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Wedding

They share a love of the water, and had dreamed of getting married at sea one day. It was only fitting that they tied the knot at the Indianapolis Yacht Club, overlooking the docks along Geist Reservoir, with the love and support of their closest friends and family members around them. Mandy and Derek’s story is one woven with love, despite several medical hardships that have come their way. On this hot summer day, with many thanks to Wish Upon A Wedding, they were able to have the wedding of their dreams, without the stress of planning the many details involved! They love each other with their whole heart, and it was felt by every single person who was lucky enough to witness their special day. I met Mandy and Derek and their sweet families for the very first time on their wedding day. However, I was already smitten with them after seeing a short video of their story a few days earlier, so to have them in front of my camera was such a treat! And then to relive this amazing day just a week after their wedding from the videographers’ perspective was awesome! A must-see!
Mandy and Derek, what an honor it was to photograph your wedding day! Aside from being completely adorable together, it is clear that your love for each other is the best medicine. I had so many favorite moments from your day…when the sun shined down at all the perfect
moments, like during your sweet ceremony under the tall trees and then as it set softly along the water for just the two of you. And when you danced together, you held each other close, never wanting to let go. The toasts by two of your best friends that were so very heartfelt. Just to name a few! It was a day that I’ll never forget, and I wish you both all of the happiness in the world!

I would like to thank this incredible team of wedding professionals who made the day flow so smoothly and with so many gorgeous details! It was such an honor and so fun to work alongside you all!

Ceremony + Reception Venue // Indianapolis Yacht Club
Planner // Ooh La La Events
Caterer // A Cut Above Catering Indianapolis
Cake // Classic Cakes
Chair Covers + Linen Rentals // Chair Covers and Linen by Linen Hero by Chair Covers and Linens
Ceremony Chair Rentals // @Party Time Rentals
DJ // Track Seven DJ
Makeup // Perchance Makeup
Hair // G Michael Salon
Florist // Julie’s Flowers of Geist, LLC
Invitations + Stationary // Madeline Lewis Designs
Officiant // Marry Me in Indy
Wedding Photographer // stewart imagery | photography by stephanie stewart
Wedding Videographer // Eyenamics
Transportation // Aadvanced Limousines – Indianapolis’ Best & Largest Hummer & SUV Limos
Favors // Just Pop In!
Photobooth // Top Hat Photo Booths Indy
Rehearsal Dinner Food // Buca di Beppo
Love Story Photographer // Dixon Digital Photography
Love Story Videographer // Unique Heart Productions

Mandy and Derek, thank you so much for the honor of photographing your amazing wedding day! I feel so blessed to have met you and your families, and to have shared in the first day of the rest of your lives! You made me fall in love with my job even more, and for that, I’ll be forever thankful! Your love is beautiful, refreshing, and beyond measure! Cheers to you, Mr. + Mrs. Robinson!

Wish Upon A Wedding | Indianapolis Yacht Club | Mandy + Derek

What a beautiful summer day for the intimate wedding of one of the sweetest couples! Remember their spring engagment session? Check it out here! Logan and Adessa said “I do!” under tall trees at Camp Rotary, surrounded by their closest friends and family members. They chose the perfect place for their wedding, near one of their favorite spots to fish, to canoe, and to spend time together in the great outdoors.

Logan is our nephew, and we’ve known for quite some time that Adessa
would be the perfect match for him and our family! She is kind-hearted
and beautiful, inside and out. And she makes Logan beam with pride and
happiness, and smile the biggest smiles. You know the kind…those big,
wide grins that light up any room. Simply put, they are better
together. They are high school sweethearts, and it is only fitting that their wedding day fell on their 4 year anniversary.

On the night before the wedding, they camped in cabins with their bridal party and spent time decorating and setting up all of their special details, including hand-lettered signs for guests and jars of baby’s breath to line the aisle. The bride-to-be and her bridesmaids even made a late night trip for supplies to make their adorable “Bride Tribe” shirts!

