Kelly and Mark had an absolutely gorgeous day for their wedding, and with how stormy and gloomy it has been the last few days in Cincinnati, I look back on the beauty of that day with even more fondness.  They truly lucked out!

We had been so excited for their big day which was held at one of our favorite wedding venues, The Bell Event Centre, in Cincinnati.  We love EVERYTHING about that place, from the ambiance, the intimate European church feel, to the amazing architecture….but most of all, the food.  I could do an entire post of how AMAZING the food is there.  YUM!

But let’s go back to the beginning of the day….

I had heard about “THE” shoes that Mark got her when they were at Harrods in London.  When I walked in and saw them, it was love at first sight.  :)

Kelly had a fabulous team of vendors to make her day perfect, one being the talented Nancy of Brideface.

the gorgeous girls!!

While the girls got all prettied up, the boys enjoyed the famous burgers at Zola’s.

Then they headed over to the hotel to get dressed too.  Mark helped his little brother Tray get his tie fixed.  One thing I adore about Mark and Kelly is that they volunteer with the “Big Brothers/Big Sisters” in Cincinnati.  This association is actually how they met, when Mark brought Tray swimming at the YMCA where Kelly worked.  :)

Tray was a very proud jr. best man.

Beautiful dress…

When the incredible Katie Elfer’s delivered the flowers, I fell in love yet again!!! They were STUNNING and she did such a beautiful job.  I couldn’t resist snapping a shot of them right away, as soon as she laid them down.

A surprise under the shoes….

Her girlies help her with her earrings.

B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!!!!!

The boys waiting for us to arrive!

I loved this one of Kelly laughing.

They decided to see each other before hand, and we ran around downtown getting some fun shots.

Then we waited before the ceremony…..

As Kelly gets her veil on, I snapped this when she threw the blusher (the front veil) back.

A proud Papa and his girl.

Is this place stunning or what!!!???!

*LOVE* this!

The weather was brilliant at cocktail hour, and the funk bluegrass band was the perfect touch!

Receptions details were PERFECT!!  Special thanks to Lindsey with Cincy Event Planning!  She did a great job of making sure everything went according to plan.

Very touching toasts….

Each table had their own cake with different filling and they were fantastic!  Cakes done by by Fantasy in Frosting.

First dance as a married couple.

We just adore Kelly and Mark.  We always wonder how we are lucky enough to work with the most wonderful couples in town!!  They are just fantastic, and so incredibly sweet to us.

On a sad note, when they returned from their honeymoon earlier this week, they found that their beloved cat (their baby) had a stroke, and she passed away the next day.  They have had a really tough week.  Seeing their beautiful wedding day, being surrounded by such amazing friends and family- I hope it can cheer them up a little bit.  :(

K+M, thank you for having us.  What an honor it has been to get to know you two, and be a part of the beginning of your lives together.  Brett and I wish you all the happiness in the world!

much love,

jess+brett

My most favorite season of the year begins today.  I just adore everything about fall from the cool crisp air, to the changing leaves.  The colors shift to more deep and rich tones.  It’s this time of year that things seem to slow down, things become more simplified-as this part of the earth goes into it’s temporary sleep.

Fall is our season in the Z house. I start breaking out all of my soup recipes, and we begin making sweet potato pie and peanut butter cookies.  Homemade hot cocoa becomes our nightly treat. Brett chops fire wood, trying to get a good supply for running our wood stove during the winter nights. We take ridiculous amounts of photos in the fall, and I buy more cardigans, vests, boots, and other clothes for the kids than any other time of the year.  I even think they look best in those types of clothes, as silly as that sounds.

Speaking of clothes, I practically go “ga-ga” for fall wardrobes.  My favorite colors are EVERYWHERE!!!  Brown, muted greens, mustard, navy blue, deep purple….I love boots, fitted jackets, scarves and hats…..fall fabrics like velvet, corduroy, and wool.  Ahhhh!  I could go nuts!!  :)

Of everything this fall (and every fall) the thing I look forward to the most is, apple fritters.  They rock my world!  :)  Going to the pumpkin patch and getting warm fresh baked apple fritters is the epitome and culmination of all things good in fall.

A few photos of the boys playing in Tennessee over the weekend, that reminded me of fall approaching….

What are your favorite things about fall?  Please leave us a comment and share what you look forward to.  :)