Real Wedding Wednesdays: Hannah Reiser and David Pierre

Want your wedding to blow your guests away? Hanna and David Pierre used pinwheels to do just that, both literally and figuratively, at their wedding. 

The couple incorporated a pinwheel theme throughout the big day as a way to signify how they first met, while working on a group project together about wind energy at the College of Wooster. “Having a pinwheel-themed wedding seemed like an obvious choice,” says Hannah. “We put pinwheels on everything.”

Hannah and David’s wedding was all about personal touches, which certainly didn’t stop at pinwheels. Many other elements of the wedding, including the invitations, veil, ring bearer’s pillow and wall décor were handmade by either the bride or her mother.

Putting a fun spin on classic traditions, the couple incorporated “cookie time” between the ceremony and reception to honor the cookie table tradition, common in David’s hometown of Pittsburgh, where the couple got engaged. This cocktail hour alternative also tied into “Cookie Sundays,” a tradition of the bride’s church.

One of the most memorable moments for the couple was at the end of the reception. Everyone formed a circle around the bride and groom on the dance floor, where the bride surprised her brother with one of his favorite songs—Nick Fradiani’s “Beautiful Life”—adding one last meaningful touch to a far from generic day.

The Details:

Wedding date:  June 18, 2016

Wedding colors:  Navy and yellow with light blue accents

Attendants: Two best men, two maids of honor, five groomsmen, five bridesmaids, a flower girl and a ring bearer

Bride wore: Gown designed by David’s Bridal and purchased on Craigslist, veil handmade by mother of the bride, shoes from DSW, accessories from Macy’s

Hair and makeup:  Makeup and hair by Virtue Salon

Groom wore: Men’s Wearhouse tuxedo

Rings: Trinity Jewelers

Rehearsal dinner: Montgomery Inn

Ceremony:  Columbus Mennonite Church

Reception: NorthPointe Ballroom at the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center

Caterer:  In-house

Cake: Ice cream from Dairy Queen and cake from Whole Foods

Florist: The Flowerman

Photographer:  Ben Barnes of Northmoor Studios

Invitations: Handmade by the bride using material from Paper Source

Reception tunes: Buckeye Entertainment

First dance: “Die a Happy Man” by Thomas Rhett

Registries: Macy’s, Crate and Barrel and Kohl’s

Guests stayed at: Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center

Sunday brunch: Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center

Honeymoon: Couples Tower Isle Resort in Jamaica