Dayton Weddings | Echo by Design | Wedding + Portrait Photography

..Chris + Lilly | A Wedding of Two Beloved..

After the morning preparation and one holy crap I’m getting married cry, both Lilly + Chris were dressed and ready to see each other. Standing at the top of the aisle where they would become husband and wife, they met in exploded excitement. She walked up the aisle as his hands rubbed together, ready to see her. I squealed and whispered, she is coming!! He could barely contain his excitement, and resisted the urge to spin on his heels to greet his bride. She came up right behind him and tapped him on the shoulder, his eyes lit up, and he couldn’t have turned around fast enough. He kissed her, hugged her, and then kissed her again. Oh, how happy he was to see her. Their moments of joy unfolding.

They had their time together. Just a right amount of time to have their butterflies settled. Shortly after, they were both tucked away and the nerves of the morning had completely dissipated.

The pews were packed on either side, standing room only. The brides father went up and down the rows, greeting everyone that had come out, while the organist set the mood. There was a low chatter as everyone awaited the ceremony’s beginning. The pastor led Chris to the altar as the procession began. The girls made there way down the aisle and then the doors closed, preparing Chris for his gift wrapped in white. Even though he had already seen her, it didn’t take away from this moment. This moment that was actually about to happen. The moment where his beloved Lilly was about to become his wife.

The music crescendoed and the doors came swinging open to Lilly and her father, Gary. Tears welled up in both of their eyes as she made her descent down the long aisle towards her husband-to-be. How happy they both were! They met with smiles, and tears, and all of the emotions in the in-between. But Gary kept things light and whispered to Lilly, and then back to Chris, and then okayed giving Lilly away. They laughed, and the ceremony, just like that was underway.

Once these two sweet people were finally pronounced as husband and wife, they enjoyed their afternoon. They enjoyed their balloon release, a champagne toast on their limo bus, and our portrait session. Thankfully the morning rain had cleared out of the area. A bit brisk, but we had fun and we finished up fast so they could enjoy the limo!

The evening that awaited them was filled with plenty of spirit, pride, laughter, and dancing. Lots of dancing. It was filled with tears and smiles during the introductions, toasts, and dinner. It was filled with happiness, one that couldn’t be replaced. A celebration of two hearts being united as one. It just couldn’t be replaced.

Chris + Lilly, what a fabulous celebration you had. Surrounded by so much family and so many friends. I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to celebrate alongside you. To witness your love alongside you. What a couple you make, and I only wish you all of the absolute best of blessings in the years to come. Thank you for letting me be a part of your day and I pray that the memories of this day are never forgotten.

..JOY UNFOLDING..

love, echo

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echoes of love

..Matt + Ami | Parents-To-Be in Wonder..

As uncommon as it is to not find out the gender of your unborn baby, the more and more couple’s I’ve photographed that don’t know. I have to say, I like it! Not only because we chose to keep Eli and our 5 month in utero baby’s gender a secret till birth, but because of the element of surprise. I’ve never been one for knowing there is a surprise and then not knowing the surprise itself. It makes me anxious. But this, this is a whole different part of anxious. For Matt + Ami {whose wedding I photographed almost 3 years ago,} they have that same anxious spirit. One of excitement and wonder.

When Matt shared what he was most excited about he stated, Just being a father and all the joys {and hardships} that come along with it. Learning to grow more as a person and to help raise Baby Mo. {Which is the loving nickname that they have given the sweet babe.} For Ami, because Baby Mo is a surprise, she says, I can’t wait to finally get to know if we have a Moses or Moe-esha. To hold him/her, and see the new creation that God made through Matt and me. To see his or her face, hands, and feet, and his/her squirmy little body.

At 32 weeks, Ami has been feeling great! In the same sentiment as me she wishes she could take more naps. {I had to laugh, because all pregnant women can agree that we could all use more of these!} She went on to say, Everyone around me knows that I have been pregnant for awhile and they see that I am getting big. I’m not real sure where the baby is going to go as it gets bigger, but pretty soon there might not be any room left at the inn.

