Kaylynn & Matt's Fall Zoo Wedding at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in Cleveland, Ohio
Fall weddings are probably my favorite. From the sunflowers to the GORGEOUS colors Northeast Ohio brings us, I can't help but be excited! Kaylynn and Matt's mid-November wedding brought us cooler weather and an early sunset, but the perfection of everything else made it worth it! I feel like Kaylynn and I talked about her wedding for-ev-er. So when it was time to see everything come together and how much emotion came out from the bride, groom and guests, I absolutely could NOT have been more happy for Kaylynn and Matt. In my opinion, there's nothing more beautiful to see during a wedding day than seeing people beaming with happiness or crying happy tears!
I started the day with the girls in Southington, Ohio while Kirsten hung out with the guys in Cortland. From the pretty details to the laughs and happy tears, we couldn't have been off to a better start! During the wedding planning stages, Kaylynn's dad had surprised her with a trip to New York and an appointment at Kleinfeld's (heck yes, Dad! What a dream!). Her bridesmaid's hadn't seen the dress prior to the day, and I absolutely loved the expression on their faces when Kaylynn unzipped that bag and pulled out the gorgeous Maggie Sottero gown of her dreams for everyone to see!
We then headed to St. William Church in Warren, Ohio to put the final touches on their wedding attire. Right before the ceremony, before Kaylynn walked down the aisle, she had a private "first look" moment with her father. I was legit holding back tears as they both cried and held each other. What a special moment! I'm totally a daddy's girl so I know that feeling! It's definitely something to treasure.
As they walked down the aisle, I could see Matt beaming and fighting back tears at the same time. The rest of the ceremony was sweet, personal and emotional - in the best way possible! Once the ceremony was over, you could tell that these two families were soooo ready to get to Cleveland to celebrate a beautiful marriage!
When we arrived at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, the bridal party was full of energy and readiness to get the party started! We all squeezed in the trolly to catch a ride to Stillwater Place, where the reception was held. We took advantage of the late evening light and gorgeous scenery full of Fall colors and picturesque backdrops.
There was so much love in their eyes when they gazed at each other during the bride and groom shots. Even with a group of rowdy BFF's watching and making ridiculous comments :P As we went inside to prepare for the reception, a coupe of animal handlers had some adorable critters for guests to meet during cocktail hour. Ya'll know I gravitated towards them because I just LOVE animals. Kaylynn does too, so we knew there were going to be some great photo opts when her and Matt met Rosie the hedgehog and Monty the armadillo. They stole the show for a little bit because they were so darn cute!
The reception began with a bang as Matt and Kaylynn showed off their moves during their choreographed first dance. And the choreographed dances didn't stop there! The father-daughter dance was full of hella sweet moves and personality. Kaylynn and her dad totally slayed the dance floor while their guests cheered them on. It was, hands down, the BEST father-daughter dance I've seen in my many years of shooting weddings! The dance floor was full for the rest of the night, while guests danced away and celebrated the couple. I have to admit, it was the absolute perfect way to wrap up my 2016 wedding season!
A special thanks to all of the lovely vendors who made this day possible:
Venue: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Florist: Reese Floral Art in Niles, Ohio
DJ: DJ Kyro
Bridal Gown: Maggie Sottero - Kleinfeld Bridal
Bridesmaids Dresses: David's Bridal
Tux: American Commodore Tuxedo
Stationary: Minted
Hair: Salon Boulevard
Cake: Warren Baking Company