The Kentucky Castle had always been one of those mysterious places for me— you know the kind. I had driven by it countless times and rubbernecked at the towers trying to imagine what was inside. Is the interior historic or modern? Is it used for renaissance fairs, weddings, or is it some weird members-only club situation? Why is the driveway so long and why is it always locked? Are there tunnels underneath and if so where do they lead? Obviously, I never googled any of this because it would ruin the fun, but I was excited to finally get to see inside when photographing Shakia & Mitch’s wedding! By now you’ve figured out it’s a beautiful wedding venue, but that’s all I’m going to tell you so we can all keep the mystery alive.

Where to start with Shakia & Mitch? Shakia (she/her) creates breathtaking, ethereal artwork and loves kayaking & gardening. Mitch (he/him) loves hiking, being outdoors, and traveling. As a couple, they have that beautiful balance of goofiness combined with thoughtfulness that makes them so easy to talk to and be around. Their wedding was elegant & romantic, but more importantly, it was ridiculously fun. From exploring the castle grounds for their first look, to their emotional ceremony, to everyone going hard on the dance floor, it was a day to remember.

If you’re on the hunt for more unique Kentucky wedding venues check out this treehouse elopement, this beer garden wedding, or this tiny wedding pizza party. I also have comprehensive list of my favorite Louisville wedding venues here. As always I’ve shared the list of talented vendors involved at the bottom of the post!

“Moments before our ceremony my husband surprised me with what is now known as the best gift I’ve ever gotten. I endured two major emotional waves during its unveiling.

Wave one: the light cry.

- I have a small but mighty business as an oil painter

- super sweet that he'd indulge my love of art by commissioning a photo of us 

- some components of the painting are from our engagement session, trip to Italy, and grounds of our wedding

Wave two: the "I cried so hard I needed to take a nap." 

- As I peeled the wrapping back I started to notice it was an oil painting in my favorite style. Curious, I took a look at the artist's signature and that's when everything took a turn.

- A scribble to most looked like the work of the artist I admire the most...an artist I've easily spent 100+ hours listening to, watching, and studying. There was no way. I knew my vision was sketchy from tears and champagne.

- I grabbed another note that I had yet to open. It was a personal letter of encouragement signed by none other than my idol Jose Trujillo. I will cherish this gift forever.” - Shakia

These Kentucky wedding vendors made the day possible:

Coordination & Florals: Alicia Collins with Great Expectations KY // DJ: Wild Mountain Music // Caterer: Lundy's Catering // Videographer: Bruce Karcher // Gown: I Do Bridal KY // Cake: Tinker's Cake Shop // Photography: Sarah Katherine Davis Photography // Ceremony Venue: The Kentucky Castle // Reception Venue: The Carrick House