With their heart-felt ceremony, the many hugs from family members, and the tears and laughs shared among us all, it was just the perfect day. Logan and Adessa, thank you for the honor of witnessing and documenting your first day as husband and wife. You two are adorable, and I wish you a lifetime filled with joy and laughter and the biggest fish you can catch together! Love you both! And now for so many favorites from your day!

The perfect tea-length lace gown, with
lovely blush and pink details and her great-grandmother’s pearls, as you’ll see in a moment.

I had so much fun photographing Adessa’s lovely bridal details, like these gorgeous blush heels!

Her Great-Grandmother’s pearls were the perfect ‘something old.’

Waiting for the Bride’s Mom to come and help her with her gown…

The Mother of the Bride’s first reaction to seeing her little girl on her wedding day!

Adessa’s Grandmother helped fasten the pearls that belonged to her mother.

Adessa waited to see herself in the mirror until she was totally ready, and she said she felt like a princess. You were such a gorgeous bride, Adessa!

Logan was ready to see his bride-to-be!

Then it was time for Adessa and Logan’s First Look, in a secluded area of the woods, near one of their favorite creek where they love to fish and hike.

Since they chose to do a First Look, we were able to do bridal party and family portraits prior to the Ceremony!

Oh, and I love this one of Adessa!

Remington was the ring bearer, and made a new friend, Abi, the flower girl! He even asked her if he could throw some flower petals as they were half way down the aisle!

Logan was filled with emotion during the Ceremony, and it just the sweetest thing to see!

Lucky for me, the newlyweds wanted plenty of portrait time! We had lovely evening light for some sweet and romantic portraits!

A favorite! Lovelovelove!!!

They love to fish together, so I loved Adessa’s idea to put their rings on a hook!

Oh, Logan and Adessa! Thank you, thank you, thank you for allowing me to be such a special part of your wedding day! You two are such a delight to be around, and what a treat it was to be the one to capture this first day of your married lives! Congratulations!!! Love and hugs to you!!!

Crawfordsville Camp Rotary Wedding | Adessa + Logan

What a beautiful late summer day it was for wedding portraits in Brown County! I’m convinced that it must always be this lovely in Southern Indiana! I was beyond excited when Kaley contacted me to photograph her wedding portraits with her family, her handsome groom, and their adorable pups, Penny (a 2-year old Boxer) and Zeus (a 1-year old Basset Hound)! We started at the hidden gem bed & breakfast, Robinwood Inn. (Reggie and I loved our stay there earlier this spring for our anniversary, and we’re already checking dates to return because we loved it so much!) And that’s how Kaley and Donnie decided they’d invite their family and closest friends to stay with them there for their wedding weekend! It was a photographer’s dream to photograph all around the secluded destination, nestled in the wooded hills of Brown County! And the light! Ohhhhh, the light was fantastic! Add the fact that Kaley and Donnie’s family and friends were as sweet as honey, and I was in heaven! I’ll let my many favorites from their day tell their story! Kaley and Donnie, what an honor it was to spend this special day with you and your family! Wishing you a lifetime of happiness and laughs and sweet slow dances!

Chickens roam the property…and later in the day, they curiously pecked at my camera bag to see what I was up to as I photographed details! I think that means we’re friends now! 😉

Kaley, you were a stunningly beautiful bride!!!

The newlyweds made my job an easy one with their easy-going, laid-back, fun-filled personalities!

So many pretty florals all around the property! Just look at those gorgeous hydrangeas!

I don’t normally blog many family portraits, but when they’re as sweet and joyful as the ones below, I just can’t help it! Love this of the bride and her father!

Donnie and his Mom! Melt my heart!!!

This one is for the Ohio State Fans! Kaley and Donnie love cheering on the Buckeyes, as do the groom’s brother, Dylan, and his sweet fiancée, Paige!!!

A favorite!

Lovelovelove

I loved having so much time for portraits of the bride and groom! K + D, you two are one cute pair!

Another favorite!

The bling!!! Soooo pretty!!!

Kaley’s soft, flowy gown was perfect on this warm August day!

