It can be quite challenge being a Northeast Ohio wedding photographer. Why?…We have a short “wedding season”, the weather is always a little questionable and our sports teams just never seem to get it done……..ok that last one really has nothing to do with photography, but threw that in there because I really couldn’t think of anything else other than the weather. The weather by itself is enough of a challenge at times. Anyway, it’s pretty cool being a photographer around Cleveland and one of the coolest perks of shooting weddings in Cleveland and the surrounding areas, is that we have so many cool venues to capture beautiful images.
Our approach to weddings is mostly phototojournalistic but we incorporate the portrait session of the bride and groom and bridal party for their families. One of the first subjects we cover with our couples is location. It’s important to choose a location (or two) that will suit your style. Are you interested in an urban landscape, maybe a nature setting, how about both? Whatever your taste is, we can definitely work with it and come up with the perfect location(s). Oh, and the weather that I was griping about………don’t forget to have a backup location in case of inclement weather.
I’ve compiled a list of locations through various sources on the web, indoor and outdoor with phone numbers and some notes for your convenience. If you have any questions about any of these locations, please contact us for more information.
The Allen Memorial Art Museum
Location: Oberlin College, 87 N. Main St., Oberlin, OH 44074-1161
Phone: (440) 775-8670
Contact: Leslie Miller (Assistant to the Director)
Reservations: Needed at least one week in advance.
Cost: None
Receptions: Not allowed
Notes: Photos may be taken only outdoors on stairway.
The Arcade
Location : 401 Euclid Ave Cleveland, OH 44114
Phone: (216) 696-1408
website: www.thearcade-cleveland.com
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
Brooker Insurance Agency
Location: 10749 Pearl Rd. Strongsville, Ohio 44136
Phone: (440) 238-5454
Contact: Brooker Insurance Agency
Reservations: Not necessary.
Cost: $75 an hour
Receptions: Not allowed
Notes: Winding staircase, fountain and deck are popular venues for wedding photos.
The Chagrin Falls Triangle Park
Location: Main Street, Chagrin Falls
Phone: (440) 247-5050
Contact: Mayor: 21 W. Washington St., Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022
Reservations: Needed at least one month in advance
Cost: None
Receptions: Not allowed
Notes: Must write a letter or call the mayor for permission to take photos. Some days are restricted.
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo/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.
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.
Notes: Outdoor garden pictures may be taken in Spring and Summer. Museum admission charged for outdoor use as well.
Cuyahoga National Recreations Area(Bandywine Falls)
Location: 15610 Vaughn Road, Brecksville, Ohio 44141
Phone: (440) 526-5256
Reservations: Needed at least two weeks in advance.
Cost: $50 for a half hour
Receptions: Not allowed
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.
Hale Farm and Village
Location: 2686 Oak Hill Road, Bath, OH 44210
Phone: (800) 589-9703, ext. 225
Contact: Lynn Huber
Reservations: Needed at least one month in advance.
Cost: Admission fee charged.
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
Holdem Arboretum
Location: 9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland, Ohio 44094
Phone: (440) 946-4400
Contact: Matt Tarajcak
Reservations: Needed two months in advance.
Cost: Fee charged.
Receptions: Not allowed.
Inventure Place
Location: 221 S. Broadway, Akron, OH 44308-1505
Phone: (330) 849-6872
Contact: David Pauers (Special Events)
Reservations: Not necessary.
Cost: None
Notes: Photos may be taken outdoors in garden area. Call ahead for museum’s hours of operation.
Progressive 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
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
Notes: Photos may be taken only if no other wedding party is on site.
Mentor Marsh Nature Center
Location: 5185 Corduroy Road, Mentor, OH 44060
Phone: (440) 257-0777
Contact: Mentor Marsh Nature Center
Reservations: Call ahead one month in advance.
Cost: None
Receptions: Not allowed
Notes: Photos may be taken only during hours of operation or by reservation. The Nature Center is open Saturdays and Sundays, April through October, from 12 to 5 p.m. No reservations are required to take photos in the outdoors facility, open to the public dawn to dusk year-round.
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 and 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
Notes: Formerly known as Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center.
Nautica Queen
Location: 1153 Main Ave., Cleveland, OH 44113
Phone: (216) 696-5511 or (216) 696-8888
Contact: Group Sales Department
Reservations: Recommended at least one year in advance.
Cost: None
Notes: Pictures may be taken only if site is booked for the reception
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
Northfield Park
Location: 10705 Northfield Road, Northfield, OH 44067
Phone: (330) 467-4101, ext. 203
Contact: Mary Randall
Reservations: Recommended at least 30 days in advance.
Cost: None
Norwalk Raceway Park
Location: 1300 State Rte. 18, Norwalk, OH 44857
Phone: (419) 668-5555
Contact: Bobbie Maggard (Customer Service Department)
Reservations: Call at least 30 days in advance.
Cost: Call for availability and price
Notes: Pictures may be taken only if reception is booked at the park.
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
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Location: 2121 George Halas Drive N.W., Canton, OH 44708
Phone: (330) 456-8207, ext. 154
Contact: Tricia Dever
Reservations: Required at least one month in advance.
Cost: Regular admission charged for each person admitted. Group rates may apply for 12 or more people.
Notes: There is no fee nor are reservations required to take photos outside the building.
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 Garden
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.
Rocky River Park
Location: 20200 Beach Cliff Blvd, Rocky River, OH
Cost: None
Notes: Can be busy on a Saturday in the Summer months, but offers up some great photo opportunities.
Stan Hywett Hall and Gardens
Location: 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, OH 44303
Phone: (330) 836-5533
Contact: Administration Office
Reservations: Needed two weeks to six months in advance.
Cost: $200 for 2-15 people, additional guests are $10 each. Does not include $40 membership fee.
Notes: Photos may be taken outside only.
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.
