The Old Courthouse is a stunning location that embodies elegance, charm, and convenience!  Nestled in downtown Cleveland, this venue offers breathtaking views of the city and a beautiful interior setting for your wedding. 

Read on to find out more about what we love about The Old Courthouse and what makes it a perfect setting for your love story!

WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT THE OLD COURTHOUSE:

Easily Accessible Parking

There is a lot and a garage attached to the venue for cost-friendly covered parking opportunities for your guests.

Nearby Hotels

If you have guests traveling in or if you want easily-accessible areas for getting ready near the Old Courthouse, there are LOTS of options for accommodations in downtown Cleveland.  The Hilton Cleveland Downtown is within walking distance directly across from the venue and has high level rooms available that give gorgeous natural lighting and views of the city and Lake Erie.  The Hyatt Arcade is less than 5 minutes from the venue and boasts a bottomless amount of indoor shooting areas that coordinate with the historic feel of The Old Courthouse.  The Doubletree is also nearby as a walkable or driveable option depending on your preferences.

The Hyatt Arcade

The Hyatt Arcade​​​ The Hilton Cleveland Downtown

The Hilton Cleveland Downtown

The Hilton Cleveland Downtown

The Hilton Cleveland Downtown

The Hilton Cleveland Downtown

The Cleveland Doubletree Hotel

The Cleveland Doubletree Hotel

Weather Considerations and Backup Plans

Hey, this is Cleveland.  We experience gorgeous changes in the seasons but there is always the possibility of rain and snow in addition to high-heat and humidity in the summer months.  One way you can ensure you have a weather-proof wedding that runs smoothly is by having your event at a venue that's fully indoors.  The Old Courthouse has a great layout for indoor ceremonies, cocktail hour, and receptions that don't require leaving the location- which can be just as beneficial for your guests as it is for you and your wedding party.

Overhead Picture Opportunities 

The Old Courthouse has an upper level and a lower level that are used in a variety of fun, creative ways.  One of our favorites?  Getting allllllllll the angles that you can't get at other venues to highlight how your big day unfolded.

Ceremony Entrances The Last Dance of the Night

Iconic Nearby Photo Opportunities 

Whether you want to walk around the immediate area to get the architecture of The Old Courthouse in the background of your images or take a less-than-5-minute drive to get some iconic Cleveland scenery in your photography, your options are just about endless no matter what parts of the city are most appealing to you.  

Front Steps of The Old Courthouse

Alongside City Hall

Voinovich Park

Voinovich Park

East 4th Street

Our Inflatable Photo Booth Fits Here Perfectly

The Old Courthouse has high ceilings and plenty of space to accommodate our 8x8x8 inflatable photo booth for you and your guests to create added fun memories.

Breathtaking Indoor Scenery

The Old Courthouse is gorgeous from floor to ceiling with an endless amount of areas for photo opp's whether indoor or outdoor.  

Bridal Portraits on the Indoor Staircase

Table Details

Toasts and Speeches

Table Details

Sky-High Ceilings for the Hora

Marble Pillars and Elegant Scenery for your Reception

Table Details

Table Details

First Dance as a Married Couple

Candlelit Scenery

Make an Entrance... and an Exit!

If you want to do a stylized ceremony exit, the staircase out front of The Old Courthouse is large enough to accommodate many guests and looks incredible in pictures.  It's also a great area to do sparkler send offs.  The indoor staircases are equally as amazing whether you want to use them for portraits or to make an entrance for your reception!

Bubble Exit From Ceremony

Parents Entering the Reception

Couple Entering the Reception

Sparkler Send Off at the End of the Night

Pro-Tips and People We Love

• Do a first look before your ceremony!  Since everything is on site, the flow of this venue usually has your ceremony going directly into cocktail hour and then immediately into the reception.  This only allows a very short window to take portraits with your wedding party, families, and portraits of you and your main squeeze.  Doing a first look before the ceremony will give you plenty of time to manage the formalities and give you extra time to enjoy with your fiance before you say I Do.  Not sure about what a first look is and what the benefits are to doing one?  Read more here!
   
