The Equestrian Dayton | Dayton Ohio Wedding Planner | Stephanie & Tim

Stephanie and Tim’s wedding at The Equestrian in Dayton, Ohio was so perfectly and uniquely them! I walked away from their wedding knowing we designed an event that they loved, and that is the best feeling as a wedding planner.

From the moment we started talking design with Stephanie and Tim, they knew they wanted to incorporate a little Derby-style into their wedding day. The Equestrian was the perfect venue for that vision. Just outside the Dayton city limits, The Equestrian sits amongst rolling green pastures and has an elite horse training facility onsite. We couldn’t have found a better place for their Derby inspired wedding.

Sticking with our natural and fun Derby garden wedding idea, we set up their ceremony in a small wooded area on the grounds of The Equestrian. Stephanie’s Dad made a custom wood cross for the ceremony backdrop and we added a few floral arrangements. That was all that was needed to complete our open-air chapel ceremony.

Cocktail hour was extra special. Guests were able to watch a full horse show as they sipped on signature cocktails and played croquette. The perfect nod to the Derby and definitely not your typical cocktail hour!

For the reception, we chose to do a skeleton tent so we could keep things light and airy. We wanted guests to be able to look up and see the stars as they danced the night away. We kept the color palette neutral but fun with reds, cranberries, and yellows. The tables were set with neutral beige linens, rich florals, and fun colored candles in various brass holders. But my favorite part of the reception? The hanging floral installation over the dance floor. Such a showstopper as it moved in the fall breeze.

I also loved how Stephanie and Tim expressed themselves through their clothing choices. Stephanie had her mother’s dress altered and reworked just for her. It was such a special way to honor her mom and still incorporate her style. And after wearing a veil for the ceremony, she brought in the derby theme by changing to a lace fascinator for the reception. Tim also got in on the reception fun by throwing on a derby hat. It was such a fun addition and many of their guests dressed the part as well.

From start to finish, Stephanie and Tim’s wedding felt like you were attending a classy Derby garden party. But no party is complete without ice cream. We capped off the night with a visit from Rolling Oasis ice cream truck and a sparkler send-off. Definitely a wedding to remember.