The Poe family’s history with Hillbrook is one-of-a-kind and dates back to before Hillbrook was officially a member’s club. In the mid 1940s, Carol Poe’s father was friendly with the Johnston’s, who bought the mansion in 1946. Carol’s father was one of the original club members and Carol has many memories from visiting the club before her marriage. Carol married Don Poe in 1954 at Hillbrook, followed by their daughter’s marriage in 1985 and their grandson’s marriage in 2016. Three generations of Poe weddings at Hillbrook over seven decades.
 
1954: Carol and Don Poe
1985: Susan Poe (Don and Carol's daughter) and Steve Flowers 
2016: Courtney and Brian Poe (Don and Carol’s grandson)
 
We were fortunate enough to speak with all three generations to discuss their respective weddings and reminisce about their family history and traditions at Hillbrook. We hope you enjoy hearing first-hand about their memories. 

Why did you choose The Club at Hillbrook for your wedding?
1954 Carol and Don Poe: 
Our ceremony was at Fairmount Presbyterian Church, but our reception was at Hillbrook.  At the time, people thought going to Hillbrook was a long way to go, but my family loved beautiful Hillbrook from the time we first belonged. The country setting made it possible to have bagpipers and dancers and the Scottish setting was fun and lively. 
Weddings were usually simpler then and we entertained our guests with music, a buffet and drinks.  The photography was in black and white except for some pictures taken on some 3D cameras. Even Don's Salvation Army Grandmother commented, “I didn't partake in the beverage but it was the most beautiful reception that I have ever been to.”
 
1985 Susan Poe and Steve Flowers: 
When I was a child, we used to go to Hillbrook for “Grandma Day” and special occasions —I always loved it.  I also used to love to flip through my parents' wedding album to see how beautiful their wedding there was.  When I was in high school and college, I worked at Hillbrook as a waitress and got to see many other lovely weddings there, too.  Hillbrook was where I always dreamed of getting married. There was never any question.   

2016 Courtney and Brian Poe: 
A couple days after we got engaged (which was over Memorial Day/Blossom weekend in Chagrin Falls), Brian mentioned Hillbrook as a potential wedding venue. He told me about the family history and some family events he had celebrated there in the past, so we immediately knew it was a top contender. Hillbrook was the first venue we visited in July 2015, and it was the clear favorite by our family and us. We loved the lush, green, beautiful property; being tucked back in the woods; the beautiful and unique Tudor mansion... we loved everything about Hillbrook and the family history was the icing on the cake!

What was your favorite part about having your wedding at Hillbrook?
1954 Carol and Don Poe: 
Hillbrook is the most beautiful place that I have ever been to for a wedding.  At the time, it was relatively unknown and people were excited to be there.  The food has always been exceptional, the service great and the club accommodating. It is easy to plan a party there.
 
1985 Susan Poe and Steve Flowers: 
Obviously, its beauty.  There are so many lovely spots.  We got married in the gazebo overlooking the falls – paradise!
 
2016 Courtney and Brian Poe: 
Everything went smoothly on our wedding day, and we felt very well taken care of by the entire Hillbrook staff. From the bridal attendant while we were getting ready to the servers bringing the wedding party appetizers during cocktail hour to the four slices of wedding cake waiting for us in our room at the end of the night, it was perfect!
We loved Hillbrook for the grounds and the history behind it, and we are so glad we were able to capture that with some amazing pictures at various spots including in front of the mansion, by the teahouse, in the woods, and in the gazebo. We were excited to bring all of our guests to Hillbrook so that they could also enjoy the beautiful place that we fell in love with.  
Finally, it was really fun to spend our wedding night at Hillbrook. We said goodbye to all of our guests and then retreated to our cozy suite. We plan to celebrate a future anniversary by staying again!

What is your favorite wedding memory?
1954 Carol and Don Poe: 
We loved it all.  It was wonderful to be surrounded by family and friends.  It was nice to have both the Thetas and the SAEs there to serenade us.
 
