Sweet Wedding to Private Backyard Wedding Reception at Family House

Not too big and not too small, everything about this wedding day was the perfect size. From the bride getting ready in the quaint church parsonage to a reduced wedding party–everything fit just right. I feel that the smaller the wedding event, the more I’m able to document the sweetest and most tender moments. I’m grateful to have captured many of these instances starting with an intimate church wedding and closing at a backyard wedding reception.

couple walks with wedding party in forest

couple eats wedding cake together at backyard wedding reception

couple embraces under neon wedding name light

Spots that Showcase What’s Meaningful to You

groom carries bride's wedding dress train in field

On your wedding day, it’s OK to move slowly. As we move through your wedding event timeline it’s easy to feel rushed. The day can pass by in a flash and there are moments that you may even miss fully experiencing. As your Ohio wedding photographer, I’m here to help prevent that!

grandparents cry during wedding ceremony

One of my favorite ways to add to the slowness is through the inclusion of vintage Polaroids in your wedding photography package. These photos weave a slowness and tenderness into the day in a way that only analog photos can! I love capturing instances where I can disappear into the background. This allows me the ability to witness special touches such as Cassandra’s aunt doing the bride’s hair during the getting-ready portion of the day.

couple exchanges vows during church wedding ceremony

That’s why it’s also important to carefully select the intimate wedding locations that are most meaningful to the two of you. Matthew and Cassandra split their day into three parts starting with an intimate church wedding ceremony. It was a small country church in Butler, Ohio that had lovely windows, darling pews and a dated but vintage aesthetic. The simplicity matched the entire mood of the couple’s day.

couple exchanges vows in church surrounded by wedding party

From Portraits in the Outdoors to A Backyard Wedding Reception

couple poses with wedding party in forest

Showcasing their great enjoyment of the outdoors, we took Matthew and Cassandra along with their wedding party for wedding portraits at the nearby Gatton Rocks. This was my favorite of the day’s locations, a wooded spot along the Clear Fork River between Bellville and Butler, Ohio. Many congregate here to enjoy the stunning rock formations along the creek that is great for jumping off of rocks, swimming and tanning.

couple dances together at backyard wedding reception

guests walk around at backyard wedding reception

Following these outdoor wedding adventures, we captured sunset bridal portraits along the grounds of their backyard wedding reception location. This backyard wedding venue was actually Cassandra’s grandparent’s working horse farm. A patio adjacent to the barn (that her grandpa built himself) was able to host their 150 friends and family present.

couple poses with guests at backyard wedding reception

guests sit at tables under tent at backyard wedding reception

Choosing the farm highlighted the bride’s family heritage of being horse riders. During the couple’s bridal photography session the horses tried to steal the show! I rode horses growing up and seeing these beauties made me miss it more than I can say! Once I knew that a working horse farm was part of Cassandra and Matthew’s wedding day timeline, it made me grow in anticipation of this sweet time.

I just can’t get over this spot, this couple, those horses and the overall sweetness of the entire day. The grandparents’ farm was such an intimate setting and the inclusion of the horses made the photos beyond stunning. It was just an additional bonus that hosting their reception there saved on wedding costs too. It’s a location that would be sought after as an actual Ohio wedding venue.