Katie and Sam braved the windiest fall day for their downtown engagement session. Gah! I love this city so much. Take a look at how well they embraced the weird weather to get some beautiful photos in this awesome city of ours.
Annie & Drew | East 4th Cleveland Engagement
Between knowing some of the same people, going to the same college and sharing TV guilty pleasures, I've decided that Annie and Drew are my new best friends. Whether they've decided the same thing is beside the point. Ha!
Drew is quick to make Annie laugh, which is my favorite thing ever. They're super down-to-earth and even have a choreographed dance routine that they debuted for my camera. Annie and Drew are gracious, classy and so much fun. To say I'm excited for their wedding next year is a gigantic understatement.
Annie, I adore this photo of you. Gorgeous!
And we'll end with this one because … Miami!
Sherry & Alex | Cleveland Botanical Garden Wedding
Sherry and Alex were the BEST couple to help me kick off my 2015 wedding season. These two are so incredibly sweet with each other and everyone around them. All day they made sure that my second shooter Samantha and I were well taken care of. One of my favorite memories from their day? When we showed up to the reception and saw that they had set aside a table for us labeled "Beauty Capturers." I think I laughed out loud, but I had been laughing the whole day so it was just another happy moment.
Sherry is hilarious … in a really unexpected way. One minute she was talking with her bridesmaids, the next she had them cracking up at the punchline of one her infamous jokes (telling jokes is a habit she picked up in med school). Alex didn't stop smiling at her the entire day. He has the kindest disposition I've ever witnessed, and the two of them together are unstoppable.
Some of my other favorite moments from their day:
- Sherry reading The Little Prince while she was waiting to go to the first look.
- The flowering trees that started blooming just in time for Sherry and Alex's sunny wedding day!
- The hilarious groomsmen group hug.
- Listening to the ceremony (and reception!) translated into Chinese for out-of-country guests.
- Sherry and Alex's Chinese tea ceremony.
- Alex's violin performance.
Ceremony and Reception: Cleveland Botanical Garden Videographer: KRR Production Cake: Tai Wah Chinese Restaurant Hair Stylist: Ramona Dauksa Bride's Dress: Simply Bridal Honeymoon: Singapore and Indonesia!
Rhiana & Joe | Brecksville Ohio Fall Wedding
The morning of her wedding, Rhiana greeted my assistant Caitlin and I at the door of her parent's house with the biggest smile on her face and a bowl of yogurt and berries in her hand. She was so joyful and relaxed and excited all day that you just knew she and Joe were entering into this true covenant of marriage. They think the world of each other and treat the other with such respect and adoration. It's really sweet to witness.
Sometimes you can just tell with certain people that family means everything to them. Rhiana and Joe are so good-hearted and speak so highly of their siblings and parents that I knew family was something really special to them. In fact, that's how they knew that they had found the one they would spend the rest of their life with … Rhiana's family welcomed Joe with open arms and vice versa.
Rhiana and Joe have started a little family of their own now--they even have a new pup named Indy--and I know their home is filled with so much love and acceptance and affirmation. You two are such great role models of how we all should live our lives. I'm so thankful I got to know you and document the day you became a family. Thanks for being so great, Rhiana and Joe!
Rhiana was such a beautiful bride. I especially love the headpiece she wore (that was also worn by Joe's mom when she was married!)
Rhiana and Joe didn't want to see each other before the ceremony but they still wanted to say a quick prayer together. This was the solution. :)
During the ceremony, Rhiana and Joe incorporated a Filipino cord and veil tradition. I love these special touches that make each ceremony unique!
After taking portraits at Brecksville Reservation, Rhiana and Joe made time to get ice cream at Honey Hut with their wedding party. THE COOLEST THING EVER! They all got their photo on the wall for finishing The Destroyer--a GIANT banana split with, like, nine scoops of ice cream.
Ceremony: St. Basil the Great Catholic Church
Videographer: Greg Henry
Florist: Creations by Lynn
Cake: Seballos Pastries (Rhiana's family's bakery!)
DJ: Beach Boyz
Hair and Makeup: Salon at Creekside
Bride's Dress: Allure Romance