1985 Susan Poe and Steve Flowers: 
Walking across the field with my parents down to the gazebo then walking up the stairs of the gazebo to my husband.
 
2016 Courtney and Brian Poe: 
The entire day was amazing, but one of my favorite moments was the first look (which also included our dog, Palmer). We were so excited to see each other, for Brian to finally see the wedding dress, and we felt much more at ease after seeing each other.
We will also never forget the epic downpour that occurred right after we finished taking pictures in the back yard/during cocktail hour... everyone was dry and under the covered porch just watching the rain. We were so thankful that the rain held out all day until then.

What were your Processional/Recessional/First Dance songs?
1954 Carol and Don Poe: 
​We didn’t have a set music program but we did had bagpipers.
1985 Susan Poe and Steve Flowers: 
Processional: Clair de Lune
Recessional: Bagpiper playing “Scotland the Brave”
First Dance: Can’t remember!
2016 Courtney and Brian Poe:
Processional: Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring (Bridesmaids)
Bach Canon in D, Pachelbel (Bride)
Recessional: Mendelssohn Wedding March, Mendelssohn
First Dance: "Brand New" by Ben Rector

Anything you else want to tell us?
1954 Carol and Don Poe:
​Hillbrook set the tune for a life of happiness and good health.  We are
blessed to have a wonderful family.  We wish all future Hillbrook couples the same.  
 
1985 Susan Poe and Steve Flowers:
On the day my husband proposed to me, we went to Hillbrook to ask my father if we had his approval since he was playing tennis there.  My husband asked him in the middle of Dad’s serve, at which point, my father dropped the ball and his racquet and said, ”you’re serious aren’t you?” So in the end, Hillbrook ended up being where my father gave permission to my husband and where we celebrated on our wedding day.
 
2016 Courtney and Brian Poe:
While our wedding day was always going to be a special day in our lives, our own family history at the club truly added to the whole day. It was fantastic to feel that we were immediately a part of something bigger - that we were walking in the some of the same places and experiencing some of the same things that our relatives had before us. Hillbrook has always been extremely meaningful to our family, and we feel lucky to now understand that a little bit better, as we became part of the Hillbrook tradition! 

Fun Facts about Courtney and Brian’s wedding:
 

•  We knew we wanted to include our dog, Palmer, in our wedding, so we took pictures with her during our first look. This was one of our favorite parts as well, and the photos turned out perfect.
•  Signature drink: Moscow Mules, which is one of our favorites. We also gave guests copper mugs for the favor and tied the escort tags to the mugs. 
•  For the reception tables, instead of table #s, we used names of places that we have been together with a picture of us there i.e. "Chagrin Falls", "Las Vegas", "Napa" etc. 
•  For our guest book, we put out postcards of places that we were going to go on our honeymoon. People were able to pick their favorite postcard from the five places we were headed on the honeymoon (Nice, France; Lugarno, Switzerland; Cinque Terre, Italy; Florence, Italy; Venice, Italy). It was awesome to read some of the great notes that people wrote us on the postcards!

​2016 Wedding Photographer: Hunter Photographic 

This month’s bridal feature is Courtney Nussbaum. Courtney and Brett were married on August 13th, 2016 on one of the rainiest days of the summer. Despite a little rain, their wedding was perfect. From her dress to the flowers to the smallest details, everything was impeccable. 

Why did you choose The Club at Hillbrook?
I grew up down the street from Hillbrook and have always loved the venue. I celebrated my sweet sixteen there as well, and always knew it was where I wanted to get married. Unlike the hotels downtown, I felt a connection to Hillbrook. It is beautiful and grand but intimate and cozy at the same time. The scenery is breathtaking and there is something magical about it. No other venues in the area even compare.

What was the best part about getting married at Hillbrook?
Hillbrook is beyond beautiful so you don’t have to add much to make the event amazing. This helped me relax about the details and not stress about decorations. In the back of my mind I always knew that I had a beautiful venue so the flowers, candles and decor would just be icing on the cake. 

