Tag Archives: Wedding Photographer Indianapolis

Garden Party Wedding Day at Ritz Charles

June 5, 2026 elishakphoto Leave a comment

Stanlee and Zach celebrated their love with a beautiful garden party-themed wedding at the Ritz Charles in Carmel, Indiana. From the ceremony in the Chapel to a reception in the Garden Pavilion, their day was filled with romance, laughter, and personal touches that perfectly reflected their story.

Ritz Charles Chapel is an elegant indoor ceremony space that comfortably seats up to 250 guests and pairs perfectly with a reception in the Garden Pavilion or one of the Ballrooms.

Photo of the exterior of the chapel at Ritz Charles in Carmel, Indiana.

Photo of the interior of the chapel at Ritz Charles in Carmel, Indiana.

The Garden Pavilion is a glass-walled, covered outdoor space with panoramic views of manicured grounds. It offers a true garden-party atmosphere and can host ceremonies, cocktail hours, and receptions. The space blends indoor comfort with an outdoor vibe, making it ideal for this garden party-themed celebration.

The combination of the Chapel for ceremonies and the Garden Pavilion for receptions is especially popular for couples wanting an elegant vibe exactly what Stanlee and Zach chose. We love the mix of greens, white florals, solids, patterns and wicker backed chairs the couple choose to bring their garden party dreams too life.

A Day Rooted in Love, IU Roots, and Garden Party Fun

The bride got ready at home with her bridesmaids in matching Aritzia sets, while her sweet dog Gus provided plenty of pre-wedding cuddles and comic relief.

Stanlee had first looks with her dad, Zach and the groomsmen but it was the first look with the groomsmen was unforgettable: Stanlee surprised the guys by “Icing” them sparking instant laughter and cheers.

The bridesmaids each carried a single white Calla Lily and wore a mix of green dresses. The bride let each bridesmaid choose her own! Stanlee’s bouquet included the Calla Lilies as well, a mix of white flowers with some greenery. Perfect for a garden party!

Because the couple captured a first look, we were able to capture the wedding party photos before the ceremony.

The groomsmen.

Guests arrived and festivities began with a beautiful ceremony in the Ritz Charles Chapel.

The wedding party made their entrances into the reception to AC/DC’s Thunderstruck drinking game style.

The bride and groom immediately went into their first dance to “Trying To Get To You” by Elvis Presley.

Later, during the reception speeches, the best man returned the favor by “Icing” both Stanlee and Zach, keeping the energy high and the laughs rolling.

Zach danced with with his mom and Stanlee shared a super cute choreographed dance with her dad before they invited everyone to join them on the dance floor.

The bride and groom shared a private cake cutting and champagne toast for tradition but they had Ritz Charles provide a more interesting desert for their guests with a flaming doughnut station!

Stanlee and Zach first met while attending Indiana University (IU), and their wedding honored that shared chapter. On the dance floor, the fun reached new heights when “This is IU” played. The crowd hoisted Stanlee and Zach into the air, creating an epic moment (and photos) that celebrated their Hoosier roots and had everyone cheering.

One of the coolest photo moments came when Zach and his groomsmen enjoyed cigars together. We captured a dramatic, atmospheric smoky shot.

We went to the front of the pavilion for just a few minutes to capture some golden hour sunset photos.

I captured polaroids of little moments throughout the day and used them to create this late night flat lay. I left the photos for the couple with a bottle of champagne too wrap up the day.

From the playful surprises to the dances and cigar lounge vibes, Stanlee and Zach’s garden party wedding was romantic, personal, and full of life, exactly the kind of celebration their story deserved. Congratulations to Stanlee and Zach! Your IU love story, garden party elegance, and fun-filled moments made for a day we’ll never forget.

