“I’ll love you more with every breath, truly, madly, deeply do.” // Savage Garden

This past Saturday I spent my day with two high school sweethearts at White River Gardens and Historic Union Station in Downtown Indianapolis as they finally tied the night starting a new chapter in their life that’s been over ten years in the making. Jane, Sean, and I all attended the same high school... you know... way back when. They have been dating literally ever since I can remember. It was wonderful to get the chance to document their big day, especially since I photographed their engagement session two years ago! But they’ve been busy becoming big, fancy, doctors in Kansas City!

With Jane being of Vietnamese decent the duo opted to have a traditional Vietnamese ceremony in the morning with close family and then a Western ceremony following in the afternoon at White River Gardens. After a big break in the day for photos and relaxing they joined their guests at Historic Union Station for dinner, drinks, and dancing as they sealed off the night with tons of fun before they had to pack their bags again to return home.

“So don’t ever think I need more. I’ve got the one to live for. No one else will do, I’m tellin’ you. Just put your heart in my hands and I promise it won’t get broken.” // Nathan Sykes

Last Friday’s wedding was definitely one for the books! I spent the day at The Mavris Arts + Event Center in Downtown Indianapolis with two absolutely amazing, loving, and sweet people. Heather + Obi tied the knot on a gorgeous day in July surrounded by wonderful friends and family and backed by a stellar vendor team.

The two of them, technically, met on the bus at Purdue. Heather was immediately drawn to the cute guy with dimples. However it wasn’t until after formally meeting at a party through mutual friends that their relationship blossomed, grew, and flourished through their common sweet demeanor and faith in God. Years later we were brought to this wonderful day and I am just so happy I was able to be part of it! Trust me you guys... this wedding has got me all heart eyes everywhere!! I can’t even stop thinking about it all!!

“We love because he loved us first.” // 1 John 4:19

When your clients are as adorable as these two and you have the beautiful fall leaves of Butler University’s campus you’re bound to have an amazing engagement session. And that’s exactly what happened when Rachel, Matt, + I spent an evening together last fall documenting their love. We walked all around Butler’s campus where they both were not only students but they were heavily involved in. Rachel an RA and double major in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Spanish was quite popular on the campus. Matt however, was also a double major in Bio Mechanical Engineering and Chemistry was also pretty popular that day. It seemed like everywhere we turned there was someone that the two of them knew that was waving to them and saying “hello.” It was actually pretty cool.

It’s no surprise the two of them have tons of friends and people that know them. They’re quite possibly some of the nicest people you would ever meet. So sweet and so friendly. I don’t know if I’ve ever met a nicer couple! I’m so excited to photograph their wedding day coming up NEXT WEEK! (I know, I’m behind on blogging their engagement session.)

Also, can we take a moment to talk about these fall leaves and colors?

“If hope is life, then we’re the living... Here with you, the path has meaning.” // Worth the Wait by Milo

So today must be a Throwback... Tuesday? Because today I’m gonna show y’all some colorful magic I captured from last November of Kelsey + Drew in Downtown Indianapolis. We traveled all around City Way, around The Alexander Hotel, and Fountain Square capturing their love.

It was a snowy night in December of 2013 when Kelsey and Drew shared their first date. A first date perfect for two musicians Drew invited Kelsey to a show he was drumming in. Before the show they had dinner but it was during the show where Kelsey felt the magic. While Drew performed she watched in awe feeling like she was the only person in the crowd and he was performing just for her. Their love only grew over the next year and after a wonderful dinner at Eddie Merlot’s Drew brought Kelsey back to a white rose lined hallway to the presidential suite of The Alexander Hotel. It was here that Drew got down on one knee and proposed to Kelsey. After she said yes, Kelsey’s family joined them for celebratory drinks. After all of the anniversary and proposal festivities that evening were complete they had an engagement party at Kelsey’s parent’s house the next day!

These two have had such a fun and wonderful beginning that it was hard to top all of that with their engagement photos. It was a brisk day in November and Downtown Indianapolis was full of Colts fans. We worked our way through the crowds and made the best of what we had and I think we did a pretty darn good job. They said they liked color... they got color!! We started off their engagement session at a really cool record art display at The Alexander where they got engaged. Record art display for two musicians at the hotel they were engaged at?! Awwww yeeeeah!

“Sleep late, have fun, get wild, drink whiskey, and drive fast on empty streets with nothing in mind except falling in love and not getting arrested.” // Hunter S. Thompson

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of photographing another engagement session winner from the Indianapolis Bride Expo! It was a wonderful evening hanging out with Kelly + Brian and their sweet pup, Chewie, and documenting their love! We went around to lots of fun places in Downtown Indianapolis. After a swipe right on Tinder turned into a date turned into a relationship this couple can definitely be considered a dating app success story!

