Leslie & Matthew – 9.4.11
 December 1, 2011
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When Leslie & Matthew first booked the new JW Marriott for their wedding & reception venue, they had to wear hard hats during their site visits as the construction continued.  The JW was more than ready for their wedding day, however, and what a day it was.  Following preparations with help from planner Leslie Jones (who referred this wedding to us) and a sweet first meeting, they took lots of family pictures with Nate & Tiffany of Nathaniel Edmunds Photography before heading into the ketubah signing.

After a beautiful ceremony under a stunning chuppah and a cocktail hour overlooking Victory Field, everyone made their way into the enormous Grand Ballroom as Tim Kelley‘s gorgeous decor and Endless Summer‘s music welcomed them.  My favorite moments of the evening were when Leslie’s father surprised her with a “Glee”-style mash-up created especially for their dance, and when Matthew fulfilled a promise to his cancer-surviving grandmother that they would one day dance together at his wedding.

Photo by Nathaniel Edmunds Photography

Charlotte & Rodney – 9.4.11
 November 28, 2011
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Laurie captured the details and emotions beautifully as Charlotte & Rodney tied the knot at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.  After an elegant wedding highlighted by unique readings and a special sand ceremony, the couple roamed around the grounds for some fun shots with our friends from Wyant Photography.  Meanwhile, the Deer Zink Pavilion was decked out in fabulous fashion by McNamara Florist, while the Pulliam Great Hall was expertly accented by Evans Audio Visual for cocktails, with a dramatic change-up in lighting for dancing later in the evening.  A “Soul Train” line was a fun and funky way for the band to kick off a memorable night of dancing for the guests.

Bridget & Chad – 9.3.11
 November 26, 2011
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Bridget & Chad are a fun couple who love a good party, so it was only fitting that their wedding day at the Scottish Rite Cathedral was more than just an occasion for two to become one – it was also the party of the year.  After a first look in the Tilers Room, the couple went off for photos with Hether Miles and then returned to preview the spectacular ballroom and practice their first dance.  After exchanging vows in the beautifully transformed theater, they returned to the ballroom for the first dance as their surprised guests looked down from their cocktail hour on the mezzanine level.

Everyone had a blast during the reception, which was filled with a lots of sweet family moments, personal touches, superb service by Thomas Caterers of Distinction and great music by DJ Freddie Lockett with percussionist Joe Melton amping up the beats while some guests made their way to one of the Indy Photo Booths.  But that was merely the warm-up, as the South Lounge was converted into a virtual nightclub for a wild afterparty (vodka snow cones, cotton candy & caricatures were among the surprises) with music by DJ Orion that kept everyone hopping until 2 a.m.

Bridget’s brother J Scot Reid, himself an event planner, entrusted the day’s events & decor to the Detail+Design team of Gene Huddleson and Monica Richard, who did an amazing job transforming not just one but three separate spaces.  I was honored to be included with this A team, which gave me a lot of spectacular sights – and memories – to film.

Mary Hession’s Surprise 50th – 9.2.11
 November 21, 2011
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Photographer Erin Hession pulled out all the stops to celebrate her dear Aunt Mary’s surprise 50th birthday party at D’Amore Indianapolis.  Because Mary, owner of Canine Retreat, has such a tremendous passion for dogs, Erin set out to create a canine-themed event, hiring her friends at A Touch of Elegance, Setting the Mood, Thomas Caterers of Distinction, Classic Cakes, DJs Direct and Strike a Pose among others to create one of the most abundantly clever implementations of a theme that I have ever seen.  From the bone-shaped napkins to the two huge treat tables (only one for humans) to the “Come Sit Stay” window decals to the photo booth props (see yours truly below), not one opportunity was overlooked to make Mary feel right at home.  Her reaction to every surprise that kept on coming was priceless.  Everyone had a blast, and it was an honor to take part in yet another milestone in the lives of this wonderful, close-knit family.  (Click here to see more photos of this paw-sitively fun event!)

Photos by Erin Hession Photography

Christina & Kyle – 8.27.11
 November 10, 2011
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I had such a blast filming Marie & Jay’s wedding last year, so I was very excited to get the chance to film another wedding in the Martin family up at the Tippecanoe Lake Country Club in northern Indiana.  In fact, family played a huge role throughout the day, with a cousin coordinating the wedding, an aunt doing the flowers, another aunt & uncle hosting the reception, etc.  Best of all, Christina’s mom was the matron of honor, her dad was the officiant, and Kyle’s dad was the best man.