The incredible vendor team that made this day possible:

Venue, Catering and Cake: Ritz Charles
Planning: Altar’d Weddings and Design
Photography: Elisha Kaldahl Photography
Florals: The Flower Boys
DJ: Mac Events
Dress: Blue House Bridal

Ritz Charles has been a cornerstone of central Indiana events for over 40 years, founded in 1986 as a premier catering and event company. Today, it features 8+ exclusive venues and 15+ unique ceremony spaces across the region, with its main Carmel campus including the Chapel, Ballrooms, and stunning Garden Pavilion located at 12156 North Meridian Street. Full-service perks: In-house chef-driven catering, bar service, rentals, and dedicated coordination. Complimentary parking, ADA accessibility, and nearby hotels in Carmel add convenience.

Finley Creek Vineyard Wedding Day, Real Wedding Day

Finley Creek Vineyard Wedding Day

May 29, 2026 elishakphoto Leave a comment

Kate and Antonio’s May wedding at Finley Creek Vineyards in Zionsville, Indiana, was absolutely perfect, the kind of day that feels like it was written in the stars.

Set against the lush vines and manicured gardens of the vineyard, the couple exchanged vows under a clear blue sky with ideal spring weather that made their outdoor ceremony feel nothing short of magical. Dressed in a beautiful palette of green and champagne, the day radiated romance. From the very beginning, it was clear this celebration would be uniquely theirs, especially with their beloved dogs, Rufus and Loki, playing starring roles as they walked down the aisle.

We originally planned to kick off the day with a first look, but plans shifted quickly when the groom’s suit was missing! While someone was sent on a recovery mission, we rearranged the timeline to ensure Kate and Antonio still had all the photos they dreamed of.

The bride’s side of the wedding party was camera-ready, so we started with them in the green space just off the patio behind the venue.

Kate and Antonio simply couldn’t wait any longer to see each other. Antonio slipped into this gray backup suit, and their first look unfolded beautifully on the string lit patio. After we documented the couple seeing each other for the first time the couple asked for a few minutes of privacy and of course we stepped back and gave it to them.

Your wedding day is not meant to be a production, taking time to be together is so important whether it’s photographed or not. It was possible so we documented those private moments to fully tell the story of the day.

Once the groom’s dapper green suit finally arrived, we moved into full wedding party portraits, mixing classic, timeless shots with fun, personality filled moments.

The groomsmen photos rounded out the pre-ceremony coverage.

With most of the posed portraits captured, it was time for the ceremony. The wedding party processed down the aisle to instrumental versions of Noah Kahan songs. Instead of a traditional ring bearer or flower girl, the couple’s beloved dogs, Rufus and Loki, stole the show as they were escorted down the aisle by the bride’s cousins.

We capture the first kiss photo from this angle whenever the space allows us to, it’s so unique and fun! The outdoor ceremony location at Finley Creek always makes it possible.

The post-ceremony hugs are a vibe.

We took s few minutes post ceremony to capture couple’s portraits and a few with their sweet puppies.

Kate and Antonio wanted to soak in their celebration with their guests, so after a few couple’s portraits they mingled throughout the remainder of cocktail hour on the patio.

It was heartwarming to watch (and document) how, even while chatting with different groups, they couldn’t stop holding hands, radiating that newlywed glow.

The couple made their entrance, followed by a touching blessing from the groom’s mom.

Dinner was an absolutely delicious taco bar from Nameless Catering.

The couple’s first dance song was to Devotion by Justin Bieber.

Then onto parent dances…

Then came the speeches, heartfelt tributes from the best man, maid of honor, the bride’s brother, and both sets of parents. One after another, they poured out love, laughter, and memories for Kate and Antonio. The words were so genuine and moving that they transcended the usual wedding toasts; they overflowed with affection that words can rarely capture so beautifully.

The bride’s mom, whose phone had gone missing, delivered an unforgettable impromptu “Top 10 List” completely off the cuff. Her hilarious and loving tribute included a resounding shout-out to IU football that had the whole room laughing and cheering.

Then the groom’s mom stepped up and shared something truly special, a letter she had written to Antonio’s future wife the very night she first met Kate. In it, she expressed her hopes and prayers for the woman who would one day capture her son’s heart. It was a beautiful, tear-inducing moment that left no doubt… moms just have a way of knowing.

They cut this gorgeous four layer cake from Sweet Escape Cake Company that included their two sweet puppies peeking out from the bottom layer.

