Delaney and Max's Winery Wedding

Closing out wedding season with Delaney and Max’s wedding at Gideon Owen Winery was the perfect way to wrap up the year. Nestled in Port Clinton, Ohio, this venue has a character all its own—a seamless blend of rustic charm and refined elegance.

Their story started in high school, where a mutual setup by friends sparked their first dates. Delaney told me that Max’s attempts to ask her out went over her head for a while—she didn’t realize their first “hangouts” were dates until he straightforwardly asked her to be his girlfriend after the third one.

The proposal itself was one for the books! Max had everything planned to a T—or so he thought. He spent the day prepping a homemade beef Wellington dinner (from scratch!), orchestrating a scheme with Delaney’s mom to keep her out of the house for just long enough. Max even had to stall Delaney coming home by telling her they were out of foil and making her stop at the store. When Delaney finally returned, she found Max, dinner, and a very nervous proposal in their cozy kitchen. Delaney told me he was so caught up in the moment that he completely forgot to kneel down.

Gideon Owen Winery turned out to be a perfect backdrop for their vision. They wanted a mix of elegance and rustic charm without overpowering the venue’s natural beauty, so the décor was subtle, letting the winery’s stone walls and wooden beams speak for themselves. The ceremony took place in the atmospheric wine cellar—a beautiful, intimate space with stone walls and soft lighting, perfect for the quiet magic of their first look prior to it. Delaney and Max chose to read personal vows to each other before the ceremony, capturing those intimate promises in private before stepping into the more formal ceremony with family and friends.

Delaney and Max’s colors were deep purple and dark gray, an elegant palette with personal significance since purple happens to be both of their favorite colors. The reception was held in the winery’s bar area, which brought a touch of modern elegance to the evening with its chic lighting and open space. They kept things laid-back, adding just the right amount of personal touches to keep the ambiance warm and inviting.

One of the most touching parts of the ceremony was led by their close friend James, who served as officiant. Instead of a traditional sand-pouring, they chose a unique glass pour. In this ceremony, Delaney and Max each poured glass pieces in their wedding colors, which will later be blown into two beautiful ring dishes by a local glass artist—a perfect, lasting reminder of their day.

As their photographer, it was a joy to document Delaney and Max’s day, capturing not just their love, but the culmination of a story that started back in high school and has grown into the beautiful, genuine partnership they share today. This wedding wasn’t just the last one of the season; it was a heartfelt celebration of two people who truly “get” each other, and it felt like such a gift to be part of it.