A Modern Romantic Wedding at the Cleveland Museum of Art: M & T’s Spring Celebration
There’s something undeniably magical about weddings at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The combination of timeless art and modern romance creates a unique and enchanting atmosphere. It’s perfect for celebrating love. M & T’s modern romantic wedding held at the Cleveland Museum of Art is something that will hold a special place in our hearts for a long time. Not just because it was beautiful, it was, but because of the two of them as a couple. If you were lucky enough to be on their under 100-person guest list you know that they chose to fill the the museum with the people that are most important to them. Honestly, much of how they approached their museum of art wedding was based on their priorities and values. After hundreds of wedding days, I can tell you I know that, without a doubt, makes for the most stunning events.
The celebration weekend was planned by A Charming Fête, so we knew from the get-go that it was going to be a stunning design and a well-coordinated event. What was a little more surprising was the moments of special and unique touches put throughout the weekend. After photographing so many wedding days few things truly make me stop in my tracks – M & T had those moments throughout their wedding weekend.
The Cleveland Museum of Art was a perfect backdrop for both their ceremony and reception on the first day of their wedding weekend. Their love for art would be a central theme of their celebration. The idea of “artwork within the artwork” resonated deeply with them. The museum provided the perfect canopy for their modern romantic celebration (see what I did there?). The springtime setting added a fresh and vibrant atmosphere, which also helped bring their vision to life. As a multicultural couple, it was a wildly incredible coincidence that the Cleveland Museum of Art happened to be showcasing an exhibit on Korean fashion, with massive banners in the background.
When the stars align.
The Story of M & T
M & T are an extraordinary couple, both incredibly intelligent and deeply kind. M is an internal medicine/genetics doctor and T is a post-doc particle physicist working remotely for the University of Cincinnati. Yup, you read that right. They’re pretty cool. 😉 Their journey began during college through a scholarship program and they started dating in their junior year. From fixing shower drains (this was well played by M and you need to take her to coffee to get the full story) to long-distance Netflix dates, their relationship has been a beautiful blend of shared interests and unwavering support. The third member of their family, sweet pandemic dog. Darfee is a giant 30lb Pomeranian and has been a constant source of joy as well. Although, in full disclosure when T asked her to marry him she was so shocked she dropped Darfee. Don’t worry, it was only a little drop. 😉
The biggest constant in their lives, according to them, is an appreciation of food. M shared that when they lived apart, visits were always an excuse to eat at a high-end restaurant they couldn’t really afford and pretend to be fancy. But throughout their relationship, they’ve shared everything from Costco hotdogs to meals at Michelin-star restaurants. They love hosting and trying the most dive/hole-in-the-wall restaurants you can find. I think life is just an adventure for the two of them, in the best way possible. That’s what it feels like getting to know them, an adventure in the best way possible.
To get to know this couple though you need to start with their engagement session. M meticulously planned and searched for the perfect fashion choices. We began our journey together with an engagement session planned just down the road from the Cleveland Museum of Art at the Cleveland Contemporary Museum of Art and in the Stan Hywet Gardens. When we finished their engagement session I knew right then that they are a couple we love celebrating with. You can see their whole engagement session here if you’d like to see her incredible style choices and sheer joy.
A Spring Cleveland Museum Wedding
On their wedding weekend, they started doing things in a way they knew they wanted to arrange the events. Things that would make them feel the best, not necessarily what was expected. The couple didn’t have a wedding party. Instead they had friends they’d invited stop by while they were getting ready here and there, at a much slower pace. You could hear them laughing and giggling, sipping coffee, simply enjoying a slow start to the weekend.
The decor also reflected M & T’s unique style and passion for art. Every detail, from the table settings to the floral arrangements, was thoughtfully chosen to create a cohesive and visually stunning experience. As guests arrived, they were greeted by the breathtaking florals. The colors and textures paid homage to Korea, with the Korean national flower prominently featured in M’s bouquet.
They chose to have a laid-back day, relaxing and enjoying each other. They exchanged private vows before they celebrated with the people they loved the most – and of course, we stopped for snacks. 😉
Their ceremony was stunning in the Museum of Art with its marble backdrop. The groom’s aunt officiated which made the ceremony not only moving, but also very funny. It was also very special, on a personal note, to have so many past Dragonfly Photography couples there celebrating with them! They did the math (they like math) 8% in attendance of the wedding were past couples. Talk about needing discipline to stay focused and not just greet everyone in sight!
The moment of the night was their first dance. Walking to the dance floor casually they began what appeared to be a quiet moment together. Then, about 15 seconds in the music changed. They broke out into the most amazing choreographed dance with their guests surrounding them cheering.
The night ended with a reception dress change and a late-night snack of Ramen (the couple’s favorite late-night snack) and dancing late into the night.
Paebaek Wedding Ceremony – The Korean Wedding Day
One of the most unique and touching aspects of M & T’s wedding was the traditional Korean Paebaek ceremony on the second day. On day two the couple and their parents got ready in proximity to each other. The bride’s mother took each person through the getting ready process. She helped them with their traditional Korean attire and explained traditions and heritage. It was truly amazing seeing her walk through the traditions she was passing down. At times she hesitated if she wasn’t sure she got it just right. She wanted everything to be perfect. It was an incredibly emotional moment to watch. You could see the history of family and tradition and the pressure she felt to make sure she was doing it justice for the next generation. It was also incredibly beautiful to see two families come together in heritage and tradition. Years of weddings and we were fighting tears as it happened in front of us.
The couple wore the traditional Korean wedding attire, the Hanbok, which added a rich cultural layer to their celebration. The Paebaek ceremony is the tea ceremony of traditional Korean marriage. It involves exchanging bows, serving tea, and parents offering advice. Throwing of dates and chestnuts, to decide how many kids you’ll be having – that was a moment of great laughter as M, in a moment of panic dumped the 20 or so walnuts that were aimed at her with precision (that could have only been practiced) by her mother right on the ground to make it a much more reasonable number. And my personal favorite… a piggyback ride, for both the bride and her mother.
Our Journey Together
M & T found us through a recommendation from a friend. We instantly connected over their love of art and their desire to create a meaningful, beautiful wedding day. They chose to work with us because of our commitment to capturing genuine, emotional moments. They also trusted our ability to make them feel seen and heard throughout the planning process. It was an honor to be part of such a special day and to capture the moments that hopefully will be cherished for a lifetime together.
Here’s what M & T had to say about their experience with us: “Dragonfly team: We are truly stunned and in awe, not only of the mastery of your craft but also your humor, kindness, friendship, attention to detail (i.e. snacks!! which our driver was also impressed by, can I just say), and professionalism. You all were one of the first vendors that we booked, and it was one of the best decisions we made for this wedding. We’re truly honored that you were there for one of the most important days of our lives, and for that, we are beyond grateful. Get ready to be part of every big and little event that happens in our lives….you’re in it now!”
Wishing M & T a lifetime of love, joy, and endless adventures together.