DJ Connection provided music to start open the dance floor and we captured some of the fun before leaving the party and the remainder of the shenanigans undocumented.

We were deeply honored to document Kate and Antonio’s magical day. They are wonderful, genuine people surrounded by the warmest friends and family coming from as far as Costa Rica! We hope they enjoyed every moment of their honeymoon, relaxing on a sunny beach in Jamacia. We wish them a lifetime filled with love, laughter, and adventure.

Located at 795 S US 421 in Zionsville, just a short drive from Indianapolis, Finley Creek Vineyards offers a beautiful blend of rustic charm and elegant sophistication across five acres of flourishing grounds. With a scenic ceremony site framed by a lovely pergola overlooking the vineyards, versatile indoor and outdoor spaces, and a capacity for up to 200 guests, it’s an ideal venue for couples seeking that idyllic, garden-vineyard ambiance in Indiana.

The Incredible team that made this day come together:

Church Wedding and Sagamore Reception

Church Wedding | Sagamore Golf Club Reception

March 19, 2026 elishakphoto Leave a comment

The morning of Maria and Austin’s perfect wedding day began with an all too typical March shower in Indiana. Thankfully, the rain quickly cleared, leaving behind pleasant temperatures perfect for an early-spring wedding. The entire wedding party chose to prepare at the church, allowing for a seamless flow of photos. I started by capturing the thoughtful details, rings, flowers, and shoes, before moving on to the getting-ready moments filled with laughter and anticipation. Maria added a touching personal element by wearing her mom’s favorite cross as her “something borrowed.”

The highlight of the pre-ceremony timeline was the first look in front of the church, where Maria and Austin saw each other for the first time that day. Opting for a first look gave Maria and Austin a private, intimate moment to see each other before the ceremony.

With the timeline running slightly ahead of schedule, we efficiently completed many of the wedding party photos and all the family formals right in the sanctuary. One thing I love is documenting real connections between family members in addition to the posed photos everyone expects to see on a wedding day.

Maria and Austin’s wedding was a beautiful celebration of love, family, and faith, centered at Noblesville Baptist Church in Noblesville, Indiana. The day was made even more special because the bride’s grandfather, who had baptized both Maria and Austin, officiated the ceremony, adding a deeply personal and heartfelt touch to the day.

Following the heartfelt ceremony, the couple greeted guests in a classic receiving line. This timeless tradition allows the newlyweds to personally thank every attendee, offering quick hugs, smiles, and words of gratitude. It’s an efficient yet meaningful way to ensure no one is missed during the excitement of the reception. Each interaction is brief but warm, creating a personal connection before the celebration moves to the next phase. Adding a receiving line can take up more space in the timeline.

Before leaving the church, we had one more photo to capture, one captured by her grandmother and then her mother. There is something so special about recreating wedding photos from the generations before.

Then it was time to head to The Sagamore Club in Noblesville for the reception. This elegant private country club, featuring a renowned Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, provided a stunning backdrop with its rolling greens, timeless architecture, and sophisticated indoor spaces. The venue offered a perfect blend of upscale charm and natural beauty for the party.

Upon arrival, we wrapped up the remaining wedding party portraits and squeezed in a few impromptu family groupings. While a classic golden hour sunset didn’t materialize, the sky delivered its own gorgeous display of dramatic colors and dark clouds, making for equally memorable photos.

Maria and Austin’s love story began online, with Maria in Noblesville and Austin in Wisconsin. They connected through a shared video game, and their first in-person meeting was witnessed by the bride’s matron of honor, her cousin, who has been by Maria’s side since childhood. In her speech, she fondly recalled their early days playing Barbies and sipping “pink milk,” and how their bond endured even after she moved to California. The matron of honor’s daughter served as the flower girl, and Maria had been there for her birth, adding another layer of family history. Her words brought both laughter and tears as she lovingly assured everyone that Maria had truly found “her person.”

The best man shared a touching reflection on his lifelong friendship with Austin, starting from their childhood, and expressed his genuine happiness that his friend had met his perfect match.

