Let Them Eat Cake! – Wedding Cake Inspiration
Wedding at The Club at Hillbrook – Michelle and Paul – Chagrin Falls Ohio
Wedding at the Club at Hillbrook
Michelle and Paul
Michelle and Paul were married on May 19 in a beautiful garden-inspired outdoor ceremony. Their love for nature and the great outdoors led them to The Club at Hillbrook for the ceremony and reception venue. This 40 room Tudor mansion sits on 50 picturesque acres outside of Chagrin Falls, Ohio. It was built by Edmund S. Burke, Jr. He was the former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and founder of what later became known as Bethlehem Steel. 
Upon arrival, it was easy to see why the Club at Hillbrook was named as one of the Best Wedding Venues in America by Brides Magazine! The secluded location and winding road that leads to the Club was also perfect for the couple’s vision for their guests. They wanted their venue to make their guests feel as if they were going to a secret elegant party. They also wanted to show the natural beauty of the greater Cleveland area since most of the guests were from out of town. The Club at Hillbrook succeeded in giving Michell and Paul their Fairytale Wedding in the Woods! 
Getting Ready
Both the ceremony and reception were held at the Club at Hillbrook. Michelle and Paul and their entire wedding party also got ready there. When I arrived, I went straight to work taking the getting ready photos and the detail shots of their attire and accessories. I was soon joined by my second shooter for the day, Julie Paszczykowski. She mainly photographed the guys while I stayed with the girls. Of course, we each went back and forth between the bride and groom to make sure we had different images for them.
That moment when you are taking photos of the bride with her bridesmaids sitting on the bed. Then you ask them to do something fun and one of them yells “Pillow Fight!” Then they remember they all just had your hair and makeup done! Protect the bride at all costs!
The First Look
The Interfaith Wedding Ceremony didn’t take place until 5:30 so Michelle and Paul opted for “First Look” photos. That way, most of the formal photos would be out of the way and they could enjoy their ceremony and reception. We had the groom go outside first and sit by the fountain with his back to the entry door to the estate. The bride came out after and walked up behind him.
The landscape of the Club at Hillbrook is a photographer’s dream. We never had to “scout” for a good spot to take photos. Everywhere was perfect! But the Bride and Groom specifically wanted photos in the Gazebo in the back garden. However, getting there was not an easy task. It was a bit of a hike but the bride had on flat shoes and that helped tremendously! It was definitely worth the extra effort!
We finished taking the bridal party photos up on the stairs leading to the back patio. The architecture of the Club at Hillbrook is the perfect backdrop no matter where you are on the property! 
Ketubah
The Ketubah is considered one of the most important parts of a Jewish marriage. It is basically a pre-nup that the groom signs and protects the bride. Although in today’s times it doesn’t usually have any monetary value today. However, in biblical times, it was the price the groom paid to marry his bride. By signing the Ketubah, the groom agreed to pay the bride or her parents an agreed amount of money or other items. It also specified that the groom continues supporting her should the marriage end either by death or divorce. Today, it often times serves as a reminder of the couple’s vows and responsibilities as it hangs in their home.
The Ceremony
Michelle’s Jewish heritage also played a big part in their wedding ceremony. Molly Taylor and Co. did an amazing job designing and building the Chuppah under which the couple was married. Cantor Laurel Barr performed the interfaith ceremony. They say rain on your wedding day is good luck. Cantor Barr stated Michelle and Paul will have an abundance of good luck since it poured buckets during their ceremony! The Ketubah was read during the ceremony to publically affirmed the groom’s obligations to the bride. The couple also included the Kiddush (blessing over the wine) and the Sheva Brachot (7 blessings) during the ceremony. Of course, no Jewish wedding would be complete without the breaking of the glass before the kiss! The heavens must have approved because as soon as the guests shouted “Mazel Tov,” there was a loud boom of thunder!
Special Guest!
