His Mom started baking MONTHS before the wedding. She baked literally thousands of little cookies, thousands of little homemade reminders of family love. Because family is so important to Lana & Jared and everyone who meets them (myself included) feels like family after a few minutes in their presence. It was the personal touches that made this event so unusual, the Mother-of-the-Groom baking thousands of cookies, the Grandfather-of-the-Bride auctioning off a piece of wedding cake to the highest bidder with the proceeds ($1800!) going to the honeymoon trip. And this wasn’t your typical cake auction. You see, generations of men in Lana’s family are renowned auctioneers! The whole day felt personal and beautiful and lovely. Even the portraits were taken at Lana’s Dad’s family farm. See? Family was everywhere at Lana & Jared’s wedding and when combined with the warmth of their love it made for an absolutely perfect and loving day.
She was such a laid back bride-she was emotional, she was beautiful, but she was relaxed and and lovely to everyone-no bridezillas here!
Lana got ready at the Church, beautiful Saint Barbara’s in Masillon. The flowers were done by the fabulous Amy at Bouquet Studio in NE Ohio.
Badgley Mishka shoes? Check!
Lana was surrounded by her girls from her arrival. Those two in the window light? Her sisters. The bridesmaid’s dresses? Maggie London from Nordstrom.
Adorable flower girls? Check!
Her stunning lace gown was from the collection at Henri’s Cloud Nine in Minerva, Ohio.
The ladies got prettied by the talented stylists at Moda Hair Salon and Spa in Canton, Ohio.
Lana, you are BREATHTAKING!
I loved the way her sisters watched her-with tears of love in their eyes-the whole day…
One of my favorite wedding moments is the first time the Father-of-the-Bride sees his daughter in her dress.
Priceless.
These kids need their own tv show-they were cracking me up all day.
…before we got into the loveliness.
…and there was so. Much. LOVELINESS!
Ok, I’m just putting it out there, but doesn’t Jared look like Alcide from True Blood with that smoulder!? Anybody? Anybody?
We then headed over to the reception at the Executive Event Center in South Canton where I tasted this cake. It was SO DELICIOUS!!! The people at this venue know how to make a cake!
Some of the best wedding speeches I’ve ever heard. I love it when a wedding speech is part roast part love letter…
Remember the Mother-of-the-Groom’s cookies? Gorgeousness. And deliciousness.
I have to make a shout out to my fabulous second shooter, Margaret, for grabbing this one-and for being steady-handed enough to stack the rings so delicately:
The wonderful DJ’s of GsoundZ got the party going…
…and kept the party going! Love these guys!
Thank you, Lana & Jared for making me family for the day, for inviting me into your lives to tell the story of your love!