Parker Barn Wedding

– Jenna and Mitchell were childhood sweethearts that met in the third grade when Jenna moved to Copley, Ohio. They rode the same bus, participated in their elementary news team together and began dating in high school. Jenna is still surprised by this fact, “Who would have thought I would be marrying my elementary school buddy?!”

Just 5 months after they started dating, Mitchell left for West Point and they began a 47 month journey of being long distance. “We both weren’t sure what to expect having been only dating a short amount of time, but we knew we wanted to be together forever. Looking back, the 4 years flew by, but when we were in the moment it felt like we would never see each other again. West Point is truly a blessing in disguise and we can both agree that it has brought us to some amazing people and given us some amazing experiences.” Only 2% of the couples who are dating at the start of West Point last until the very end. “I am proud to say we are members of the 2% club and wouldn’t change our story for the world.”

Jenna began her perfect wedding day getting ready with her bridesmaids and family at The Anchorage in Akron. The Anchorage, owned by a family member, is the sister home of Stan Hywet and is also a historic Tudor revival mansion, complete with a birch tree allee and original gardens. In one of the elegant bedrooms, Jenna donned her grandmother’s jewelry and a beautiful, romantic flowing gown with just the right amount of sparkle in the belt.

On the grand staircase, Jenna shared a super sweet first look with her bridesmaids followed by a touching first look with her dad on the brick-lined gardens. Their flowers were beyond perfect. Jenna wanted an English garden theme for her flowers, with white hydrangea and white English roses for her bridesmaids and she carried a variety of pink roses and peonies to coordinate with the pink dresses.

Because Copley is where Jenna and Mitchell’s relationship began, they knew they wanted to have a wedding near their home. Mitchell’s neighbor’s barn, the Parker Barn, was ideal for the big day. The open barn, with it’s breathtaking pastoral views and glimmering lights provided a beautiful backdrop for the reception. Their cake was created by Tiffany’s Bakery where Jenna worked while a student in college. And because Mitchell’s family has made homemade Ohio maple syrup for many years, the couple chose favors of maple syrup. “We thought it would be the perfect touch to give a little slice of home to our guests!”