Megan + Chris & An Oglebay Wedding

Hello, everyone! Another Friday and ANOTHER WEDDING! Megan and Chris packed their vendor team like no other and I was SO excited for this particular one! Yep! The anticipation was definitely high for me! I’d also met these two in person at my studio…then passed Megan’s parents and sister in the hall at Oglebay last year…THEN met them again at Oglebay’s tasting. So yea…you know how I get when I feel like I know everyone! Lots and lots of Hannah excitement! So, with that being said…it’s another Oglebay Wedding coming at you! My home away from wedding home!

Please give Megan and Chris (the NEW Mr. & Mrs. Jensen) ALL your Hannah Barlow Photography love! Happy Friday and ENJOY!

As we always do, Becca and I met up in Glessner and made our way right to the ladies! Hair and makeup was fully under way and with the help of Megan’s mom and sister (Whitney) we got right down to details. Megan was in the chair so I so appreciated the help getting all the wedding goodies organized!

I am extra pumped about the color that has been infused into this second half of wedding season!

Plans for Perfection always gives me the best timelines AND because we’ve been working together so long, she lets me make adjustments when I need it. BUT with this wedding, I didn’t need to make any adjustments and we had all the time in the world to do groom details which I was super excited about. When Chris and I originally discussed the details when I first entered his room, he said I could just photograph them after he put them on.

But after I saw them…there was no way I was missing out on photographing these babies! Nope! No way!

Then, after making a plan for when I would return, we traveled back to the ladies’ rooms for some more getting ready shots and to get this beautiful bride ready. Then, we were heading back to Chris’s room!

Just kidding! In a flurry of Hannah excitement, I ran out the door and back to Chris’s room only for Megan to call me to remind me that we needed to do a first look with her Dad. It was totally on the timeline and I had totally let it slip my mind (Planner Ashley is going to have my hide!). HA! So, we quickly traveled back to Megan’s room to get these sweet moments. Becca and Justin (Geery Media) were totally sick of me at this point. What do I always say?! FIELD TRIP! Back to Megan’s room!

THEN, we did it “take two” and traveled back to Chris’s room for some of my favorite getting ready photos recently. Chris went all in on the GQ shots!!! Positively nailed it!

Then, it was time for their first look. I haven’t been down to Oglebay’s flower trellis this year. So, it was super exciting! With the help of Ashley (Plans for Perfection mentioned earlier), she got Megan right down to where we needed her to be. Chris, unfortunately, had to hike with us!

If anyone has any questions about whether or not a first look will take away from the emotional moments, please let Megan and Chris’s first look be the reason you may decide to do one. There was no lack of emotions for this first look.

Then, as always, we went right into bride and groom formals while bridal party was being gathered.

What we didn’t know was that we would “lose” the bridal party. It was no fault of their own. They went exactly where they were supposed to go but I had thought they were going to the mansion’s porch. So, after one or two calls to the planner, we figured it out and arranged everyone and got right down to… not bridal party formals… BUT family formals. Megan and Chris elected to bring their family with them to share in the beginning of the day moments so we were able to do family photos prior to the ceremony. And HUGE shout out to everyone because family photos plus bridal party photos before the ceremony does not always work out but it did this time and I’m so appreciative!

Bridal party was next, of course! Another field trip!

We were having a blast!! Chris didn’t stop at the getting portion of the day…he let me give him all the cues and he didn’t miss a beat. Plus, he had the best hype crowd!

Nothing better than some traditional bridal and groom portraits, right?!

And we can NEVER get enough…so more bride and groom formals! Let’s do it!

…and some more!

Swing and trolley photos were on the list of requests so we squeezed those in before we left!

Then, it was time to head back to Oglebay’s Fort Henry room for the ceremony. I’m going to be honest, the Fort Henry room has not always been my favorite for wedding ceremonies but it’s quickly becoming one now because these couples are hitting it out of the park of decorating this room so amazing. I haven’t seen it look so beautiful as it has lately! ANDDDDDD the monogram on the TVs is just BRILLIANT!

