1. Real Weddings

A Classic Winter Wedding at Cleveland Botanical Gardens in Cleveland, Ohio

Karen Herbert (31, a physical therapist) and Kirk Rowe (32, self-employed) met online and began date around the holiday season of that year. A while a

Karen Herbert (31, a physical therapist) and Kirk Rowe (32, self-employed) met online and began date around the holiday season of that year. A while after they began to date, the couple took a trip to California and booked a hot air balloon over Napa Valley. Kirk proposed to Karen while they were up in the air, with another couple capturing the moments with a camera, and so their wedding planning began. The wedding ceremony and reception took place during the holiday season at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens in Ohio. The couple was pleasantly surprised that the venue was having their winter show called “Glow” when they had booked their wedding, with Christmas trees, gingerbread houses and decorative lights accenting the space to create a magical occasion. Karen wanted a wedding dress that made her feel like a winter snow princess, and the sparkly wedding dress accented by Christina Wu did just that. The silver, black, cranberry and white color palette complemented the holiday season. The venue space itself was transformed with tall white branches strung with lights, centerpieces of red roses accented with silver leaves and berries and trees adorned with hanging ornaments and birds nests. Guests sipped on their Candy Cane Twist cocktails and later indulged in the four-tiered ivory wedding cake detailed with snowflakes, creating an overall theme that expressed the couple’s love for the holidays, their families, and, most of all, each other.

The engagement ring, wedding ring and band were arranged on top of ivory stationary designed with snowflakes and swirls for the winter occasion.
Silver Shoes, Garder and Fine Jewelry
“The bridesmaid dresses were cranberry red chiffon with a small sparkle detail near the left hip which complemented Karen's dress perfectly,” says Kirk. “They chose their own silver dress shoes, and received silver and pearl matching necklaces and earring sets from the bride.”
“Karen loves sparkle and knew that had to be incorporated on the dress,” says Kirk. “It was difficult to find one that fit the winter snow princess idea exactly to her liking but finally decided on a gorgeous Christina Wu gown with lots of sparkle.”
The groom wore a classic black tuxedo on the wedding day, with a white vest and bright red tie underneath. A red pocket square and an ivory boutonniere accented the jacket.
Groom and Groomsmen Walking in Elegant Space
"The ceremony and reception were both held at the Cleveland Botanical Garden during their winter show, "Glow,” says Karen. “She described lots of decorated Christmas trees, white lights, gingerbread houses, and the perfect magical holiday theme that we were looking for. It fit so well with our vision.”
Couple Conducting Sand Unity Ceremony
Couple and Wedding Party Over Railing
Couple Shot Outside Historical Building
Happy Shot of Bride and Groom
“Centerpieces consisted of a base with red roses and silver embellishments, such as leaves and berries,” says Karen. “Tall silver branched trees extended from the base and were adorned with candlelit hanging ornaments and silver birds nests.”
Glass ornaments decorated the tree branch centerpiece, and each were lit with a candle on the inside.
Black linens were folded with menu cards inside on the dining table and positioned on top of elegant silver dinnerware.
“The four-tiered wedding cake was designed to complement the themes of the wedding, with white icing, white draping, subtle shimmer over the whole cake and small snowflakes on each layer,” says Karen. “The florist added red roses cascading down two sides of the cake, as well as surrounding the cake topper, which was a black bear couple in wedding attire, a tribute to the bride's love for bears.”