Did your wedding have a theme?
Our wedding didn't have a theme, but I wanted it to exude casual elegance.  We aren't super formal people, so we did not want our wedding to feel too fancy. I gravitated towards neutrals and blushes because I didn't want to distract from the natural beauty around us.
​
What was your favorite part about planning the wedding? 
​I loved choosing the flowers and putting the tablescape together. I worked with Arne at Blooms and he was simply wonderful.  He helped me piece together my ideas and brought my vision to life.  When I walked into the room for the first time, I saw my childhood wedding vision in front of me.

Did you do a first look? 
Yes, we did do a first look. It was starting to rain (which is kind of a theme in our relationship as it poured on us when Brett proposed) and I came out front to meet Brett.  I was so overjoyed to see him.  A wedding day can be stressful and I am painfully detail oriented. Brett is my calming force so I needed him by my side.

Although your first choice for a ceremony was outside, what was the best part about getting married on the veranda?
  I actually loved having the ceremony on the veranda.  I was quite devastated about the weather forecast, but the ceremony was even more spectacular than I could have imagined.  There was something so intimate about having it there. It was like being outside in a rainstorm.  It was truly beautiful.
​
Everyone raved about your chuppah. How did you design it? 
​ I loved our chuppah so much.  I wanted it to look very natural and tie into the beautiful lawn and woods surrounding the veranda.  I also wanted very neutral blush tones, white flowers and a lot of greenery, so it almost looked a little overgrown.  It turned out perfectly!  

Tell us about your wedding dress.
It took me a long time to find my dress.  I knew that I wanted something sophisticated and timeless.  I looked all over Chicago, where I live, with no luck.  My florist mentioned Brides by the Falls and I went there when Leanne Belter was having a trunk show.  I tried on my dress and that was it.  

What was your favorite part of the day? 
Definitely saying our vows!  We wrote our own vows and they meant so much to us.  I also will never forget our first dance as husband and wife. It was surreal to look around and feel so much love and joy in one room. 
​
What was your processional, recessional and first dance song?
​Our processional songs were "All You Need is Love" and "Can't Help Falling in Love With You."  Our recessional song was "Perfect Day."  Our first dance was "Let's Stay Together."

Tell us about your invitation suite.
Our save the date and rehearsal dinner invite tied together in that they were rustic and printed on craft paper, but I wanted something more elegant for the wedding.  I went to All She Wrote in Chicago to customize our wedding suite.  The creme paper and gold ink tied in with our place cards and menus.

What advice do you have for future brides about planning? 
​I would tell brides to stay calm and enjoy the chaos.  Also, listen to your instinct and turn down the noise around you. Before the day, write down a list of all the photographs you want - you won’t remember on the day of. Lastly, don’t forget that it is your day and it should reflect who you are as a couple. 

As you can tell, Courtney and Brett's wedding day was full of love, happiness and beauty. To view it in more detail, check out their wedding video below.

​Florist: Blooms Plantscaping
Make-up: Kajal by Kimberly
Hair: Dino Palmieri
Wedding Cake: White Flour
Photographer: Radphotography
Videographer: JustHitched Films
Band: Shout
Strings: Sonata Strings
Invitation: William Arthur via All She Wrote
Dress: Lea Ann Belter

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​This year marks 70 years since Mr. Paul R. Johnston purchased Hillbrook. This is an important anniversary for the club since Mr. Johnston converted the mansion from a single-family home into a club. Mr. Johnston purchased the mansion in 1946 from the Burkes, and lived in it with his family before deciding to convert it to a club in 1952. We are very glad Mr. Johnston made the decision he did, as The Club at Hillbrook is now home to many members, memories and history.

Finding the perfect wedding dress has become a phenomenon, an experience, and even a reality television plot line. Before a bride is engaged, she is most likely browsing Pinterest, Instagram and wedding blogs in search for the perfect dress.
 
