Courtney & Matt enjoyed a wonderful wintry wedding day in Fort Wayne, with a ceremony at St. Michael Lutheran Church followed by a reception at Fort Wayne Country Club. The acoustic music-filled ceremony was beautiful, and the photos that hung on the ends of the pews added a personal, unique touch to the walk down the aisle.

After some shots around downtown with Morgan of Morgan Ruth Photography, we headed to the club for the reception, which looked amazing with decor by Be Married. The paper airplane escort cards were perfect for the guests of this marine pilot and his new bride. After some formalities and great stories, Mike Campbell of Sound Advice DJs took over for a fun evening of dancing.

Image by Morgan Ruth Photography

Jessica & Marcus tied the knot (literally) in an elegant wedding ceremony and enjoyed a dance-filled reception at the Columbia Club. Coverage started with preparations in the bride’s room, the couple’s first meeting on the first floor, a few bars on the Hoagy Carmichael piano by the super-talented bride, and photo time with Erin Hession and her team. Then the ground floor ceremony incorporated unique touches like handfasting (i.e., tying the knot) and a wine box filled with love letters to be opened in five years.

The reception in the 10th floor ballroom featured some amazing dance moves by the bride & groom, who met each other through their mutual love for ballroom dancing, while the Cool City Swing Band provided the classy tunes. The room looked lovely courtesy of Bokay Florists, and the team from A Touch of Elegance provided exactly that and so much more to the entire day.

More photos: http://erinhession.com/2013/02/11/jessica-marcus-married/

If I was going to work on my birthday on one of the coldest days of the past winter, I’m glad it was for a couple as wonderful as Kathryn & Arthur. I’ll never forget his teary reaction to her note, the beautiful ceremony at St. Malachy Catholic Church in Brownsburg, or our adventure in the bitter wind and deep snow with photographers Megan & Tim King of Megelaine Images, who referred this sweet couple to me.

Photo by Megelaine Images

More photos: http://www.megelaine.com/weddings/kathryn-arthur-st-malachy-brownsburg-wedding/

Nikki & Jon enjoyed a truly magical wedding and reception at the Sheraton at Keystone Crossing. I knew the second Nikki professed her love for all things Disney, Renaissance Fair, Game of Thrones, etc. that this was going to be one fun evening, and it did not disappoint. Circle City Designers did an amazing job creating one of the coolest aisles I’ve ever seen for the ceremony – think winter wonderland. The reception rocked as well, thanks to some old-school funk and R&B provided Blonde Entertainment band Toy Factory, and a lot of goofy fun was captured by Indy Photo Booths. The talented Turtle Pond Photography team was there shooting all the good times alongside me, and planner Leslie Jones (who referred Nikki & Jon to us) did her usual masterful job overseeing all of the event’s details.

Image by Turtle Pond Photography

More images: http://turtlepondphotography.com/blog/nikki-and-john/

Laura & Nick are a fun and too-cool-for-school couple who exchanged vows at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and then celebrated at the always-stunning Mavris Art & Event Center downtown. Laura looked radiant courtesy of makeup by Kiralee of EyeMAX Makeup, and photographer Jessica Strickland (who along with the Mavris referred Laura & Nick to us) took advantage with lots of fun photos of the party around Mass Ave. & White River State Park. David Strohmeyer of The Empty Vase filled the Mavris with eye-popping splendor, and the cake by Classic Cakes made a great focal point for the room. Lots of fun was had thanks to party music by DJ Sunny Moon and diversions like a cheese fountain, candy station and booth by Indy Photo Booths.

Image by Jessica Strickland Photography

More photos: http://www.jessicarstrickland.com/blog/wedding/laura-nick/

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Michelle & Clark exchanged vows at Asbury United Methodist Church, followed by a fun reception at The Commons in downtown Columbus, Indiana.  Coverage started with preparations at the Hotel Indigo, followed by an emotional first look on the Cummins campus and photos around downtown with Stacy Able.  Naturally, we had to squeeze in some shots with their precious pup Gizmo.  The ceremony took place against an elegant backdrop of candles, with gorgeous fall scenery behind the altar.  The reception at the Commons was presided over by DJ Alan Trisler, and the whole day ran to perfection thanks to Katina Kaisher (who referred Michelle & Clark to us) and our friends at Detail+Design.

