Brittney and Brian shared their wedding date with another wedding. The royal wedding. A wedding where the bride is about as close to a true princess as someone could be but I would argue that Brittney and Brian had the truly royal wedding. Their wedding was packed with personal details including their love for Disney and Brittneys love for Disney Princesses. Brittney and Brian proved that you dont have to have royal blood running through your veins or have your wedding televised for the world to see to have a royal wedding. All you need is to be surrounded by close friends and family. Their wedding sure looked royal to me.
Indy Wedding Vendor Showcase #1: Sophia's Bridal
Welcome to the first Indianapolis Wedding Vendor Showcase! This week I interview
Sophia's Bridal & Tux
Sophia's Bridal & Tux is on the south side of Indy and is a must visit if you are looking for a wedding gown or tux. With over 300 dresses in stock you are sure to find that one piece that is perfect for your wedding day! Today we talk all about personalization and making your wedding dress as unique as you are!
If you want to check out Sophia's bridal, you can find them online at
https://SophiasBridalAndTux.com/
Or call them direct at 317.222.5465 to set up an appointment today!
See More: Complete Wedding Planning Guide!
Top 5 Unique Wedding Venues In Indianapolis
You want your wedding to be personal and intimate to who you are as a couple. You want elements of your wedding day to reflect what makes you two unique and bad ass. Maybe you are serving donuts instead of a traditional cake, or you might be planning to have your bridesmaids walk down the aisle with puppies in their arms instead of bouquets of flowers. You want your wedding to be uniquely your own so why not pick a wedding venue that is as unique as you are and will show off your personalities. Luckily Indianapolis has no shortage of incredible wedding and reception venues that are as unique as you are! Once you narrow down the list of potential venues, be sure to read What to Ask Wedding Venue to ensure you make the right choice!
1: THE INDIANAPOLIS ZOO!
I’m not kidding! You get married at the zoo! How cool is that? The zoo is an incredible venue with some amazing perks! First it’s in a great location downtown. Close to plenty of hotels for your guests. Because It’s in a great location you will also get some incredible views of the Indianapolis skyline which is magical at night! Having your wedding at the zoo also means that you’re helping the efforts to protect endangered wildlife with their conservation efforts. And my favorite reason why anyone would have their wedding at the zoo, you get private access to the WORLD’S only underwater dolphin viewing dome! Think of how great those photos are going to turn out! To find out more about how to have your Wedding at the zoo, CLICK HERE!
2: The Indiana Roof Ballroom
This place is incredible. It’s almost 16,000 sq feet! You can fit 2 major league baseball diamonds inside of this place! If you are looking for a wedding venue with history and want to make a grand entrance- this is the place for you! Also in the heart of downtown just two blocks from the Soldiers and Sailors' Monument there will be plenty of hotels for your guests to stay with no worry about who is driving where when the night is over. It really is a sight to be seen and will leave a lasting impression on all of your guests! To find out more about how to have your Wedding at the Indiana Roof Ballroom, CLICK HERE
3: Jameson Camp
Were you the kind of girl growing up who loved spending time playing outside not caring if you got a little dirty? Were you a Summer Camp junkie? Well Jameson Camp might be the right answer for you! Off bridgeport road near Avon this place is a diamond in the rough! It’s a bonafide summer camp for Indianapolis’ at risk youth! They are helping mold our future leaders today! Having your wedding on this beautiful piece of property is like a breath of fresh air. Surrounded by trees, streams, rope courses, and gardens- these spacious log cabin fits right in! And like the zoo, you can know that by having your wedding here you are helping out a great cause! To find out more about how to have your wedding at Jameson Camp, CLICK HERE!
4: Mustard Seed Gardens
Do you lust after the old plantation wedding venues you would find in Georgia or the Carolinas? Mustard Seed Gardens might be right for you! Just North of Fishers, Mustard Seed Gardens is a large venue with 5 meticulously landscaped areas for you two to say “I Do”. Their “Olde Barn” is large enough to accommodate up to 200 guests and is perfect in the later months when it starts to get cold earlier in the evening. “The Maple Tree” couldn't be a more picturesque if you’re having a evening ceremony. Right as the sun is starting to set and the sky starts to turn into the beautiful colors Indiana is known for.. Now, THAT is the perfect time to tie the knot. To find out how to have your wedding at Mustard Seed Gardens, CLICK HERE!