Although everything about Michelle and Paul’s wedding day was absolutely perfect, there was one person who was visibly missing. Michelle’s dad was back in Toledo in a hospital recovering from emergency surgery and obviously couldn’t be there physically. However, with the help of modern technology, he didn’t miss a thing. Michelle’s nephew managed to set up a video chat feed on an iPad placed on the table under the Chuppah so Michelle’s dad didn’t miss a moment of the ceremony. Her brother and mother walked her down the aisle in his place.
The Details
Michelle and Paul’s busy schedules left little time for wedding planning. Therefore, they enlisted the help of Lauren Hibbard from A Charming Fete to help them create their dream wedding. It was instantly clear why they are one of the top wedding planning companies in the country!
They wanted everything to look and feel very natural yet elegant. Michelle loves the look of freshly picked flowers and wanted the floral aspects to look as if they were freshly picked from the garden. This included leaving the leaves on the stems of the flowers.
Their color scheme of blush, champagne gold, and leafy green was modishly displayed throughout the venue. The minimal gold flakes on the wedding cake from Luna Bakery & Café perfectly demonstrated the graceful style the couple wanted. The white tablecloths gave a simple and airy feel to the room. The blush napkins were enhanced with sprigs of vines at each table setting.
The stationery from Minted.com also reflected this feel. The farm table and cane back Betty chairs from Borrow Curated Rentals served as the head table and seating for the bride and groom. The head table was simply decorated with a white table runner adorned with a mix of white votive and tapered candles for a romantic feel. The bridal bouquets and greenery added to the romantic vibes. The hanging floral arrangement above the table was absolutely stunning. 
Another special family member made a decidedly unique appearance at the reception. Paul and Michelle’s dog Luna was perfectly depicted on cookies created by Itty Bitty Bake Shop. They were definitely a showstopper! 
How they Met!
The happy couple met in college at Miami University in 2011 at a fraternity-sorority party that neither one really wanted to attend. They have been inseparable ever since! They incorporated their alma mater into their wedding details. Their signature drink was aptly named “The Miami Merger.” This is the name given to Miami alumni who marry each other. They also brought a Miami University flag to use for pictures of the couple and for use in the photo booth. “Love and Honor” is a greeting used by Miami students and alumni and comes from the chorus in the school’s fight song. 
The Reception
Michelle and Paul were able to steal away a little bit of time together before the reception. Then they headed right into the festivities. They started with the cake cutting and then the welcome speech. Although it was storming and we had a couple of power outages, the night was perfect! The guests celebrated the magical day through late into the evening with the help of DJ Mike Alexander from Cleveland Music Group. 
The guests also enjoyed my green screen photo booth and took home hundreds of 4×6 prints as their party favors! 
A Great Time was had by All at #MichelleGetsHerBae! 
The Pros
The Club at Hillbrook
A Charming Fete
Molly Taylor and Co
Cantor Laurel Barr
Luna Bakery
Itty Bitty Bakeshop
Borrow Rentals
Something White
Watters
Abbott’s Bridal and Formalwear
WToo
The Black Tux
Kurt’s Kustom Keepsakes
Cleveland Music Group
Beauty Therapy, Inc.
Minted
For more information about Kurt Nielsen Wedding Photography, including pricing, please visit my website at www.kurtnphoto.com.
To contact Kurt to schedule your FREE Wedding Consultation, please call the studio at:
Kurt Nielsen Photography
kurt@kurtnphoto.com
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Read what other brides are saying about me on The Knot
and Wedding Wire!
Bridal Show Survival Guide
Bridal Show Survival Guide
Congratulations on your engagement!!!
If you are just starting to plan your wedding, or if you are still trying to find the perfect wedding specialists to complete your list, you are probably considering attending a bridal show. If you have never attended one before, it can be quite overwhelming. Arguably, it’s even overwhelming to the participants who are there to help you. But it is also the perfect place to meet and talk with, albeit sometimes only briefly, those wedding professionals who can help you on your wedding day.
