Mother of: Adam
Venue: Hanover Reserve, Hamilton Ohio
Vibe: Rustic chic cocktail
Dress: Betsy & Adam from Lord & Taylor
Call it Mother’s Intuition—when her son Adam was in high school, Jennie pointed out a classmate whom she thought would be perfect for him. Adam shrugged off the suggestion. Kayla, he said, was out of his league.
Then Adam went to visit Miami University where Kayla—that Kayla—was already enrolled, a year ahead of him. Jennie got the text every mother waits for. It read, “Mom, you were right!”
“OMG!” Jennie replied. “I was? About what?”
“Kayla’s awesome,” said Adam, who ran into her on the Oxford, Ohio campus. They've been together ever since.
As the tradition goes, when two Miami of Ohio alums marry, it’s considered a “Miami Merger.” Jennie and her husband were a Miami Merger, and as of July, 2023, Adam and Kayla became a second generation Miami Merger.
The wedding took place near Cincinnati at Hanover Reserve, a rustic, wood post-and-beam venue overlooking a pond and surrounded by trees. The ceremony was outside, followed by a candlelit dinner indoors.
Jennie knew she wanted a bit of arm coverage, but didn't want to overheat for the July outdoor ceremony. She was determined to find an off the shoulder dress. “I know what I look best in."
She started at a local Cincinnati boutique and then expanded her search to department stores and online. As the dress market is currently obsessed with asymmetrical necklines, Jennie wasn’t finding many off-the-shoulder options. “Family members and sales associates tried to convince me to look at other styles. I tried on many, but held steadfast, and I’m 100% glad I did!. My daughter in law said to choose a dress I felt good in and supported me throughout the process!”
Jennie found her off-the-shoulder gown: a Betsy & Adam mermaid fit with a cascade ruffle down the front. The bordeaux color complemented the mother of the bride in navy and bridesmaids in dusty blue.
“The off-the-shoulder style fit snugly on my shoulders so I wasn't pulling it up all night. It stayed in place, yet wasn't so constricting that I couldn't move my arms to dance,” Jennie says. “I loved the ruffle that cascaded across the front. The quality was excellent and I got so many compliments on it. I felt amazing in this dress.”
Mom knows best—time and again.