Kelsey and Paul's summertime wedding took place just north of Indianapolis in Lebanon, Indiana. The sun was blazing and seemed to accentuate the joy that these two radiated all day long. The bride and groom are high school sweethearts with a long history together and a bright future ahead of them. Their family and wedding party are some of the most supportive and devoted I have ever been around, and they all made the day so warm and personal.
The wedding colors were navy and coral with cheerful bouquets (made by the bride and her family - so beautiful!), dapper suits, and touches of burlap and lace. Kelsey's dress is straight out of a fairytale -- the palest blush color and so flowy and gorgeous. Putting the dress together with the lovely stained glass windows at First Baptist Church of Lebanon was a highlight of my day.
The bride's father and stepfather both held a place of honor during the day. Both fathers walked Kelsey down the aisle, and they both got to have a special first-look moment with her before the ceremony. Wedding days can get pretty hectic, so it was wonderful to see moments like that for everyone to pause and soak in the emotions of the day. Kelsey and Paul also did a fun not-quite first look on opposite sides of a door, but they saved their real first look for the ceremony.
Another emotional high point of the day was due to a special guest who was not able to be there on this wedding day. The best man was called to report for military duty, but his presence was still felt throughout the day. The groom wore a set of his dog tags and his wife also pinned dog tags to her bridesmaid bouquet. The best man even found a way to participate in the reception from afar...
Stay tuned for part two with more portraits of the bride, groom, and wedding party, along with a peek into their fun-filled reception!
I met up with the bride and groom in the sunny lobby of the Indianapolis Central Library in downtown Indianapolis. They arrived full of smiles, along with their cutie pie daughter and a few special guests. After lining up their paperwork with the officiant, we headed off to a cozy corner in the older section of the library, complete with fireplace, leather chairs, warm lights, and, of course, oodles of books. Since Ashley is herself a librarian, the location couldn't have suited them more.
After the ceremony, we explored more of the library and ventured into the library's garden for pictures and time to enjoy this milestone day for the Luna family. Congratulations!
Meaghan and Kyle are just about the most thoughtful people you'll ever meet. They are both very invested in their church and Near Eastside Indianapolis neighborhood, so it really came as no surprise that their wedding was overflowing with handmade touches from their community and family. I'm sure I won't be able to remember all of the awesome details, but here are a few just off the top of my head: handmade ties for the guys, gorgeous spring flowers gathered in part from neighborhood gardens AND arranged by a talented friend, and the yummiest taco bar put together by the local hispanic church that shares the church building. And there are many more ways that friends and loved ones came together to support these two.
By far my favorite touch are their rings. You guys! The bride and groom gathered bits of gold jewelry from each of their families which was then melted down and hand crafted into perfect gold bands by another family friend. I just love that they will be wearing a bit of their combined family history every day!
We started the day with details and getting ready in the church library. Hanging the dress from the bookshelf seemed both fun and a bit studious, which pretty much describes their personalities, as well! Meaghan makes such a lovely bride, and I loved seeing her together with her mom and sisters during this early part of the day. We soon whisked the bride and groom off to a nearby park for a first look and a few minutes of quiet together. We also stopped by some cute boutiques on East 10th Street with pretty landscaping, cool alleys, and colorful walls. I seriously can't wait to have a chance to explore this neighborhood more.
After a heartfelt candlelit ceremony and the awesome taco dinner, the party moved up onto the roof of the Commonwealth Apartments building for toasts, cake, and a whole lotta dancing. Seriously, these are people who know how to throw a great party! I think we were all shocked when it was already time for the bride and groom's sparkler exit. Thank you for including me in your wonderful wedding day!
This wedding in Southern Indiana from last summer featured so many of my favorite things! First of all, the bride is an amazing jewelry designer, so it's no wonder that her artistic point of view is evident in all of the details of the day -- from the gorgeous bouquets to the custom jewelry for the wedding party to the most breathtaking cathedral veil. Everywhere I looked there were moments and details to capture.
The setting for their sweet first look could not have been more lovely. The green lawn and shady trees against with a pond on one side and a charming barn on the other was just beautiful and so romantic. These two were oozing with happiness and excitement, and their enjoyment of each other gave the day such a great energy that made us all forget about the heat (well, mostly!) and kept everyone smiling.
After that gorgeous start to the day, we got to spend a little time at the church before the ceremony. And that red door was something else! Red is my favorite color, and add an amazing dress with a dramatic long veil, and I don't think it gets any more beautiful than that. And can we talk about the bride's unreal curls with that delicate flower crown? Wow.
Just like the rest of the day, the reception was full of lovely simple touches also. The evening kicked off with a choreographed first dance and everyone was on the dance floor well into the night. Another favorite part of the day was getting to slip out of the venue for a few sunset portraits of the newlyweds. Congratulations, you two! And thank you for another opportunity to work with Bailey Roberts Photography.
Turns out I was completely right about how much fun this group would be. I'm from a big family myself, and I love getting cousins and extended family together for pictures. I can honestly say I have never worked with a group of more cooperative and enthusiastic kids. These guys were awesome!
There are so many images that I enjoy from this family, but as a mother of three girls of my own, I have a soft spot for sisters. These four girls all showed off their different personalities and the bond that they share with each other. I can only hope that I'll get the chance to take more pictures of everyone in this warm and lively family in the future! Thanks, guys!
The Propylaeum is a beautiful historical venue located in downtown Indianapolis. I couldn't have asked for a prettier setting or a sweeter couple for my first foray into wedding photography. I assisted Bailey Roberts of Bailey Roberts Photography, mostly carrying bags, helping with set-ups, and doing whatever else I could to make sure this pregnant super-mom-to-be didn't over do it. Fortunately for me, I also got to snap a few pictures of my own along the way.
The details and the bride's heirloom dress were all so beautiful. The cool blues and purples perfectly suited the crisp (and a bit wet!) wintery weather. Pearls and lace touches blended just right with the dark wood trim and antique furnishings of the old Propylaeum house.
The bride and groom were so happy and excited. I especially loved seeing the emotion on the groom's face as he read a note from his bride before the ceremony. I think these happy tears showed up before he even began reading, actually. So sweet.
The day ended with a fun reception. Here the groom is showing off his dance moves to impress his bride before he will be allowed to take off her garter. Such a good sport! Moments like this really show you what fun personalities were in the room. [Including Bailey… did you know she can do all of the Michael Jackson Thriller moves? True story.]
Thanks everyone, especially Bailey, for this chance to get my feet wet in wedding photography. I'm hooked!
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We spent most of our time at Sodalis Nature Park in Plainfield so that we could take advantage of the fall leaves. We also stopped by Mooresville High School for some brick wall backgrounds.
Audra brought her best friend Taylor along, and we had a blast taking pictures of each girl, giggling about everything together, and creating some fun images of them together, too. Best friend senior sessions really are a great way to make your session into a memorable bonding experience. You probably helped each other pick out outfits and hairstyles already, right? Why not share the entire experience together?
I hope you enjoy every second of your senior year, Audra, and I can't wait to see what comes next for you!
The chance to photograph any family always feels very special to me, but I have to admit that it feels extra special to have a photo session with one of my siblings' families. So when my little sister Stephanie was in town for Christmas all the way from Minnesota, we decided to find a fun indoor location for her family with two young children. The Indianapolis Central Library was great with its big windows, variety of backgrounds, and plenty of fun things to entertain the kids and make the day feel like an adventure. And most of all, an indoor location meant no worries about the weather!
Look at how much Marit loves her daddy. They are just the sweetest pair. Thank you, Moench Family for exploring the big city library with me. Spending time with you guys was a highlight of my Christmas this year!
