I think I may be a strange bird but I absolutely adore New Years Eve weddings.  I’ve done a few over the years and every time I book one I do a bit of a happy dance.  They are so fun and just up the level of happy that weddings have.  Also?  I may have a small obsession with LED blinky lights and confetti and almost every NYE wedding has these.  We stay home typically so it also gives me an excuse to get out.

Julie and Ryan are just so darn sweet together.  They chose to do a first look which was smart since they were having both of their ceremony and reception at the Hyatt.  Their first look was perfection and nothing but large smiles and massive grins.  They were just so easy together and documenting their love was a dream.  I loved their ceremony which was short, sweet and extremely personal to the two of them.

By midnight the confetti canon went off with perfection thanks to Selective Sound and it was such a fun way to ring in 2018!

Thank you both so much for trusting me to document your beautiful day!  It was SUCH an honor to spend New Years Eve with you!

Ceremony & Reception: Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade / Bridal Gown: Blush by Hayley Paige via Wedding Angels / Cake: Wild Flour Bakery / DJ:  Selective Sound / Florist: Nikki’s 21 Blooms / Hair: Kristin Demko / Makeup: Cleveland Bridal Makeup / Menswear: Men’s Wearhouse / Videographer: Saturn Entertainment Studios – see their video here

 

I started my day off getting photos of Julie’s gorgeous dress from Blush by Hayley Paige.  SUCH a stunner right?

While the girls were still in the stages of getting ready I popped over with the guys for some photos in their amazing custom t-shirts that Ryan had made with photos of them together.  SUCH a great and fun gift!

Just when I thought that just the t-shirts had the groomsman gifts nailed then they bring out the custom beer steins that Ryan gave them with their favorite drink inside.

Legit, this is one of the best gifts I’ve ever seen.  WELL DONE!

Over in the bridal suite Cleveland Bridal Makeup and Kristen Demko were getting all the ladies glammed up!

Much like the guys the ladies also had their own custom t-shirts that were a bit more girly but equally as cute!  I love that Julie’s Mom wasn’t left out!

Julie popped over to her room nearby to get dressed and it was a smart idea since the bridal suite was a bit squished!  I LOVE her dress!

Then it was time for the guys to get ready and Ryan looked quite dapper in his tux.  I LOVE the bow ties!

First look time!!

I really love Hyatt no matter the season but at Christmas it’s just that much more amazing – especially when there’s a first look!

I think Ryan loved what he saw when he turned around!

They are so darn cute!

While I love all the moments during the first look, I think the “show off” moment is always close to the tops on my list.

THEY ARE SO DARN CUTE!

See what I mean about how gorgeous the Hyatt is this time of year?  I’m back there again right at Christmas this year and I am SO excited!

I love sneaky little looks like this.  I don’t blame Ryan, Julie looked amazing!

While the bridal party finished up getting ready we did some more portraits around the Hyatt and of course everything was perfection.

I absolutely loved the black and gold look of the bridal party.  Those bridesmaid dresses were SO awesome and perfect for a New Years Eve wedding!

Such a great group of gals!

…and guys!

Of course we had to go down and play on the lit stairs which are my favorite!

If I had a place to wear it I’d have bought myself one of these gold dresses!  SO pretty!

The guys all had colorful socks which was such a fun little nod to New Years Eve and the colorful confetti that comes with it!

It wasn’t brutally cold so Julie and Ryan agreed to go outside for a few quick photos with The Arcade sign.  Bonus is that it gave Julie an excuse to put on her cute coat!

Back inside for one more photo before the ceremony with the lit stairs!

Julie’s bouquet from Nikki’s 21 Blooms was such a beautiful way to tie in the gold of her bridesmaid dresses!  The blush pink and cream roses were just stunning along with the gold baby’s breath!

Time for the ceremony and Ryan was just as emotional as any groom that hadn’t seen his bride before the walk up the aisle.

Julie’s brothers escorted her up the aisle and had a tough time holding it together.

It was a short, sweet and beautiful ceremony with a few giggles and lots of smiles.

The kiss!

I know, I know, I rave on and on about Wild Flour Bakery but with reason.  Their cakes are delicious and beautiful.  This one with the Cleveland skyline is gorgeous!

I really loved the gold champagne bottle centerpieces for their reception tables.  It’s a fun way to have a nod to New Years!

Their cake cutting went perfectly!

The bridal party brought their a-game for their entrances.  Holy COW did they!

Julie and Ryan’s entrance was perfection and you know I was loving their LED blinky 2018 glasses.

They opted to have their head table near the stairs and I really loved how the backdrop looked during their wedding toasts.

Ryan’s best man and brother gave a perfect toast!

After dinner the bridal party table was broke down and the dance floor took over the space.  They kicked off the dancing with their first dance and it was perfection.

Afterwards Ryan danced with his Mom and it was sweet.

Then the dance floor opened and the party began and holy moly did this group party!  The dance floor was packed and people had SUCH a great time.

Then it was time for the countdown to 2018.  Confetti went off, people were doing a kick line on the stairs, couples were kissing and of course Julie and Ryan were as well.  It was the perfect way to ring in a new year!

Before I left I played with their rings and their favors (the love was a bottle opener!) and their beads!