Sarah and Adam’s wedding at Cleveland Botanical Garden

Sarah and Adam’s lovely wedding day at Cleveland Botanical Garden is filled with classic details like the bride’s Vera Wang gown and catherdral length veil, crisp and clean stationery by Rose Gold Studio, muted florals by Molly Taylor & Co. and a five-tiered buttercream cake by Hummingbird Bake Shop. The grounds of the botanical garden set a lush tone and the reception is balanced with raw wood tables and cafe chairs for a relaxed elegant vibe. Lauren Gabrielle Photography was on hand to capture all the details of the day and you’re sure to be inspired.

What made the wedding special and unique?

Our ceremony felt really intimate due to a rainstorm that came through right at the start of our wedding. The ceremony had to be moved inside due to the rain, but the room was perfectly lit and decorated and our guests really felt like a part of our ceremony. We also wrote our own vows which really added to the ceremony. I loved that I hadn’t heard Adam’s vows until the ceremony itself!

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

I found my wedding dress at Vera Wang almost by accident. After seeing a dress I loved at another boutique in Chicago, I made a gown appointment at Vera Wang (my maid of honor and I had joked when we were younger about how I should get married in a Vera Wang dress since my last name was Wang). I ended up trying on a strapless lace dress that I fell in love with and knew would be just right for our wedding. I loved that the gown had a long train and beautiful lace scalloping at the edges of the train. The details on the dress were so perfect and reminded me of my mom’s wedding gown.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

We had my husband’s cousin, who is a rabbi, officiated the wedding which led to an intimate feel to the ceremony.  Writing our own vows was one of the best decisions we made that lent a personal touch to the ceremony.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

The most memorable part of the day was definitely walking down the aisle. A close second would be when our ring bearer, our nephew who was 1 year old at the time, was chewing on our wedding ring boxes as he came down the aisle in a wagon!

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

Adam and I actually met back in elementary school. We are both from Shaker Heights, Ohio and our parents live about 5 minutes away from each other. We went to the same elementary school, but were in different grades. Our paths crossed again when we went to the same medical school. We started dating at the beginning of medical school and then got engaged before we graduated. Adam had planned a fun day of ice skating and dinner at our favorite place. After dinner, he told me he had a present for me and brought down a very large wrapped box. I had no idea what was in the box and was secretly hoping it was a puppy. When I opened the box, there was a small ring box inside and then Adam got down on one knee and proposed. I was so surprised!

Photography: Lauren Gabrielle Photography // Planner/Event Design: A Charming Fete // Florals: Molly Taylor & Co. // Stationery & Paper Goods: Rose Gold Studio // Ceremony & Reception: Cleveland Botanical Garden // Cake: Hummingbird Bake Shop // Macarons: Philomena // Hair and Makeup: Beauty Therapy // Bride’s Gown: Vera Wang // Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo // Linens: La Tavola Fine Linens // Dinnerware, Napkins, Flatware, Boxwood Hedges: Event Source // Wood Tables and Chairs: Borrow Rentals // Video: RAD Cinema // Photobooth: Too Much Awesomeness // Ceremony Music: Sonata Strings // Band: CLE Music Group // The Orchestra Lighting: Rock the House