1. Real Weddings

Elizabeth & Christopher: A Modern Restaurant Wedding in Cleveland, OH

Elizabeth and Chris met while working at a financial firm in downtown Cleveland. Though they had gone out for numerous happy hours together, their fir

Elizabeth and Chris met while working at a financial firm in downtown Cleveland. Though they had gone out for numerous happy hours together, their first date was at the One Walnut downtown. “It was the best meal I ever had, complete with champagne!” Elizabeth says. The Bride Elizabeth Bouch, 30, compliance analyst The Groom Christopher Bart, 37, managing director The Date May 2 Chris proposed four years later, while the two were vacationing in Grand Cayman. After checking into the Ritz-Carlton and enjoying the beach, they went back to their room to change for dinner. Elizabeth went out on the balcony to enjoy the view, and when she turned back around, Chris was on one knee. Because both of their families are from Cleveland, Elizabeth and Chris decided to have a local wedding that reflected their personalities. They decided that XO Prime Steaks -- their favorite restaurant in the city -- would be the perfect spot.

The “XO Lipstick Martini” -- a restaurant special -- is Elizabeth’s favorite. It’s made of champagne and raspberry vodka and was served throughout the evening.
Elizabeth wanted the reception to have a very classic, upscale mood with little vintage touches. The wall sconce vases that hung on the back wall of the dining room held hydrangeas and low candlelight set a romantic tone.
Elizabeth and Chris married in their parish, just two blocks away from their home. They added very little to its gorgeous, traditional gothic interior -- just a few hydrangea clusters along the altar rails.
Elizabeth and Chris could only fit 150 guests at the restaurant for dinner, so they sent out these invitations to many more guests for a late-night party that lasted from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. At the party, the couple’s friends, coworkers, and neighbors ate mint brownies, Kobe sliders, and truffle fries. They also enjoyed the open bar.
As a wedding present, Elizabeth’s aunt made (and brought all the way from Philadelphia!) their buttercream wedding cake. The couple’s florist topped it with hydrangeas.
Elizabeth wanted to look both vintage and modern, so she chose a soft white, French lace gown by Junko Yoshioka. Chris wore a black Pal Zileri suit with a peak lapel. His tie matched Elizabeth’s ivory ribbon sash.
In lieu of escort cards (and to save a lot of space in the restaurant’s bar area), the couple hired a calligrapher to inscribe guests’ names and table numbers on the entrance wall of the restaurant. Their calligrapher (and wedding planner), Stephen Tokar, just used a dry-erase marker!
Elizabeth and Chris personalized the restaurant walls by taking down the restaurant’s photos and replacing them with their own engagement photos framed in black. After dinner, the tables and chairs were cleared to make room for dancing.
Elizabeth’s only attendant, her maid of honor, carried a bouquet of lady slipper orchids, hydrangeas, roses, and berries.