A Two-in-One Wedding Full of Elegance and Fun
At the Brand New Hotel Cleveland.
The Art and Story of Maddie + Zach
The name of the game today is DICHOTOMY. Yes, yes, you may applaud for my exceptional vocabulary and word choice. What is dichotomy exactly? The juxtaposition [ wow, another big word! ] of two contrasting things that are seemingly opposed. In this case, I’m talking about the two major themes that you will see in Maddie + Zach’s wedding wedding: timeless elegance and plenty of fun shenanigans!
And not just that! Their weekend by nature carried both Indian and Western tradition, the two sides coming together as one in a gorgeous fusion wedding. PLUS, it was the first wedding we got to capture at the newly renovated Hotel Cleveland [ previously the Renaissance Hotel ], which we’ve been looking forward to for such a long time! This really was the perfect event to carry the honor 😎
Timeless elegance in a timeless wedding venue [ the hotel Cleveland ] captured in a timeless silhouette. What a perfect way to start off this wedding photography blog right?
Below you’ll read some of our groom’s comments on his wedding day. You’ll notice he references this wedding photograph is one of his favorites, because the joy and fun on their faces is so genuine 🥰
Maddie is the queen of face. You’ll see as we go. I carefully constructed this elegant wedding photograph at one of the elevators in the Hotel Cleveland. As a wedding photographer paying careful attention to hand placement and overall vibe of my artwork is crucial. I think we pulled off a nice romantic and moody image for them!
Our Wedding Photography is not possible
Without AMAZING Cleveland Wedding Vendors
- Wedding Reception Venue // Hotel Cleveland
- Garba Venue // The Madison
- Garba Entertainment // Crown Entertainment
- Reception Entertainment // Skinny Boy DJ
- Wedding Caterer // Saffron Patch
- Wedding Florals // Forest Woods
- Bridal Make-up Artist // Kajal by Kimberly
- Bridal Hair Artist // Kaleigh Dudas
Ahhh I loved putting these together! Here you can really see the DICHOTOMY [ Ima use that word a lot ] I’m talking about between the two cultures represented in this wedding.
Maddie’s Mehndi was applied for the Garba, but it complemented her white wedding dress so beautifully, as well.
Queen. Of. Face.
”It was a huge sense of relief when we got started Friday and realized immediately that we were in good hands with Brett.
Zach [ the Groom ]The Groom
In Their Own Words.
That’s right. Every word you’ve read on this page so far regarding this wonderful wedding [ catch the alliteration there. Pretty brilliant, right? ] has all been word-smithed and crafted by us [ we’re not only gifted wedding photographers, but also not too shabby in the content writing department ] Humble Brag / Self enthusiasm aside; we mean every word on this page, but it’s important that you hear from our couple too.
We asked a few questions of them about their wedding; and hope you enjoy their answers 😀
What did you love about your wedding?
I think a part that we really loved was all the buildup to the Sangeet and seeing each other and all of our friends in their Sangeet outfits. Everyone was so excited to be celebrating Maddie’s Indian heritage and you can really see it in the photos.
What would you do Different?
Not much at all. We were so pleased with how everything went. If anything, just being less stressed in the lead up and remembering that in the end it was a celebration with the people we love most, so there wasn’t much reason to be nervous because everyone there was rooting for us.
What was it like to work with us?
It was great. We were nervous about having so many people involved in the extended bridal party – everyone felt so comfortable around Brett [ perhaps too comfortable at times lol ]. It was a huge sense of relief when we got started Friday and realized immediately that we were in good hands with Brett.
What photograph(s) are connecting emotionally?
I really love [ the ones ] where we’re coming out of the revolving door. Sometimes it’s hard to really express the joy you feel in a moment when you pose for a picture, but I think you can see in those more spontaneous pictures just how much fun we were having that day.
Did you have a theme you were trying to hit for your wedding [ vibe / color palette / etc ]?
Across the board we wanted everything to be really colorful and vibrant. So many wedding photos we looked at originally had heavy filters and more muted colors, which is fine if some people want to do that, but for us we wanted things to look really lush with the greens and colorful and reflective of the joy that we feel.
