Madison & Thomas's Darby House Wedding in Galloway, Ohio

Madison and Thomas were married on August 30, 2026 at Darby House in Galloway, Ohio, about 20 minutes west of downtown Columbus. Darby House sits on the historic Darby Dan Farm along Big Darby Creek, with a long tree lined drive, gardens and a ceremony site right on the water. For wedding videography in Columbus, that means gardens, water and long views all on one property.

We covered the day with two shooters, a third locked off camera at the ceremony and reception, and a separate audio recorder. Here is how the day unfolded, and a few choices I made while cutting their film.

Getting ready

Madison got ready at home with her bridesmaids in matching pink robes, and Thomas got ready with his groomsmen at the AC Hotel in downtown Columbus. With two locations at once, we split up: one shooter with each of them. Days like this are why we talk through how many hours of coverage you need early on.

On Madison's side we filmed her hair and makeup by the kitchen window, her grandmother sitting close by, her mom helping with the dress, and the first moment she stood in it. She also had a few quiet minutes with her dog before leaving. On Thomas's side, his dad fixed his bow tie and then put a hand on his face, the groomsmen raised a toast at the hotel bar, and the details got their close ups: cufflinks, his watch, the vow book.

From the edit: I cut back and forth between the two getting ready locations instead of showing one side and then the other, so the morning plays like two people heading toward the same moment.

A first look in the garden

The first look happened in the Franklin Park community gardens, with Thomas waiting with his back to the path. We filmed it with two cameras: one on Thomas and one following Madison as she walked up.

They talked for a long time once he turned around, so I kept most of it in the film. The audio comes from my main camera the whole way through, while the picture switches between the two angles.

A Darby House wedding ceremony on Big Darby Creek

The ceremony was outdoors at the water, with white flowers lining the stone edge and the creek behind the couple. Before guests sat down we filmed the details: the aisle florals, the fans on the chairs, the welcome sign and an "In Loving Memory" chair saved for family who could not be there. A string group played as guests arrived.

The processional was long and full of family: mothers and grandmothers escorted down the aisle, groomsmen, bridesmaids in dusty pink, and two little flower girls who took their time at the door. Then Madison walked out with her dad.

The ceremony itself was led by a close friend of the couple, and Madison's dad came up to read from 1 John. It ended with the kiss right at the water's edge and the whole crowd cheering.

From the edit: For the processional I stayed on the camera facing each person as they walked toward the front, so you see faces, not backs. Their grandparents, siblings and friends all get their own moment coming down the aisle.

Couple portraits around the estate

After the ceremony we took Madison and Thomas around the property: by the garden fountain, under the tree tunnel, along the creek and down the long tree lined drive. The veil moments are my favorite part of the film, especially one where the wind caught it and they ended up laughing underneath it.

We kept the portraits moving rather than posed, walking, tossing the train, a forehead touch, and that is what makes them feel like them on screen. Here are a few of our tips for looking relaxed and natural in front of the camera.

Bridal party and family

The bridal party walked the tree lined drive together, and the bridesmaids carried Madison's train while the groomsmen lined up behind them. For family photos we filmed every main group in the garden and down by the water: Madison with her parents and grandmother, Thomas with his parents, each family with the couple, and the big extended family group by the creek.

Cocktail hour and the reception rooms

Cocktail hour moved between the patio and the room with the fireplace, with the string group still playing. Guests caught up with drinks from the signature cocktail sign, a baby guest stole a few shots, and Madison and Thomas made their way around to see everyone.

The reception rooms were full of hydrangeas and candles: long tables with tall centerpieces, greenery hanging from the chandeliers, a flower wall, custom matchbooks and a white cake waiting by the window.

Grand entrance, toasts and cake

The bridal party came in to a room already on its feet, and Madison and Thomas came in last with phones up all around them. They took the mic together to welcome everyone before dinner.

The toasts ran long in the best way: several speakers, each with a story, and a lot of laughing at the sweetheart table. Then came the cake cutting by the window, with plenty of laughing between the two of them.

From the edit: For the toasts I used the clean recorder audio and kept the camera on the speaker, cutting to the couple only for their reactions.

First dance and parent dances

The first dance was on the checkered floor in front of the fireplace, with guests standing in a circle around them. I kept it in one piece in the film, start to finish.

Madison danced with her dad, Thomas danced with his mom, and Madison shared one more dance with a woman from her family that had both of them laughing. The DJ closed the formal dances with an anniversary dance, and the couple married the longest ended up with the mic in the middle of the floor.

Madison and Thomas's Darby House wedding film

Madison and Thomas's full wedding film runs about an hour: the day in order, the full ceremony, every toast and every dance. Their highlight film runs a little over five minutes and is built around their ceremony words, with an original score timed to the picture. This is how I approach a highlight film.

From the edit: Their ceremony was outdoors under bright late summer sun, so I graded every camera to the same brightness and warmth. A cut from one camera to another should never feel like a jump.

Madison and Thomas, thank you for trusting us with your day. It was a joy to film.

Planning a wedding at Darby House or anywhere in Central Ohio? Take a look at what our wedding packages include, or send us your date and we will let you know if it is open. For more of this venue, see Lauren and Jason's Darby House wedding photos.

About the author

Kodjo Somana is the founder and lead filmmaker of Kodjoarts in Columbus, Ohio. He studied filmmaking at the Columbus College of Art & Design and has filmed more than 400 weddings over 10+ years. Kodjoarts is a The Knot Best of Weddings winner with a 5.0 rating across 110+ Google reviews. Read Kodjo's story, meet the people behind the cameras, or read reviews from past couples.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Darby House wedding like?

Darby House is a gated estate on the historic Darby Dan Farm in Galloway, on the banks of Big Darby Creek. You can get ready, have a first look, hold the ceremony on the water, take portraits and celebrate without leaving the property, which keeps the day relaxed and gives you a lot of variety on film.

What is the rain plan for a Darby House ceremony?

Darby House uses the Racing Room as its indoor backup for outdoor ceremonies. It has chandeliers, a fireplace and windows looking out over the creek, so an indoor ceremony still films well.

Where are the best portrait spots at Darby House?

For Madison and Thomas we used the garden fountain, the tree tunnel, the creek edge and the long tree lined drive. Plan about 30 to 45 minutes for portraits after the ceremony so you can see more than one spot.

How do you capture clear audio for the ceremony and toasts?

We use small lav mics (here is my review of the Rode Wireless Pro after 50 weddings) on the couple and officiant, a separate audio recorder, and a feed from the DJ's soundboard for toasts. In the edit I pick the cleanest source for each moment.

How long does it take to get our wedding film back?

Our editing turnaround is usually 2 to 4 months. You get the full wedding film and a highlight film, both color graded and with music chosen for your day, and you can customize your package with extra pieces.