Cleveland’s Top 5 Wedding Photo Locations

cleveland weddings

Your wedding day is drawing near, so you’re starting to think where to take pictures to complement those taken at the church and reception. Upon doing some research, we found that these are the top five according to area brides, hotel concierges, and wedding planners. 

Tremont

Many wedding parties find themselves at the Cleveland script sign, located at 1502 Abbey Ave. It has the distinction of being the most photographed of the Cleveland signs because it offers a wide panorama of the Cleveland skyline. The location is especially coveted on nights when the Indians/Guardians host fireworks displays. 

It’s easy to spend a full day in the Tremont area.  There’s plenty of street art and murals on buildings and in scenic park areas. There are trendy gift shops/boutiques, art galleries, notable ethnic church architecture, eateries for just about any type of palate.  There’s even a museum in the house where the movie classic “A Christmas Story” was filmed — with the leg lamp in the front window. 

East 9th Street Pier/Voinovich Park

While once just a pier for ships delivering goods to a growing metropolitan city, the area has now been reconstructed. On its east side the USS Cod submarine is permanently docked, but the west side is now home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, The great Lakes Science Center, and Voinovich Park where another Cleveland sign overlooks Lake Erie.  Also in close proximity is the Great Lakes Science Center and dockage for the Goodtime ships that offer water (and dining) tours of the city. 

Wade Oval/University Circle

Wade Oval is the largest public park in the City of Cleveland at 254 acres. University Circle is home to the Doan Brook and is famous for its cultural gardens, lagoon, rock outcroppings, greenhouse, stone bridges, playgrounds, and tennis courts.

This area of the city is probably one of the most historically and culturally-rich in Cleveland.  Outdoor (and free) photo opportunities abound.  

  • The Cleveland Museum of Art – majestic pond, beautiful plantings, swans, fan-shaped front steps and statues outside the Museum of Art.
  • Severance Music Hall and the Case Western Reserve campus offer varying architectural backdrops for photos, too.
  • While NOT outdoors or free there are great photo opportunities at the Crawford Auto & Aviation Museum, inside the Botanical Gardens and at numerous other museums in the area.

Lakewood Park 

The “crown jewel” of the Lakewood Parks system, is a 31-acre lakefront tract located at the intersection of Belle and Lake Avenues. The Park offers a multitude of activities, including: 

  • Solstice Steps –with breathtaking views of Lake Erie from either the upper or lower promenade of this new community favorite.
  • The Lakefront Promenade is a gorgeous brick walkway where visitors can enjoy a lovely view of the lake as well as a wonderful skyline of downtown Cleveland. It has a handicap-accessible ramp, with stone walls and brick pavers, which extends from the top of the bluff to the lower walking paths which are a stone’s throw to the lake.
  • Old Stone House: Lakewood’s oldest stone house, now a museum, but exterior shots made a nice backdrop.

East 4th Street

The last place we found to be most used by newlyweds to fill out their photo albums was East 4th Street. In the heart of Downtown, it is an urban space like no other.  

Following decades of decline and vacancy, East 4th got a new lease on life with the opening of Pickwick & Frolic Restaurant and Comedy Club. Nick Kostis, owner of Pickwick & Frolic imagined the street as a vibrant community of bars, restaurants, retail shops and residential apartments within the heart of our city. It wasn’t long before others began to buy into this vision.  The House of Blues opened celebrating the music industry, with that came a number of new trendy restaurants, as well as boutique shops and hotels.

To the East, you can catch sight of the playhouse theatre district and the very well-known chandelier hanging over. To the west of 4th street is Public Square and the Jack Cleveland Casino, Tower City, Key Tower and so much more.  There is an abundance of photo opportunities for not only brides but anyone!