Above all, Matt + Ami have been praying for this babe, praying about the future and what it has to hold for Baby Mo. I’m excited to start this next chapter of our lives and hopefully our baby will make a difference in society. I want to help support whatever hopes and dreams he/she has. While Ami wholeheartedly agrees with Matt, she practically wrote this baby a love letter and I just want you to read. And maybe cry. A little.

Babies are such miracles. Knit together with such delicacy. It is ABSOULTELY a God thing to think that 1 cell morphs into a baby in such a short time. There is no mistake, accident, or luck there. God is the artist that puts this all together. I just get to be the one entrusted to keeping his work warm and fed.

Psalms 139:

For You shaped me, inside and out.
You knitted me together in my mother’s womb long before I took my first breath.
¹⁴I will offer You my grateful heart, for I am Your unique creation, filled with wonder and awe.
You have approached even the smallest details with excellence;
Your works are wonderful;
I carry this knowledge deep within my soul.
¹⁵ You see all things; nothing about me was hidden from You
As I took shape in secret,
carefully crafted in the heart of the earth before I was born from its womb.
¹⁶You see all things;
You saw me growing, changing in my mother’s womb;
Every detail of my life was already written in Your book;
You established the length of my life before I ever tasted the sweetness of it.
¹⁷Your thoughts and plans are treasures to me, O God! I cherish each and every one of them!
How grand in scope! How many in number!
¹⁸If I could count each one of them, they would be more than all the grains of sand on earth. Their number is inconceivable!
Even when I wake up, I am still near to You

As I write this, I write it with so much love, that I can’t explain for a baby who I can only feel right now. And it makes me thinks of how great God’s love is. That long before I was born, HE had a plan. A plan to move me to Zanesville, find the love of my life, and begin a family. His plans are always perfect. In that plan he sacrificed his own Son, so that my baby {knowing that someday Mo will sin} could be saved. What a wonderful Father! What an awesome, loving God!

In the last 7 days, we have had 3 couples be blessed with babies around us. That has put a lot of perspective around this belly of mine. It’s hard for me to imagine that “THAT” {a baby} is in “THERE” {my belly}. There is really a baby in there squirming and moving around and soon he or she will be here. HOLY COW!

I hope that our baby has his/her father’s green eyes, and his determination and will power. That he or she will know Jesus as their friend, and that he or she will make a difference in this world due to His love. I pray that the baby finds love like his/her parents. And hopefully has more patience than his/her mother.

The coin box pictured here at right used to sit in Matt’s nursery! Love special things like this.

Matt + Ami! Almost three years ago, I photographed your wedding. Three months pregnant with Eli at the time, I knew that God had something great for you both. He has intended a strong marriage, one that was made of only the tightest three cords he could find. Never did a doubt in my mind that this day would come. I have been so blessed to capture you both again and I am even more excited and anxious to meet Baby Mo after his OR her debut. Congratulations to you both again, such a sweet, sweet blessing!

..A WONDER..

love, echo

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echoes of love

..Ben + Jenelle | One Year Later..

It’s not very often that I get the chance to photograph a bride + groom in their wedding attire twice, but for Ben + Jenelle, I was more than obliged. Their wedding took place on October 19th, 2012 in the pouring down rain. The rain showed up early, stayed late, and as unwelcoming as it was to me, Jenelle looked at the bright side and saw it as all the good luck they could ever need. As willing as they would have both been to jump head first into the rain drops that day for photos, their evening ceremony left us with no light and only church photos.

So along with my own selfish wants of really photographing them this time, Jenelle + Ben decided to get in front of my camera again a year later. I asked why, and being a guy, Ben hysterically wrote, Because Jenelle wanted to do it! {Thanks Ben!} Jenelle in the same want as myself said, I wanted to make sure we would have memories to last a lifetime, after the whirlwind that is the wedding day!