Due to the vitality of the dress, we decided to sit down with Matina’s Bridal to learn more about their boutique, the industry in general and the best tips to finding the perfect dress.
 
Matina’s Bridal has been northern Ohio’s premier dress boutique for more than 40 years and specializes in designer wedding gowns and accessories, bridesmaid’s dresses and mother of the bride gowns. Matina’s Bridal travels frequently to NYC to attend bridal shows, meet with designers and stay in the loop with bridal trends and fashion. Matina’s bridal carries numerous designers, many of which are exclusive to Matina’s in the Cleveland area. The following designers can be found at the boutique: Alvina Valenta Bridal, Amsale Bridal, Bliss by Monique Lhuillier, Caroline Castigliano, Hayley Paige Bridal, Ines Di Santo, Lazaro Bridal, Marisa Collection, Matthew Christopher, Ti Adora and coming soon, Robert Bullock Bride. With a large variety of designers and styles as well as knowledgeable staff, you’re sure to "say yes to the dress” at Matina’s. 

With the help of Julie Possage, the owner of Matina’s Bridal, we compiled a list of Do's and Don’ts for your wedding dress search:
Do's:
1.    Be true to yourself.  If you like classic styles, look for a classic gown.  If you’re an edgy, fashion forward individual you should follow suit with your wedding dress selection. Wedding dress styles change seasonally but there are also classic, traditional styles that remain static. Stay true to your personality and what most resembles you. If you try to be too daring on your wedding day, you will regret it later on.
2.    Start your dress search early. Matina’s recommends starting the process one year prior to the wedding date. Most dresses take 4-6 months to order and alterations can take up to three months on top of that. The average bride comes in three to four times for fittings, but it varies with each bride. Make sure you bring all accessories including shoes, jewelry, veil and undergarments to the fittings so you know what the dress will look like on the day of. Keep in mind that more elaborate designs and gowns, including lace details , take longer to alter.
3.    Limit the number of dresses you try on.  When you shop around too much and try on dozens of wedding gowns at each boutique, the gown selection process becomes an arduous task and not the joyful, exciting experience it was meant to be. Limit yourself to 2-3 appointments and try on no more than 10-12 dresses at each one. More often than not, brides end up buying the first dress they try on.
4. Do your research prior to your bridal appointments.  Call the store and ask questions about styles and/or price ranges. Come prepared with some  idea of what you’re looking for whether it be the style, the designer or even just the budget. It’s better to be armed with information than to be surprised and waste your time. 
5.    Consider the fabric.  For example, if the wedding takes place on a beach or other outdoor venue in the middle of summer it’s best not to wear a large ball gown made of silk-faced duchess satin.  Rather, look for a breathable fabric that allows you to be as comfortable as possible on your wedding day. Overall, make sure your dress matches the venue and overall theme of your day. If your wedding is fancy, choose a fancy fabric. If your wedding is very casual, a fabric that matches that feel is more appropriate.  
6.    Be a bride. You can never be “too bridal”.  The intention is that you are making a lifetime commitment and only doing this once.  Wear the veil, get the jewelry you love and enjoy every minute of being a bride.  It’s the one day in your life that is all about you!
7.    Ask questions. If you have questions about the fit during the alterations process, don’t keep quiet!  You can’t be helped if you don’t voice your concerns.  Every bridal store’s main goal is a happy bride and Matina’s will do anything to make sure their brides feel beautiful on their wedding day.

