Bride and Groom kissing on the field at the Pro Football Hall of Fame after their wedding

Summer Pro Football Hall of Fame Wedding

When Cassie and Bryan booked me for their wedding at the Professional Football Hall of Fame in Canton I was SO excited! While I have been here for engagement sessions, wedding portraits and corporate events I have never photographed a wedding here until now! I’m so glad it was these two I got to check it off with as they are HUGE fans of football and so were their guests. It was fun to see throughout the evening more and more people opt to put on jerseys for their favorite players over their formal clothing after popping in to the gift shop at the museum.

What was more fun though was Cassie and Bryan. These two were SO EXCITED to be married in a place that is dedicated to a sport they both love and enjoy… even if they don’t champion the same teams. Everyone traveled in for the wedding in Canton, which luckily was the week before the Pro Football HOF Enshrinement Week so I hope they got to experience some fun while they were here enjoying the city. You could tell everyone was excited to celebrate in such a historic venue that holds a special place in the couple’s hearts.

I was thankful Cassie and Bryan had an indoor ceremony planned as the weather the day of their wedding was hit and miss – it kept sprinkling off and on all day. Luckily they were willing to deal with the few drops and misty rain for their photos between the ceremony and reception. They were able to go out onto the field at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium (you’ll always be Fawcett Stadium to me!) and opted to also get their family over there for photos too which I thought was the right choice! They even had a custom wedding display on the jumbotrons!

Their reception was full of heartfelt moments from lovely toasts from their families to their energetic and fun first dance to their sweet dances with their parents. Everyone was smiling all night long, even me! It was just such a fun night!

Congratulations to you both!

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Professional Football Hall of Fame / Bridal Gown: Essense of Australia / Bridesmaids: Miscellaneous / Cake: Chef Gina’s Bakeshop / Favors: Rally Towels, Waggoner’s Chocolates / Florist: Tipsy Designs / Hair & Makeup: Elite Beauty Productions / Officiants: Rabbi Susan Stone and Pastor Kathy Ramelb / Seamstress: AS Bridal Design / Shoes (Bride): bamasbabybooties / Shoes (Groom): cameron_early_arts / Stationery: Zola /  Videographer: CMVideo / Wedding Coordinator: Melissa Klatt at MK Events

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Bride and Groom smiling at each other after wedding at Haymaker's Mill 1875 in North Canton Ohio

Summer Wedding at Haymaker’s Mill 1875 

This was my first but hopefully not last time photographing a wedding at Haymaker’s Mill 1875 in North Canton! It was a picture perfect July wedding day, sunny and while it was warm it wasn’t humid and there was enough breeze to keep things cool! It was perfect for these two saying I Do outside in the beautiful garden area at Haymaker’s Mill.

I had been looking forward to this wedding for a while. When a couple says “we are having a queso fountain” I’m instantly going to be intrigued! I now believe every cocktail hour needs a queso fountain and I think all of their guests agree! I love when clients do something a bit different for food and these two opted for a massive taco bar and it was a huge hit with everyone!

Jennifer and Ben were just such a fun couple! They had great energy and were just so happy to say I Do. They were easy going all day and even when things didn’t go according to plan they just laughed it off. I LOVE that they had custom sweatsuits and converse to change into during the reception to be more comfy! This year more and more clients have been prioritizing comfy feet and I’m HERE FOR IT as the thing that will ruin a day quicker than most things is blisters!

Congratulations to you both!

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Haymaker’s Mill 1875 / Bridal Gown: David’s Bridal / Bridesmaids Gown: David’s Bridal / Catering: Melendez Catering LLC / DJ: Russell Sound Lab / Florist: Cathy Cowgill Flowers / Menswear: Mens Wearhouse

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Bride and groom posing for a wedding portrait outside of St. Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church in Canton Ohio

St. Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church Wedding in Canton, Ohio

It’s been a while since I’ve been at St. Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church but I was absolutely delighted to return, especially to capture Samantha and Adam’s beautiful wedding ceremony! These two opted to say I Do here before flying to Greece for the rest of their celebrations the following weekend in Greece! How fun is that??

What was not fun was the storm that came FLYING in when we went outside for portraits after the ceremony, luckily though we were able to finish up and I got in my car moments before it hit. They may look a wee bit wind blown BUT we got them in before the storms hit! This has been quite a wild weather summer!!

I started the day bopping between the two of them as they got ready in separate areas of the church. I immediately fell in love with Samantha’s shoes for the wedding and I’m still obsessed a month later! Samantha gave out gifts to everyone as they were getting ready and her gifts were SO thoughtful and brought many people to tears. Adam was quietly getting ready along with his friends and family and was touched by his thoughtful gifts from Samantha.

Soon enough it was time for the ceremony and you know I love an orthodox wedding! They generally not only allow me on the altar but encourage me to be and it’s such a neat vantage point for a wedding ceremony I don’t get often.

After the ceremony and formal portraits inside we were able to squeeze in the final photos outside before the storms arrived and they were off to their dinner without getting wet, whew!

