1. Real Weddings

A Bright, Science-Themed Wedding at Franklin Park Conservatory Palm House in Columbus, Ohio

At first glance, Christel Hoot (30 and a student) and Brett Kinkopf’s (31 and works in health care) early-fall wedding was a vibrant, intimate affair

At first glance, Christel Hoot (30 and a student) and Brett Kinkopf’s (31 and works in health care) early-fall wedding was a vibrant, intimate affair with a palette of showstopping orange and fuchsia hues reminiscent of a tropical sunset and eye-catching florals. But beyond the attention-grabbing aesthetics were endless one-of-a-kind accents that gave the day a quirky flair. “We tried to incorporate as much of our personalities into the wedding as we could,” Christel says. “Our favors were anatomically correct heart soaps, and our seating cards were test tubes filled with rock candy and toe-tag labels.” Christel and Brett prefaced their fun-filled fete with a traditional Catholic Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral in Columbus, Ohio. The pair attended the cathedral while studying at Ohio State University, where they met, giving the ceremony an extra-sentimental spin. “Though we had recently moved to Cleveland so Brett could complete an ER residency, we really wanted to hold the wedding in Columbus, since it was where we had shared the most time together,” Christel says. 

Before heading to Franklin Park Conservatory Palm House for the reception, Christel and Brett made a pit stop at Ohio State for photos, where they paused for a photo op with a group of OSU football fans on their way to the big game. The cocktail hour was held at Palm House’s butterfly house, one of Christel’s favorite spots in Columbus. Guests mixed, mingled and enjoyed a full bar, then headed into the Grand Atrium for the reception. Soaring glass ceilings and tropical flora infused the evening with an air of drama and intrigue, especially when paired with the tables’ orange floral and fuchsia table linens. Science details abounded throughout the reception, speaking to the couple’s medical backgrounds: chemistry ring stands filled with green orchids served as centerpieces and DIY beaker candles cast a warm glow over the expansive space. Anatomical diagrams of the heart, kidney, pancreas, stomach and more provided an unexpected alternative to traditional table numbers. “Our medical friends all sat at table Pancreas, since there is a saying that goes ‘Eat when you can, sleep when you can, and don’t mess with the pancreas,’ ” Christel says. Even the after-dinner treats followed along with the theme. The couple’s doughnut table sign had wooden cubes designed to look like the periodic table of elements. For the cake, Christel and Brett went all out, having their DNA isolated by Gel Electrophoresis and using a cross section of it to decorate each tier. “One tier was my DNA, one was his, and one tier was both of ours,” Christel says. After dancing their hearts out to the sounds of Encore Entertainment DJ, the newlyweds sent their guests off with rock candy test tubes. A tip from Christel: “After being engaged for almost six years and dating for a few more, we realized that being best friends is what makes the short journey through life worthwhile. We have been married over a year, and each day I feel so lucky to have married my best friend.” —Libby MacCarthy

On a trip to New York City to visit her maid of honor, Christel spotted her dress. After a day of boutique shopping, she came across a striking strapless fit-and-flare gown with delicate lace appliques and an airy organza skirt. “I wanted to be sure of my purchase, so I thought about it for a few weeks and then decided to go ahead with it,” Christel says. “I located it at a dress shop in Columbus, Ohio, and made my final purchase at Le Jeune Mariee.”
Quirky scientific touches brought a sense of personalization and one-of-a-kind flare to all the day’s details, from the bridesmaid bouquets to the rock candy favors guests took home at the end of the night. Petals and Leaves accented all the vibrant orchid bouquets with neurotransmitter-inspired charms, ranging from serotonin, which symbolized happiness, to norepinephrine, symbolizing excitement.
Flowers were the one thing Brett insisted on picking, and he knocked it out of the park. After gathering some insight from the groom, who was adamant about including orchids in the arrangements, Petals and Leaves took over, creating vibrant bundles of green, orange and purple orchids for the reception and the wedding party’s bouquets. “Dee of Petals and Leaves really went the extra mile to help us decide on what to include, not only for aesthetics but also flowers that would hold up over the long hours,” Christel says.
Classic elegance was the guiding principle for Brett’s groomsmen’s wedding day attire, with the guys donning gray slim-fit Black by Vera Wang tuxedos. While their look was traditional, the couple ensured a few details were included throughout. To go along with the evening’s techie-meets-medical theme, Brett gave each groomsman a pair of circuit board cuff links and a matching tie clip.
Throwing an unforgettable fete where guests could let loose was a top priority for Christel and Brett, which meant arranging for postparty transportation for all their guests. “We arranged for Columbus Trolley to take people back to the hotels,” Christel says. “It was important to us that people be able to enjoy themselves safely, and the trolley was the best way we could ensure that during a game weekend in Columbus.”
While studying at Ohio State University, Christel and Brett attended weekly Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral in Columbus. The sentimental spot felt like the perfect fit for their “I dos,” and the pair planned a traditional Catholic Mass for the affair. “They were really amazing in helping us prepare for our wedding,” Christel says. “Brett was going through residency during this time, and I was beginning my studies at John Carroll University in Cleveland—our schedules were so hectic. They really made meeting with them and completing all the necessary preparations such an easy process.” Since the cathedral boasts beautiful, ornate architecture, the couple decided against decorative extras that would detract from the space’s detailing.
Christel and Brett went all out when it came to customizing their wedding, leaving no detail overlooked. Instead of having their guests shower them with rice as they made their exit from St. Joseph Cathedral, the fun-loving pair provided their friends and families with bubbles. The petite boules shimmered in the light and added a whimsical element to the afternoon.
"Simple" wasn’t in Christel and Brett’s wedding-planning vocabulary. Standard escort cards wouldn’t do for this playful pair, so they filled test tubes with white rock candy and attached kraft paper tags bearing guests' names and seating assignments.
“Though we had recently moved to Cleveland so Brett could complete an ER residency, we really wanted to hold the wedding in Columbus since it was where we had shared the most time together,” Christel says. Franklin Pond Conservatory Palm House was a spot the couple frequented when attending Ohio State University, and when it came to choosing a venue for their fun-filled soiree, Palm House seemed like the place to be. In addition to the site’s sentimental value, it had the wow factor with its soaring glass ceilings and lush tropical flora.
The decor wasn’t the only place the couple’s medical theme played out; Christel and Brett included it in the favors as well. In addition to the rock candy test tube escort cards, the couple sent their guests home with anatomically correct heart soaps, which they packaged up in small kraft paper boxes, embellished red-and-white-striped string and heart gift tags.
The candles infused Franklin Pond Conservatory Palm House with ambiance and romance and served as a nod to the evening’s scientific motif. Christel and Brett made the candles themselves, pouring bright, colorful wax into beakers, which they then scattered throughout the reception space.
Another project the couple took on was creating the table names for the reception. Playing off the scientific-medical theme, the pair named each table after a body part and marked each table with a corresponding anatomical diagram. “Our medical friends all sat at table Pancreas, since there is a saying that goes ‘Eat when you can, sleep when you can, and don’t mess with the pancreas,’ ” Christel says.
Instead of the standard lace fondant detailing, flowers and piping, Christel and Brett had Jan Kish decorate their wedding cake with a one-of-a-kind design: their DNA. The couple had their DNA isolated by Gel Electrophoresis, and had their baker copy a cross section of the sequence onto each layer of the cake. “One tier was my DNA, one was his and one tier was both of ours,” Christel says.