The couple cut into their elegant wedding cake, joined by a separate groom’s cake, a Southern tradition with roots in Victorian England. Originally a denser, richer cake (often fruitcake laced with liquor to symbolize strength), the groom’s cake evolved in the American South as a personalized dessert reflecting the groom’s tastes or hobbies. It provides a fun, secondary flavor option and has become a creative way to honor the groom. Maria and Austin enjoyed this sweet moment before the real party began.

The dance floor was electric all night, with guests of all ages joining in the fun. The photo booth was a huge hit, capturing silly poses and candid memories that everyone loved.

The groom’s grandparents hit the dance floor, moments that for sure need to be documented on camera.

The bride included a bouquet toss in the reception festivities. It was enthusiastically caught by one of her bridesmaids, who happens to be engaged to her brother.

As the evening wound down, Maria and Austin shared one last dance before making their exit, surrounded by family, friends, and well-wishes, ready to begin their new chapter with a honeymoon in sunny Florida.

It was an unforgettable day filled with love, laughter, meaningful traditions, and the warmth of family and friends, exactly what they wanted their wedding day to be. Congratulations to Maria and Austin!

Wedding Day Tips, Wedding Photographers Indianapolis

How To Get a Photo with All Your Wedding Guests: The Table Dash

March 18, 2024 elishakphoto

While you are meticulously planning all the details of your perfect wedding day (and guest list) there is a reception event you may want to consider, the table dash. This wedding trend will allow you to capture a fun photo with all of your wedding guests in less than five minutes.

The photo dash is curated between your DJ and me, usually after the grand entrance. During the length of one song, we sprint from table to table capturing a photo at each table. You get a photo with every wedding guest at your beautifully decorated tables but by the nature of doing it at a sprint, the photos are more fun, and candid and they take less time. An announcement has been made and everyone is already in their seats so you don’t have to worry about someone wandering off to the bar or the bathroom.

A Table Dash in Three Steps

Choose the perfect song. You will want at least 3 minutes and 30 seconds. We have always been able to complete the dash inside of one song but if we didn’t finish we can always have the song start over.
The DJ will make an announcement to have everyone take their seats. This insures that everyone is in their seats, no one is in the bathroom or at the bar.
Your perfect song starts and we rush from table to table taking a photo with every guest at your wedding.

The result: You get a photo with all of your wedding guests and everyone has fun.

You can always go the traditional route of visiting every table during dinner. This does take significantly longer and there is no guarantee that everyone will be at the table for me to take a photo. If a friend or family member holds you up you might run out of time to visit every table. Additionally, there are generally people eating and dirty plates on the tables.

Ritz Charles Wedding Day

Ritz Charles Chapel and Garden Pavilion | Wedding Day

March 13, 2024 elishakphoto

Sarah and Jack are absolutely lovely humans who were surrounded by adoring friends and family on their unseasonably warm February wedding day. The bride’s mom had been married in a blizzard almost 30 years ago leading her to by wedding insurance, probably insuring that her daughter’s wedding day would be gorgeous.

The bride and groom met at a party while attending Ball State and while on a cruise Jack asked Sarah to marry him with a Tiffany & Co ring. Months of planning led to this day at the elegant Ritz Charles in Carmel, Indiana.

The wedding party got ready at Hyatt Place. The hotel is so close to the venue that they share a parking lot. We started the day photographing the details while the bridal party laughed and chatted in matching pajamas while getting hair and makeup ready. The bride’s fragrance of choice for her wedding day was “I Do” by Anthropologie.

The groom’s details are important too. He pinned this photo of his late grandfather into his suit so that he would carry him with him on this very special day.

While the Ritz Charles offers multiple beautiful ballrooms for a wedding day celebration the couple chose the chapel for their ceremony and the stunning Garden Pavilion for their reception. The Garden Pavillion allows for so much natural light, it’s a photographer’s dream.

Sarah and Jack wanted to see each other before the ceremony so we had a first look on the patio outside of the pavillion. The photos tell the story better than any words I could write.

Because the couple chose to do a first look we had time to do the bridal party photos before the ceremony.

