Hocking Hills Scenic Weddings

The Day of the wedding

The Hanger

Ceremony

Our Wedding

The story of us

Kate and Justin met during the summer of 2019 at a local bar. After a couple of first dates to the movies, getting drinks and going to Steak N Shake, it became official. On July 20th, 2019, Justin asked Kate to be his girlfriend. Justin spent many weekends traveling to Athens while he was attending BGSU. Kate was traveling to Bowling Green during her time at OU. After finishing school and both graduating college, while living many miles apart, they moved into their first apartment where they got their first fur baby. Kate and Justin would spend time together by trying new restaurants, coffee shops and breweries. One of their favorite activities is attending all Bengals home games together. They also love attending as many concerts as they can together. Justin and Kate then decided in the spring of 2023 to buy their first home! This was a big accomplishment for them both and now live in Circleville, Ohio. Justin and Kate are so honored to have such a wonderful wedding party and are blessed to be getting married in a beautiful venue with all of our family and friends in attendance. We cannot wait to continue our story!

Our Story

Photos

Ellie is my beautiful daughter! Ellie is now 8 years old and has just finished up 2nd grade. Ellie is currently doing cheer and has enjoyed soccer in the past. Ellie loves to sing and dance, and play with dad! She is full of sunshine and is the sweetest girl on the planet. Dad is so excited to get to have his little one by his side on this big day.

Ellie Ann

Kate and Shay went to high school together but, did not become best friends until they had a class together at Ohio University. It didn’t take long for them to hit it off and become instant best friends.Shortly after getting to know each other, they became roommates! Ever since then they have been inseparable. After living together for two years, sharing closets and countless nights of sleepovers, it’s safe to say Shay has a special place in Kates heart. Kate can’t wait for her to be by her side on such a special day!

Shaylee Hoey

Josh and Justin met in 3rd grade and that relationship has never gone away since that day. They both played travel baseball together, along with basketball from Elementary school, through most of high school. They both bond by talking about and watching most sports, golfing, and the occasional sports bet. Josh and Justin both graduated from BGSU and lived together for 4 years. Justin is honored to have Josh be a part of this big day! 

Joshua "The Coach" Roach

Kate and Carissa met at Ohio University when Kate became her roommate. One of Kate’s favorite things about Carissa is her big heart! They bond over their shared love of country concerts, Taylor Swift and Donkey coffee dates. Their favorite place to take their spring break trip is Nashville. Kate and Carissa also share a passion to serve individuals with Developmental Disabilities. Athens will always have these girls hearts! Kate is very lucky to have her by her side on this special day! 

Carissa Trunzo

Alexander or "AJ' and Justin met at college during their time at BGSU. AJ and Justin quickly bonded over their love and competitiveness for Golf. AJ and his family have grown to be an important part of Justin's life.  AJ is a selfless and genuine person, and Justin is so glad he can have him stand by his side during this special day! 

Alexander "AJ" Hete

Chey, also known as Bee! 
Kate and Chey met at Ohio University lifeguarding at the Athens City pool. Kate and chey share a love for their fur babies and eating O Betty’s cheese fries! Athens will always have a special place in these girls hearts. Athens is the place that brought them together. Chey is the go to person for when Kate needs advice or for someone to just listen. Kate is honored to have her by her side on this special day!

Cheyenne Price

Bailey and Justin met in 6th grade. Ever since then, they have bonded and developed such a tight relationship. They both bonded over middle school and high school golf, cooking and helping better one another. Although living states away from each other, they have always remained close and talk almost every day. Bailey will carry on the traditional best man duties and Justin is lucky to have him as a best man!

Bailey "Billy" Freas

Kate and Emily met in High school when Emily was the new girl. Emily and Kate swam at Valley View together and swam in High school. They bond over working out, eating pretzels and Nutella, and their fur babies! Kate feels so lucky to have a friend like Emily by her side on her big day! 

Emily Huber

Jon and Justin met during high school golf. Jon was a senior and Justin was a freshman at the time. From then on, both of them grew to be best friends. Over the years, they bonded during high school golf, fishing and camping and memorizing every word to the movie 'Step Brothers'. This is definately a big brother- little brother relationship that is so strong. Justin got to be a part of Jon's wedding party and Justin is honored to have Jon be a part of his! 

Jonathan "the firefighter" Bainter

Kate and Maddie met one summer during swim team. Kate and Maddie have been inseparable for over 15 years! They share a love for lake days and girls nights. Kate is very excited to have Maddie by her side on her big day! 

Maddison McCafferty 

Tyler and Justin met a few, short years ago, but their friendship has became so strong. Tyler, who is engaged to Shaylee, the Maid of Honor for Marikate has been a part of both of our lives every week since they can remember. Tyler and Justin bond by watching sports and playing golf together every Sunday. Tyler is a hardworking and caring friend, and would do anything for me. Both Marikate and Justin are so lucky to have him be a part of this special day and a part of our lives!

Tyler "The Creator" Wilson

Kate and Hev met only a few years ago but it feels like a lifetime. Kate loves Hev’s outgoing personality and how she cares for her family and friends. One of their favorite things is to blare their favorite music and sing in the car. If there is a dance floor that’s is where you know you’ll find Hev and Kate. Kate is honored to have her by her side on such a special day!

Heaven Freeman

Ian and Justin met due to Marikate and Cheyenne, a bridesmaid, being best friends in college together at Ohio University. Ian and Justin became friends by default, but since, have developed a strong friendship. Justin and Ian share a bond of new cooking ideas, scary movies, video games and golfing. Ian is a very humble and genuine dude. Justin cannot wait for his added energy to the wedding party!