Ceremony was officiated by Dawn and I was SO excited to see her! It’s been a while!

We did some extended family photos that we still needed to complete. I snapped some photos of the couple with their newspaper and then it was off to Oglebay’s Glessner auditorium for some reception detail photos!

The good news is…I didn’t lose any years off my life for this photo this time!!! If you know the story or listen to the podcast, you know getting this photo right in the moment can be stressful. DJ Brian Oliver suggested we do a “just in case” photo during their first look and not only did we get THAT one…we (both Becca and I) also got the real one live!

The couple had their first dance and then cut their cake.

And then it was time for speeches. I hear a lot of speeches and many of them are long but these people really nailed it with theirs. They kept them short while not being too short while also being sweet. So, shout out to everyone for a great bunch of speeches (and the blessing)!

We did not table race. Hallelujah! I’m a tired photographer…HA! We did do a group photo though!

I know…I know…I’m out of order but I have a story to tell! We had just sat down for dinner and I looked outside and saw how cloudy it had become. One of the things Megan and Chris asked for was golden hour photos with her jean jacket. I had checked my watch to see when sunset was going to be and I had been prepared for these photos but it appeared the clouds had other ideas and we may have been too late. Nonetheless, I am always one to keep my promises and at least give it a try. Justin and I went back-and-forth about whether or not we should interrupt the couple’s dinner and take them outside now… Or later. I was afraid if we waited too much longer it would be really dark. Justin agreed. The couple had just sat down for dinner. And I mean JUST sat down and took their first bite. So, I did what Hannah always does and I went and I talked to them and gave them their options. These two did not even miss a beat and while I felt bad that their food was sitting there probably getting cold, we promised them it would only take five minutes. And boy oh boy am I glad that we went outside!!! Because while you couldn’t see it with your eyes (it was really dark), my camera could still see the light! PRAISE technology!

And the golden hour photos happened just like the couple had wanted!!! WOOOO!!!

Whewwwww!!! After parents dances…all the “important” things were done on my end. Let’s party! BUT FIRST…Megan had a birthday surprise for her mom!

OK! NOW…let’s party! DJ Brian Oliver got right down to it like he always does!

…and RIGHT as we were packing up…I heard the limbo song start and no kidding…they started to limbo! I haven’t seen this in YEARSSSSSS. One of the guests earlier in the night had told me he was going to do it…but it hadn’t happened and you better believe I put my camera back together and ran out there! No way was I missing this! NOPE!

AND THAT…was the perfect energy to end our evening. Megan and Chris were a couple I felt like I really got to know well. I felt like I was on a friendship level with them and that always makes the wedding so much sweeter for me. Additionally, I knew some of their family and they hired a great vendor team and I went into this wedding day with no nerves and no worries at all. No matter what happened, between the couple, their family and friends that I had met, and the vendors…I knew we could make this day amazing and I feel like it was just that! I sure hope the couple felt it too and so SO much more and I hope it was everything they ever wanted for their wedding day…and MORE! Now…I’m rambling! OK! That’s a wrap!

CONGRATS TO THE JENSENS!

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Disclaimer: Hannah Barlow Photography blogs only represent a small portion of photos the couple actually receives in their private gallery.  The blogs are meant to highlight favorite photos and favorite moments of the wedding day and do not represent an entire gallery.

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Vendors

Venue: Oglebay

Private Coordinator – Plans For Perfection

Bridal Gown – Elysee & Salon from Bridal Beginning

Bridesmaids’ Gowns – Sorelle Bridal Salon

Men’s Attire – Top Hat Tuxedo

Hair/Makeup – Luxe Hair Salon

Florist – Masterpieces of Old Town

Video/Film – Justin Geery Films

Cake – Masterpieces of Old Town

Cookies – Oakmont Bakery (And the Groom Mr. Chris Jensen0

DJ – DJ Brian Oliver

Catering – Oglebay

Transportation – Queen of the Valley

Invitations – RSQP

Officiant – Eternal Bliss Marriages – Dawn Scott

Photo Booth – Pgh Poses

Marquee Letters by Fully Lit. Co