The ceremony was held in the chapel and the officiant was the bride’s cousin. During the nuptuials the couple chose to have a ring warming ceremony. The wedding rings were passed between the members of the wedding party, as they held them in their hands they imbue them with their love and blessings for the couple so that when the couple puts them on they will carry the positive energy of their loved ones with them.

After the ceremony we took a few photos with the couple.

We came into the garden pavillion for the first dance, cake cutting and dinner.

The parent dances.

Speeches by the maid of honor and the best man.

The couple chose to have an anniversary dance, this is a tradition where couples of all ages are brought to the dance floor. As music plays the DJ dismisses couples from the dance floor based on the length of time they have been married until only the couple married the longest remains dancing.

We left as the bride and groom celebrated on the dance floor before leaving for their honeymoon cruise the next day.

Sarah and Jack’s wedding day was made possible by this incredible vendor team:

Ritz Charles provided the venue, catering and cake.
The fabulous Corinne Keller at Altard Weddings provided planning and day of coordination.
Florals were provided by Gillespie Florist.
Brian Jackson was the DJ.
Hair and make-up were provided by Beauty by Macy.
The dress was from Belalis Bridal.

Black Iris Estate Weddings, Uncategorized

Black Iris Estate | Indianapolis Wedding Day

August 18, 2022 elishakphoto

Ring detail photo Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

detail photo Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

Bride wearing grandma's pearls Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

Groom getting ready Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

Bride dress and hanger Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

first look with wedding party Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

First look with dad Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

Bride's first look with dad Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

Bride's first look with brother Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

First Look Bride and Groom Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

Wedding photographer captures groom's reaction first look Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

Bride's bouquet photo Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

Willow Chapel Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

Cool groomsmen photo Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

Fun wedding party photo Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

Bubble Exit Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

Bubble exit photo Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

Bride and groom kiss in the aisle Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

Veil photo Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

Floating veil photo Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

Place setting detail photo Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

Centerpiece photo Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

Cake cutting photo Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

Toasting photo Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

First dance Black Iris wedding Carmel, Indiana

Groom dances with grandma Black Iris Estate Carmel, Indiana

Champagne pop photo Black Iris Estate Wedding Day Carmel, Indiana

Dancing photos Black Iris Estate wedding day Carmel, Indiana

Payton and Jacob met in college. They were friends first, even giving each other relationship advice before finally ending up together. Jacob proposed in the fall of 2020 and the couple spent nearly two years planning their perfect wedding day.

It was obvious from the moment we arrived at Black Iris Estate in Carmel, Indiana that Payton and Jacob’s loved ones were ready to celebrate and make sure this couple had their best day ever. It wasn’t just a wedding day, the day was shared with Payton’s grandma Martha who cebrated her 84th birthday as a member of the wedding party. She one of the couple’s “flower grannies.”.

We started our day photographing the details. The bride planned to walk down the aise in a stunning pair of Manolo Blahniks. I had seen them on her Instagram and was soooo excited to photograph them.

Every time someone was about to cry (and there were a lot of tears!) they would say “Dali lama”. The bride’s mom presented her with a piece of lace from her wedding dress and a photo of Payton with her late grandfather to tie around her bouquet. Even I had to say Dali Llama. Payton was joined in the getting ready room by her mom, two aunts, and grandma. She wore grandma Martha’s pearls.

Payton’s wedding party included Jacob’s sisters and her best friend’s throughout her life. Jacob’s side of the party included his brothers as well as Payton’s brother. His best man was his brother Teddy. The bride had a first look with her bridesmaids, her dad, her brother, and finally her husband.

The couple had their ceremony in the Willow Chapel at Black Iris Estate. This is an absoloutely incredible outdoor ceremony space. A string quartet played as Payton was walked down the aisle by both her mom and dad. Jacob cried when he saw Payton, even after a first look. They ended the ceremony with a bubble exit.

The couple chose Heavenly Sweets to bake their wedding cake and Payton was really looking forward to desert. They skipped cutting the cake all together and shared their first bites with forks.

The bride and groom took dance lessons leading up to their wedding day for their first dance. The bride and her dad also took dance lessons for a fabulous cheorographed father daughter dance. The groom danced with his mom and grandma Martha. The dance floor opened with the anniversary dance and in lieu of a bouquet toss the bride gave the toss bouquet to the couple who had been married the longest, her aunt and uncle came in the winners at 45 years.

