Last time I saw Nick and Rachel, it was on the L- Train in Chicago. We had spent the day playing in the street of Chicago shooting their engagement session! Now, it was Akron, Ohio, and time for their wedding at the amazing Stan Hywet Mansion. These photo’s speak for themselves about the class and elegance of this wedding.
.jpg "Nick Rachel Wedding Blog-0012")
Stan Hywet Hall in Akron, Ohio is a National Historic Landmark. The 65-room Tudor-style mansion was built in 1912 by Goodyear Rubber Company founder, F.A. Seiberling and his wife Gertrude. Today, the gracious mansion and elaborate gardens are open to the public. The site also hosts a variety of special events throughout the year. Stan Hywet is named for the Old English words for “hewn stone,” not a person as commonly believed. The 65-room Tudor Revival mansion was designed by Cleveland architect, Charles Sumner Schneider after several mansions in Britain. The manor house took four years to complete at a cost of $150,000.
.jpg "Goodyear Mansion 2 copy")
The ceremony was held at the well house, which is at the end of a magnificent 150 yard birch row and truly spectacular for weddings. The long dramatic decent keeps the guest in anticipation of the bride and wedding party. Outdoor weddings are magical because they capture all the beauty of nature as a cathedral in itself.
.jpg "ceremony details2")
The cocktail hour was held just outside the reception area called, “the well.” Here are a few captured by my assistant Ben.
The hundred year old english garden is the real gem of the property. This is the best view, walking through the long, dark corridor that reveals this gorgeous space.
I love the warmth of the orange light in this space. Rachel hired Event- Lights for the reception. Custom lighting can totally transform an ordinary venue into the extraordinary!
Formal exit, many clients forget this traditional method to exit your party! It’s such a great way to finish your night and say goodbye to your guests. It makes a great photo opportunity too. Rachel did the sparkler exit and some quick advice, you want to use the JUMBO sparklers as seen here, regular sparklers burn out too quick. Special thank you to Nick and Rachel for bringing to Chicago and Akron to capture these magical moments.
Vendors:
Venue: Akron, Oh Stan Hywet Hall
Lighting: Canton, Oh Event Lighting
Catering: Acme Fresh Northeast Ohio
Band: Scott Jazz Quartet
A little side note: You might remember I pointed out in their engagement post that Nick is a Cowboys fan, well his Dad made a cute little sign for me at the wedding…..HA HA, I Love it!
Jaime - Breathtakingly beautiful!
Jessie - Joey, that first picture is absolutely breathtaking! I think it should be in a magazine somewhere
admin - Yeah, its my fav from the day!!!
Rachel (the bride) - Joey! These look amazing! I thought the wedding turned out to be beautiful but these pictures are beyond that, they are truly magical. I’m so glad to have these wonderful memories preserved in the amazing images you produced. Nick and I had so much fun with you both in Chicago and Akron. We felt completely comfortable with you, and it may sound strange, but the intimacy you sought to capture in your pictures drew us closer together as a couple during the shoots. Thank you. Please come visit us in Chicago any time.
Potential Clients: If you are considering booking Joey, do it NOW! We loved all our vendors, but Joey was someone we wouldn’t trade for anybody. He was easy to get along with, fun to shoot with, easy to communicate with, and produced amazing images of our most special moments. He was affirming during the shoots, which made us calm and I’m sure produced more natural images. And he gave us tons of helpful direction with setting up and how to pose, etc. I’ve heard horror stories from friends about their wedding photographers so do yourself a favor and book Joey. I promise you will not regret it. Feel free to ask Joey for my contact info if you want me to answer any questions about our experience, but if you can’t tell, we have been thrilled every step of the way!
Mother of the bride - Joey, these are totally amazing! Thank you for capturing my daughter’s wedding so perfectly. Not only are you talented but you were so fun! I can’t wait to see the rest and I can’t wait to hire you again when my other daughter gets married.
admin - Im So flattered and honored at the same time by feedback and comments like these! WOW! This is why I do the work, and pour everything into it. I love making people this excited!!! Thank you so much Rachel, I will plan a visit back to Chicago, maybe even this year? We have to catch a game at Wrigley Field.
Mrs. Neftzer, I would love to work for your family again, everyone was extremely kind to us! THANK YOU!
Jamie - These images are some of my personal favorites that you’ve taken, Joey! This location couldn’t have been better shot by anyone else, I truly believe that.
Jamie Gainer
Lisa Seiberling - Howdy! My name is lisa seiberling. Frank Seiberling was my Great- uncle. I’m too young(43HAHA!) to have ever met uncle frank since he passed away before I was born.I just wanted to tell you how wonderful I think your pictures are! NICE!! ( I hope that I can get married there too, someday soon!) My boyfriend is a procrastinator though! Ohwell! Anyway, I was just loooking around on this crazy computer for info to buy a painting of the mansion, but I can’t remember the name of the artist who does them. My parents have one & I suppose I’ll just have to call & ask them who she is! (It’s a woman who does them & she always paints a dog in the yard of her pics of the mansion. Anyway, congratulations to you both! I envy you, because I want to get married there as well!! SOMEDAY!! (Maybe if I lie a little & tell him the mansions going to be inherited to me someday!) HA! Yeah, right! OH< also, if you happen to think of the name of that artist & if you have time, could you write me back & tell me?? THANK YOU, LISA SEIBERLING
admin - Hi Lisa! Thanks for your comment! I didnt get to use the inside of the mansion because of another wedding being held at the same time. So I didnt see the painting your speaking of, but if you get married there, give me a call!!!
Evelyn Katsourakis - The sparklers exit is phenomenal! But my favorite part of this wedding is definitely the P*nguins Suck and Ste*lers Suck signs! Bravo!
Kobee - may I ask which month was this wedding in? thank you
admin - Hi Kobee! It july…
Stacy Squires Photography - great timeless photos