Cincinnati/Covington Summer Wedding

Good Friday everyone, everyone! Get ready and buckle up! It’s a Hannah kind of wedding with all the beauty and the feels AND THIS GROUP! This is the third wedding I’ve photographed with the Harrison family and my goodness…they like to stack their families when it comes to the grooms. Sounds weird, right? Well, let me explain before we get too far into this wedding. I met the Harrison family back in 2018 when I photographed sister Maddie’s wedding. I got to see them again in 2022 when I photographed sister Caroline’s wedding. NOW, this wedding blog is all about sister Allie…AND Joey…BUT…there was one common denominator at each wedding. Regardless of the groom’s side, I was welcomed with open arms like I knew EVERYONE each time. This wedding was no different…I got to meet Joey’s mom and dad officially at this wedding bright and early that morning and they too welcomed me with open arms just like the Harrison family does each time! You know what that does to me…fills me RIGHT up with all the feels and energy! Let’s talk about it and see it now!

Allie and Joey’s big day is on the wedding blog officially! After much conversation during the booking process, they opted to take me out to Cincinnati, Ohio and Covington, Kentucky for their wedding. It’s the ULTIMATE compliment for a photographer like me and it makes the wedding all the more special (and the pressure is ON, of course). I think I’ve rambled enough and set the stage for how special this wedding was to me SO, please give the new Mr & Mrs. Kappen all your Hannah Barlow Photography love! Their summer wedding from last weekend is on the blog right now! ENJOY!

Lacey and I drove out Friday and it’s a good thing we did. We hit a little bit of traffic, found a super long check in line (where I passed Sam, Caroline, Nate and their little guy, Rowan). We did some location scouting later, had dinner and tucked in early for the big next day! We arrived to Allie’s home and, as I mentioned above, were welcomed like we were members of the family. We said our “hellos” and got right down to business! This was my first wedding this year that wasn’t dusty blue or a shade of green theme so I was super pumped for a fresh color palette this time!

Lacey and I were tag teaming hair/makeup and the men getting ready at the same time! We also got to meet Dan of Poetic Cinema and he was 10/10 amazing and I HIGHLY recommend him to anyone in the Cincinnati/Covington area if you’re in need of wedding video!

This was going to be a traditional Catholic ceremony and you know what that means? Well, it means there isn’t a whole lot of time in the morning. So, even though we went early it still felt like a flurry of activity at this point. I told Lacey “Don’t start without me!” and I know now I was positively stressing her out! She’s a keeper of time JUST like me but we hadddddddd to get all the moments! So, we were up and down…up and down the stairs in Allie’s home…for allllll the things. We did gift opening, getting ready…first looks…you name it! I’ll give you just a little glimpse of that because I have SO much more to show you!

Ooo yea! AND before we left, I saw this happening. Why is this in the blog? WELLLLLLL, because it’s not the first time Allie’s aunt has had to sew one of the sisters into her dress. I kid you NOT! I wasn’t even a bit surprised when I walked out and saw this. I’ll do a side by side at the end of the year. The Wedding Gods really said, “Deja Vu!”! This also happened in 2018!

Off to the church we go! Note reading and first touches were in the works!

Time to get these two married! Per the churches request, I parked myself in the pew in the center of the church which honestly…has become one of our favorite places. Look at this angle! I knew this wedding was going to be emotional for SO many reasons but everyone’s expressions coming down the aisle really got me!

The great (and don’t let other photographers tell you it’s not great) thing about having strict rules at any Catholic Church is that it makes you think outside the box. This isn’t the first time that we have been banned from the center aisle and we’re perfectly fine with that as we like to respect the house that we are photographing in… so instead of putting Lacey in the center aisle like we did last year, we decided to switch it up and put me in the center aisle. I gave her the choice. She wanted to be in charge of another photo request we had to get up front. Talk about pressure…but but BUT look at the glorious groom photos we got of Joey as Allie was walking down the aisle toward him.

This was a full Catholic wedding ceremony complete with mass. We are always super respectful but make extra sure to catch the subtle side eye glances, smiles, and intimate moments with the couples. Shoutout to Lacey for getting that photo of Maddie adjusting Allie’s train. That was one of the only requests this couple gave us and that’s where we made the decision on who would stand where. It’s tricky because we weren’t allowed up front so Lacey played incognito and snapped this right as it happened (bottom left below). This church was BEAUTIFUL, by the way!

Let’s see the dip again! Aomeone pointed out on Facebook how GREAT everyone’s expressions were…and I agree!

