This Couple Tied the Knot in Their Alma Mater's Chapel—Before Dancing the Night Way at Their Tented Reception

Jenna and Shawn met in high school in August of 2012—and then their relationship flourished at the University of Dayton, where they both earned their undergraduate degrees. Eight years later in the summer of 2020, the pair was enjoying a sunset walk on the beach in Florida when Shawn popped the question. The couple knew right away they wanted to exchange vows at the UD Chapel of Immaculate Conception in Dayton, Ohio. “I love that this chapel is where we went to mass together during the years at Dayton—and it felt perfect for our ceremony,” Jenna says. 

They invited their 262 guests to join them at Derby Lane Estate in Springboro, Ohio, for dinner and dancing after the ceremony on June 18, 2022. With an open-air reception in mind, the couple had tons of ideas of how to transform the space. To refine their vision, they teamed up with Samantha Leenheer at House of Joy, who helped them pull off a destination wedding-inspired tented reception. “We wanted all our friends and family to be able to attend, but we wanted to make it feel colorful and tropical,” Jenna says. They used a color palette of sage green, burlywood, rosewood, blush, peach, and sand tones and included lots of texture throughout the day’s décor, including wicker, whitewashed wood, and grasses. Read on to see the details of their flower filled day, which was photographed by Megan Noll Photography

Guests were greeted with welcome bags filled with energy drinks, snacks, and a custom University of Dayton cookie upon their arrival.

Jenna wore a voluminous Galia Lahav ball gown with a sheer corset top, scoop neckline, and full skirt made from embroidered tulle with 3D floral appliqués. She actually saved the dress on Pinterest before she even got engaged. “I had tried on about 10 dresses, but couldn’t stop thinking about this Galia Lahav one,” she says. “Once I tried it, I fell in love and immediately knew it was the one.” 

She accessorized with vintage Cartier jewelry, which was a birthday gift from her grandmother just four days before the wedding. “She gave me the bracelet for Christmas last year and the rest of the set for my birthday,” Jenna says. “It just went perfectly with my dress and made me feel like a true princess.” Her bouquet was a mix of multi-colored ranunculus, peach roses, orchids, scabiosas, eucalyptus, and bunny tail for added texture.

Jenna’s maid of honor and bridesmaids wore satin sage green dresses in a midi length from Park & Fifth. “We wanted the bouquets to be colorful,” Jenna says. “We thought that the colors would really pop with the bridal party’s attire.”

Shawn and his groomsmen wore beige suits from The Black Tux. “We wanted to emphasize a summer formal attire and loved that they kept things light and fun,” Jenna says of the color choice. The groom opted for a few sentimental additions, including pearl cufflinks (Jenna’s birthstone!) and a watch that his bride's father wore at his own wedding. Boutonnières made of a single peach rose and bunny tail were the finishing touch.

As guests arrived at the chapel for Jenna and Shawn’s ceremony, they picked up custom programs with pink ink that detailed the order of service. The couple added two tiered floral arrangements in urns to flank the altar.

Shawn walked down the aisle with his mother, Nancy, before Jenna’s father, Michael, escorted her towards him while live musicians performed “Trumpet Voluntary” and Mendelssohn's “Wedding March.” “The moments leading up to walking down the aisle I was very emotional. I couldn’t wait to see Shawn,” Jenna remembers. “When the doors opened and we saw each other for the first time, we were both overcome with so many emotions and so much happiness. It was the most special moment of the entire day.”

Jenna and Shawn exchanged traditional vows in front of their family and friends. “Shawn and I wrote our own vows to each other and read them to each other privately a couple of days before the wedding,” Jenna says. “We wanted this to be an intimate moment shared just between the two of us.” 

After the ceremony, guests gathered at Derby Lane Estate to enjoy drinks and appetizers on the lawn. Dining tables and high tops were covered with pink linens and decorated with colorful floral centerpieces in baskets. The lawn was filled with white umbrellas and lounge areas with vibrant couches and textured rugs. The couple hired a jazz trio, Viva La Strings, to play for the cocktail hour and dinner. “They did a great job bringing in live music and filling the space with energy,” Jenna says.

The couple set up a wall display of margaritas with escort cards designed as limes, complete with a sign that read “Take a seat, but first, margaritas.” The installation was decorated with orange, pink, peach, and white floral arrangements and greenery arranged in textured vessels.

Dinner and dancing took place underneath a clear top tent that was draped with wheat colored fabrics. Textured woven chandeliers were decorated with greenery to bring the outdoors in. “We wanted to spice up the room layouts from other weddings, so we did a diamond dance floor and did longer family tables surrounding it,” the bride says.

Reception tables were topped with cream colored linens and centerpieces that included the flowers seen in Jenna’s bouquet—plus pin cushion proteas and vanda orchids. The pair's wedding planner created two tabletop designs for the reception: One with gold flatware and gold chairs and the other with knotted copper flatware and whitewashed wooden seats. Each place setting included a wicker charger, custom individual menu, pink Champagne glass, and rosewood colored napkin.

Throughout the reception, guests grabbed drinks at a custom bar that read “Drunk in Love” in a pink cursive font. The focal point behind the bar was an elevated floral arrangement with textured greenery and vibrant flowers in shades of pink, white, and orange. The duo spoke with their planner about their favorite date night spots to inspire the dinner menu, which included chocolate coffee rubbed filet of beef, honey lime brined chicken breast, and roasted corn agnolotti. 

Once Jenna and Shawn made their entrance to the reception, Jenna shared a dance with her father to “Always Love You” by Tyrone Wells. Then, Shawn spun around the dance floor with his mother to “Let It Be” by The Beatles, a song choice inspired by his late dad. “Halfway through the song, the DJ changed the song to Buffalo Bills shout song,” Jenna remembers. “Once the song changed, everyone fled to the dance floor and kicked the party off for the rest of the evening.”

Icon Cake Cincinnati collaborated with the couple's planner to design a wedding cake inspired by Jenna’s dress. “She made 3D florals in a sheer sugar that had a lightness and movement like my dress,” the bride says. “Then they brought in the fun, tropical colors.” They chose vanilla raspberry, champagne strawberry, vanilla raspberry, cinnamon roll, and chocolate vanilla cake flavors for each of the five tiers.

The couple’s DJ had guests glued to the dance floor for the rest of the evening. Jenna changed into a Show Me Your Mumu satin halter dress so she could move with ease. “I wore this dress because it was just very comfortable and flattering and great to dance in!” she says.

The couple spent their honeymoon in Greece, stopping in Athens, Mykonos, Paros, and Santorini. To couples planning their weddings, Jenna offers this advice: “Definitely get a wedding planner and book all of your big vendors very early on so that you won’t have to worry about them being booked up.” (She and Shawn booked their venues, photographer, videographer, florist, and wedding planner a year ahead of their big day.)