• Hire a coordinator.  This venue has a lot of space to work with and needs all-hands-on-deck to reset the rooms in between the ceremony and reception.  You will want someone experienced with the venue to manage the loading in and loading out of any drapery, catering, bars, and to ensure your special day runs smooth.  Rain Wedding Planning is my go-to referral for a seamless experience https://www.rainweddingplanning.com/

• Make sure that your DJ is familiar with the venue!  Due to the high ceilings, the acoustics can be tough to manage and ensure you don't have a wonky echo.  Selective Sound Entertainment has done several weddings with us here and always deliver a solid experience.  Consider them for uplighting as well to bring the pillars to life and create an ambient backdrop for your photography and videography https://selectivesound.com/

• There is no natural lighting in the venue so you'll want a creative team managing your photography and videography who know how to navigate their own lighting and make sure that your memories don't get lost in the darkness.  My favorite videographers are on the Elite Entertainment team and we have done many weddings at this venue together! https://eliteohioevents.com/

• As highlighted above, there are many walkable and short-driveable areas for portraits depending on your preferences. Take a tour of the area in advance to see what areas you love the most so you can plan in travel time if needed to hit off-site locations or determine if you're happy to just take a stroll outside.  I am always happy to tour the venue with you to ensure you're fully informed of options and that your photography later on is everything you dreamed it would be!

Congratulations on your engagement and thank you so much for trusting my studio to document such a special time in your lives!

Engagement sessions are a great way to get to know me and to get more comfortable being in front of the camera. Many couples opt to use their engagement pics for pre-wedding and day-of decor such as a guest sign-in book, personalized favors, programs and save the dates.   Whatever way you choose to use your images we're excited to help you create a variety of gorgeous photos to choose from that you can look back on for years to come. 

why do an engagement session?

YOU GET TO KNOW YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER

An engagement session is one of the best ways to truly get to know your photographer. What is it like to work with them? How well do they understand your preferences? If you are usually uncomfortable in front of a camera, this is great practice before your big day. Plus, it gives you the chance to ask questions you may not have thought of before.

IT'S FUN & FLEXIBLE

It is perfectly fine to take photos several months after your engagement. Take your time to plan a shoot that means something to you both. This is your chance to have a little fun and walk away with beautiful photos for your home. As long as you will get your photos months ahead of your wedding, you can plan it at your own pace.

TEST OUT YOUR HAIR AND MAKEUP ARTIST

An engagement shoot is the ideal excuse to test out your makeup artist and hairstylist. It's better to find out if you don’t like their style way ahead of your wedding day than several days prior.

DO IT FOR YOUR SAVE THE DATES

Your engagement photos are the perfect photos to use for your save the dates. You can also incorporate some of the photos into your guest book or décor for your bridal shower or the wedding!

determining the date, location, and timing...

The one thing you can count on for planning outdoor activities in Northeast Ohio is that our weather can be unpredictable- BUT that doesn't mean that there aren't best practices in approaching the best locations and timing for your photography.

SCHEDULING YOUR SESSION

You can get on my calendar for engagement photos whenever you're ready, however I always encourage you to reach out sooner than later to guarantee the day and time works best for your schedule.  I only take on a limited amount of sessions during the week and rain delays always have the potential to happen so it's best to have you scheduled well in advance if you have any type of deadline date you're aiming to stay inside of for a finished gallery.

WHERE SHOULD WE GO?

This is one of the questions that always comes up first when couples are ready to get on the calendar!  The answer is always: it's entirely up to you!  Northeast Ohio is full of gorgeous pockets to hold a session no matter what your style preferences are for how your photography looks later on.  Your engagement session photos should feel like YOU though and highlight an environment that makes you and your partner feel the most in your element. 

I have done engagement sessions all over the Downtown Cleveland area for my city people, a variety of beaches along Lake Erie (Headlands Beach or Huntington Beach being the most popular), the Virginia Kendall Ledges, The Cleveland Museum of Art, wineries, putt-putt courses, arcades, speakeasys, Downtown Chagrin Falls, and all types of beautiful Cleveland Metroparks locations across Northeast Ohio. 

