Cleveland Ohio Wedding Photographer : Craig + Katie

I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and I spent a lot of my high school years, and a couple years after that before I moved to New Orleans, hanging out with my friend Craig. He’s a man obsessed with late nights (there were MANY times where he’d make me pull all nighters with him where we’d inevitably end up at Denny’s or at his house watching “Tommy Boy” or “Good Will Hunting” and he’d quickly shake me awake if I grew too quiet/fell asleep), he’s an awesome musician (I’ve watched his bands perform in bedrooms, garages, and clubs), and no matter what, I was guaranteed to laugh hysterically at some point during the time we’d be hanging. We worked together for a while at a restaurant (before it caught fire one night…I was supposed to work the next day, true story) and I have lots of memories of dancing to Prince on the jukebox and generally doing a whole lot of “work” on the shifts we had together.

However, since I am bad at keeping in touch with people when I move away, our conversations became sporadic – but no matter what, we could pick right back up and we frequently did whenever we’d hang out again.

When he and Katie started dating I was SO excited because everything I’d heard about her was that she was a great human being and a perfect match for Craig. Then the news came in that they welcomed a baby girl to their family and then shortly thereafter they began to plan for their wedding and TA DA! I was the lucky girl that was asked to photograph their celebration in my old hometown of Cleveland, Ohio!

My family has moved to various parts of the country now so Craig put me up at his house right on Lake Erie in Cleveland and left me with an Audi to drive around the city in. I might have driven way too fast a couple times while there going to various places from when I was a kid and wishing I had a couple more days to spend in the city, in Chagrin, in Cleveland Heights, eating Indian food, sitting by the water, getting lost in the Metroparks, and maybe trying to pull an all nighter just for the hell of it – but the places I did get to see helped make my heart so happy and it was great to be home for a little while.

Thankfully I got to pack in a lot of time with Craig, Katie, her son Henry and their little girl Jenna. From a sunset on the water to Chinese food while watching The Leftovers (one of my favorite shows EVER) to a rehearsal dinner at an amazing Italian restaurant, and then of course the wedding celebration.

It. Was. Incredible.

Seeing Craig tear up as he said his vows to Katie. Watching Henry run after the two of them as they walked back up the aisle (seriously, this boy was one of the best kids ever! He and Jenna are so much like Katie where they are laid back, kind, sweet, and just generally great people who will be inheriting the world). Witnessing Craig gently hold Katie’s face as they kissed. Having Katie hysterically impersonate Craig at the drop of a hat… I LOVED IT ALL!

The two of them hope to travel the states in their motor coach (you’ll see it in some pictures – they parked it at the venue and Craig used it to shower real quick in and was so pumped that it worked as well as it did), and this coming January they will welcome another little one to the family! Yup, Katie was 9 weeks pregnant and was not only running a wedding and managing all that comes with it, but she looked damn gorgeous too.

I loved their celebration, it was everything I could’ve hoped for a good friend of mine to have and I’m so happy that I got to know Katie. I have so much respect for her and even teared up at one point because she is the epitome of a strong woman – no joke, I’ll explain more when we get to the pictures :)

Oh, and did I mention I got to go horseback riding?! Craig’s mom has horses and she invited me over to ride with his step-dad – I WAS THE HAPPIEST GIRL EVER!!

Thank you guys for having me there to photograph your day, I couldn’t be happier to have spent the time with you all! I love you guys, and I wish you many years of awesome adventures! Come visit me soon.

Oh, and if you want me to photograph YOUR Cleveland, Ohio wedding, reach out, I would definitely be down for returning there more often.

Onto the pictures!!

World, meet their baby girl, Jenna

And this is right around where I started tearing up behind my camera. Here is Katie, as calm as can be on her wedding day with a dress she had yet to try on in it’s completion because she’d cut the top off of one dress and bought a skirt to put beneath the top, but hadn’t found the time to try them on together. Her original dress was a little snug now that she had a little one being all cool and chillin’ inside her belly.

So she’s pregnant, it’s hot as hell in Cleveland (like mid 90’s and humid), she’s in the makeup chair and her daughter is now wanting to be fed. And let’s face it, little Jenna isn’t too concerned about the other tasks of the day – so Katie scoops her up and she does what all super humans (aka: moms) do – she multi-tasks like a pro and nurses her little one, continues getting her makeup done, greets friends and family warmly and with complete calm, AND she has a fool tearing up at her feet behind the camera because DAMN, women are awesome. Completely and utterly awesome. Love. These. Photos. They say so much to me <3

“It’s all good, I’ve got all these things down pat. Need me to do anything else?” (ok, she didn’t actually say that, but she should’ve!) I mean, c’mon. This woman is so damn awesome.

Their home on wheels!

And Henry! The coolest guy at the party.

“No more, Mr. Nice Guy” (10 points to you if you saw that link coming)

Ceremony: Stone Ledge Farm
Reception: Stone Ledge Farm
Cleveland Ohio Wedding Photographer: I AM SARAH V Photography
Officiant: Mark Simone (old friend of Craig and I’s!)
Pizza Food Truck: Fire Truck Pizza Company (YUM!!!)
Taco Food Truck: Fired Up Taco Truck
DJ: DJ Party Sweat (such a great DJ! He spun vintage 7″ records all night)
Wedding Gown: Anaoiss
Cake + Popsicles: Mustard Seed Market and Popsmith
Florist: Katie’s Mom!
Hair: Katie’s friend Jen!
Makeup Artist: Craig’s sister Alison!

Maine & New Hampshire wedding photographer, I AM SARAH V Photography, photographs events for wildly in love couples seeking a NH & Maine wedding photographer with a photojournalism & cinematic approach. You can see more of my work online at www.iamsarahv.com or on Facebook. I photograph many locations including being a Cleveland Ohio wedding photographer. If you’d like to contact me directly, please email me at hello@iamsarahv.com