Cleveland Botanical Garden Wedding | Cleveland Wedding Photographers

Chad and Theresa’s Cleveland Botanical Gardens wedding was timelessly beautiful! The wedding had the perfect weather, the perfect couple, and the perfect portrait backdrop at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens.  And it also has what is now a hilarious story, though, it had my heart on pins and needles in the moment.

Prior to their wedding, Theresa and I had scoped out the Cleveland Botanical Gardens for their wedding day.  We had a good timeline in place, and we didn’t foresee any hiccups. On the day, everything seemed to be going smoothly. When we arrived, Theresa’s hair was already beautifully done. Shout out to her for being an amazing hairstylist and doing her own hair!

After Theresa got in her dress, the party bus arrived and we all headed to Olmstead Community Church. At some point in the short trip, we discovered that Theresa’s bouquet was left at the house. Obviously, this caused some minor panicking! Luckily, someone was able to retrieve it prior to the ceremony and everything was right back on track.

Once we arrived at Olmstead Community Church, Theresa and the girls hid away in a room. Theresa had a special first look with her dad! In the meantime, Chad arrived and got tucked away in the preschool Sunday school room.

Now, we’ve been to hundreds of weddings at this point. We always set ourselves up for the ceremony, the groom walks out, and the doors open for the bride. Right? That’s how it goes. So, the ceremony starts. The music plays, the bridesmaids walk down, and the doors open for Theresa. I look back to photograph Chad, and he is nowhere in sight. My heart dropped…and probably my jaw as well. Theresa and her dad stood at the end of the aisle, and holy cow the suspense was unnerving. I had never considered what I would do if one-half of our couples didn’t show up. And of all couples, I certainly didn’t expect Chad to miss his wedding.

Luckily, Chad hadn’t skipped town! In fact, he was hanging in the preschool room with his best man and nobody had told him the ceremony was starting. One of the ministers went and got him. When he walked out and looked down the aisle and you could see he was surprised that she was already standing there! Thankfully the rest of their ceremony went off without hitch. After their ceremony in the beautiful light-filled sanctuary, we headed to the Cleveland Botanical Gardens for portraits. Theresa had such a vision for her wedding day! They are easily some of the most photogenic couples we’ve worked with because they lay on the PDA and we are here for it!

We are so thankful to have photographed Theresa & Chad’s wedding! They are truly something special and some of the greatest people you’ll ever meet.

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