Congratulations to you both!

Ceremony: St. Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church / Bridal Gown: Maggie Sottero via Abbott’s Bridal / Florist: Bloom & Petals Floral Co.

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Bride and groom standing outside after a rainstorm during their wedding at The Barn of Canal Fulton

Summer Wedding at The Barn of Canal Fulton

I am 4 years behind on the blog and am slowly trying to catch up and I think I’m going to start trying to blog when I’m posting the wedding to Instagram to maybe help lessen the burden? We’ll see but I’m going to try now that I got the blog working and not the disaster it was for the first half of this year!

Onto this wedding!

I hadn’t been to The Barn of Canal Fulton yet and I am so glad I finally got to photograph a wedding there! It’s thoughtfully laid out with perfect areas for everyone to get ready at. The upstairs suite is especially perfect for the ladies – I loved all the space for the bride and bridesmaids!

This summer has been a stormy one and unfortunately for Kylie and Rhys a rainstorm rolled in right before their outdoor ceremony was going to begin. Luckily their family and friends were on hand to be able to quickly bring everything inside and setup the ceremony inside in record time! The rain quickly moved through and we were able to pop outside for photos before their introductions which was a bonus.

One trend this summer has been that my couples have opted to do private vows with one another either during their first look or during some private time together after the ceremony like Kylie and Rhys did. I fully support this!! I loved that they were able to take some time to themselves during the chaos of the day to just enjoy being together and married and say their vows without worrying about flubbing lines in front of a lot of people. I hope it is a trend that sticks around.

One trend that was a new one to me was that they did a t-shirt toss instead of a bouquet/garter toss and it was SO FUN and such a great idea! They did one for the kids and one for the adults and everyone was delighted and no one felt called out for their relationship status.

If you couldn’t tell I loved being a part of their day, it was so unique and felt true to who they are and it was a joy to capture their day. Congratulations again!

Ceremony & Reception: The Barn of Canal Fulton / Bridal Gown: Azazie / Bridesmaids: Various / Cake: Nothing Bundt Cake / Catering: City BBQ / Hair: Dalton Hair Designs / Makeup: Faces by A&K / Menswear: Men’s Wearhouse / Officiant: Dearly Beloved by Jen / Reception Music: Complete Weddings and Events

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Bride and groom casually posing and smiling at the camera in front of autumn foliage at Garfield Park Reservation in Cleveland after a wedding

October Cleveland Wedding at Bohemian National Hall

There’s nothing that makes me happier than a sunny wedding day in Cleveland during October. Ohio is so underrated when it comes to the show the leaves put on in October and November! It’s why I think slowly over the past 19 years of being a wedding photographer the most popular wedding month has changed from June to October. October is usually better temperatures, less rain and the foliage is just so stunning!

This wedding with N & J was just such a beautiful day both in temperature in and love! I started my day out with the two of them getting ready at their AirBnB they rented in Cleveland Heights. They got ready together but didn’t see one another once dressed, which I loved. I adored all the details that went into their day and ensemble – especially how N’s belt matched J’s shirt!

We headed over to the Hungarian Cultural Garden for their first look and photos/video before popping over to the Italian Cultural Garden. I loved how they scheduled so much time for photos throughout their day! It was nice to have some room to be creative and collaborate with the always amazing Jordan of Catchlight Film & Photo Co. It’s so rare to not be rushed!

It soon was time for their ceremony though and we headed to St. Stanislaus where their beautiful ceremony took place. I loved N’s crown!! It was such a beautiful ceremony and St. Stanislaus is just a stunning church for a wedding ceremony!

After their ribbon exit from the ceremony we headed over to Garfield Park Reservation which we didn’t know was under construction! Oops! It was still open but there was a lot of chaos to shoot around. We were able to make it work though and the golden afternoon light just made everything beautifully glowy!

It was finally time for the reception and what an amazing reception it was! I’ve you’ve never been to a Slovak Wedding you’re missing out. They started the reception by breaking a plate before J carried N over the threshold into the ballroom. They went into their toasts where N’s Mother brought EVERYONE, including the vendors, to tears. After the toasts dinner was served while the dance troupe performed and everyone was delighted by the show. Once everyone was full the formal dances took place before the dance troupe returned for the radový tanec (bridal money dance), broom dance and Cepcenie.

Ceremony: St. Stanislaus Church / Photo Location 1: Hungarian Cultural Garden and Italian Cultural Garden at Cleveland Cultural Gardens / Photo Location 2: Garfield Park Reservation / Reception: Bohemian National Hall / Bridal Gown: Essence of Australia via Wendy’s Bridal / Hair: Studio Muse / Makeup: Cleveland Bridal Makeup / Menswear: Peppe Ramundo Menswear & Black Tie / Cake: Kiedrowski Bakery / Catering: A Taste of Excellence / Reception Music: Harmonia / Videography: Catchlight Film & Photo Co. [watch their beautiful video here]

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Brittany and Sean’s September Wedding at Tudor House on Portage Lakes

Bride and Groom wearing traditional wedding attire posing after fall wedding at Tudor House on Portage Lakes in Akron Ohio

This Tudor House on Portage Lakes wedding in Akron Ohio with Brittany and Sean was a gorgeous fall celebration featuring lakeside portraits and joyful laughter.