After a sweet first meeting followed by pictures with photographer Nicole Mehl, we squeezed in a beautiful outdoor ceremony in between storms, and then raced down in golf carts to a lakeside beach for a toasts and more photos.  The reception featured an amazing slideshow, great music courtesy of Dance N’ Sound, the biggest dessert spread I’ve ever seen, and a wonderful couple at the center of it all.

Photo by Nicole Mehl Photography

(See Nicole Mehl’s photos here!)

Erin & Enrique – 8.20.11
 October 26, 2011
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Erin & Enrique were a very fun and energetic couple who tied the knot in one of downtown Indy’s newest (so new it’s not really open until 2012) and most unique venues, the Sanctuary on Penn.   Following the ceremony in the former church’s old sanctuary space, we went out for photos with the venue’s new owner, Captured Art Photography‘s Scott Wheeler.  Meanwhile, the guests mingled in the cocktail plaza while the main space was flipped into a nice reception setup.

David Boyce of Platinum DJ Productions pumped up the crowd with boxing announcer style introductions, and the energy never waned throughout the night.  My favorite moment was the first dance, which featured not one but two surprise song switches that showed off the couple’s considerable dancing abilities.  I was thrilled to be one of the few “outside” vendors to get an early inside preview of this unique full-service wedding venue, where brides have the flexibility of either having all of their wedding services arranged by the venue or bringing in outside vendors other than the caterer.  Best wishes to the Sanctuary on Penn as well as to Erin & Enrique!

Olivia & Andrew – 8.13.11
 October 25, 2011
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Olivia & Andrew enjoyed a gorgeous and emotional wedding ceremony at the Ritz Charles chapel before celebrating in an epic reception in the adjacent pavilion.  Laurie captured all the special moments alongside photographer Jennifer Clark as the bride and groom incorporated a couple of unique touches like the sand ceremony and private communion into the ceremony.  The chapel was beautifully transformed by David Strohmeyer of The Empty Vase, which only hinted at his complete reinvention of the pavilion for the reception, including the draped ceiling and the tall trees and centerpieces that filled the space.  AMS Entertainment filled the evening with music that kept the crowd going strong right through Olivia & Andrew’s farewell.

Lindsey & Danny – 8.13.11
 October 19, 2011
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Lindsey & Danny are one of the most hilarious couples I’ve ever worked with, and their wedding day at my old stomping grounds of Bloomington, Indiana was full of fun, laughter and perfect weather.  After a sweet first meeting at the Wells House, a popular Indiana University hotspot filled with romantic tradition, we headed around campus for photos with Lisa Walker Photography‘s team on the way to the ceremony at First United Methodist Church.
The reception took place inside the Indiana Memorial Union‘s Alumni Hall, which was amazingly adorned by consultant and designer Cathy Teeters, who referred Lindsey & Danny to us.  For the second time in two years, we got to see a Bloomington reception get rocked by the terrific band Stretta out of Nashville, who nearly had the show stolen from them by the happy couple when they got onstage for a couple of showstoppers.
Caitlin & Preston – 8.5.11
 September 1, 2011
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Caitlin & Preston exchanged vows at the beautiful St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church in Westfield before heading to the Indianapolis Museum of Art for an amazing reception. The Disney fairy tale-themed tables mixed in nicely with touches by Knox Flower Shop located in Frankfort, Indiana. The guests were entertained throughout the evening with dinner service by Nourish Cafe, a slideshow by Astra Creative, music by Lakeside Entertainment and a photo booth by Strike a Pose. We had the pleasure of filming Caitlin’s brother Andrew’s wedding a few years ago, so it was great to catch up with this wonderful family. Congratulations!

Photo by Astra Creative

Stephanie & Anthony – 7.30.11
 August 30, 2011
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Stephanie and Anthony had a lovely ceremony and a gorgeous reception at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Our day started alongside great friend and photographer, Angela Talley (who referred the couple to us), capturing the bride and groom getting ready, their first look and shots all around downtown Indy at locations that mean a lot to the couple. Kiralee and Irina from EyeMAX Makeup did a wonderful job on makeup and hair for the bridal party, as always.

The theatre and ballroom looked fabulous thanks to McNamara Florist, Evans Audio Visual (who also came through with the DJ last minute!), Classic Cakes, and of course, Thomas Caterers of Distinction provided the delicious food, including the unique rose sorbet. The fun-filled reception included the bride and groom doing lots of flips during dancing, and the groom even led his mom in a polka. Their Polish family tradition of putting an apron on the bride got all of the guests up and dancing around her, and guests stayed on their feet all night long.

Best wishes, Stephanie and Anthony! Thank you so much for having us capture your special day!

Photo by Angela R. Talley Studio