How did you all meet?
He popped the question while we were on Useppa Island on New year’s Eve with an Africa-inspired Safari scavenger hunt ! Surrounded by friends and family 🙂 the list creative, thoughtful proposal ever!!!

Anything super unique about the big day?
It was amazing to celebrate with our family and friends who were unable to attend our destination wedding.

Where did you all go on your honeymoon?
Israel, Hungary, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro

Any tips you would share with other couples getting married? Try to take in every moment, it goes by so quickly. We committed to keeping a journal for example on our honeymoon. Oh, and you can never have enough dessert or late night snacks for guests!

What was your planning experience like?
Surprisingly easy. We had a wonderful event planner, Lucretia, who handled everything. We gave her our theme and the key highlights for the night and she ran with it. It’s important to let go of the little details as much as you can.

Where did you wed and why did you pick the venue/site?
We were in Columbus, Ohio. The venue happens to be a country club where our family belongs, but more than anything it was just a space with enough room for Lucretia to be able to work her magic.

Your Wedding Style
What inspired your theme/style? What was your color palette? Why was it important to you? From the words of their planner.

I’m so delighted to submit this event for possible publication! I’m the owner of Distinct Event Planning, a wedding and design company in Columbus, Ohio. My client, Jodi Eisen’s son had a destination wedding and all of her family and friends couldn’t attend. She booked me to plan a wedding reception her in town for all of the guests who were unable to attend the destination wedding. When I met with them and learned that the couple, Matt & Mary-Patton, met in Rwanda I immediately knew I wanted to plan and African Safari theme reception. My team and I designed a curated African Safari experience for their family and guests. This reception was and still is the talk of the town. Details included a 40-foot hand-painted backdrop of the African Serengeti, custom stationery with tables named after African countries the couple has visited, fur textured linen and a floral doorway which looked as if they florals and plants were literally growing from the floor and walls of the Jefferson Country Club. We hope you enjoy viewing these event pics as much as we enjoyed designing it.