This epic surprise wedding day definitely felt like it fell in two halves. The first part, where Kelsey & Brad had an intimate ceremony at the Country Club of Hudson. Then, a beautiful lunch at Michael Angelo’s Winery was elegant & romantic. The second part, where Kelsey and Brad invited their friends over to an ‘engagement party’ in their backyard, only to spring the news that it was actually their wedding reception, was hilarious & joyful!
Planning an Epic Surprise Wedding Day
The inspiration behind the day was simple & laid back – Kelsey & Brad are definitely about keeping the important things important. Their original wedding venue canceled on them due to COVID. But, they decided they still wanted to get married rather than postpone. So, they planned for a small surprise wedding to celebrate with their nearest & dearest!
When they approached us with this idea about a surprise wedding, we were all in! We scouted locations and planned their timeline so that we had plenty of time for every part of the day. After the winery, the four of us went to Cuyahoga Valley National Park for more photos. Then, we stopped at a nearby brewery for a quick beer before heading back to their house.
It Was the Perfect Party for These Two
Our favorite moment of this event by far was photographing Kelsey & Brad’s friends’ reactions as they showed up to their surprise wedding backyard reception. Everyone was SO surprised when they thought they were showing up to a backyard engagement party, only to be met by Kelsey and Brad in their wedding attire, and a sign that read “Kelsey & Brad Married 8.14.20”! There was laughter, there were tears, there was an epic DJ van & at one point Kelsey was wearing a massive panda head along with her dress. These guys know how to party!
If you’re considering a surprise wedding or something on a smaller and more intimate scale, just like this celebration, check out our thoughts on weddings vs elopements to help you weigh those pros and cons. And for more epic wedding inspiration, take a look at this carefree and adventurous Sedona elopement!
Vendors
Florist: Silver Lake Florist
Dress: Alexandra Grecco
DJ: DJ Smoov