Jacob’s family had some reception traditions including an absolutely incredible group dance to Paradise by the dashboard lights by Meatloaf and a Polish flag has been at 144 family weddings. The rest of the night was filled with dancing.

We didn’t get a sunset for photos but the bride was ready with a bottle of champagne for champagne pop photos and they turned out completely amazing!

We are so honored that Payton, Jacob and their families trusted us to capture this incredible wedding day, they are truly lovely humans. We wish them a lifetime of love and adventure with their cat army.

If you’re looking for a venue in Carmel, Indiana Black Iris Estate is exceptional. The staff brought this day together flawlessly.

Thank you to the amazing vendor team that brought this day to life, Payton referred to her vendors as her “Dream Team.” You were all wonderful to work with. Black Iris Estate, Bokay Florist, Heavenly Sweets, DJ Joe Sheets, Clark Videography, The Wedding Studio Carmel, Minted, Indy Limo rental, MUA Lori Boykin, Hair Stylist Maggie Flemming.

Wedding Day Tips, Wedding Photographers Indianapolis

8 Tips for getting through the hardest part of your wedding day: The Family Formals

July 26, 2022 elishakphoto

This is the part of the wedding day where we capture the formal posed photos everyone expects to see in the final gallery. The photos of the bride with her mom and dad, the bride and groom with mom, dad, siblings, etc.

Family pictures, Indianapolis wedding photographer

These photos may not necessarily be the most fun to organize but they are often some of the most treasured after your wedding day is done. It’s not very often we have all of our loved ones dressed up and in the same place.

Family formals, Indianapolis wedding photographer

As a wedding photographer, it is my goal to capture these photos quickly, get you to the reception, and have some fun along the way. Here are eight tips for making that happen.

Tell everyone where they need to be and when. If you know your brother always runs late, tell him to be there a little early.
Have a people wrangler (or two) who know the important people and can help get everyone where they need to be. Every family has stragglers.
Let me know beforehand the names of everyone you want photographed. It’s a lot easier to call your family members up by name and let the group know whose on deck. I send out a questionnaire two months before your wedding day asking for this information.
Make sure you have included enough time on your timeline. Each family grouping takes about 4 minutes. If you don’t want to spend a lot of time taking photos on your big day capture your immediate family during the portrait portion and have the DJ make announcements for the larger groups at the reception.
Are there any family situations I need to be aware of? Are there divorced parents who would prefer not to be photographed together? I would hate to create an awkward situation for anyone. I ask about these in that questionnaire I mentioned earlier.
Know where you want to capture these photos or if you want (I’m happy to scout a locations if you need me to). If you choose an outdoor location ideally we want a space where the sun won’t be shining directly into your eyes and make sure to have a rain plan.
Whenever possible start with grandparents and small children. I won’t make your grandparents stand around waiting for their turn, we want them to be able to sit comfortably as soon as they are finished. Small children have short attention spans and are the least likely to cooperate for long periods of time. If we don’t get the shot we want initially we have the opportunity to try again later.
This is not a time for family members to take iphone photos. Everyone needs to know where to look and you will want all eyes on my camera. If I have to pause in between family groupings for aunt Sue to snap a pic this part of your wedding day will take so much longer, frustrating everyone involved and keeping you from your party. You can give your family access to the professionally edited gallery when it is delivered post wedding day and if any family member wants iPhone photos they are welcome to capture those after I am finished or at the reception.

Wedding day Family photos, Indianapolis wedding photographer.

Unless your family naturally lines up in perfect lines this is a part of the day where I will take complete creative control. This is one of the reasons why you hire a professional photographer. I will direct everyone to pose in the most flattering way possible and to stand where they will be seen in the photos.

Wedding day family formals. Indianapolis wedding photographer.

During the family formal portion of the wedding day we will only capture photos including the bride and groom. If wedding guests would like photos that don’t include you we are happy to take those during the cocktail hour or reception. I always try to get photos of your parents and grandparents at other points during your wedding day. It has likely been a long time since they have had a professional portrait taken.

