The featured couples of this City Paper Wedding Guide include a history-loving BG couple who chose an aviation theme and a Toledo couple with a memorable reception. We’ve made it a point to highlight any local vendors by linking to their information. We know you’ll be inspired by some of these ideas!
Marissa Muñiz Kolhoff & Zak Kolhoff
(from Toledo and Liberty Center)
Are you located in the Toledo area now? If so, where? Yes. Bowling Green.
Date of your wedding: November 10, 2022.
How did you meet? We met at a mutual friend’s surprise birthday party in 2016. Our first date (2018) was also to the National Museum of the United States Air Force (Dayton). We bonded over our love of aviation, and that ended up becoming the theme of our wedding!
Who popped the question, and how? Zak popped the question! He proposed in our backyard right before our third anniversary trip to South Carolina. He wanted to film our proposal and knew he wouldn’t be able to get his camera gear on the plane since we were flying Allegiant Air and only had the option of one personal item to carry on the plane.
How long was the engagement? Six months.
What made your wedding day special? We picked November 10 because it is Marissa’s grandparents’ anniversary (November 10, 1954), and Marissa’s engagement ring is her Grandma Shirley’s engagement ring.
During the wedding planning process, did you ever want to elope and just get it over with? Yes, well, we kind of did. We had our ceremony with our immediate family only on November 10, 2022, and we will be celebrating our reception on May 13, 2023.
Did you have a bridal shower, lingerie shower, and/or bachelor/bachelorette parties? If so, what did you do? Not yet, but we plan on having those in the spring before our reception.
Was there anything in the wedding that didn’t go according to plan? We accidently locked our cat in our closet in the process of getting ready. Oops!
Did you do anything during the wedding that would be considered non-traditional? Yes. We had our ceremony on one date and will be having our reception on a different date.
Your top moments:
- Our first look in the airplane hangar at the Wood County Regional Airport.
- Marissa made her wedding bouquet out of sectional aeronautical charts.
- Marissa’s shoes look like the USAF Thunderbirds airplanes.
- Seeing Marissa in her dress for the first time.
Three words to describe your wedding expectations: Beautiful, Fun, Memorable.
Three words to describe your wedding reality: Memorable, Lovely, Fast-Paced.
Where did you get your dress and/or suit?
Dress: Twirl Bridal (Kenton)
Suit: JCPenney
Who was your officiant? Simply Married (Downtown Toledo).
Caterer: Zak’s Uncle, Bill Kolhoff (Toledo).
Baker: McKiddy Cakes Ltd. (Sylvania).
Music: Double D Disc Jockey Service (Delphos).
Describe your wedding venue:
May 2023 – Otsego Park, Wood County Park District (Bowling Green). We liked this venue for our reception because of its size and the space it offered. It also overlooks the Maumee River and offers a beautiful backdrop for photos.
Other wedding vendors you’d like to mention:
Photo: Wandering Wolf (Lang Thombre).
Video: Anthony Wright Films & Marquis Martinez.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We have plans to go to Aruba in 2024.
Tips and tricks for other couples:
- Plan a day that you want to have. Don’t let others try to influence you or pressure you into doing something that is not part of your own wedding vision.
- Hire a videographer in addition to a photographer. We love being able to go back and watch moments from our special day.
What we learned from the whole experience: Weddings are crazy and beautiful all at the same time. Enjoy the little moments of planning your big day. And remember this is a day to celebrate your love!
Joyce Sophia Jones & Robert Cortez Jones Sr. (Toledo)
Are you located in Toledo now? What area? Yes, in North Toledo.
Date of your wedding: June 4, 2022.
How did you meet? We met at the Hilton on University of Toledo Health Science Campus at the swimming pool.
Who popped the question, and how? Robert did at our Angel Grace’s gender reveal on August 23, 2020.
How long was the engagement? 22 months.
What made your wedding day special? Having all my family and friends there.
During the wedding planning process, did you ever want to elope and just get it over with? Yes, we both did!
Did you have a bridal shower, lingerie shower, and/or bachelor/bachelorette parties? If so, what did you do? Yes, I had a bridal shower and bachelorette party. Robert had a party with his guys.
Was there anything in the wedding that didn’t go according to plan? Not being on time.
Your top moments: My father-daughter dance and Robert’s grandmother being able to be there. Also, my matron of honor’s speech.
Three words to describe your wedding expectations: Smooth, fun and stress-free.
Three words to describe your wedding reality: Stressful, fun and lovely.
Where did you get your dress and/or suit? My dress was from Atlas Bridal Shop and Robert’s suit was from Jack’s Men’s Wear.
Who was your officiant? My cousin, Lead Pastor Dr. Calvin Sweeney, Sr.
Caterer: Morenos Catering.
Baker: Kimberly Thomas.
Music: Deejay-biglou.
Describe your wedding venue: Over the Top Occasions.
Other wedding vendors you’d like to mention: Gesu’s Sullivan Center.
Where did you spend your honeymoon? We haven’t had one yet.
Tips and tricks for other couples: Do a destination wedding!
What we learned from the whole experience: To save and plan far ahead.
