Last summer I had the immense joy of documenting Claire and Erin’s wedding at the Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade.  I cannot begin to describe just how happy and joyful this wedding was and how much I loved spending my day with them and their friends and family.

I’ve been doing this for a while but I admit that I still get a bit misty eyed at many ceremonies and this was one of them.  The joy and the sweetness of their vows and the love filling the atrium at The Arcade was almost palpable.

The whole darn day was wonderful.  I could gush on and on and on about how lovely the bridal party was, how fun the photos were before the ceremony, how much I loved all the vibrant colors, how much LOVE was in that room for these two lovely brides, how sweet the families were but instead I’m going to get to the good stuff – the photos showing off their wedding.

Huge thanks to Karen Menyhart Photography for being my stellar second that day!

Thank you the most to Claire and Erin for trusting me to capture your wedding day!  It was such a joy to work with you both.

Ceremony & Reception: Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade / Bridal Gown: Maggie Sottero via RK Bridal / Bridal Suit: Bindle & Keep  / Bridesmaid Skirts: Azazie / Bridesmaids Pants & Suspenders: Banana Republic  / Cake: Wild Flour Bakery / DJ: A Bride’s DJ  / Florist: Lowe’s Greenhouse / Published in: The Knot: Ohio Spring/Summer 2020

 

I started my day with Erin and her friends.  A year later and I’m still OBSESSED with her custom suit from Bindle & Keep.

Meanwhile Karen was over with Claire while she got ready and was able to do some photos of this stunning rainbow bouquet that Lowe’s Greenhouse created for Claire!

I looooved these fun skirts these ladies had!

Soon enough it was time for Claire and Erin’s first look!  It was so sweet and perfect!

I loved how Erin took in all the details of the dress!

Then Erin showed off her suit!  The custom suit from Bindle & Keep was SO perfect for Erin!

Erin also carried a pocket watch with her.

Finally a spin that Karen captured beautifully from above!

Before heading out on the town we did a few photos in The Arcade and my gosh these two!  SO LOVELY!

Have I mentioned how adorable these two are?

Our first stop was the East 9th Street Pier and the famous Cleveland sign!

How fun is this bridal party?  I loved the varying shades of pink skirts and various blue bow ties!

The wind was wild!

The bonus to wearing pants?  Ability to climb the sign AND not have as many issues with wind + skirts!

Seriously, these two.  The cutest!

Smiles and laughs were abound everywhere all day!

I looooooved the ladies in the suspenders!

I’m still loving the skirts too – so fun!

Rather than play Frogger with the bridge we opted to use these mini Guardians of the Traffic guys on the West Bank of the flats.

Karen suggested this mural for a stop for photos and we all LOVED it!  How perfect is this?

Finally we took a spin through Public Square and took advantage of this colorful display there!

We headed back to the Hyatt and got ready for the ceremony!!

I adore ceremonies at the Hyatt – so many beautiful views!

I know, I know, but I can’t HELP but gush over these two!

These two are so freaking talented that they created a lot of the items for their wedding themselves, including this rainbow welcome sign!

As with any good ceremony there was laughter and (happy) tears!

They tied the knot literally after the exchanging of rings.

They do!

LOVE Claire’s laugh after they kissed!

You know how much I love Wild Flour Bakery and their work was stellar as always.  This rainbow watercolor cake fit right in with their theme.  Even better were the rainbow cat toppers that someone made them at their wedding shower if I remember correctly!!  LOVE THIS!

I love how at the Hyatt Arcade in Cleveland wedding couples cut the cake surrounded by their guests prior to going down to dinner!

It went perfectly!

I always try to sneak in one photo like this before they do the grand entrance down the stairs when the light is a bit lower and the Hyatt Arcade is lit up!  Such a sweet couple!

13 years in, this is still the grandest way to enter a reception that I’ve ever seen!

They went right into their toasts where everyone talked about just how perfect Claire and Erin are for one another.

After dinner it was time to kick the evening off with their First Dance!

Yeah, I may have teared up.

Ok yes, I DID tear up but they are SO sweet how could you NOT!?

The dance floor opened and EVERYONE got up to boogie off that delicious dinner!

Pre-covid times… so weird to look back on now!

I always try to keep one eye on the couple and one eye on the guests and managed to snap this sweet moment!

I may have ended up COVERED in glitter (THAT I AM STILL FINDING IN MY BAG OVER A YEAR LATER LOL) for this ring shot but it was worth it!  Love their rings!

I still am in love with how stunning the bouquets were by Lowe’s Greenhouse.  SUCH a wonderful job!

Sometimes things don’t work out as planned.  They wanted to walk down to the Playhouse Square chandelier since it’s pretty and they work in theater but it was a bit of a walk and they opted to just work with the pretty twinkle lights around the construction outside the building and the entrance sign for The Arcade.  In the end I don’t think anything else would have been as perfect!