After the ceremony, and according to the churches rules, we had 45 minutes to get family photos done. That is more than enough time for me to get all these big family groups completed. HOWEVER, it was at this moment I was told by church staff that we actually had less than 15 minutes. *cue the internal Hannah panic* Somehow I managed to tell the couple but I forgot to tell Lacey and as she was reading people off, I mentioned it to her and she very hastily told me “….but Hannah that’s 12 minutes from now…” and I ignored her and said we got this and we carried on. We laughed about this in the car later. Because her face was FUNNY! What she didn’t know is that we had a plan with a couple that we were going to do the big family groups inside the church and then we were going to have to move everyone else outside. It was my worry that if we moved everyone outside right away it would create chaos and we would lose people…PLUS everyone was already patiently waiting for us at the front of the church. So, let’s do this! Right into family formals…time is of the essence! Would you believe me if I told you this was on a few of what we actually got done in less than 15 minutes? Round of applause for ALL these people!

Outside we went to do immediate family!

The Harrison Family!

The Kappens!

After that…is was back in the car and off to the very stunning location Allie and Joey picked! Somehow, we arrived about 20 minutes earlier than the couple and I was texting them like a mad woman to make sure I was in the right place. Hannah was panicking all over again and I was so worried we’d gone to the wrong place BUT I was in the right place…and the photos are stunning! Bridal party first!

Just a few more (I know…I know…it’s so many photos and words…I can’t help it!)

Sharon, I got your photo ready for you!! If any of you are new here, they are all twins…two sets of twins! Allie’s mom has frames hanging on her wall of the other two weddings and she always matches them up like this. You know I LOVE this stuff!

Allie and Joey were so kind and amany of the “plus 1s” rode on the bus with them! That led to much needed photo ops! They only requested a group shot but I always like to break them down…because…why not?! We’re here and how often does everyone get dressed up?! With the couple’s permission, I’m happy to share these if this is you SO email me at hannah@hannahbarlowphoto.com and I’ll send you a copy!

…and now….for the couple portraits! *CUE.THE.MUSIC* AHHHHH!!!!!

Lacey, Dan (video), and I tag teamed like never before…in the almost 90 degree summer weather!! I kept telling Dan how great he was to work with…it’s true! You know I’m all about singing praises! Feast your eyes on these beauties!

…and some more!

ANDDDDDDD…some more!

I can’t even get over the beauty! OoooOo my goodness me!

So, at this point, we wrapped things up and headed off to the reception in Covington, KY! I could show you their introductions…and welcome speeches…and dinner…and more speeches…and cake smashed in the face AND parent dances…BUT…their first dance deserves all the attention in the world. I have never (and I mean never…that’s a bold but true statement) seen a choreographed dance done this well. I don’t know if Joey has dancing history…but they both looked like professionals out there! I enjoyed every second and overshot this part of the day like never before!

…and just when I thought it was perfect…they got me! I’m used to the “uh oh…the DJ’s music stopped” trick. That’s been happening for years and I can always predict what’s happening. Nope. Not this time. Their dance was so classic and well done…I thought we were done. I thought the music cut out. I even looked over at the DJ (who was too calm for my liking) only to find out THERE WAS MORE! The beat dropped and these two got down…and it got EVEN BETTTERRRRRR!

…AND when it came to the end. The crowd went WILD…and this couple deserved it. I was grinning ear to ear…and so were they!

The reception and open party dancing got right down to business after that. I played paparazzi and followed the couple around while they greeted tables and danced. I was so pumped that I happened to be standing by the cupcake table when Allie noticed them. She told me a coworker of hers made them. They were absolutely perfect and delicious and the mauve color of the icing matched the wedding aesthetic and bridesmaids’ dresses just perfectly. For someone who recently started dabbling in cookie and cupcake decorating, I can tell you the color matching is not easy.

I expected a great party…and we got one! What a way to end the night!

Gosh…this wedding filled me RIGHT up with all the feels. I’d love to go back and redo it all…for real for real! It’s my photographer hopes and dreams I’ll get to see these people, these groups…these families again! It’s always sad when one more is on the books…feels too final! Allie and Joey, I KNOW it was a huge decision (especially in a huge city with lots of photographers) to have me come out there…thank you from the bottom of my heart for this! You two planned an absolutely phenomenal wedding and Lacey and I both had such an amazing time being a part of it!

One more time, CONGRATS TO THE NEW MR. AND MRS. KAPPEN!

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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Ceremony Venue/Church – St. Cecilia Parish in Cincinnati, OH

Reception Venue – The Grand in Covington, KY

Bridal Gown/Designer – Bridal and Formal/Randy Fenoli

Bridesmaids’ Dresses – Azazi

Men’s Attire – Men’s Wearhouse

Hair – Laura Conrad

Makeup – Kara May Scheidt

Hair – Laura Conrad

Florist – Elizabeth Dale Designs

Video – Dan Shallenberger of Poetic Cinema

Cake – Wendy Tobergte

Cupcakes – Julia Hansel (Peanut’s Pastries)

DJ – Steve Bender Entertainment

Catering – McHale’s

Transportation – A Savannah Nite

Stationary – Karen Kappen

Officiant – Fr. Dave Young