Wedding Spotlight | Libby + Brendan

How was your personal style reflected in your wedding day?

We kept coming back to a “modern elegance” vibe. We like to keep it simple and focus on the details that really matter to us. The style definitely continued to evolved throughout the planning process.

Modern Elegant Cincinnati wedding at The Center. Photo Nathan Peel Photography

Libby + Brendan's summer wedding was all modern elegance. Libby and her bridesmaids carried hand tied bouquets of calla, also known as trumpet lilies, whose graceful white blossoms are natural wonders.

Vows were exchanged in the Chapel at The Summit Country Day School and guests gathered at The Center for a modern reception with a minimal palette. White hydrangea and roses graced the tables in tall, smooth vases. Nathan Peel Photography captured the day.

How did you and Brendan meet? What was your first impression of him? What was his first impression of you?

Brendan and I met in college at Fordham University in New York. Our paths first crossed at a late-night pizza joint...however, we more “officially” became friends when we took a class together. We maintained a really close friendship throughout college, though we never actually dated. We began dating after Brendan moved to Chicago, which eventually led me to move there from New York.

Tell us about the proposal.

Brendan suggested we order sushi from a place we’d been wanting to try. I picked him up from work and went to stop by my apartment before picking up our dinner together. When we walked into the apartment, all of the lights were off. Candles lit on the porch drew me toward the french doors that were swung open. After Brendan dropped his backpack right inside the door, I began to realize what it was all for! Brendan picked up the ring box and dropped to his knee. With champagne flowing, we tearfully called our family and friends and celebrated through the weekend!

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

First and foremost, we decided on The Center because it could fit all of our aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends! We wanted a large enough space where everyone could fit in one room, without it feeling like a grand ballroom. We also loved that The Center was a blank canvas. We could make it our own.

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

Everyone told us over and over again that the #1 takeaway from a wedding is how your guests feel. We couldn’t fully understand what that meant until we experienced it ourselves. When it all boils down, we planned this wedding because we want to be married to each other! At the end of the day, we may not remember all of the aesthetic details, but we will always remember the love we felt and we hope our guests do too. We still feel incredibly blessed to have been surrounded by our closest family and friends on our most important day.

What was your favorite detail?

Truly, my favorite detail was designing our stationery goods! From the save-the-date, to the program, to the menu and escort card, and, of course, the invitation...I loved every minute working with Kristen. I looked forward to every meeting and felt so confident that she understood what we wanted (even when I wasn’t sure myself!) from start to finish!

Escort cards for modern, elegant Cincinnati wedding at The Center. Photo Nathan Peel Photography

Cocktails signage for Modern Elegant Cincinnati wedding at The Center. Photo Nathan Peel Photography

Tell us about finding your dress.

Finding the dress was a really special experience! My mom, Karen, and Matron of Honor, Holly, came with me to Hyde Park Bridal. Coincidentally, it was exactly two years to the day after we were there to say “yes” to Holly’s dress! I showed Madison at Hyde Park Bridal one photo for inspiration and she began pulling dress after dress. Simultaneously, I began to feel more and more nervous... I can be very indecisive, so I was afraid I would try on hundreds of dresses and still not know. However, as soon as I put on the very first dress, we all loved it! I tried on a few more just to be sure. But I threw on a long, chapel-length veil with the first dress again and it was a done deal!

Where did you honeymoon?

We went to Greece for our honeymoon. We stayed in Oia, Santorini and absolutely loved watching the sunsets every night. Next, we went to a beachier island called Milos where we did a little more adventuring.

Thank you so much, Libby + Brendan, for sharing your beautiful wedding with us! All the best to you both in your new life together!