This is what happens when your best friends dress in every shade of pink, stand beneath the weeping willows of Coxhall Gardens, and celebrate the fact that two of their favorite people just got married. This full wedding party portrait, taken after the ceremony on the lakeside lawn in Carmel, Indiana, radiates color and that rare kind of happiness that only comes when everyone in the frame truly loves the couple in the middle.
The color palette here is magic. The bride chose for her bridesmaids a mix-and-match spectrum of pinks, blush, coral, magenta, and rose, creating a modern, rainbow that pops beautifully against the groomsmen’s classic black tuxedos. The bride’s elegant crepe gown and veil keep the focus on her while the varying textures (satin, chiffon, ruffles) add playful movement. The willows melt into soft, dreamy bokeh while every smile, bouquet, and boutonnière stays tack-sharp. A subtle lens flare from the sun adds just the right touch of golden sparkle, like the day itself is cheering.
The lakeside willow grove at Coxhall Gardens is hands-down the most requested spot for wedding party portraits. The open lawn gives us plenty of room for big groups (this party was 14 strong!), and the lake behind adds depth and serenity. Whether you have four attendants or twenty, this location makes everyone look magazine-ready.
I always take two versions of this shot:
Guess which one ends up as a 20×30 canvas above the couch nine times out of ten?
Years from now, when these friends gather for anniversaries, baby showers, or just because, they’ll pull out this photo and remember exactly how it felt to stand on that grass the day their best friends became forever. The pinks will still pop, the willows will still sway in memory, and the love, well, that will only have grown.
If you’re planning your wedding at Coxhall Gardens and dreaming of a wedding party photo that feels less like a yearbook picture and more like the best group hug of your life, let’s make it happen. Because this, this right here, is what love looks like when it’s surrounded by the people who love you most.
Captured with the Nikon Z9 in natural light with a 35mm prime lens.
400, 5.6, 1/250
Edited to look like film.
Location: 11677 Towne Rd, Carmel, IN 46032.