Severance Hall

Aside from being one of our favorite spots in Cleveland for a wedding ceremony or reception, Severance Hall holds a special place in my and Genevieve’s relationship. Our very first date took place at Severance Hall when I took Genevieve there to see The Cleveland Orchestra perform Handel’s Messiah. I still remember the dress she wore, and I think it was the first night where Genevieve finally figured out how much she actually liked me. 🙂 Fast forward several years, and we have been back a number of times as wedding photographers for ceremonies, receptions, or just as a mid-day photo location with the bridal party.

For those of you who might not be from the Cleveland area, Severance Hall serves as the winter home to the world renowned Cleveland Orchestra. It was built in 1920 as a permanent home for the Orchestra and is nestled neatly in the Wade Park District along with the Cleveland Museum of Art, The Cleveland Botanical Gardens, The Natural History Museum, and Case Western Reserve University.

Ceremonies at Severance Hall

The Grand Foyer can be a beautiful location for a wedding ceremony. The ornate Art Deco design and directional window light are a dream to shoot in and can be a very nice alternative to the traditional church ceremony.

Wedding Day Portraits

There are many options in and around Severance Hall for portraits with the bride and groom and with the bridal party. The Grand Foyer, the building exterior, and the nearby Wade Lagoon and Art Museum are all fantastic backdrops and together they cover a wide range of styles and looks that can be put to good use. With the Grand Foyer, you even have an indoor location to retreat to in the event of rain, which happens all too often in Northeast Ohio.

Receptions at Severance Hall

The two level layout of the Grand Foyer works out great for wedding receptions. Cocktail hour can take place on the main rotunda while tables and settings for dinner are being set upstairs in the mezzanine. After dinner, you have a beautiful wide open space for a dance floor and the less dance floor savvy guests can watch the festivities from their seats up above. All the slightly reflective red marble can be tough to light for some photographers, but the right technique and care, it can really look amazing.