Ian "The Pilot" Wilson

Kate and Courtney met not too long ago! Kate loves Courtney’s out going personality. Courtney is always down for anything and ready for a good time! Courtney has a passion for singing and photography! Fun fact: Courtney did Justin and Kates engagement photos. Kate is honored to have Courtney by her side on this day! 

Courtney Hoey

Noah and Justin have known one another since the start of grade school. They grew up going to the local pool together, playing sports and hanging out on the weekends. Some of their best memories are working for a construction company during the summers between academic college years. Justin and Noah have a special  bond full of many laughs and memories. Justin is blessed to have such a close, childhood friend!

Noah "Downtown" Downs

Kate and Mal met just a few short years ago! They met through mutual friends and are forever great fun for their friend group. Kate and Mal share a love for country music and country concerts. Mal is always ready for a good time! Kate and Mal love their mock-tail nights while watching Netflix. Kate is very lucky to have Mal by her side on this big day! 

Mallarie Williams

Zach and Justin met one another in 10th grade. Zach and Justin bonded by playing high school and AAU basketball together, along with hanging out as many weekends as we could. Zach is someone that never makes you fail to laugh and knows how to have a good time. Zach is a very hard worker and betters himself everyday. Justin is lucky to have someone like Zach on this big day!

Zachary "Swartzel" Swartz

Wedding Party

Where is the wedding taking place? The wedding is taking place at:  The Hanger  28244 Murphy Road  Rockbridge, Ohio 43138     What time is the ceremony? What time is the reception? The ceremony will take place at 4:30 PM. Please arrive 15-30 minutes before, so you can find a seat and be seated for the ceremony before it begins. Cocktail hour will start at 5:00 and dinner/ reception will approximately start at 6:00 PM. We will have assigned seating so please find your name on the seating charts.       What is the dress code? What should I wear? We would love to see all of our friends and family dresses up for our big day! Dress code is semi-formal.       What weather should I expect? We all know that Ohio weather can be unpredictable. Being a mid-September wedding, it could be 60 degrees or 90 degrees. The ceremony is an outdoor event (although can be moved in the hanger if there is a problem with weather).      What should I expect after the ceremony? After the ceremony, immediate family will be taking pictures. During this time, feel free to make your way towards The Hanger and find where you’ll be sitting. There will be a cocktail hour, where the drinks are flowing and light snacks will be available.      Will transportation be provided? Is there easy parking at the venue(s)? There will be no formal transportation to and from the wedding. There is a gravel parking lot when you arrive. Please follow the signs. If you are drinking please arrange transportation.      How do I RSVP? An RSVP link will be provided on your wedding invitation. This website will be your point of contact to RSVP. theknot.com/marikateandjustin      When is the RSVP deadline? The RSVP deadline is 30-days prior to the wedding. Please have all RSVP’s submitted by August 14th.      Can I bring my kids? Yes, we love all little ones! If your child was listed on the invitation please ensure to RSVP for them if they will be in attendance.      Can I bring my partner/plus-one? Due to limited capacity we will only allow people listed on the invitation. If you were given a blank plus one (which should say guest on your invitation), then you are allowed to bring a plus one. Please inform us of the name of your plus-one so we can add them to the guest list.      Do you have a hotel block for guests? Where do you recommend I stay? Are the ceremony and reception location wheelchair accessible? The Ceremony may be difficult to get to with a wheelchair/walker, as you are traveling through gravel and grass. There will be assistance via a golf cart to get to and from the parking lot. The Reception is wheelchair accessible, as the Hanger is all concrete and has ramps.   There are many cabins and hotels around the area, as the venue is not far from Hocking Hills. At this time, we do not plan to have a hotel block. Please book early if needed.     What type of food and drink will be served during the cocktail hour and reception? Please enjoy the open bar full of wine, beer, specialty cocktails and non- alcoholic beverages on us!   Hors d'oeuvres include meats, cheeses, crackers, dips, veggies and fruits.   Dinner will be provided via catering from DA QUE BBQ out of Amanda, Ohio.     Will there be an open bar? Yes, there will be an open bar. There will be a few options for beer, cocktails and wines. Please have cash to tip the hard working bartenders serving at the wedding. No one under the age of 21 is permitted to consume any alcohol. Have fun, but please drink responsibly as there will be children and we would love to maintain the look of this beautiful venue!      I have dietary restrictions, what’s the best way to communicate that with you? We definitely want to make sure you enjoy your time and meal on our wedding day. Please let us know when you RSVP (theknot.com/marikateandjustin) about your dietary needs.      Are you registered? Where should we ship your gift? We will have a wedding registry available for anyone wishing to provide a physical or cash gift. Target and Amazon links: Any gift that is ordered should be shipped to:  213 Walnut street, Circleville, Oh 43113.     Can I take and post pictures of the wedding on social media? We love photos! We do ask that you refrain from taking photos during the ceremony, we’d like that time to be unplugged.   After the ceremony ends, feel free for all the pictures you would like.     I have a question that I just can’t find the answer to, what is the best way to contact you? We are sure not all questions you may have will be listed above. Close family and friends may text either of us with questions. If you do not have our numbers, please send us an email at: justin.sweeney@ymail.com or marikatemarie@hotmail.com

FAQS

The venue is approximately:   45 minutes southwest of Downtown, Columbus  20 minutes south of Lancaster  35 minutes southwest of Canal Winchester

Getting to the venue:    Take Pleasant Valley Rd. to Murphy Rd.  Once on Murphy Rd, there will be a gravel drive way on your left. take the gravel pathway about a 1/4 mile, and parking will be straight ahead.

Marikate & Justin

Marikate & Justin

Travel