Don’ts: 
1.     Don’t order your dress online. A wedding dress is the most important garment a woman will ever buy. Don't chance that purchase to an online retailer. Unfortunately there are numerous counterfeit websites that misrepresent their inventory and offer low quality gowns. Plus, wedding gown sizing is 1x-2x different than street sizing, so ordering online is a disaster waiting to happen. When you purchase a gown from Matina's, we take your measurements and match them to the designer's size chart. 
2.     Don’t shop giant retailers. You may get sucked into buying a dress that isn’t right for you, or not in your budget. Visit smaller boutiques that will give all of their focus to you.
3.     Don’t go against your gut instinct. If there’s something you don’t like about a dress in the store, that feeling will be magnified on your wedding day.  Don’t buy that dress.
4. Don’t forget to ask questions. Whether it be about the designer, the style, the fit, the alterations or the bustling, all questions are important.
5.     Don’t forget accessories. Jewelry, belts, veils and other hair pieces can truly change the look of a dress. We suggest "saying yes to the dress” with the veil on to see the full look. Matina’s offers a variety of veils and accessories including a selection of oversized hair combs, wreaths and other hair jewelry made of a variety of metals, stones and Swarovski crystals. See pictures below for more details.
6.     Don’t bring too many people to the boutique to try on dresses. The more opinions, the more confused the bride becomes. Even though reality TV promotes big groups, it causes stress, chaos and the bride ends up trying on dresses she knows she is not interested in.
7.     Don’t pick the dress you think other people would want you to wear.  It’s your day and your dress. You’re supposed to feel as beautiful as possible!

Upcoming  Events at Matina’s Bridal:
·      Monique Lhuillier Bliss Bridal Trunk Show – September 23rd/24th
·      Best of Lazaro Bridal Trunk Show – October 27th – 29th (celebrating Matina’s 42nd Anniversary!)
·      Ti Adora Bridal Trunk Show – November 17th – 19th
·      Matthew Christopher  Bridal Trunk Show – December 23rd – December 31st
·      Bridemaids’ Bash and Trunk Show featuring Amsale Bridesmaids  – January 26th – 28th

Appointments necessary. Call to schedule or book online. 
​Matina's Bridal • Eton Shopping Center • 28601 Chagrin Blvd. • Woodmere, OH 44122
​216.464.1288
www.matinasbridal.com


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#2. Dining Options
Tired of the same old restaurants time after time? Join and have access to our restaurant year-round. Our menu changes seasonally and our head chef will never disappoint. Check out our dining page here.

#3. Spend Time With Family
In addition to dining, Hillbrook offers pool, fitness, tennis, lawn games and more. Hillbrook also hosts various member-only events throughout the month that are great for all ages. See #9 for more details on member events. 

#4. Host Events
​Whether it be a large wedding, a graduation party, a corporate luncheon or a small family dinner, Hillbrook is the perfect place. Better yet, Hillbrook will do all the planning thanks to our in-house event planner.

#6. First Priority for Guest Suites
Whether you have guests coming in town or simply need a staycation, Hillbrook’s guest suites are all yours.

#8. Gain Access to Other Clubs
Our members receive reciprocal benefits at a number of other country clubs in the greater-Cleveland area. A list of reciprocal clubs is available by calling our front office. 

#9. Extend Your Social Circle
Hillbrook provides members with an opportunity to socialize and meet other members. If you’re new to town, looking to network or simply looking to meet new people, there is no better place than a private club like Hillbrook. Hillbrook hosts member events throughout the month including Pasta Night and Live Music, that are a great way to socialize. 
​

To learn more, visit our membership page here or contact our Director of Membership by email or phone.

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The minute you open Instagram or Facebook you know it’s wedding season. Your newsfeed is full of engagement photos, bridesmaids, groomsmen, the first dance and table arrangements. It’s also full of hashtags, consciously added to the caption of each uploaded picture. 

In the past few years, clever hashtags have become a staple of all weddings.  Hashtags offer a way for guests to post pictures knowing the bride and groom, as well as those who couldn’t attend, will see them. The hashtags unite all the photos in one place, making it easy to view everyone’s photos at once. 