5: Flanner and Buchanan Community Life Center
The Community Life Center has to be the most unique on this list because it is also a funeral home! But before you make any rash decisions, hear me out. The Community Life Center is beautifully landscaped, has an incredible indoor space for guests, spots for dancing with large windows, has more chandeliers than Buckingham Palace AND it’s generally cheaper and has much better availability than some of the more traditional wedding venues here in Indy. I highly encourage you to entertain the idea and go for a tour. To find out how to have your wedding at the Community Life Center, CLICK HERE!
No matter where you get married in Indianapolis, it will be uniquely yours. Your day will be special and memorable for all involved, especially you and your groom. But a badass venue couldn’t hurt.
Now you know of some unique wedding venues, be sure you know What To Ask Wedding Venue and download the list of questions to bring with you to your next meeting!
See More: Complete Wedding Planning Guide!
Need A Wedding Photographer?
Get in touch now for pricing and availability for your wedding date!
Riss & Ryan's Rainy Leapin Lizards Wedding
Marissa & Ryan's wedding this past weekend was one of the most challenging weddings I've ever shot. It was also one of the easiest. Marissa was hoping for snow (and so was I!) but we got rain all day, the churches beautiful European charm was equally matched by how dim it was inside, and the reception was split between what felt like an endless amount of stairs. But you know what I didn't care about any of that because Marissa and Ryan's wedding day was so full of personal connections. Between friends who traveled great distances and family who would go to the end of the earth of each of them, made a little rain or a few stairs simply did not matter. The amount of energy and excitement these two brought to their wedding day was infectious and something I will remember for a long time.
If You Liked Their Photos Be Sure To Follow Me On Facebook and Instagram for More Great Shots and a Behind The Scenes Look At Their Wedding Day!
And if You're Planning Your Wedding And Need Help With Your Wedding Timeline CLICK HERE For 3 Simple Questions You Need To Ask First!
Should Your Have a Second Photographer at Your Wedding?
Should Your Have a Second Photographer at Your Wedding?
A lot of couples simply don’t know whether they’ll want or need a second photographer at their wedding. The truth is, I shoot many of my weddings solo, and in most cases, that’s absolutely perfect. But there are a few cases where a couple might want to consider bringing a second photographer along to help capture the day. Here are a few reasons to consider:
1. You’re getting ready in two different places, and you want photos of both of you getting ready. I usually put together a “getting ready” gallery, and with two photographers, we’ll both sync our camera times, so you get to see what the other person was doing at the exact moment when you were getting ready. If you’re getting ready close to each other, it’s easier for one photographer to hop over from the women to the men to get a few photos of putting on ties, boutonnieres, etc.
2. You won’t see each other before the ceremony, and you have limited time for bridal party photos. In this case, one photographer can photograph the woman, and one can photograph the men in two different places, but if you’re all in the same place anyway, you might be just fine with just one photographer, since you’ll have to take turns to avoid seeing each other anyway.
3. You want photos of the details at the reception, but it’s too far for one person to get to before guests get to the cocktail hour or reception. When I photograph weddings by myself, it’s often all in one place, and I can take 20 minutes to jump over and take a few photos of those details. There have been cases where the room has been set up early enough that I could start at the reception location to get detail photos before heading over to get photos of everyone getting ready, which allowed me to do everything as one photographer.
4. Two photographers will sometimes be better for big church weddings where you don’t want one person to have to move around as much. I always do my best to move as little as possible, and when I do move, I do it slowly and quietly, but if you’re having a church wedding, check to find out what their restrictions are for photographers and movement.
5. With two photographers, one person can be “behind the scenes” before you walk down the aisle, so you get two different perspectives. You’ll also have different perspectives throughout the day, of course.
6. If you’re taking family photos after the ceremony, the second photographer can go on to the cocktail hour to get candid photos of guests while you finish photos with family. I usually ask couples whether they want to only focus on candid shots of guests, or if they also want smiling photos. I will say that guests really do love the photos where they’re smiling at the camera, and we always get a mix either way—we just balance it a bit based on the couple’s request.
7. If you’re expecting more than 150 guests, it may be helpful to have a second person there to help capture everyone. I always do my best to get as many guests as I can, but if you’re planning a large guest list, it’s helpful to have a second person there to cover more ground.
As you can see, a second photographer is not always needed. As I mentioned above I shoot the majority of my weddings myself without a second shooter or assistant but in some cases there is just no way one person can catch it all!