While visiting Kelly’s hometown of Muskegon, MI the duo took Chewie for a walk in the woods along Lake Michigan. While on their walk they decided a selfie with the Chewster (that’s my new nickname for him...) was definite must. After they kneeled down to snap a photo with their dog Kelly stood up and Brian stayed on one knee. Kelly’s emotions were pretty apparent from the start. Out of shock and excitement she started crying and once Brian began to speak she immediately said, “I DO!” She didn’t even let the poor guy finish! One can just hope he finally got to say what he wanted to once the ring was on and all of the emotions died down!

Although their life together began downtown Kelly and Brian can now be found shopping for things for their new home in Broad Ripple, spending time with Chewie, or sitting on their deck dreaming of Lake Michigan, Nashville, Ireland, and cocktails!

“As you walk down the fairway of life you must first smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.” // Ben Hogan

A couple weekends ago I was fortunate enough to spend a cold and windy Saturday with my lovely clients Julia + Andrew for their engagement session at Butler University and downtown Indianapolis. Despite the chill in the air it was a wonderful time for the three of us to spend together as we walked around Hinkle Fieldhouse, Holcomb Gardens, and Mass Avenue for their engagement photos.

Julia and Andrew met the summer before freshman year of college at Butler. They both have a love of golf and were about to be on the golf team their freshman year. They met at a golf event and it was history from there! They dated all through college and now that they’re graduated and living together with their sweet beagle pup, Lilly, they’re about to start the rest of their lives together!

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well if one has not dined well.” // Virginia Woolf

Back in January I participated in the Indianapolis Bride Expo bridal show. It was a fun two days of meeting amazing brides who were so excited to plan their special day. As with any bridal show I run a raffle for a complimentary engagement session! When I pulled names out of the proverbial hat, Elizabeth + Kevin were the lucky winners and I’m so glad they were! A couple weeks ago I had the very distinct pleasure of spending a Saturday with them to not only photograph and document their love but I also was able to learn more about who they are as a couple.

During our time together I learned so many things. I learned that they met through mutual friends, but ultimately on the dance floor. ;) I learned that their first date was at The Wellington Pub in Broad Ripple. That Elizabeth celebrated her birthday at Bluebeard while Kevin celebrated his at Bakersfield. I learned that while Kevin is a little more picky when it comes to food, Elizabeth’s foodie heart has opened him up to new things. I learned that they love trying new restaurants and that apparently The Eagle and Ball and Biscuit on Mass Ave are DEFINITELY worth a try. I learned she was a school teacher and he a tennis coach. They love to travel, drink wine, and spend nights outside at home with their adorable pup Flynn. This is why I love what I do. Before walking into their engagement session I knew nothing about them but two names and a wedding date. Now I know so much more and I feel like I made friends with some incredible people. And I think our tour d’Indianapolis engagement session was better because of it.

“Tell me that you want me, and I’ll be yours completely, for better or for worse.” // Kodaline

My oh my, oh my, oh my! This wedding ladies and gentleman. This wedding is definitely up there in like top five favorite weddings from last year. Not to say anything bad AT ALL about my other weddings from 2015. I love each and every one of my clients. They are all amazing and beautiful people committing themselves to each other for life. That in itself is the reason why I do what I do. To tell love stories. But when you have a super fun loving couple paired with an equally fun wedding party, more time for photos than I’ve ever known what to do with, delicious food, heart warming toasts, a sunset, AND a beautiful rainbow come together into one amazing wedding. Well it’s every photographers dream.

Lindsey + Dave are possibly some of the sweetest people I’ve ever met! One of my favorite things is when my clients become my friends and I feel like Lindsey and I are sisters from another mister! (P.S. She sends the best snapchats of usually one of three things: her/her & Dave at a sporting event, her super sweet pup, or whatever alcoholic drink she is enjoying at that time. Needless to say, I love her and her snaps.) But I digress... Lindsey and Dave tied the knot on what appeared to be a cold, windy, overcast day in our beautiful capital city Indianapolis. On the fifth floor of the Region’s Tower they exchanged vows, shed tears, danced, laughed, and had the best of times celebrating their nuptials. By the end of their ceremony we thought we weren’t going to have much more than some orangey clouds in the distance for a sunset. But low and behold the clouds cleared and not only did we have an exquisite sunset but a rainbow! A flippin’ rainbow y’all. It was great. Aside from all of the amazing things any photographer would dream of having on a wedding day, I was absolutely honored to be there and witness and document their memories. I feel lucky to have met and been chosen by them and working with them has truly reminded me of why I love what I do.