​Of course viewing the pictures after the wedding is fun, but creating the actual hashtag is where it all begins. Wedding hashtags have become so popular that there are websites that will generate ideas for you if you type in your name, your partners name and the date. Some of the hashtag suggestions are simple and others are a play on the names. Hashtags have become so popular that brides and grooms are pressured to come up with a clever tag. In 2012 a simple #lastname+lastname would suffice. Today, you need to be more creative if you want it to be remembered. 

However, coming up with the hashtag isn’t where it ends. The actual hashtag is only half of it. The other half? A creative way to let your guests know what the hashtag is. Whether it begins with a note on the invitation, displays around the reception, or cocktail napkins with the hashtag, you need a way to inform the guests. 

What do you think of this new hashtag phenomenon? What is your favorite hashtag you have seen? How do you think the bride and groom should share the hashtag with the guests? 

Check out some original examples below and let us know your thoughts in the comment section!

Photos Courtesy Of:
​Studio Elle
Nick + Danee 
W+E Photographie
Wedding Wire
Jennifer Mooney
AnnieMade
Weddings Illustrated
Gina and Ryan

​Not only are Nick and Danée a fun, down-to-earth couple, they are extremely talented, as you can see. What is your favorite tip from them? Let us know below! For more information about Nick & Danée and to see more pictures, please visit www.nickplusdanee.com, or email them at info@nickplusdanee.com. 
​
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Kelly Miron, owner and makeup artist at The Powder Room-Makeup Oasis & Boutique, has graciously shared some tips and advice for perfect wedding day makeup. Kelly started her career at Clinique before working for numerous high-end brands including YSL, Chanel and NARS. After learning the industry, Kelly opened her own boutique where she could continue her passion of transforming women through the power of makeup while handpicking her own products. Kelly incorporates everything she has learned with each brand to give her brides the most professional experience.
 
After speaking with Kelly and learning the ins and outs of her business and techniques as an artist, we've compiled a list of five tips for breath-taking makeup for an unforgettable day, according to the professional herself.
 
Tip #1. Make sure your makeup artist knows you as a person.
Take time to talk with your makeup artist. Start by telling her about yourself and who you are so she can understand your personality and taste. Tell her details about the wedding, including venue, theme, and overall style of the wedding. All of these components are crucial for her to create a look that you will be head-over-heels in love with. Everything needs to be in-sync.
 
Tip #2. Meet with your make-up artist 6-8 months before the big day.
Kelly suggests meeting with your makeup artist 6-8 months before your wedding. This gives you plenty of time to get to know your artist and for her to get to know you. This time frame also allows you to schedule trials so you can choose the best look for you. Some brides know what they want and only need one trial, but some like to experiment with different styles until they find their perfect look. Six to eight months before your wedding also allows plenty of time for you to find a great skin-regimen (see Tip #3).  
 
Tip #3. Skin-care regimens are important. 
Although skin-care regimens are important regardless if you are getting married or not, they become even more important when prepping for the big day. Depending on your skin type, different products can make a big difference in the look and feel of your skin. Skin-care regimens don’t show results overnight, so allow six to eight months for the treatments to do their magic.
 
Tip #4. Be Open-Minded.
You have six to eight months until your big day, so you have plenty of time to try new looks. Allow your makeup artist to try techniques and looks that she thinks would bring out your eyes, cheek bones or natural beauty. The good thing about makeup is it is not permanent so you can always alter it to get the look you want. With that being said, let yourself to explore different looks.

Tip #5. It’s worth the cost.
Kelly said it best: “Any one of us can bake a cake, but why would you attempt to bake your wedding cake?” Her same thought process goes for makeup. Any one of us can apply makeup, but why not let someone who does it for a living take the burden off your shoulders and do it right? Allow someone who is a professional create your very best look. Ten years from now, you’ll still have these pictures and your face will be in the majority of them. You want to make sure your makeup looks just as good at midnight as it did during the ceremony. 
 
For more information on Kelly, please visit www.thepowderroomboutique.com, or stop by the boutique located in Eton Collection. For a sneak peak of her work see attached images.