Real Wedding Wednesdays: Ashley Curl and Kevin Stephan

When a wedding planner plans her own wedding, you know it’s going to be an all-out affair. Such was the case for Ashley and Kevin Stephan, who celebrated their first anniversary this week. Ashley owns a wedding planning business, and anyone who attended the event was sure to recognize that.

She got the day started off right, doing yoga with her bridesmaids on the rooftop of the Renaissance, led by Angie O’Brien of Harbor Yoga. Other fun touches included late-night bites consisting of the newlyweds’ favorite snacks—soft pretzels and sweet potato and regular French fries—and a grand exit with glow sticks instead of sparklers.

But the wedding party—which consisted of a whopping 30 people, including Ashley and Kevin’s 10 nieces and nephews—had a surprise for this perfectly planned event: a choreographed flash mob during the reception.

Great planning is a strength of Kevin’s, too, as evidenced in his proposal. He took tricked Ashley into accompanying him to a “work event” at Franklin Park Conservatory the night before Denim & Diamonds, the annual fundraiser for Kinder Key, which Ashley is involved in. After leading Ashley to the terrace outside the Palm House, Kevin got down on one knee and said, “You need something for tomorrow’s event, and I need you for the rest of my life. Will you marry me?”

After slipping a diamond onto Ashley’s finger, Kevin presented her with the other half of what she’d need for the next day: a new pair of her favorite denim jeans. They headed to M at Miranova for a celebratory glass of champagne, then to Due Amici—the site of their first date—where Kevin had arranged for Ashley’s entire family to be waiting, ready to celebrate.

“It was perfect,” says Ashley.

The Details

Wedding date: May 29, 2016

Wedding colors: Blush and gold

Attendants: 10 bridesmaids, 10 groomsmen, three “princess” bridesmaids, two junior groomsmen, two flower girls, one ring bearer and two bell boys

Bride wore: Wtoo by Watters gown and Sara Gabriel veil from La Jeune Mariee, Badgley Mischka shoes, earrings from a boutique in Arizona and bracelet borrowed from her mother

Hair and makeup: Makeup by Charlie and hair by Adam Bahgat

Groom wore: Calvin Klein tuxedo from Men’s Wearhouse

Rings: Tim Fleming

Rehearsal dinner: Columbus Athenaeum

Ceremony: Columbus Museum of Art

Officiant: Damian King of United Marriage Services

Ceremony music: String quartet from Columbus Musicians LLC

Reception: Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel

Caterer: In-house

Cake: Short North Piece of Cake

Florist: Petals & Leaves

Linens: Connie Duglin Linen

Photographer: AddVision Studios

Videographer:  AddVision Studios

Consultant: Self (Ashley owns her own business, Ashley Stephan Weddings & Events)

Invitations: Paper Occasions

Programs and menu cards: Our Wedding Brand

Reception tunes: Mark Dantzer Productions

First dance: “Overwhelmed” by Tim McMorris

Guest favors: Mini bottles of One Hope champagne

Registries: Macy’s and Crate & Barrel

Transportation: Cardinal Transportation (guests) and trolley from Urban Express for the wedding party

Guests stayed at: Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel

Honeymoon: Italy’s Amalfi Coast