Forest City Brewery Wedding – Winter Beerland

When Kate originally inquired with me, she made it clear her Fiance, Roman, was not into having his picture taken. I assured her that people that find themselves awkward or uncomfortable in front of the camera are my bread and butter. I totally understand how this feels for myself and also my own husband who rarely is seen in photos. They told me of their love for beer and exploring breweries in Cleveland, one of their favorites being Forest City Brewery where they held their wedding. While they live in Columbus currently, they told me how important Cleveland was to them and how they wanted to focus on fun, not forced. And that’s exactly what we did.

Winter of 2022 finally rolled around and I arrived at a cute Air BnB in Tremont where they split a house for getting ready with their wedding parties. Taylor Swift played in the background while Kate applied some simply natural and beautiful makeup. Downstairs the guys watched some TV and patiently waited for the first look.

Roman awaited Kate outside the Tremont Air bnb and had the biggest smile on his face when he turned around. Pure happiness and their whole wedding party showed it too. From here we took off to explore popular spots in Cleveland for wedding pictures.

Popular Spots in Cleveland for Wedding Photos

First stop was Great Lakes Brewing Company in Ohio City. The wedding party ran out of the bus for a few quick photos along the popular mural. Next was the Love Birds Mural, a beautiful dedication to unique love. This spot was a great match for Kate’s personalized bridal jean jacket as well! Third stop was the Flats East Bank by AlleyCat Oyster Bar. For some reason at this location, and where we did Family Portraits, the wind ran through the buildings at an icy speed. We got through the list as quick as possible and all hopped back on the bus. Just a short drive up the hill brought us to the modern black staircase near Lago East. It’s one of my favorite places in Cleveland to take photos. The lines of architecture and pops of color on the muraled wall are stunning. As many Clevlander’s do, we went to the Cleveland Script sign at the Foundry to get the classic city skyline shot.

Last but not least, we took the shuttle to Brewdog – the ultimate photo opportunity and chill zone. The wedding party and couple all grabbed some beers, snacks and settled in to enjoy a intermission of wedding festivities. I highly recommend taking a break on your wedding day to just relax and soak in the joy. Patrons there were so kind, one family even bought the couple a congratulatory shot! When we were all finished and the time crept to the ceremony, we headed to Forest City Brewery. To see other ways people spend the casual portrait time, check out some of my favorite photos here.

Snowy Beerland Reception

When we initially arrived at the venue, the snow had just started to fall so I snuck the couple out for some beautiful night images outside the brewery. Hence the ‘Winter Beerland’ reference in the title. Although it was freezing and I could barely feel my fingers from the outdoor photos, the atmosphere was warm in the Waldorf Beer Hall in Forest City Brewery to start their wedding. Vows filled with insightful loving phrases, mixed well with their nerdy quotes. Their guests laughed and cried as Kate and Roman promised to love each other to infinity and beyond. With hoorah’s from their guests, they broke glass [typically a Jewish tradition, but can also be viewed/completed as secular]. This rocketed off their fun filled evening of formalities and lots of dancing. Food was provided by the amazing Cleveland Wood Fire Company that made delicious pizzas right outside the venue [in the snow].

Near the end of the night I had lost my voice, from the cold and from laughing so much. Charlie, the event manager at FCB, was so kind and offered me a glass of hot water. On the opposite side, the Mitchell’s Ice Cream the couple had brought in as a late night dessert snack was also very fulfilling. Every moment, for this wedding was truly perfect and matched the personalities of Kate and Roman so well. There were so many little things that I could write about for days. I hope you see the love and relaxation that this wedding provided to all of their guests.