Kristen & Malachi | A Sentimental Southern Ohio Wedding

Kristen and Malachi’s sentimental southern Ohio wedding day, was the kind of celebration that reminds you why weddings are so meaningful. From the moment I arrived at Kristen’s parents’ home, where she spent her final morning before stepping into marriage and moving into her new home, it was clear how much heart had gone into every detail. Kristen was truly one of the sweetest, most considerate brides I’ve had the joy of working with. She put full trust in me, and it made documenting her day an absolute dream.

Getting Ready

We began with getting ready moments and detail shots at the house—always one of my favorite parts of the day. The intimacy of being in their home added so much depth to the morning. Her first look with her dad? Absolutely tear-jerking. Even before it happened, her dad admitted he knew he’d cry. And sure enough, the moment was full of emotion and love.

Ceremony

After wrapping up portraits with the bridesmaids, we made our way to the church for the ceremony. Kristen surprised Malachi by singing a song before walking down the aisle, and it was such a tender, personal touch. Later in the ceremony, one of her bridesmaids read a heartfelt letter from Kristen to her dad—cue the tears once again. The entire ceremony was so thoughtfully planned, filled with moments that reflected who they are and the people they love.

Bridal Party Portraits

Once the “I do’s” were sealed, we headed to the courthouse for bridal party portraits. Let me just say – give me a fun bridal party any day! This group brought the energy, the laughs, and was game for any creative shenanigans I threw their way.

Reception

The celebration continued back at the church for a reception filled with joy, laughter, and all the little touches that make a wedding feel like you. One of the highlights was the classic shoe game. The shoe game is a fun reception tradition where the bride and groom sit back-to-back, each holding one of their own shoes and one of their partner’s. A host asks a series of questions like “Who’s the better driver?” or “Who said ‘I love you’ first?” and they each raise the shoe of the person they think fits the answer best. It’s always a fun way for guests to get to know the couple better—and often leads to some hilarious moments!

For their send-off, Kristen and Malachi opted for clear balloons instead of sparklers. This is something I don’t see often, and it was so cute and unique!

Bride & Groom Portraits

Before the night ended, we made a final stop back at the courthouse to capture their bride and groom portraits. This time with a super fun Mustang car. I love when couples are down for anything, and Kristen and Malachi were all in.

Kristen and Malachi, thank you for trusting me to capture the heart and joy of your wedding day. Your kindness, connection, and thoughtfulness made this day one I won’t soon forget.

Scroll through some of my favorite images below from Kristen and Malachi’s sentimental southern Ohio wedding day! And if you’re looking for a photographer to document your own wedding day, I’d love to hear from you. You can get in touch here!

Vendors:

Venue: Faith Apostolic, Chillicothe, OH
Florist: Charley’s Flowers
Groom/Groomsmen Suits: The Mens Shop Chillicothe, OH
Cake: Coffey Cakes by Liz Coffey
Catering: Bell Farms