Quintessential Osage House Wedding
We’ve seen the Osage House done in so many ways. In fact over the next few weeks we’re planning to do essentially a series of blog posts about different weddings at Osage and some of the ways this amazing modern location for a wedding in Northwest Arkansas can be transformed to look so many different ways.
Before I get to into the weeds with all of that though I have to admit, today is a great day.
It’s pretty cool to me to be able to say that not long after I release this blog post, I’ll actually be releasing all 1,000 (roughly) wedding photos to Jordan and Jordan from their wedding. Everything about this wedding was packed full of thought and emotion and the sheer number of meaningful moments we had the opportunity to capture was unbelievable. There is absolutely no doubt that Jordan and Jordan are a special couple. She is outgoing, bold, bright with a laugh that echoes throughout this space and friends who boldly follow her lead. Her relationship with her parents is one of the most meaningful I’ve ever witnessed and though I’ve seen some pretty powerful father daughter moments this first look was absolutely one of the most intentional, most emotional, and most beautiful I’ve had the opportunity to photograph. Just sitting on the front steps at Osage House while the rain kind of washed everything clean these moments just kept coming and I’ll admit it, though I feel little sadistic to say it, I had the biggest smile on my face watching all of these tears come.
Jordan (the groom) is the yin to her yang. He’s calm, quiet, intentional with nearly everything. I wouldn’t say he is shy, just quiet. It’s a cool thing to watch a groom who is focused on the moment at hand. I’ll say this with 100% conviction, rain shouldn’t derail a wedding day and yet sometimes couple’s have a hard time just accepting the things that are out of their control. Not at this wedding. Jordan and Jordan were both fully plugged in, rain or shine. As we walked down to read their vows privately (they opted out of a first look) I knew the emotion was going to build and the rain hit its absolute peak. Not long after the sun peeked out and by the time this amazing bride walked down the aisle at the little white chapel down the hill everything was smooth sailing and beautiful outside (though a bit humid).
I have to give credit where it’s due on this one,
Christa from JLK weddings is always a masterclass of calm under pressure. The design for this wedding at Osage was so beautifully unique and yet I wanted to blog this one first simply because it was so classically “Osage”. They didn’t fight the architecture, or reinvent the wheel on this one but what they did was use the space, the light, and the opportunities 100% to their favor. From modern and imaginative florals to a big dance floor that was packed throughout the evening the only thing watered down at this wedding was from all of the tears.
A quick note on wedding venues in Northwest Arkansas. We’re planning to really start turning these articles out as a way to help brides and grooms really visualize what these places look like. No styled shoots or editorials, nothing posed or fake just real weddings for real couples with really great ideas. There are a million new places for a wedding in Northwest Arkansas and it seems that so much of the industry has shifted up to the Bentonville area that we’re always hearing about new places opening up. If you’re shopping for a venue keep these things in mind and then let me tell you
Osage House has every one of these little details worked out just about perfectly.
MUST HAVES FOR A DREAM WEDDING VENUE
You need light. You NEED light. I’m not a “natural light” photographer, nor am I in love with artificial lighting either. I love to shoot was IS so that my photos tell the story of authenticity from a big day for two people and their families. That said, in order for me to shoot both intentionally and candidly the camera has to be able to see. Osage house has beautiful light throughout the venue and it’s absolutely obvious that it was designed with lots of air and light in mind and it translates right into the photos.
You need places to unwind. Often venues design places without a bridal suite let alone a groom’s room in mind. Often we walk into these beautiful places for a wedding only to find the groomsmen sitting in a glorified broom closet and the bridesmaids getting their makeup done under horrible yellow lights in a back office. The Osage House has beautiful curated spaces for both wedding parties to relax. A moody dark lounge downstairs with pool tables, a shower, and lockers is where the fellas seem to end up most often and a light beautifully lit suite with a big window and comfy living room furniture upstairs for the ladies with plenty of mirrors, a private bathroom, and even spots to hang all of the dresses. A quick note, we’ve shot plenty of weddings at this venue with well over 10 bridesmaids and I will admit it gets a little crowded but the truth is, if you’re planning a wedding with that many attendants you can probably expect to feel a little packed into any space. My advice? Consider having 4-6 bridesmaids and then a hugenormous entourage but that’s for another blog.
Minimize logistics for larger weddings. If you’re pushing 200,300, or even 400 guests the reality is that moving people is a headache. Having a venue that can accommodate both the ceremony, and the reception, AND if possible the hair and makeup time is awesome. Often those places become pretty stuck in their ways though and weddings start to feel like a factory. So, find a venue that has all of the options like Osage House AND a venue that’s super happy to let you dream up ways to make this day unique to you… Like Osage House
OK - that’s enough bullets for one blog. I don’t want to take away from the eye candy above so scroll up and peek back through them again! If you’re in the mood for some other snacks click the links below to take you to more beautiful weddings that we’ve shot OR if you’re on the hunt for a wedding photographer who cares as much about you as you do about the photos simply click “Contact Us” and let me know who you are! Talk soon. XOXO - Miles.
