Making the Moment Photography

Looking for some great photography locations for your Cleveland area wedding? Then you’ve come to the right spot. Although Making the Moment serves brides and grooms all across Ohio, we tend to do a lot of weddings in the Cleveland and Toledo areas.

As I’m often asked for wedding photography locations in Cleveland, I thought I’d put together a small (and growing) list. I will soon put up a Toledo wedding photography venue list as well. But for now, I’ve set this list up complete with contact information for you, booking rates, and other good info – this way (if you decide to look more into a specific wedding photography location) everything is ready for you. There are a mix of outdoor wedding photography locations and indoor wedding photography locations on this list.

I always think a back-up plan for shooting indoors is a great plan – almost a necessity. Although there are a ton of options for outdoor shooting, it’s always nice to have something up your sleeve in case of rain.

Just a heads up – many venues require a deposit and reservation for their booking. I don’t know about Tower City – but I can recommend a few places in downtown Cleveland, as well as outside the area.

The BP Building
Location: 200 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Phone: (216) 902-7878
Contact: Barb Piazza
Reservations: Needed at least one month in advance.
Cost: $100
Notes: One-hour time slot per wedding party

The Arcade
Location : 401 Euclid Ave Cleveland, OH 44114
Phone: (216) 696-1408
Contact: Sarah Hawkins-Dolezal
http://www.thearcade-cleveland.com/

Brooker Insurance Agency
Location: 10749 Pearl Rd. Strongsville, Ohio 44136
Phone: (440) 238-5454
Contact: Brooker Insurance Agency
Reservations: Reservations and signed contract are necessary
Cost: $75 an hour
Receptions: Not allowed
Notes: Winding staircase, fountain and deck are popular venues for wedding photos.

Crocker Park
Location: 189 Crocker Park Blvd, Westlake, OH‎
Phone: (440) 871-6880‎
Reservations: Must receive written permission from Management Office for photography
Cost: none
Website: http://www.crockerpark.com/

Cleveland Metroparks
Location: 4101 Fulton Parkway Cleveland, Ohio 44144
Phone: (216) 351-6300
Contact: Visitor Services
Reservations: Must be scheduled and approved. Accepted up to one year in advance.
Cost: None for private photos. Permit required for commercial wedding shoot.
Reception info

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo /The RainForest
Location: 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, Ohio 44109
Phone: (216) 661-6500, ext. 3389
Contact: Group Sales Dept
Reservations: Needed at least two weeks in advance
Cost: $60 an hour for a photo in front of the waterfall.
Reception info
Notes: Although wedding parties have unlimited time to take pictures in the zoo, photos in The RainForest are restricted to one hour and may only be taken in front of waterfall at the entrance.

Cleveland Museum of Art
Location: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
Phone: (216) 707-2197
Reservations: Not available
Cost: Free.
Notes: Wedding photos can only be taken outside the museum. Due to the fact that this is a public area, reservations are not available. The Cleveland Museum of Art suggests having a backup plan in the event of rain, as the wedding party will not be allowed to take photos anywhere inside the museum.

The Crawford Auto and Aviation Museum
Location: 10825 East Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44106
Phone: (216) 721-5722, ext. 320
Contact: Allison Raymond
Reservations: Needed at least one week in advance.
Cost: Museum admission charged for each person admitted.
Reception info
Notes: Outdoor garden pictures may be taken in Spring and Summer. Museum admission charged for outdoor use as well.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park Assocition (Brandywine Falls)
Location: 15610 Vaughn Road, Brecksville, Ohio 44141
Phone: (330)657-2909 ext 22
Reservations: Needed at least two weeks in advance.
Cost: $50 for a half hour
Receptions: Not allowed
Website: www.cvnpa.org
Notes: Permit required to take photos. None given in October. Shoots permitted from 8 a.m. to dusk, Monday-Friday; 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays.

Halle Building
Location: 1228 Euclid Ave., Suite 151, Cleveland, OH 44115
Phone: (216) 696-7701
Fax: (216) 696-7715
Contact: Janice DeBenedictis
Reservations: Needed at least a month in advance. Must send or fax a letter so security and maintenance are notified of your plans. Letter should include bride’s and groom’s names, photographer’s name, number of people, approximate arrival time and length of stay.
Cost: $50

Jacobs Field
Location: Corner of Ontario and East Ninth streets, Downtown Cleveland
Phone: (216) 420-4200
Reservations: None required to take pictures, however, it is recommended to call a month in advance to check if an event is scheduled for the same date.
Cost: None
Reception info
Notes: Locations suggested for photos are by Bob Feller’s statue at Gate C on Ninth St. or on Plaza at Gate A between Gund Arena and Jacobs Field. Pictures are not allowed on the field.

Mapleside Farms
Location: 262 Pearl Rd. Brunswick Ohio 44212
Phone: (330) 225-5576
Contact: Ann Jacobs
Reservations: Needed six to eight months in advance.
Cost: $75
Reception info
Notes: Photos may be taken only if no other wedding party is on site.

The NASA Glenn Visitor Center
Location: 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH 44134
Phone: (216) 433-3156
Contact: Brenda Morgan
Reservations: Needed at least six to eight weeks in advance.
Cost: None
Receptions: Not allowed
Notes: Photos may be taken only during regular hours of operation.

The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes
Location: 2600 S. Park Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44120
Phone: (216) 321-5935
Contact: Ann Berens
Reservations: Recommended three months in advance.
Cost: $25
Reception info
Notes: Formerly known as Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center.

North Coast Harbor-Port Authority
(Behind Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and Great Lakes Science Center)
Location: 101 Erieside Ave., Cleveland Ohio 44114-1095
Phone: (216) 241-8004, ext. 29
Contact: Elizabeth Bohinc
Reservations: Call one month in advance to make sure no special events are booked on the same date.
Cost: None
Receptions: Not allowed

Playhouse Square Foundation
Palace Theater
Location: 1501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115
Phone: (216) 771-4444
Contact: Carol Lee Vella
Reservations: Accepted only one month prior to date requested.
Cost: Call for availability and price

Public Square
Location: Downtown Cleveland
Phone: (216) 664-2484
Contact: Department of Parks, Recreation and Properties – Special Events
Reservations: Needed one month in advance.
Cost: Permit fee is $10.
Notes: Permit required to take photos on Public Square.

Rockefeller Park Greenhouse and Botanical Gardens
(and Cleveland Cultural Gardens)
Location: 750 E. 88th St., Cleveland, OH 44108 (City of Cleveland Greenhouse)
Phone: (216) 664-3103 (Rockefeller Park)
Contact: Rajanta Shrestha
Reservations: Recommended at least one month in advance.
Cost: Call for current pricing.
Ceremonies: Capacity is 50 for greenhouse, 75 for outdoors. Receptions not allowed.
Notes: Entrance to Greenhouse is currently under construction. Permit required to take photos in Rockefeller Park. Wedding ceremonies require a permit. No ceremonies allowed in April or December.

U.S.S. Cod Submarine
Location: Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland, OH 44115
Phone: (216) 931-9392
Contact: Paul Farace
Reservations: Required at least two weeks in advance.
Cost: Donation suggested.
Notes: Pictures may be taken below deck and topside only during regular hours of operation, May through September.