special, and even though we had seen each other before the wedding, it was a different experience to see Luke at the end of the aisle as I approached. It was an amazing feeling!

Did you read any wedding blogs before getting engaged or while you were planning?

I didn’t read too many blogs but I did find the Knot to be helpful, especially the vendor lists and the suggested timeline. Even though I did not do everything according to the timeline it was really helpful to know generally how far out to plan and secure vendors.

Where did you honeymoon?

We went to Hawaii, Honolulu for just a couple of days and then we headed to Maui. It was a great to just relax and enjoy the sunshine and our time with each other. We had a good mix of relaxing by the pool and outdoor activities like hiking and snorkeling.