An Elegant Cleveland City Hall Wedding

A stunning winter wedding at the Cleveland City Hall. Filled with true elegance, bold florals, and the most stunning venue.

There are weddings that take your breath away, and then there are weddings set in spaces that feel as though they were built for moments just like this. That was exactly the case for Victoria and Ryan’s unforgettable Cleveland City Hall wedding in the iconic City Hall Rotunda. Located in downtown Cleveland, this historic venue is where timeless architecture and elegance come together in spectacular form. With a guest capacity of around 225–250 people, the Rotunda strikes a beautiful balance between grand and intimate, allowing every thoughtful detail of the day to truly shine.

The Details

From the very beginning of Victoria and Ryan’s wedding day to the very end, every moment was filled with thoughtful details and striking floral designs that left us all in awe. We began the day at their hotel with flat lay details and getting-ready photos.

Victoria came in with an incredible inspiration board, which made her flat lay details especially fun to capture. She was fully prepared with meaningful pieces and props that perfectly matched her vision, and they turned into some of my favorite detail shots to date. Soft white florals, a silver tray, and an “I Do” perfume bottle completed the flat lay beautifully. If you’re looking to add a special touch to your own detail photos, the perfume bottle is from Anthropologie and makes such a timeless addition.

Getting Ready

Most of my weddings follow a similar timeline, and this day was no different. Once we captured the flat lay and dress details, we moved into getting-ready photos. Victoria wore an elegant getting-ready outfit, while her girls matched in the cutest pajamas. I love photographing this moment once hair and makeup are finished but before the bride steps into her dress. It gives everyone a chance to relax, laugh, and enjoy a few fun moments together before transitioning into formal attire. (And honestly, who doesn’t love some cute, candid pajama photos?)

Once we finished capturing all the cute and candid pajama photos, we moved into Victoria getting into her dress, and it was truly stunning. When you think of classic elegance, this dress is exactly what comes to mind. Soft light spilling into the room created the most beautiful setting for her portraits. While I was with Victoria, my second photographer was with Ryan, capturing incredible portraits of him in the hotel lobby. Ryan was so easy to work with, and his portraits have a timeless, editorial feel, like something straight out of a magazine.

At this time, we headed over to Cleveland City Hall to start taking some portraits and the first look. Victoria and Ryan chose not to have a first look but she did have a first look with her dad. This was so special to witness and it’s clear to see what a great relationship these two have with each other. We had some extra time before we had to tuck Victoria away before Ryan arrived at the venue and we took full advantage of that time to capture some jaw dropping portraits of her and the bridesmaids.

The Ceremony + Portraits

When it was finally time for Victoria and Ryan to see each other for the first time, the emotion in the room was undeniable. Whether couples choose a first look or wait until the ceremony, this moment is always incredibly special to witness. As Victoria walked down the aisle, Ryan’s tears said it all. Their ceremony was heartfelt and meaningful, and the scale of the Rotunda highlighted why a Cleveland City Hall wedding feels so unforgettable, grand without ever feeling overwhelming.

This was a December wedding and without a first look we were racing against the sunlight for their portraits. By the time the ceremony was done, we decided to just stay inside on the first floor while all the guests were upstairs for cocktail hour to do their portraits. One of the biggest advantages of planning a Cleveland City Hall wedding is how thoughtfully the venue is laid out. The ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception spaces are all separate, which allowed us to remain on the first floor for portraits while guests enjoyed cocktail hour upstairs. This separation made it possible to capture uninterrupted portraits while keeping the timeline relaxed and stress-free for everyone involved.

Another reason Cleveland City Hall is such a perfect wedding venue is the variety of photo locations throughout the first floor, each one showcasing the building’s immaculate design. We began their portraits on the stunning staircase while vendors transitioned the ceremony space for the reception. From the very beginning, Victoria knew she wanted photos there, and it’s easy to see why, these images are some of my favorites from their Cleveland City Hall wedding day.

Once the reception tables were set, we stepped back into the room to capture a few more portraits of them in the space. This portrait session was one of my favorites, there was no shortage of beautiful corners, and I found myself wishing we had even more time to photograph every inch of the venue.

The Reception

Onto the final portion of the wedding at the Cleveland City Hall for Victoria and Ryan, the reception. The DJ for their wedding had a really fun and exciting way to hype up the bridal party where he had a spout of champagne and everyone chanted someones name to take a drink out of it. Everyone in the bridal party had so much fun and it really made everyone even more excited to get the reception started. The details in the reception space were just as incredible as they were throughout the day but when the lights were turned down, it made the place feel so intimate and romantic. The head table was completely lined with baby’s breath and each table had a stack of candles to give that romanic and soft element.

One really unique part of their day was their first dance. The DJ called everyone out onto the dance floor to gather in a big circle around Victoria and Ryan. That way, no matter where they were on the dance floor, they could see everyone who loved them surrounding them and grinning ear to ear. After the intros, first dances, and cake cutting, the dance floor finally opened up and their guests were not shy to head out onto the dance floor and stay there until the end of the night.

Victoria + Ryan Wedding at Cleveland City Hall

Victoria and Ryan’s Cleveland City Hall wedding was truly special from beginning to end. The love, laughter, and thoughtful details made their celebration one of a kind. Thank you both for trusting me to capture such meaningful moments, from the proposal in Cincinnati to your beautiful wedding day in Cleveland. It was an honor to be part of your story, and I’m so grateful for the experience. If you’re getting married and are looking for a photographer, I would be honored to capture your day! Please visit my website here and submit an inquiry form.

As always, thank you to this amazing vendor team who helped make this day possible.

PHOTOGRAPHER: Kate Legters Photography
VENUE: Cleveland City Hall
DRESS: Liliana Bridal House
DRESSES: Show Me Your Mumu
COORDINATOR: Something Pink Weddings
FLORIST: Marlee Floral
CATERER: A Taste of Excellence
DJ: Ohio DJ Pros
HAIR & MAKEUP: Sarah Delaine Brides
CAKE: Wild Flour Bakery OH
VIDEOGRAPHER: Inman Productions
SUITS: Jos. A. Bank
DECOR: Draped By Joan
RINGS: James Wolf Jewelers