Mary and Zach | Laurel Court | Cincinnati Wedding

Zach and Mary - Laurel Court - Samantha Joy Events - Laurel Court Fountain.jpg

As far as venues go, Laurel Court in Cincinnati is a showstopper. Built in 1902, its grand gardens and main house are reminiscent of Versailles France. And walking through the estate, you feel like you are transported to the European countryside. It was the perfect location for Zach and Mary’s June wedding.

Zach and Mary were such a fun couple to work with. You know those couples that just seem to fit together? That is Zach and Mary. The perfect compliment to each other. And their love has captured the hearts of their friends and family - everyone was so excited to celebrate their big day! It was a great reminder of why I do what I do. I love helping couples celebrate when they find their perfect life partner.

Laurel Court has a lot of space to work with and we took advantage when planning Zach and Mary’s wedding. The ceremony took place outside in the garden in front of a beautiful white fountain. They opted to not see each other before the ceremony and when Zach teared up at the site of Mary walking down the aisle - I don’t think anyone could keep it together.

Summer weather in the midwest is never dull. True to form, a late afternoon thunderstorm popped up. Luckily the ceremony wrapped just in time. We were able to shuffle guests into the main house for cocktail hour before the downpour began. Once the rain had passed, we moved everyone out under the grand sailcloth tent for the outdoor reception.

One of my favorite design aspects of this wedding were the tablescapes. This look was all about the details. By paying close attention to each element, we created something that made guests take notice. Garlands of greenery were laid down the middle of long tables and then carefully arranged with a mixture of white and pink roses to add a small pop of color. Tall brass candleholders added some height and visual interest. The place settings consisted of a simple white plate with a gold rim accent. We added a white folded napkin which held the buffet menu designed by Mary. On top of the napkin was a unique place card - a small wooden cut out of the guests name. Romantic and simple, we loved everything about this design.

Zach and Mary - Laurel Court - Samantha Joy Events - Sailcloth Tent Reception.jpg

I also loved that Zach and Mary got creative with their food choices. They worked with a couple of different caterers to create a buffet of bbq, pizza, salad, and charcuterie. This meant a bit more logistical juggling, but allowed them to really personalize the menu and make it their own. I believe that your wedding day is about telling your unique love story. Each element is a part of that from invitations to food. I loved that Zach and Mary totally bought into that idea and the results were amazing.

Check out Mary and Zach’s Engagement session.