Can I just say that above the rain, the wind, and the darkness that won on their wedding day, that none of that won in their first year of marriage. Although a trying time in Jenelle’s career path, their marriage was never shaken. Never taken for granted. And never uprooted. That isn’t to say that there were never hard days or that tears weren’t shed. Jenelle had plenty of those when she felt that she couldn’t provide for her family, or rely on her job to support them 100%. Ben agreed that this was their toughest challenge saying, Having Jenelle work in a horrible job with limited and unreliable income, all the while as she searched for a new and better one.

Knowing that God would pull through for them, there were better days ahead and Jenelle can shout at the top of her lungs that her favorite moment in their first year of marriage it when she received her new job. They would have to move and not for one second did Ben hesitate! Jenelle shared, He has shown such a great deal of support for me that he didn’t think twice about uprooting himself and moving an hour and a half away! I know that feeling all too well, and it feels good to be supportive and feel supported. What a fight that you were able to fight together and as one unit!

Above the celebration of their move, Jenelle’s new job, and one year of marriage down they are very thrilled to be headed into their second. On our first anniversary I took some time to think back onto our first year, and I realized that I had expected it to be this huge life change, all weird and crazy, and I felt bad because I didn’t feel weird or crazy. Then it occurred to me that it didn’t feel weird and crazy because being married to my best friend was and is simply the most natural thing in the world. Ben concurred, Being married to and living with Jenelle has felt very natural. Here’s to that trend continuing. Amen to that!! Many blessings and years to you both!

Ben + Jenelle! Happy One Year Anniversary!! Happy Move! Happy New Job!! So many things that you have overcame, yet I’m sure there is yet to be plenty more!! I was so pleased to have had the opportunity to photograph your true love again. Such a time is this to remember, reflect, and create memories that are new, exciting, and to have for all time. Thank you again and I look forward to many more times in the future!

..CONTINUING TREND..

love, echo

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echoes of love

..Kyle + Andrea | A Lyman Harbor Celebration..

Kyle + Andrea made their way back from their ride over Lake Erie, and they were all smiles!! They had been beaming during the ceremony from ear to ear amongst a few happy tears, but it was finally official. She was his, and he was hers. It could’t have been more perfect.

While cocktail hour began inside amongst the beautifully laid ..Lyman Harbor.., guests were greeted by navy and lime dressed tables. Sweet doilies of every shape and size spread across the table, adorned by tall hydrangea arrangements. At each place setting sat a set of buckeye treats, definitely a favorite by all.

Outside, while the warm sun had shown it’s face during the ceremony, it had slipped under the clouds. With that, a little bit of the warmth went with it. Surprisingly it wasn’t too chilly quite yet and we were able to finish up the bridal party portraits pretty quickly. Everyone was having a blast and they were making it really fun. They knew the party was just getting started!

With the Lake Erie wind beginning to pick up a little, I sent the bridal party on in for the rest of cocktail hour. Kyle + Andrea’s time together so far had been in the midst of everyone else. But now, it was just the two of them. The two of them that forgot that Nicole and I were even there. Their arms just fit around each other like a glove. Two puzzle pieces that were a perfect fit. They couldn’t help but snuggle. To hold each other super close. That’s the way they wanted to remember the day for the rest of their lives.

And then I remembered that morning, while I was photographing their rings, that there had been engravings on each. Neither knew what the inside of their ring said. So I asked if they wanted to read them there on the dock. They were ecstatic to see what the other had wrote. On the inside of Andrea’s ring, Kyle wrote, Trust in Love. To trust in him and to trust in the love that he had to give her. Kyle’s ring had the excerpt, To be my Always. Andrea wanted to remind Kyle that she was going to be there for him to the end. To be there always. She wanted to be nothing but his, always. In that moment as they read their inscriptions, a grin crept across both of their faces. One that couldn’t be denied, along with their vows they wanted to uphold those words and promises for each other. Something that was special to them.