I had SO much fun with Brittany and Sean at their engagement session that I knew their wedding day was going to be amazing. Especially since it was at one of my favorite local venues – Tudor House on Portage Lakes. Not only is the venue beautiful but the staff there is amazing and they do such a fantastic job running weddings. I’ve never heard anyone on their team say, “that’s not my job” and are always willing to pitch in to keep the day running smoothly for the couple. It’s my philosophy as well so it’s extra wonderful to work with a team that thinks the same way.

Now, onto Brittany and Sean. They are just the best humans. They are so kind and thoughtful and just have good energy around them. It made the day so fun and delightful. It was extra fun when I found out that I knew Brittany’s brother!  Both of their families were so much fun and the whole day was just smiles and laughter. I mean, they had a beer guy handing out beer before the ceremony so you know it was going to be a fun time!

I will also always be thankful to these two for introducing me to Hey Dudes. They both wore them for their wedding shoes and I had to check them out for myself. Not long after I picked up a glittery pair for myself and have been wearing them at (most) weddings ever since. They are SO comfy, my feet don’t hurt AND they are glittery! I used to wear Crocs ballet flats but they shrank when the sun beat on them which was annoying when outside working weddings and feeling the shoes get tighter!!

Back to the wedding though!! I *adored* the varied gowns that Brittany’s bridesmaids wore. They were different materials and colors of pink and they looked SO GOOD together. You know I love a non-matchy moment and this was perfection! I also loved that Sean and his groomsman had a wardrobe change for the reception. Guys want to be comfy too!!

Thank you both for trusting me to capture your wedding, belated congratulations to you both!

Want me to photograph your Akron wedding, maybe even at Tudor House on Portage Lakes? Head over to the website and contact me!

Ceremony & Reception: Tudor House on Portage Lakes / Bridal Gown: Kenneth Winston via Doreen Leaf Designs / Bridesmaids Gowns: Azazie / Cake: Pearl’s Cakery /  Catering: Village Catering  / DJ: Beach Boyz Entertainment / Florist: Printz Florist / Makeup: Stephanie Walkiewicz / Photographed by: Corey Ann Photography

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Bride and Groom in wedding attire after their small wedding ceremony at Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens in Akron Ohio

It’s getting to the ‘slow’ season so I’m back to blogging and my goal is to have all of 2022 (!) posted by the end of the month. 15 days! CAN I DO IT?

Other friends who are photographers have said just skip to modern day and blog as it happens but I think of all the weddings and portraits I’ve taken and it makes me sad to not let their time shine on the blog and by extension on social media. 2020-2022 was the busiest two years in my 19 year career and I just got behind and I’m determined to make up for lost time!

Now, onto today’s post! If you’ve been around for any amount of time you know how much I adore intimate weddings. You may also know how much I adore Stan Hywet, especially weddings at Stan Hywet (which I don’t have any on my calendar currently so PLEASE HIRE ME THANKS!). I ALSO ADORE working with the Ohio Wedding Lady Catherine Daniels. When it’s all three? MAGIC. Especially with this super sweet couple!

This late September intimate wedding was held at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron Ohio in the English Garden. I *love* when ceremonies are small enough to fit into the English Garden, it’s my favorite space for a ceremony at Stan Hywet. Yes, I love the birch tree alee for an aisle but the tea houses aren’t my favorite setting for a ceremony, the English Garden is. There’s not a single bad angle and every one is amazing in its own way. Erin and Patrick had a handfasting during their ceremony too so this whole event just made my heart happy.

Their ceremony was attended by family and they were joined by their nieces and nephews who may have stolen the show – much to their delight. I love when my clients know that with children comes chaos and they embrace it. Their niece popped up near them a few times during the ceremony in her DARLING outfit (THOSE BOOTS!) and they just laughed and smiled. When I say this day was the best, this is what I mean!

What wasn’t the best was the rain that was forecasted for the whole day BUT it *is* Ohio and what ended up happening was the ceremony was dry and then during the family formals right at the end it came down in buckets. Luckily they were in the gate house so they were all dry and the sweet staff at Stan Hywet held an umbrella over me so I could finish up the photos. We waited about 15 minutes for the storm to pass and then it was dry save for a few drops here and there for their portraits after!

Erin and Patrick opted to do just a small dinner for a reception (without photography, no one wants photos chewing!) and it was so nice to have a couple hours after the ceremony to stroll the grounds and take photos instead of trying to rush so they could get to the reception. We took advantage of that time and there are few spaces that we didn’t get to. It was amazing.

Can you tell how much I love my job?

Anyway, many belated congratulations to you both. Thank you for trusting me to capture your day!

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