Here are a few tips to assist in your bridal show survival.
1. Pre-Register. Almost all of the bridal shows now allow you to pre-register for the event. This will save you lots of time from standing in line. In addition, many also allow you to purchase your tickets online as well. Of course, purchasing them online will save you even more time.
2. Show Up Early. Bridal shows are very busy and chaotic. Arriving early means you will be able to get to speak with the wedding professionals before most of the rest of the brides. This is especially important when your wedding date is the same date that many other brides also want. Remember that when booking a wedding professional, it is usually a first-come, first-served basis, so if you know you want to book a particular wedding professional, the sooner you do that the better your chances will be of getting your wedding dream team.
3. Print Address Labels. Almost all of the wedding specialists will have some sort of drawing. Print address labels prior to attending to save time. Be sure to include your name, email address, phone number and wedding date. Not only does this save time, but will spare your hand from cramping!
4. Know your budget. Knowing your budget will save you the embarrassment of hiring someone you will not be able to afford and then have to cancel their services. Keep in mind that most deposits are non refundable to protect the vendor. Therefore, it’s better for you to spend that money on things that are necessary and that you can afford. Don’t waste it on the fluff no one will remember.
5. Bring your checkbook! If you are serious about planning your wedding, you will want to bring your checkbook. Many wedding professionals do not accept credit card payments. Therefore, it is wise to bring your checkbook. This will ensure you get the wedding specialists that you want from the show.
6. Have your calendar available. If you wish to sit down and meet with your favorite wedding specialists before booking them, you should know when you are available. Chances are that they have their calendars with them and can schedule an appointment at the show.
7. Bring your posse. Have your mom, your maid of honor, your bridesmaids, and your fiancee come with you. Bring whoever will be helping you plan your wedding. (Just be careful not to bring too many people so you don’t get overwhelmed or confused.) They can help you decide on things and also help carry the massive amounts of literature that you will receive from the show vendors and also help you fill out the drawing entry forms.
8. Take notes, pictures and collect as much information as you can. There will be a lot of things running through your brain and this will help you keep track of what you like. Accordingly, there will also be a lot of photo booths that you can try out, so be camera ready!
9. Eat before you go. No one likes it when you are hangry. There will be small, almost bite-sized, food samples at the show. But, they are just samples and not enough to fill you up. It’s a good idea to eat lunch before the show to help keep your mind focused.
11. Bring something to drink. You will be talking to a lot of people and your mouth will get very dry. For that reason, you should bring something that will quench your thirst and keep you going.
12. Wear comfortable shoes! Your entire bridal show survival could depend on your feet comfort level! You will be doing a lot of walking and standing. There will not be any seating areas provided in the venue. Therefore, it’s important to wear something comfortable and supportive.
13. Don’t get pressured into booking at the show! There will be many eager brides ready to find the one perfect wedding professional for their special day. And there will also be many eager wedding professionals ready to fill their calendars with weddings. Don’t let their overzealous antics force you into a contract that you aren’t ready to sign.
14. Have fun! Don’t forget to have fun at the bridal show! After all, this is what you have dreamed of and worked for your whole life.
If you have recently become engaged and are looking for a wedding photographer and/or photo booth, I will be at the Sounds of Music DJs Superbowl of All Bridal Shows on Saturday, January 27 and Sunday, January 28 from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm. I will be located at The Premier on Heatherdowns. Don’t forget to stop by and say hi and check out my photography and my photo booth! Here is a map of the layout and where I will be.
Use these tips to get the most out of the bridal expo! Happy planning!
For more information about Kurt Nielsen Wedding Photography, including pricing, please visit my website at www.kurtnphoto.com.
To check for availability and schedule your FREE Wedding consultation, please call:
Kurt Nielsen Photography
kurt@kurtnphoto.com
Feel free to make comments below and/or share this blog post. Help spread the word and pin this image to your Pinterest board!