Time for the father’s first look! This is always such a special moment. How sweet is it to see Maddie’s excitement?!
As a father, I am already looking forward to this moment when I get to share it with my daughters. Dang, I’m tearing up.
Cheers to that! 🥂
I know I’m using the word dichotomy a lot; but it does relate greatly to the way I approach my wedding photography. I think having good variety in your wedding artwork is important, and one of my jobs as a wedding photographer is to clearly communicate multiple emotions and realities of relationships throughout my coverage of a day. It’s not all romance [ and it’s not all crazy goofiness either ]. Full wedding days tell full stories of couples.
Uhm can we talk about how this whole entire wedding party is SERVING right now?? I’m a careful commnunicator and leader as I approach wedding parties; and helping instruct this intentionally poignant wedding photograph in the new Hotel Cleveland lobby resulted in this one of a kind image.
Let’s talk a little more about the Hotel Cleveland. We have a whole webpage dedicated to it! Go give it a lewksi.
This is where the fun really starts!
Who doesn’t want to kick off their wedding weekend with a local snack??
I thought we were in New York City for a second. JK, there’s no place like home [ aka Cleveland ].
This is one of the most fun spontaneous moments I’ve been a part of during a wedding! We love to see it. My favorite part of this was when Maddie realized she didn’t have her purse [ being in wedding attire and all ]. The hotdog vendor was most gracious and provided it as wedding gift 💝. Madde thanked him profusely and then promised to “blow him up” on insta as payment 🤣
What a fairytale 🥹 Lady and the tramp anyone?
How is Maddie so effortlessly cool?? What’s her secret?!
They might just be the cutest couple. Like ever. I couldn’t “Leaf” 🍃 them alone all weekend. I’m sorry for my dad-puns 🤷♂️
Want more? More reading, more images, more Indian wedding bliss? Head over to this webpage that we’ve dedicated entirely to our work on Indian Weddings!
Maddie told me her grandmother had given this card to her before she passed, and it was an important memento for her, so I worked it into some of her wedding photography.
Do you believe me yet?? She just knows how to work the camera.
Zach also did a pretty good job! You can see all his joy and anticipation in every image. He’s a lucky guy, and knows it!
This wedding was so full of fun and joyful moments, and this one is for the books! Watch as a thousand [ yes, exaggeration ] bridesmaids pile into this bathtub with their bestie.
With champagne in hand, of course!
Can’t lie, I prefer this bathtub pileup to the bridesmaids on the bed pileup.
Though it is way less comfortable 😂
The beauty is in the details.
Go ahead, caption this!
The fly-est bride there ever was.
Time to get these kids hitched! [ Well, not this kid, obvs ]
With a wedding ceremony in of the many beautifully renovated ballrooms in the new Hotel Cleveland I had plenty of opportunities for capturing great moments [ like the above ] during the processional.
And another…
And another!
Seriously, this cleveland wedding venue shines. Who wouldn’t want to get married here at the Hotel Cleveland??
Getting hitched was certainly not a Payne! [ That’s Zach’s last name, get it? ]
Elegance and class.
Perfectly balanced with FUN energy! Now THIS is how you enter your wedding reception!
Can you see the fun and the love?
And not just love between Maddie + Zach, but also all the friends and family that surrounded them! These two are so enjoyed by everyone around them 🥰
Clearly!
The first dance is such a big wedding reception milestone and theirs was absolutely perfect ✨
Flawless.
But of course, we need the DICHOTOMY. Time to rage!
And remember the DICHOTOMY of having the Indian Garba the night before! Where they also raged.
10/10 on Random Candid Dance Floor Pictures.
Oh yes, Maddie did in fact have a costume change. DICHOTOMY. Ok, I’ll stop.
Don’t think Maddie was the only one having the time of her life! Zach is equally as fun-loving!
And equally as suave.
Equally as spontaneous. We caught a street sign with their new last name above 👆
And equally as sweet.
Basically they’re a perfect couple and we had the BEST time celebrating with them. Maddie + Zach, congratulations and cheers to you!
