I have known the bride, Kim, for a lot of years. Kim & I play pool on the same Northeast Ohio pool league, so I was so honored when she asked me to be her wedding photographer. I was hired almost two years before their wedding day, and had fun watching her plan her “Winter Wonderland” themed wedding over the years. Even more fun was spending the day with such an amazing wedding party, their family, and guests. Even knew a bunch of the guests and some bridal party members! How fun is that?
The day started early, with getting ready at Embassy Suites in Independence, Ohio. It is funny watching the differences of the girls getting ready, versus the guys. For the guys, it starts about 20 minutes before they have to be where they are supposed to be. For the girls, it is hours of hair & makeup, finding accessories, and making sure everything is in place. The team from Makeup by Madison & Co. did an amazing job with all of the ladies! And lets talk about the flowers! The bride and her friends created all of the bridesmaids bouquets themselves, and they turned out amazing. The bridal bouquet was created by one of my most favorite florists to work with on weddings, Bouts & Bouquets, they always do an amazing job. While the girls get ready, I love capturing the details, and Kim’s were so unique and beautiful. Did you see her shoes?! Jerry even snuck in and wrote a message for his bride on the bottom of one! She even carried with her a hankie that her Mother in Law carried with her on her own wedding day. Those are the details that I love!
Kim & Jerry decided to do a first look, and for a photographer, this made me so happy!! By doing a first look, we were then able to get all of the bridal party portraits done before the ceremony. So, after the ceremony and family photos, it was party time at the reception! Kim was a smart planner, and got a permit for us to take photos in a gorgeous historic theater in downtown Cleveland, called Connor Palace in Playhouse Square, and it did not disappoint. I even got the bride and groom on stage! After the theater, we snapped a few in front of the Cleveland Chandelier, always wanted to do that. From there, we made our way to the Cleveland sign behind the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The wedding ceremony was held at St. Paul Greek Orthodox Church, and what a beautiful church it is. This was my first time being in a Greek Orthodox Church, and at a Greek wedding, and it was an amazing experience. The ceremony was so full of beautiful Greek traditions, that involved not only their bridal party but close family as well.
The reception was quite the party! It was held in an attached building, called St. Paul Hellenic Center, and catered by Brennan’s Catering. The food was amazing, I was lucky to have the delicious salmon dinner. Now, check out those cakes!! Rudy’s Strudel & Bakery did an amazing job on those cakes! I love how the groom’s cake is mudding on the formal cake! If you are from NE Ohio, you know what mudding is. Being a Greek wedding, they danced the traditional Greek Wedding Dance, my first time seeing such an awesome tradition. And the rest of the evening was an amazing party, everybody danced all night to DJ Christopher, who even created the awesome dancing in the clouds smoke effect for the bride and grooms first dance.
I hope you all enjoy the images from Kim & Jerry’s wedding! It can give great inspiration for those planning their own wedding in Northeast Ohio, or even a destination wedding.
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