German-American Cultural Center Reception

Debra and Kevin are a sweet couple and I knew it would be a fun wedding day.

Please enjoy, Scott Shaw Photo | Cleveland Wedding Photographer

We started with Debra at her family’s home where
the importance of family and family history quickly became
apparent.

Debra and Kevin met there while playing in a softball
league. Kevin had played for several years and when Debra moved
back home her mother Diana encouraged her to get out and make
new friends. Debra saw the request for players, signed up and
brought a friend… and they met at their first game in April 2011.

After the First Look we were off to Rockport United
Methodist Church for the ceremony. Then it was the German-American
Cultural Center known as Donauschwaben.

Debra and her mother Diana look at each other in the
dresser used by Diana when she was getting ready for her wedding.
In Debra’s parents wedding album there is a photo of her grandmother
Mary helping Diana with her hair before she left for the church.

Debra walks down the hall past a photo of her at three
years old wearing the flower girl outfit worn by her cousin, Christina,
in the wedding of Debra’s parents, Jim and Diana.

Debra’s dad Jim says good bye as she leaves for the First Look.

Kevin waits for Debra to arrive during their First Look.

As the wedding party approached for portraits they all used party noisemakers.

Sister Molly found that she stepped into something a dog had left in the grass.

Since they met at these softball fields
the photos were important to Debra and Kevin.

Debra looks back at her mother and grandmother.

Rev. Dr. Gordon Myers and Rev. Dan Bryant
led the ceremony at Rockport United Methodist Church.

The reception at the German-American Cultural Center
is also home to the Cleveland Donauschwaben (Danube Swabians)
ethnic group. The Donauschwaben are a German ethnic group that
primarily immigrated to America following World War II and created
a society to celebrate their traditions and language.

There was a wonderful display of the families history
with a strong emphasis on the wedding experience.

Mother Diana said this about it: “Our family history
display came from Debra’s grandmother, Mary’s
love of antiques and family heirlooms and my
love of past fashions and retro items. Mix all
that with wedding photos, dresses and stories from
all sides of the bride and groom’s family and you
have an interesting collection for the guests to muse over.”

I loved looking at it and here’s a few photos from the display.

This veil belonged to the bride, Carolyn
who was Debra’s fraternal grandmother.

Kevin’s grandparents Margaret and Chester are reflected in the mirror.

The cake topper is from the wedding of Kevin’s parents, Chip and Margaret, from 1975.

I loved the light on Debra’s friend, Chelsea, during the cocktail hour.

During a speech by Kevin’s father, Chip, Debra’s
father, Jim, thought he’d try a similar look.

Kevin’s cousin, Mason, can’t wait to start dancing.

Abby Normal & the Detroit Lean had the dance floor
packed all night with lead singer Dean Walters.

Debra’s sisters Kim, Molly and Marybeth re-wrote the lyrics
to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” to sing about Debra and
Kevin’s relationship and how they met.

Debra’s friend Jill caught the bouquet while Kevin’s
friend, Summer, tried her best to snag it.

The wedding display was the perfect background for the
end of the night photo-often one of my favorite
photos from the wedding (and night).

To see their engagement session please click here:

http:http://www.scottshawphoto.com/debra-and-kevins-cleveland-engagement/

I’ve known Debra and her family for many years
and it was great to meet Kevin’s family too.

Thank you,

– Scott Shaw Photo | Cleveland Wedding Photographer