Jessica & Nick | Cleveland Hyatt Arcade Wedding

Are you ready for some over-sharing? Jessica and Nick's downtown Cleveland, Downton Abbey-esque wedding was just so classically beautiful that I couldn't narrow down the photos. And I really tried. A sweet Miami Merger couple? That plum and gold colorscape? His tux with her lace dress? Those sparkly twinkle lights? What a way to start off my 2016 season!

Plus, listen to this meet cute as told by Jessica:

"I met Nick when he and [his roommate] were studying [Field Botany] in [my friends' dorm] room [at Miami] and I just happened to stop in. My friends decided that we’d be perfect for each other and proceeded to create a series of awkward situations for us—like writing notes on napkins in the dining hall and passing them to Nick. (Will you go out with me? Check___YES___no)  Soon Nick and I found that we crossed paths quite a bit on campus. We started hanging out, watched A LOT of Law & Order reruns on breaks between class, and the rest is history, or rather, Field Botany."

Jessica and Nick are wickedly intelligent, witty and kind. (And Jessica has an amazing eye! She's a graphic designer and designed those gorgeous invitations you'll see below.) Not only did they leave Miami as a couple, but they made it through a long-distance stretch, now married on the other side. Gotta love a happy ending. :)

Ceremony and Reception: Hyatt Regency at The Arcade
Florist: Seville Flowers
Cake: Wildflour Bakery
DJ: Beach Boyz
Hair Stylist: Carla Zimmerer, Sundance Day Spa
Bride's Dress: Stella York, Leonardo's Bridal
Bridesmaid Dresses: Weddington Way

Caitlin & Brandon | Windows on the River Wedding

Caitlin and Brandon adore each other, and I can't tell you how fun it was to capture their wedding day. From being so warmly welcomed by Caitlin's family at the beginning of the day to capturing their friends' awesome dance moves at the end, this was such a great way to end my 2015 season. So much love!

Danielle & Ed | Metropolitan at the 9 Wedding

I'll never forget meeting Danielle and Ed and thinking, "OK, I want to work with this couple." Besides being fun and funny and personable and kind, they are just good people and you understand that the minute you meet them.

Danielle and Ed's wedding was such an awesome reflection of them. It was full of all these great moments. Simple, touching, hilarious. The entire day was such a great tribute to them and the people they love. Some of the most notable moments of their fall wedding day include:

  • Danielle's parents opening their gifts from their daughter. Danielle and her sister and parents are so close and have such a beautiful relationship. It was so fun to watch them all support each other and laugh and cry together all day.
  • All the thoughtful ways Danielle included her grandparents in her day, including wearing her late grandma's bracelet and doing a special dance with her grandpa at her reception.
  • Watching how much respect Ed's family and friends have for him. Not surprising because that guy is pretty cool. ;)
  • Ed's varied emotions as Danielle walked down the aisle. Their's was the sweetest "first look" I've ever photographed.
  • The wedding party being champs about taking photos in a wind storm! We actually lucked out with the weather as it called for rain all afternoon, so I'll take that wind thankyouverymuch.
  • Danielle's dad's touching toast to his little girl. I'm telling you. This family.
  • Ed's brother gifting the newlyweds with a pumpkin during his toast. Hilarious.
  • Ed serenading his new wife with Home. :)
  • And … drumroll, please … Ed and his dad serenading the entire crowd with their harmonica skills. That family is talented!

Danielle and Ed, I can't thank you enough for all your kindness and generosity over the last year-and-a-half. It was SO FUN to photograph your wedding day, and it just made me adore you two even more. Hugs!

Ceremony: St. Dominic
Reception: The Metropolitan at the 9
Videographer: Infocus Studios
Florist: Life in Bloom
Cake: Michael Angelo's
Band: The Avenue
Makeup Artist: Lisa Adams
Hair Stylist: Monica Colagiovanni
Bride's Dress: Allure
Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bill Levkoff
Honeymoon: Maui!

Chrissy & Justin | Amasa Stone Chapel Wedding

We must have checked the forecast at least 20 times in the week leading up to Chrissy and Justin's wedding. It did not look good. Buckets of rain were expected for early October, and mostly because Hurricane Joaquin was mixing with another storm system that was unrelenting.

Friends, I'm going to confess something to you: I get nervous before every single wedding I shoot. It's just how I'm made; I get nervous a lot! Plus, weddings are a big deal and I want to do a stellar job. But when the weather forecast looks less than ideal? Cue the maximum amount of nerves. Because I shoot film, I'm always looking for good natural light and rain kind of puts a damper on that. Needless to say, I was mulling over our indoor options nonstop leading up to Chrissy and Justin's big day.

My fantastic second shooter, Lisa, and I arrived at Chrissy's parent's house. It rained.

Chrissy got dressed and cuddled her dogs. It rained.

We arrived at Amasa Stone Chapel for the ceremony. It rained.

Chrissy and Justin were married and it was time for family and wedding portraits. It rained.

You see the theme, right? The rain didn't let up. But you know what was awesome and a really good lesson for my control-obsessed self? Chrissy and Justin agreed (with a smile on their faces!) to do some rainy photos. With these clear, bubble umbrellas I'd been saving for a day like their's … that I never thought would actually come. So we embraced what we couldn't control and got some really beautiful photos in front of the chapel and at the art museum across the street. Some of my favorites ever, actually.

I can't begin to thank Chrissy and Justin enough for going with the flow and being their sweet selves. I don't know how I get these amazing clients, but man am I ever grateful for them. Chrissy and Justin, you are the best!

Ceremony: Amasa Stone Chapel Reception: St. Paul Hellenic Center Florist: Al Wilhelmy Flowers Cake: Michael Angelo's DJ: Something New Entertainment Hair and Makeup: Dino Palmieri (North Olmsted) Bride's Dress: Allure Cake Topper: BetterOffWed (Etsy)