I am happy to provide you a detailed list of options along with gallery links to how different settings photograph if you're not sure what the best fit is for you and your partner.

PLANNING AROUND THE SUN

Sessions are always held to begin around 90 minutes prior to sunset.  This time can vary due to daylight savings time as sunset in Ohio can go from after 9pm in July to 5pm in late-October.   If you're interested in a summer session, your start time can vary anytime from 7pm-7:30pm in the summer and fall session start times can vary from 3:30pm-4pm depending on how late into the season you would like to shoot.  Your exact starting time will be determined on what the sunset scheduled time is going to be on the date you would like to do your session.

KNOW YOUR SURROUNDINGS

If you're aiming to hold your engagement session in places like Downtown Cleveland or Akron, The Flats, Little Italy, Chagrin Falls, Downtown Willoughby, Wade Oval, the Cultural Gardens, Lincoln Park or anywhere else that hosts events like parades, cultural gatherings, holiday or food festivals, music concerts, sporting events, etc, we will make every effort to ensure we know if/when those events may be happening and how they may effect your session.  Any type of event that can bring in lots of people can cause complications with parking, accessibility to our planned shooting spots, and can make it difficult to enjoy being present with your partner while surrounded by crowds. 

While we can't plan around everything at the time of initial scheduling, I always recommend being aware of what your location may have going on as we get closer to the session time so we can pivot however is most beneficial to you on an as-needed basis.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sarah's Vineyard:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Headlands Beach:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Cleveland Museum of Art:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Downtown Cleveland  (The Flats and The Velvet Tango Room):

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Hyatt Arcade:

Huntington Beach:

Downtown Chagrin Falls:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

how to prepare for a stress-free engagement session...

SCHEDULE YOUR HAIR AND MAKEUP APPOINTMENTS

Schedule your hair styling and/or makeup appointment(s) for the same day as your session- and plan for them to be completed around an hour prior to starting your session in case time runs over.  Make sure your partner also has a fresh look prior to the shoot to ensure they look (and feel) their best!

HAND CHECK!

Since there will be a lot of close up shots of your hands, it's important to have photo-worthy skin and nails if you want those close-up photos to look really good.  Make sure your partner's nails are trimmed and clean too.

PACK COMFORTABLE SHOES

If you know you will be moving around to different spots in-between photos, have a pair of flat, comfortable shoes on hand to make things easier.

PLAN YOUR WARDROBE CHANGE

If you will be changing outfits during your shoot, make sure that you've also packed shoes and accessories to match. It's also a good idea to confirm there is a place to change clothes at your photo shoot location.  If there isn’t a place readily available, we keep a portable pop-up changing pod on hand if needed! 

Use your more formal/fancy outfit for the first half of your engagement session and save the more casual look for the second half.  This will allow added flexibility in posing and help you to not stress out about your hair and makeup being perfect the entire session.

BRING WATER AND SNACKS

Since your session will last for an hour or two, it helps to have some light snacks and water on hand to keep you hydrated and energized.

DON'T FORGET ABOUT TOUCH-UPS

You never know when you may need to touch up makeup or blot your face to get rid of excess oil and sweat, so come prepared with makeup and blotting paper.

CLEAN YOUR RING

Your engagement ring will be featured in many of the photos- so make sure it's clean and sparkly for your shoot!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Acacia Reservation:

Pattersons Fruit Farm:

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

pets!

• While my team is extremely pet friendly, sadly not all parks or venues are.  Make sure that your pets are allowed at any location you would like to utilize for your engagement pictures

• Make sure your pets have a handler available when we aren’t shooting with them.  This should be someone that they are familiar with and who is good at keeping them entertained and comforted while they are away from you during the session.

• If you want leashes to be less noticeable, buy leashes in a color that blends with your outfits (example: if you’re wearing black on bottom, black leashes will stand out much less than bright pink ones)

• Bring your pets favorite treats or squeaking toy for me to hold over my camera or use to make noise to get their attention.  (I love to feed your pets and tell them how great they are so feel free to bring A LOT)

bonus pro tips!