Photo of parents alone, Indianapolis wedding photographer

The goal is to take images you will treasure forever and let you enjoy your day.

Indianapolis Rehearsal Dinner, Wedding Photographers Indianapolis

5 Reasons to have your Wedding Photographer at Your Rehearsal

May 19, 2022 elishakphoto

Your rehearsal dinner is a time to run through your wedding ceremony and share a celebratory meal with your family and your wedding party. This event typically occurs a day or so before your wedding. Often you have the practice at your venue and dinner at a restaurant, though sometimes you are able to do everything in the same location.

1. It gives you a chance to get comfortable with me and my camera around.

Most people tell me how awkward it is to have their picture taken, even when they tell me their wedding photos are the most important thing to them. If you have photography coverage for your rehearsal dinner I will be there with my camera for a couple of hours. Then, when I show up on your wedding day to take photos you are comfortable with me around.

Indianapolis rehearsal dinner covered by wedding photographer

2. You have another chapter of your wedding story documented

Your engagement is such a special time in your love story and the rehearsal dinner marks the end of it. This is an event you will want to document through photos.

Fun photo captured at rehearsal dinner by the wedding photographer

Bride and group celebrate with their wedding party at the rehearsal dibber.

3. I can learn who all your important people are by name.

Why is this important? People love to be addressed by their names and it gives me a chance to learn them all. That way, when I am taking photos on your wedding day we all know each other and I can address all your important people by name. Especially during the wedding party and family formal portions of the wedding day.

Indianapolis wedding photographer covers rehearsal dinner.

4. I can get a feel for your layout and how to create the best wedding day images for you.

Even if I’ve captured weddings at your venue a hundred times your wedding day is unique. Capturing your run-through allows me to see your perfect vision for your best day ever. It also gives me time to think about your venue over a day or so, allowing me to come up with creative ideas for your wedding images.

Wedding photographer capture images of bride and groom spraying champagne at the rehearsal dinner.

bride drinking champagne at rehearsal dinner

5. We can create photos like this without a looming timeline.

Depending on how your wedding day goes we could run tight on time for fun photos. Additionally, you could grow tired of having your picture taken or maybe you just want to enjoy your party. Your rehearsal dinner is the perfect time to capture a few extra images.

Unfortunately, I am not always available to capture rehearsal dinners due to my wedding schedule. If you want rehearsal dinner coverage we book 8 weeks in advance.

Garment Factory Events Wedding, Wedding Photographers Indianapolis

Garment Factory Wedding | The One Where They Got Married

May 5, 2021 elishakphoto

Wedding Day at The Garment Factory Franklin Indiana

This adventurous couple has climbed Mount Reiner, camped in Yosemite National Park, visited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and planned a wedding and honeymoon during a global pandemic.

Bridal Party Photo Garment Factory Wedding Day Franklin, IN

Getting married during a historical event brought about new challenges and traditions for both couples and guests. This couple used colored bands to let guests choose their level of comfort. Green: You’re okay with hugs and handshakes. Yellow: You’re okay with talking at a distance and no physical contact please. Red: You are keeping your distance. Despite masks and social distancing, this couple was able to have a completely amazing wedding day.

The Garment Factory in Franklin, Indiana is a spacious industrial-chic venue and one of our favorite places to capture wedding days. The venue was originally built in the 1920s as a factory where seamstresses specialized in the production of undergarments. Later it went on to produce military uniforms and the uniforms for the movie Hoosiers. The venue is over 10,000 square feet with three event spaces, a gorgeous bridal suite, and The Garment Factory can accommodate up to 450 guests for a wedding day.

Wedding dress wedding photo Garment Factory Franklin, IN

recetion space Garment Factory Franklin IN

Even though the bride and groom chose to have a first look…

Wedding day first look Garment Factory Franklin IN

this groom started to cry before his bride ever walked down the aisle.

Groom Wedding Day reaction Garment Factory Franklin IN

The bride’s brother performed a reading from Friends during the ceremony. “I’ll be there for you when the rain starts to pour, I’ll be there for you like I’ve been there before, I’ll be there for you, ’cause you’re there for me too.”

