Emma and Jack’s Elegant Wedding at the Tudor Arms Hotel in Cleveland, Ohio
Pop open Pinterest and search through weddings, and you’ll find an infinite scroll of elegant, sophisticated wedding celebrations. Breathtaking florals. Sweeping veils. Dapper bow ties. All these things are beautiful, and I’ll never get tired of capturing them on camera. But every now and then, a wedding day comes along that brings a little extra zest to the beauty, like that splash of blueberry puree in the Moscow mule! Emma and Jack’s wedding at the Tudor Arms Hotel in Cleveland, OH, was definitely one of those unforgettable, original celebrations. Between sentimental “I do”s and classic portraits surrounded by wooden halls and high crescent windows, there were so many uniquely Emma-and-Jack moments. A boisterous flower bro. A surprise appearance from Chewbacca. A packed dance floor that kept me clicking my camera well into the night. Their wedding celebration was the perfect blend of elegance and personality, and I am thrilled to give you a peek at their celebration!
The day began with Emma and her bridal party getting ready in the Juliette suite while the groomsmen got ready in the Romeo suite. But don’t worry—no warring family members or ill-fated sword fights ruined their day! In fact, the morning couldn’t have been more wonderful! I styled and documented the details—including Emma’s dark blue bottle of Wonderstruck Taylor Swift perfume—while they finished hair and makeup and celebrated with mimosas. Emma stepped into her lacey v-neck gown, taking her bridesmaids’ breath away. And after doing emotional first looks with both her mom and her dad, we went to meet Jack for the couple’s first look.
The weather was less than ideal, but with a venue this gorgeous, it really didn’t matter! Under the hall’s huge crescent windows, Emma and Jack had an emotional first look. The light filtered in, creating a romantic, moody glow that made for a uniquely lovely gallery! We explored the venue together to find all the best photo spots, and we definitely had to get some photos dancing on the staircase because it made such an impression on Emma during their venue walk-through!
Now, each couple that chooses to do a first look has their own reason—quiet time alone pre-ceremony, a chance to get out some jitters, or a little extra time to practice vows. Emma and Jack’s reason was actually one of my favorite reasons to do a first look! By taking their couple’s portraits before the ceremony, they were able to actually enjoy their cocktail hour! But before the drinks flowed, it was time to get this pair hitched!
In the main room of the Tudor Arms Hotel, surrounded by tall wooden columns and a glittering chandelier, the guests anticipated the couple’s arrival. A ring of pink and white flowers waited at the end of the aisle for Jack to take his position, and instead of having a flower boy, they had a “flower bro” dramatically fling petals in the air to prepare for Emma’s grand entrance. Talk about a memorable moment! And the guests absolutely loved it!
After their first kiss as a married couple, Emma and Jack headed off to the cocktail hour with their friends and family to celebrate. This is where those early portraits really paid off—instead of interrupting the festivities, the rest of the photos just captured them as they unfolded! Emma and Jack loved that they didn’t have to miss a special moment on their wedding day.
When the reception kicked into full swing, the dance floor filled immediately. But the party really got started when one of their friends dressed up as Chewbacca and busted his best Wookie dance moves! As a Star Wars fan, it’s safe to say this was the moment this wedding celebration became one of my all-time favorites!
Photographing Emma and Jack at the beautiful Tudor Arms Hotel was such an honor! With help from The Planning Bee wedding planners, the entire day ran smoothly despite the poor weather. I was amazed by their work, and it made mine so much easier! A great team really does make a wedding day magical, and the team Emma and Jack assembled couldn’t have been better. I hope to work with these vendors and photograph the striking Tudor Arms Hotel again soon!
Congratulations, Emma and Jack, on your wedding, and may the force be with you. Always!