Image by Stacy Able Photography

More photos: http://stacyable.com/blog/the-commons-in-columbus-indiana-wedding-michelle-and-clark-tie-the-knot/

There is no greater honor to me than being hired by an event industry peer to capture their special day, so I was genuinely thrilled when I got the call about filming Katie & Kemmon’s big day. I’ve come to know and adore Katie throughout her years with the Crowne Plaza at Historic Union Station, and that’s where our coverage started, as the team from A Touch of Elegance helped get the couple ready for an emotional first meeting. In keeping with their balloon motif, Katie & Kemmon released two pairs of balloons into the sky, symbolizing their lost loved ones, before taking off for photos with Angel Canary.

After a beautiful ceremony at Our Lady of the Greenwood Catholic Church and a sweet visit to a memorial for Katie’s mother, everyone headed back to the Crowne Plaza’s Grand Hall for the reception, where a great team of vendor friends including Julie Acheson of Royal Creations, DJ Brian Whitis and Classic Cakes had a few surprises in store for their dear friends. Even I got into the act, surprising the couple with a same day edit that I had only decided to do earlier that day after being inspired by a huge window decal on Kemmon’s car as well as the balloon release:

Images by Angel Canary Photography

More photos: http://www.angelcanaryblog.com/2013/01/27/indianapolis-wedding-union-station/

In a year filled with spectacular weddings, Niki & Manu’s weekend at the Conrad Indianapolis was certainly among the biggest and most fun. Coverage started with the garba on Friday evening, which centered around a traditional folk dance that had everyone spinning and swaying throughout the evening.

Saturday kicked off with Manu’s lively baraat procession on horseback from Monument Circle to the front of the Conrad. The ceremony took place on an extravagantly decorated mandap, with the couple’s cute little Yorkie leading the way for Niki’s elegant entrance. The early formalities concluded with an emotional vidaai, as Niki & Manu symbolically said goodbye to their families to start their new life together.

A few hours later, guests enjoyed a cocktail hour in the fabulously appointed Artsgarden before moving back into the Vienna Ballroom for dinner and entertainment, culminating in an epic dance performance by the Gregory Hancock Dancers. The evening concluded back in the Artsgarden with fun and dancing in “Club Joshi,” as a surprise same day edit I created for Niki & Manu played on screens throughout the space.

I had a blast as always working alongside my friends at Nathaniel Edmunds Photography, JP Parker Flowers and the Conrad (thanks to all of them and other recent clients for the referral!), and coordinator Sabrina Hans out of the Chicago area was a complete joy to meet and work with for the first time.  Here’s another look at the Same Day Edit:

Image by Nathaniel Edmunds Photography

More wedding photos: http://blog.nathanieledmunds.com/2013/01/17/nikita-manu-wedding-ceremony/

More reception photos: http://blog.nathanieledmunds.com/2013/01/23/nikita-manu-reception/

Sarah & Jeff | First Presbyterian Church & Cornerstone Center for the Arts

Hard to believe it’s been over five years since I filmed Christin & Kyle’s wedding, but it was a joy to be reunited with their families for Sarah & Jeff’s big day in Muncie.  After preparations with Karen Hall, a first meeting and some photo time with Sarah Lawhorn at First Presbyterian Church, the couple enjoyed a lovely ceremony, while some of their guests undoubtedly entertained themselves with the cute little word search puzzle in the programs.

I barely beat the rain to the Cornerstone Center for the Arts, the same place where Wedding Entertainment Director Jim Cerone and I had collaborated on Christin & Kyle’s reception five years earlier.  After a few formalities including a tear-jerking speech by the father of the bride and a cake cutting that was a “smash,” the guests were ready to tear up the dance floor once again as Mr. Cerone presided over the evening’s events with his usual professionalism.

For a second straight year, I was honored to film the Blissful Wishes Ball, an annual fundraising extravaganza benefiting the Indianapolis chapter of Wish Upon a Wedding, which is a non-profit organization that provides weddings to couples facing terminal illness or life-altering circumstances.  The festivities took place at the Landmarks Center, which was stunningly transformed into an eye-popping “Arabian Nights” experience by a supremely talented team of event pros.  From the early formalities to the food, music & many other surprises, it was truly a magical evening surrounded by so many great friends, which made the footage even more fun to put together.  Best of all, the gala raised well over $20,000, ensuring that couples who truly understand the meaning of “in sickness and in health” can enjoy a beautiful wedding provided by Wish Upon a Wedding’s dedicated team of wish-granters.

To learn more about this great organization, visit http://wishuponawedding.org.