• You & your fiance should have a coordinating aesthetic and similar vibe as far as how “fancy” you get with your outfits.  If one person is wearing a more formal looking outfit (dress, suit, etc) and the other is wearing something casual (ripped blue jeans, open flannel, etc), your styles will clash and the images will read as disconnected.  Make sure that you are coordinating in a way that you’re both on the same level of casual/formal depending on your preferences.

• Outfits look great when they coordinate but don’t match identically.   Examples of what looks great:    

            - partner one could wear a grey sweater with jeans and black shoes while partner two wears a plaid shirt with a grey, black and white pallet that compliments the other’s sweater paired with jeans and black boots    

            - partner one wears a multi-colored romper or top with splashes of navy blue and partner two has a navy blue button down shirt with the same shade of navy blue

• Avoid large logos, pictures, or designs on clothing or any words/phrases that may get partially hidden while shooting certain poses

• If you are planning on having an outfit change during your session, wear your more formal outfit first and your more casual outfit second.  That way the formal look is taken care of early on and you won’t need to stress out as much about changing into something fancy while out in public or stressing out keeping hair/makeup 100% perfect for the entire length of the session.

• TRUST THE PROCESS!  I will walk you through posing from beginning to end to make sure you're comfortable and confident.  You are in very safe hands with my studio and I cannot wait to turn your love into art!  If you have any questions at any time, please don't hesitate to reach out via email or call me at 440-413-0663!

Helping couples sort out a timeline for their big day is one of the MANY parts of the wedding your photographer assists with. One of the key parts to determining a timeline always starts with the question: Do you want to do a first look? Often my couples either don't know what that means or they don't know the pro's and con's of doing a first look with their partner.

A first look is when you and your significant other set aside some time for a combo of staged and candid moments to see each other before the wedding ceremony takes place. This time allows you to see each other at your absolute best once you've finished getting ready, show off your gorgeous wedding day attire to each other, and to preserve the genuine, authentic reactions and emotions of having this special time together before the day starts.

So why should you consider doing a first look?

- Get quality time with your partner without all the stress!

First looks are an amazing, intimate moment that are all about the stars of the day. It gives you a moment to breathe with your partner and truly enjoy each other on what will be one of the biggest, most important days of your life together. This relaxed, quiet moment together will also allow you to reel back the jitters if you are nervous about being in the spotlight all day or get nervous with crowds. Let the anxiety take a back seat so you can get some quality one-on-one time with your partner and feel relaxed for the rest of the photos taken throughout the day.

- Spend more time with your guests!

Family, bridal party, and couples shots done prior to the ceremony taking place allow you to have time to attend your cocktail hour and get quality time with your nearest and dearest.

- Get more photos!

Doing a first look earlier in the day gives you a wider scope of time to work with to get portraits taken with your partner, your wedding party, and your families. It also frees up your photography team to get more images of your guests attending cocktail hour, candid shots, and extra images of you with other groups that may not merit being in a formal shot at the alter (like the besties from high school or the work crew)  but you still want to get a few fun pictures with.  

It is also particularly helpful to do a first look if you are having a fall or winter wedding as we lose sunlight so much earlier in the day.  If you want to have lots of naturally lit images of your wedding party, portraits with your partner, family, etc, in Ohio we lose most of our sunlight around 5:00-6:00pm starting in mid-October through early March.  Doing a first look will help you to not worry about timing as much, worrying about having an early ceremony with a long amount of time in between until the reception takes place, or trying to cram some of your most important photography into a short window of time.

Aside from doing a first look with your partner, we have also done variations of the first look depending on who you would like involved in this special reveal! We have shot first looks with:

- dad

- mom

- the bridal party

- existing children in the relationship

- your dog (EEP!)

- grandpa

- siblings

Remember, above anything else, the day is yours to plan how you see fit and design a timeline that works best for your interests and values. Doing a first look (or not!) is an important choice to make and should be discussed in advance with your partner or other special participants in addition to being mapped out with your photographer. We are always here to help plan out the best location to hold a special reveal and help you decide if doing a first look is beneficial to your timeline!