We swept them off into their party shortly afterwards, where their siblings toasted to their forever. The rest of the evening they shared cake and the dances they will never forget. A bittersweet time as each particle of a moment was written into their memory. Forever. Soon after the dance floor opened up, it didn’t take long for the celebration to commence. Each family danced off, drinks were to be had, and plenty of treats were strewn for everyone to enjoy. It was a memorable night indeed.

Kyle + Andrea, and your families, I was so blessed to have spent the day with a couple that is well loved and knows how to love! To prove that the beginning of your marriage is backed by people who believe the same is something to cherish and be thankful for! I pray blessings and happiness over many, many years of marriage to the both of you! Remember this day, the feelings, and everything that it stands for and that your trusting each other in the good times and yes, even the bad! Be each other’s always, and deny anything that begins to wedge into that! So happy for you guys and congratulations to you both and the people you call family and friends!

..BE EACH OTHERS ALWAYS..

love, echo

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echoes of love

..Kyle + Andrea | They ‘Tied the Knot’..

I received a message from Andrea bright and early on Saturday morning. They were up and starting their hair and makeup {and she couldn’t wait to see me!!} Looking outside and judging by the rays of sunshine pouring in the window, it was going to be a gorgeous day! Just a few hours later when I entered into her hotel suite, I found a bunch of gorgeous ladies and one happy as can be bride!! We were ecstatic to see each other, as it had been a year since I seen her last. She looked radiant and she beamed from ear to ear as she bounced around the room!

Amplify that happiness times a million when she slipped into her dress. The smile seriously couldn’t have gotten any bigger on her face. And then her mom stepped in front of her, looked at her, and placed her two hands on Andrea’s cheeks. She whispered, You look beautiful!, as she leaned in and gave her a hug. The sweet tears of a happy mom filled her eyes and you could tell she was as proud as proud could be. More laughter sprang out as Andrea was officially in her dress!

Down the hall the guys had been hanging out, watching the game, and enjoying some brewski’s. Capturing Kyle getting ready I could see in his eye that this was a moment he was waiting for. Such anticipation, and deep down on a level he couldn’t even explain, I knew that he was just as perfect of a match for Andrea as she was for him.

We made quick of our time together with the guys and staggered the arrival of the ladies and gents to Lyman Harbor, Cedar Point traffic was out in full force and the drive was already proving to be tricky to get around town. We knew even if some of the guests made it late, that at least the bridal party would be on time!

As the sun was setting perfectly in the sky and as it cast it’s beautiful glow over the guests, the ceremony began. Kyle came in with the guys as the ladies began to walk across the lawn. Andrea and her father weren’t far behind. while the adorable little ring bearer announced with his sign to Kyle that his bride was on the way!! She was wrapped in white and every bit of perfection he could have ever hoped for. His eyes seemingly began to well up with tears and as she greeted him at the altar, he wiped each of them away.

They couldn’t help but smile at each other, and through their enormous laughs and their sweet cries, they said their vows and exchanged their rings. Taking every possible moment in, she clung tight to his arm as a friend serenaded a moment for them. Every bit of the wedding was true. Surreal. Perfect. And then, in Lou of the unity candle they chose to tie a true-lover’s knot. Taking the two cords together and beginning to entangle them as one was what the day was all about. Their officiant read, It is known to be one of the simplest knots to tie, but it is also one of the strongest there is; it will not break, and will only become stronger when under pressure. The rope itself will break before the knot comes undone. They were then asked to test their knot and pull tight what was now a unified stronghold. Once it was proven strong, they were pronounced husband + wife!!

The new Mr + Mrs. were then swept away on an epic getaway on the Donzi, heading out into Lake Erie in fashion and fun!!

Kyle + Andrea! I couldn’t have been more happy and thankful to have been a part of your ceremony and the witness of your marriage!! I pray that God always continues to pull that knot tighter and tighter and that because of it your marriage grows stronger by the day!! Praying for you guys always, Oh! and I can’t wait to show you guys the rest of your images :)))

..PROVEN STRONG..

love, echo

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echoes of love