Elegant & Energetic Kentucky Castle Wedding

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

Cozy Autumn Wedding at Springhouse Gardens

I want to start by sharing a little snippet of what Austin and Micaha said about working with me, because I don't think any review has ever so accurately described my dorky behavior. "When we first met Sarah for our engagement session we knew we had made the right decision. She was completely fan-girling over the greenhouse that we had our photos taken in. Her enthusiasm made us laugh and feel incredibly comfortable with her." I am still fan-girling over that greenhouse engagement session, this amazing couple, and their wedding day. 

Austin & Micaha have an enormous love for everyone they surround themselves with. Their wedding day focused on their relationship and their commitment to each other, but they also made very intentional and thoughtful decisions on how to show the impact their families and friends have had on them over the years. They have an incredible, independent, and smart nearly-two-year-old girl, Charlie. She was a great flower girl and her reactions throughout the day were priceless. Charlie is not nearly as amused by my antics as her parents are, but she had a wonderful time celebrating. 

Micaha's father passed away when she was young— she had his picture in her bouquet to make sure he was part of their day. When it came time for the special dances, Micaha suprised family members that have meant a lot to her over the years by inviting each of them to the floor to share a dance with her. Her dances with her mother and brother were laid-back, filled with chatting and smiles. Then she invited her father-in-law to the dance floor. He clearly wasn't expecting it— and immediately covered his mouth and cried. I saw this same sweet expression from Austin countless times— at that moment I knew exactly where he got it. Their dance was sweet, upbeat, and silly and I loved seeing each relationship reflected in these moments. They finished the special dances by swaying together with Charlie.

Other items of note: they followed the southern tradition of burying bourbon before the wedding for good weather— it was hovering around 40 degrees all day, but never rained despite the forecast saying it would, so I 100% call this a win. Micaha's side of the wedding got ready at their adorable historic home in Lexington and I dorked-out over the giant fiddle leaf fig, their book collection, and the coral pieces they had around the house! Also, they had two food trucks serving dinner and everything was AMAZING. Okay, that's enough from me— I hope you enjoy their pictures as much as I do! If you are looking for more Kentucky farm vibes check out Angela & Jon's Blackacre wedding or Liv & Daniel's bohemian Gingerwood wedding. 

Austin & Micaha’s wedding has been featured on Simply Southern Weddings, The Knot, Tops Lexington, and Boho Weddings.

Venue: The Barn at Springhouse // Florals: White Cat Weddings // Appetizers and Bar: Bluegrass Catering // Food Trucks: Bradford BBQ & Minton's // Cake: Martine's Pastries //DJ: DJ Connection // Hair : Maddie Wofford // Make-Up: Kelli Marshall // Bride's Dress: Leanne Marshall through Carrie Karibo Bridal // Bridesmaid's Dresses: Azazie's Dusk Dresses // Groom's Outfit: Geno's // Wedding Coordinator: Sara Rogers with Shelly Fortune Event Design // Videographer: Reel Deal Creative