A Charming Gish Barn Wedding: Hannah & Bradon’s Relaxed and Joyful Summer Celebration
There’s something truly special about a Gish Barn wedding — the open fields, timber beams, and glow of string lights set the stage for a celebration that feels both timeless and heartfelt. Hannah and Bradon’s June wedding in Rittman, Ohio, captured everything that makes a summer wedding so memorable: joy, laughter, and intentional moments shared with the people they love most.
From High School Sweethearts to “I Do”
Hannah and Bradon’s story began as high school sweethearts and continued through their college years at the University of Cincinnati, where they both earned engineering degrees. Now successful engineers with two adorable beagles and a shared love for travel and Disney, they chose to celebrate the next chapter of their lives with a wedding that reflected their easygoing spirit and meaningful connection.
The moment Hannah and Bradon saw each other for the first time on their wedding day — pure joy!
Planning a Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Celebration
When they first described their vision, words like charming, organic, and relaxed came up often. They wanted the day to feel warm and welcoming — a reflection of their personalities and their love of the outdoors. The Gish Barn provided just that, offering a perfect blend of rustic warmth and indoor-outdoor flow.
Hannah and Bradon loved that they could host both the ceremony and reception in one place, while bringing in their own vendors to create a unique, personalized experience for guests. I helped them design a carefully balanced timeline — one that blended classic traditions like toasts and first dances with fun, unexpected food experiences from local favorites like Barrio Food Truck, The Faithful Little Cupcake, and Pav’s Ice Cream Truck.
The result? A celebration that was perfectly structured to flow with ease, yet relaxed enough to feel effortless.
A charming ceremony surrounded by summer greenery at The Gish Barn in Rittman, Ohio.
Summer Style and Sentimental Touches
The color palette of soft greens and blues set a calming, organic tone throughout the day. The bridesmaids wore dresses in multi-shades of green, the groomsmen donned smart blue suits, and the natural textures of the barn provided the perfect backdrop.
Before the ceremony, Hannah shared heartfelt gifts with her mom, dad, and grandmother — one of the morning’s most emotional moments. Bradon, in turn, received a meaningful gift from his new father-in-law, a touching symbol of the bonds joining their two families together.
A quiet moment between the bride and her mom before the celebration began — the calm before the beautiful whirlwind.
Unique Details That Told Their Story
Every part of this Gish Barn wedding felt personal and purposeful. For their guest book, guests wrote well wishes on vintage-style postcards representing places the couple had traveled or hoped to visit, then slipped them into a mailbox — a charming nod to Hannah and Bradon’s shared love of adventure.
And in true fun-loving fashion, they put a twist on tradition by replacing the bouquet and garter toss with a custom t-shirt toss featuring playful images from their wedding day! It was a huge hit — the perfect lighthearted touch to cap off their festive evening.
One of my favorite parts of Hannah and Bradon’s Gish Barn wedding was the interactive fun they planned for their guests. Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed playing yard games like cornhole and giant Connect 4, filling the barn lawn with laughter and friendly competition. They also added a creative twist with a “Sip & Solve” station — a large crossword puzzle featuring personal details about the couple’s life and love story, giving everyone a chance to learn something new about the bride and groom while enjoying a drink in hand. And as the perfect keepsake, a talented caricature artist from Capture This! Entertainment spent the night sketching cheerful portraits that guests could take home — a playful, memorable touch that fit the day’s relaxed and joyful spirit perfectly.
Caricature artist sketches by Capture This! Entertainment gave guests the most memorable keepsakes.
A Joyful Celebration Under the Lights
As the summer sun faded, string lights filled the barn with a warm glow. Guests sipped drinks from The Thirsty Filly, danced to music by DJ Josh Johnson of Smooth Beats Entertainment, and enjoyed the most delicious desserts from Faithful Little Cupcake.
The atmosphere was full of laughter and contentment — exactly what Hannah and Bradon had hoped for when they first began planning their relaxed, joy-filled day.
Bridesmaids in multi-shades of green and blue looked effortlessly chic against the barn’s rustic backdrop.
Behind the Scenes and Vendor Team
It was such a pleasure to plan and coordinate this remarkable day for Hannah and Bradon. Every creative partner brought their own energy and expertise to bring the vision to life:
Planning: Monica McCord - MTM Weddings & Events
Venue: The Gish Barn
Photography: Ashley Ludwig
Videography: Shelby K. Studios
Florals: Nikki’s Perfect Petals
DJ: Josh Johnson - Smooth Beats Entertainment
Bar: The Thirsty Filly
Dinner Catering: Barrio Food Truck
Cocktail Hour Catering: Auntie Anne’s Pretzels
Ice Cream Truck: Pav’s Ice Cream
Dessert Bar: Faithful Little Cupcake
Caricature: Capture This! Entertainment
Hair: Ally Besaw - I Do Up Do
Makeup: Emma Shepherd - The Emma Kat
Each vendor played an important role, contributing to the seamless flow, vibrant details, and atmosphere of love that woven through every part of the celebration.
The Thirsty Filly kept guests refreshed all evening — the signature cocktails were a hit!
A Note from the Couple
“Monica was an absolute pleasure to work with from start to finish. The level of detail and care she put into executing our vision was truly impressive - she planned and helped run my entire wedding day to make sure everything went smoothly. She set up everything I asked for and somehow made it look even better than my vision board! I cannot recommend MTM Weddings & Events enough. Her dedication to making our special day perfect was evident in every aspect of her work, and we are so grateful for her love and attention to detail.”
-Hannah & Bradon
A kiss, a swirl of bubbles, and the start of “happily ever after.”
Let’s Plan Your Joyful Celebration
As a Midwest wedding planner, I loved helping this Ohio couple create a celebration that felt relaxed and authentic. Planning weddings like Hannah and Bradon’s reminds me why I love what I do — crafting days that are as beautifully organized as they are heartfelt. If you’re dreaming of a day that feels authentically you, I’d love to help bring it to life.
If you’re dreaming of a relaxed barn celebration like Hannah & Bradon’s, explore our Wedding Planning Services to see how MTM Weddings & Events can bring your vision to life — whether it’s a Gish Barn wedding or a special day anywhere across the Midwest.