They incorporated a sand ceremony into their wedding. The sand ceremony is a unity tradition where the couple take turns pouring sand from separate containers into a single container representing the two coming together as one. The container the sand is poured into is then kept by the couple as a keepsake of their wedding ceremony. It’s also super fun to photograph!

Wedding Day Sand Ceremony , Garment Factory, Franklin IN

The new husband and wife had their first dance to Conversations in the Dark by John Legend.

First dance Garment Factory Franklin, IN

The bridesmaids all wore matching pajamas for getting ready in, but one fabulous bridesmaid changed back into hers during the reception and busted a move in them on the dance floor.

Bride and Bridesmaids in matching pajamas Garment Factory wedding day Franklin IN

Bridesmaid in matching pajamas Garment Factory Events Franklin, IN

This bride and I connected over our mutual love of Friends and Harry Potter but another thing we have in common is our inability to eat gluten. She had the best gluten-free wedding cake. Ever. But, I must tell you that the best part of this wedding for me as a wedding photographer was the bride’s reaction to her wedding photos. She text me over the next couple of days after her gallery was delivered to tell me how much she loved her photos and how she couldn’t stop looking at them. That is always our goal, to transport our couples back to the best day of their live through photographs.

Wedding photo gluten-free wedding cake Garment Factory, Franklin, IN

This beautiful couple was surrounded by amazing people who obviously love them very much. We are so honored to document their wedding day and wish them a lifetime of love, magic, and adventure.

Wedding day photo Garment Factory Events Franklin IN

The Hobson Kokomo, Wedding Photographers Indianapolis

The Hobson | Wedding Day

October 1, 2020 elishakphoto

Chris and Caitlin’s July wedding was originally scheduled for May of 2020, but like so many couples this year it was delayed due to a global pandemic. The wedding photos might look a little different with guests in masks, but the celebration was still the same.

The chosen venue for this beautiful wedding day was The Hobson located in downtown Kokomo, Indiana. Built in 1893, it once housed the Kokomo City Building. The venue’s third story is now home to a stunning two-story ballroom that can accommodate up to 175 guests. It features large windows and stunning getting ready suites for both the bride and groom.

Chris and Caitlin chose not to see each other before the ceremony but Caitlin did have a first look with her dad. There is no doubt that this bride has a very special relationship with her father, they even had a secret handshake.

Chris started to cry before Caitlin even walked down the aisle.

After the ceremony we captured the couple’s portraits outside The Hobson.

The couple dated all through high school and college. They love Disney World and going to concerts. This couple is incredibly playful in their interactions with each other. They are clearly so much fun, it made sense when Chris and Caitlin made their grand entrance to the reception by performing The Git Up.

Wedding Day Grand Entrance — Gonna do the two step…

Bride and Groom Entrance — Gonna do the two step…

The bride’s sister was the maid of honor. She shared the story of how the couple met during her toast to the newlywed husband and wife giving single men everywhere hope by letting them know that sliding up in DM’s does occasionally work.

Chris and Caitlin chose cupcakes in multiple flavors from Indulgence Bakery in Kokomo for their wedding day celebration. They also added a small cake so that they could have their traditional “cut the cake” moment. Some couples delicately feed each other their first bite of cake, this couple not so delicately smashed it into each other’s faces.

First dance was to When You Look Me in the Eyes by The Jonas Brothers. The dancing didn’t stop there, the bride and her bridesmaids performed the dance to the Hoedown Throwdown by Hannah Montana while wearing face masks.

The night ended with a gorgeous sparkler exit outside the glass arch that is the entrance to the venue.

Chris and Caitlin are kind and gracious people surrounded by lovely families. They are clearly loved by all in attendance. We wish them a lifetime of love and adventure.

Some amazing vendors also made this day happen. The Hobson provided the venue and day of coordination. The dress came from Nancy’s Bridal Boutique. Nameless Catering provided dinner. The cake and cupcakes were made by Indulgence Bakery, and DJ Connection brought the dance party.

ElishaKphoto