Emily & Draven Trent | An Intimate Backyard Wedding in Lebanon, Ohio

There is something incredibly special about a wedding that feels completely and authentically like the couple who is getting married.

Emily and Draven Trent celebrated their marriage with an intimate backyard wedding surrounded by the people closest to them, at a beautiful family friend’s property in Lebanon, Ohio. With a gorgeous home, a wooden back deck, and a charming bridge stretching across the property toward the pond, the setting could not have been more perfect for their day.

And then there was the dock.

Nestled out on the pond, the dock became the setting for their ceremony…a quiet, beautiful backdrop for the moment they officially began this next chapter together.

A Day Centered Around What Matters Most

With only four hours to photograph their wedding, the day was intentionally simple. There wasn’t a traditional reception or a long wedding-day timeline, but that didn’t mean there was anything missing.

We were able to capture all of the moments that mattered most.

The day began with detail photos, followed by getting-ready portraits , documenting the little pieces that would become part of the story of their wedding day. One of my favorite details was Emily’s traditional blusher veil. It added such a timeless and delicate touch to her bridal look and was especially beautiful against the natural setting of the property.

Of course, one of the most meaningful parts of Emily and Draven’s day was the little one they are already waiting to meet. Celebrating their marriage while expecting their first child made the day feel even more significant, not only were they beginning their marriage, but they were beginning their family, too.

A Ceremony on the Water

When it was time for the ceremony, everyone made their way across the bridge to the pond.

Emily and Draven exchanged their vows surrounded by their closest family and friends, with the water and surrounding property creating a peaceful backdrop behind them. It was intimate, heartfelt, and exactly the kind of ceremony that didn’t need anything elaborate to make it unforgettable.Their vows were some of the most memorable I have had the privilege of hearing be exchanged.

Afterward, we made sure to photograph Emily and Draven with every guest who came to celebrate with them. These are some of the photographs that I think become increasingly meaningful as the years go by, getting to relive the moments with the people who were there, together, on that particular day and in that particular season of their life.

Dinner, Cake & The Sweetest Ending

Following the ceremony and portraits, everyone gathered together for dinner. There was no formal reception, no packed dance floor, and no elaborate evening timeline, and that was part of what made the day so special.

It was simply time spent together.

The evening ended with cake cutting, giving Emily and Draven one more sweet moment to celebrate before I wrapped up their photography coverage.

In just four hours, we were able to tell the complete story of their wedding day, from the anticipation of getting ready, to the details, the ceremony, the people they love, and the celebrations that followed.

A Beautiful Beginning

Emily and Draven’s wedding was a reminder that there is no single way to celebrate a marriage.

Sometimes a wedding is a grand ballroom filled with hundreds of people. Sometimes it is a beautiful home, a wooden bridge, a pond, a handful of the people you love most, and the person you’re choosing to spend the rest of your life with. Intimate celebrations like Emily and Draven’s are a beautiful reminder that meaningful moments matter far more than the size of a wedding day. 

For Emily and Draven, it was the beginning of their marriage and an exciting new chapter as they prepare to welcome their first child. It was an honor to preserve these moments and tell the story of such a meaningful day.