No, this isn’t a styled shoot. That vision you just saw? A real bride! And that gown? Vera, of course—swoon. And as if that wasn’t enough, this lovely lady tied the knot at the family estate, which just so happens to be the Governor of Ohio’s residence. So keep scrolling to see even more from this deliciously dramatic wedding day, captured in these editorial-style photos by Julia Brown Photo.
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The Venue: The Ohio Governor’s Residence
Abbigail and Michael’s wedding is the definition of a couple taking a traditional concept and making it into something completely new and fresh that represents who they are, with the story of their favorite memories and of their life together woven throughout in so many thoughtful details. The first, most obviously unique element about this day is that it took place at the Ohio Governor’s Residence. The groom is one of the grandchildren of the Governor and First Lady of Ohio, and his grandparents graciously agreed to allow him to marry his now-wife Abby at the Residence. This is only the second wedding to have ever taken place on the 100-year-old property.
the fashion
The bride’s dramatic couture look featured the iconic Vera Wang Mia gown with “I Do” stamped on the train in Vera’s Gothic font, a black velvet sash, and black opera-length Cornelia James gloves. Abby’s veil was also Vera Wang, and she was the first bride to wear this particular veil style. A small detail she and I planned together to tie her ensemble into the event (and as a surprise for the groom, who didn’t know anything about her gown) was custom cocktail napkins that read “I Do” in an almost-identical Gothic font.
the vision: bring on the drama
With the bride’s look making such a statement, Adoration Weddings & Events knew the ceremony design needed to match the drama. A giant white draped backdrop set the scene for the ultimate romantic vibe against the historic home. The couple together have a love for art and for history, but through their wedding planning process they also wanted to create something new that uniquely represented them, and that’s how their gorgeous day came to be—a little history, a little drama, a little avant-garde, and completely elegant and filled to the brim with the joy of two people who are very much in love and who got to watch their wildest dreams of their wedding day come true.
For the flowers, Femme Floràl created organic, moody arrangements that perfectly matched the vibe of the whole affair. The contrast between the deep green and red of the foliage with the bright white of the flowers was *chef’s kiss*.
the details
The couple met while living in New York City, having grown up in Wisconsin and Ohio, and as a nod to the life that they love sharing in the city, in lieu of traditional table numbers, they named their reception tables after their favorite spots in the city.
good drinks and family recipes
Additionally, Abby’s signature cocktail at the bar was The Jam Jar, a take on a favorite summer cocktail at a New York southern restaurant called Jacob’s Pickles. Bacon-wrapped water chestnuts from the bride’s Wisconsin upbringing and the First Lady’s mini ham biscuits made their way onto the cocktail hour appetizer menu. Even the dessert table was personalized to represent the couple, from the bride’s weekly tradition of Sunday morning donuts with her dad to the groom’s favorite lemon cookies from an iconic Cincinnati bakery. The wedding cake, while just a small cutting cake for the couple, was modeled after the Italian Millefoglie style due to Michael’s fond memories of studying abroad in Italy and of traveling there with his mom.
