1. Real Weddings

An Old-World-Inspired Wedding at J.E. Reeves Victorian Home and Museum in Dover, Ohio

This elegant, classic wedding was inspired by a love for old-world design in a black and white palette, from the striped wrap around the stems of the

This elegant, classic wedding was inspired by a love for old-world design in a black and white palette, from the striped wrap around the stems of the ivory rose bouquet to the black wine bottles with striped ribbon that guests wrote personal messages on. Anna McKenzie (26 and a flight attendant) and Tyler Carlisle (26 and a Volkswagen master technician) were married at J.E. Reeves Victorian Home and Museum in Dover, Ohio, which won them over with its historic charm while also being in the couple's hometown. “The inspiration was old-world charm shown through vintage and repurposed pieces,” the couple says. “This came from the venue and Anna’s love for vintage and modern style.” Anna wore an ivory V-neckline wedding dress with a mermaid-style silhouette and a long train in the back, while Tyler had a gray and white suit jacket, along with a matching-colored pocket square and a polka-dot tie, all captured on camera by Belle Ombre Photography. The wedding party perfectly embodied the classic black and white palette, with bridesmaids wearing knee-length black cocktail dresses and striped shoes while men had on charcoal gray and white accents. The reception took place on the venue’s lawn, where we fell in love with the black-and-white dessert bar—ranging from candies in tall glass jars to polka-dot cupcakes and an array of classic wedding cakes on black stands. "Our families coming together as one was the most important element of our wedding, as the old and young helped with every element: from planning, setting up, decorating and the teardown," the couple says.

Elegant Silver Wedding Rings
Anna picked out an ivory wedding dress with a trumpet-style silhouette and a V-neck in the front and back. The elegant gown had a long train trailing in the back.
Tyler wore a suit jacket with a gray and white pattern, matched by black-and-white accessories, such as a black tie and a black-and-white-checkered pocket square.
The bride and her bridesmaids stood holding the strings of large white balloons. The bridesmaids wore knee-length black cocktail dresses with black-and-white-striped shoes, which matched the wedding day's classic color palette.
Anna and Tyler shared their first kiss as a married couple in front of their guests at J.E. Reeves Victorian Home and Museum in Dover, Ohio. On the day of the wedding, Anna wore her hair in an elegant updo with a crystal headband.
Anna held an elegant, round bouquet filled with ivory roses. The roses were tied together around the stems by a black-and-white-striped wrap.
Anna and Tyler stood in the middle of their wedding party dressed in black-and-white attire, following the color palette of the wedding day. The groomsmen wore charcoal gray vests and pants and the bridesmaids wore black knee-length cocktail dresses.
Black-painted wine bottles had black-and-white-striped ribbon wrapped around the neck. Guests signed the bottles as an alternative to a guest book.
Ivory Roses in Antique Wooden Furniture
"For dessert, there was an assortment of cupcakes and cakes," the couple says. "Guests were offered a candy bar as a favor for attending the wedding, which was a big hit with the kids."
The main ivory wedding cake stood three tiers tall and had black-and-white sugar flowers decorating the surface. The middle layer of the cake had a black-and-white-striped ribbon wrapped around the middle. The cake was topped with a silver sparkly "Love" sign, and the entire dessert was positioned on a simple black cake stand.
White and Gray Suit Jacket