The Steam Plant | Vanessa & Zack | Dayton Wedding | Features in the Knot Magazine

Zach and Vanessa first crossed paths during their freshman year at the University of Dayton. Though it would be several years until their first official date, this now Iowa based engineer and teacher were the perfect match their wedding at the Steam Plant in downtown Dayton was a beautiful representation of their story.

Though Zach and Vanessa’s first meeting early in their college careers didn’t result in much more than small talk, their next encounter was more impactful. Vanessa had just started her first year of teaching and Zach was hard at work on his master’s. They happened to run into each other at a bar frequented by UD alumni. While Zach didn’t remember their first meeting (Vanessa remembered him immediately), he knew Vanessa looked familiar and was interested. He asked her out that night, and a few days later they met for yoga and beer. The conversation flowed easily and the two began dating.

Their young relationship was quickly challenged when Zach took a job out of state. After a year of long-distance, Vanessa took the plunge and moved to be closer. They were engaged not long after.

One of the things we work with our couples on is telling their story through every element of our design. The places, people, and experiences that shape a relationship are so important to include. As an event designer, it is my job to take these experiences and knit them together in a way that creates a beautiful and timeless event.

Having the ceremony at Chapel of the Immaculate Conception on the University of Dayton’s campus to a donut bar stocked with treats from the local favorite (Bill’s Donuts) we made sure their love story was front and center in each design decision.

Even their hotel bags represented a part of their relationship. Zach is an Environmental Engineer so we included reusable steel straws and a jute grocery bag. Guests received a fun welcome gift that was environmentally friendly and completely reusable.

One of the other reasons I loved working with Vanessa and Zach is they didn’t shy away from color! We used greens, stonewashed blues, rosy mauves, and golden wheat tones to create a beautiful summertime palette. These earthy tones had a romantic feel that softened and complemented the industrial look of the Steam Plant perfectly.

As we worked through their design, we thought a lot about the seating layout. To add interest to the open Steam Plant space, we mixed both rectangular and round tables. The rectangular hairpin tables were a custom design brought to life by Something Old Dayton. We also created a cozy lounge area by the bar where guests could relax and chat throughout the evening.

Beautiful design should also be functional and we were able to do that with our escort card display. A unique rental piece from Lost and Found Vintage Rentals housed the escort cards and then was quickly transformed into a donut bar after dinner. We strategically placed the piece in the room to break up the space and create more intimate areas for conversation. Truly multi-purpose!

Zack and Vanessa were such a fun couple to work with. Planning a wedding out of state can be a challenge, but they trusted my design vision and let me handle the details. The result was a beautiful wedding they both loved.