This couple didn't just get married once — they got married three times over, in the best possible way. Private vows at the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, a traditional Chinese tea ceremony at Ariel Pearl Center, and a Western ceremony later that same day, also at Ariel Pearl Center. Three different kinds of meaningful, all in one day.
This particular photo is from the first of the three — private vows, just the two of them and me, tucked into the Hungarian Cultural Gardens. I suggested this spot simply because it's one of the most beautiful corners of the Gardens, with that stone wall and lush green backdrop giving them a quiet, almost secluded setting to read the words they'd written for each other. There was no officiant, no guests — just the two of them, completely present with each other. And yes, there were a few tears.
I loved that this couple wanted to honor both of their families and backgrounds so intentionally throughout the day — she's Chinese American, he's American, and getting to walk through her family's tea ceremony later that afternoon alongside their more traditional Western vows was such a beautiful way to see two cultures woven into one celebration rather than choosing just one.
Technically, this spot has a road running fairly close behind where they're standing, so I used a longer lens and a wide aperture to compress the background and blur it into nothing but soft green and light, keeping any distractions completely out of the frame. The result is that dreamy, secluded feel — like they're somewhere far more private than they actually were.
Private wedding vows photographed at Cleveland Cultural Gardens in Cleveland, Ohio by Lindsey Beckwith
Location: 1070 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44108.
Keywords: Cleveland Cultural Gardens, multicultural wedding (2), private vows.