And the floral accents on the sash and in her hair were swoon-worthy!

Isn’t Kaley’s engagement ring stunning?! Good work, Donnie!!!

The couple changed outfits and we set off for a few more locations in the area.

Loved this covered bridge!

Oh, and I adore this one!

Ohhhh, you two!!!!

Adorable!!!

Zeus and Penny were naturals in front of the camera!

Brown County State Park offered countless photo opportunities! What a view!

Hi Penny!

I’ll end the post with another favorite image! We caught the last of the evening light at this serene lake, and I love the joy and contentment of Kaley and Donnie. Such a perfect day!

Kaley and Donnie, I cannot thank you enough for choosing me to document your first day as husband and wife! I love the joy and happiness and spirit that you and your families exude! Being able to photograph your hugs, laughs, and sweet kisses was an absolute thrill! Congratulations to you both!

Brown County Wedding | Kaley + Donnie

I cannot tell you how excited I am to share this next wedding with you! Kathy and Mike are the sweetest couple, and they had such a beautifully perfect seaside wedding celebration! It’s summer, and in Fort Myers Beach, that means temperatures in the mid-high 90s and humidity! This combination often brings with it some powerful storms, however, as love and luck would have it for these two and their wedding day, it was just amazing! The skies were clear and provided a soft and sweet light for the beach ceremony, as well as for all of their bride and groom portraits! I was in photography heaven, and couldn’t have asked for more on this June afternoon! Kathy and Mike, what an honor it was to document your first day as husband and wife! And in such a beautiful and meaningful place! I have so many favorites from your day, it was hard to choose for the blog! I am so happy for the two of you, and wish you a lifetime of love and laughter together!

Kathy found the perfect beach wedding gown! I loved the delicate, flowing layers!

And don’t you just adore her bouquet?!

Mike was so relaxed and cool as a cucumber for his groom portraits!

Meanwhile, Kathy put on her jewelry and prepared for their First Look.

Kathy, you looked so beautiful! Just stunning!

I loved watching Mike as he watched his Bride pin on his boutonniere!

I love when couples opt for a First Look! We were able to get some lovely portraits on the gorgeous grounds of their condo before heading to the ceremony.

It was a breezy day, which was welcome considering the summer heat.

Lovelovelove.

Then it was time to travel to Bowditch Point Park for the ceremony!

Kathy and Mike wanted to keep their guests happy and cool!

Loved these beach buckets filled with ice water, a personalized fan, and sunglasses!

Beach Goddess Bride! So beautiful, Kathy!

Kathy’s son, Tom, walked her down the aisle.

Married!!!

Mike with his two best men, his son, Logan, and his brother, Reggie. Handsome guys!

Family and friends traveled from near and far to celebrate! Our Aunt Sally calls Fort Myers home, while others came from Indiana and Pennsylvania.

And I had to get a portrait of the officiant, a dear friend of the bride…Debbie and her husband were going to be celebrating their wedding anniversary soon!

As guests made their way to the reception, I had the honor of photographing the happy newlyweds!

Bowditch Point Park had abundant palm trees and other tropical foliage,

providing a perfect location for wedding portraits!

What a gorgeous couple!

When scouting for portrait locations prior to the wedding day, I was absolutely giddy when I found this little grove of trees and lush greenery! I love this whole series!

Another favorite!

The reception and dinner took place at a wonderfully delicious local restaurant, Fresh Catch Bistro. It was the perfect venue for an intimate dinner with family and friends with views of the beach.

And as if the day couldn’t be any more wonderful, we had this amazing sunset on the beach for some sweet and romantic portraits!

These two smiled all day!

What a joy it was to witness and capture their love and happiness for each other!

Ahhh! I could have photographed them all night in this glowing sunset light!

Favorite, favorite, favorite!

Once back inside, it was time to cut the cake!

The evening ended with a colorful night sky and some rain, you know, for good luck. 😉

Kathy and Mike, I hope your wedding day was everything you dreamed of and more! Thank you for choosing me to document your special day, I loved every minute of it! And thank you for making time for so many portraits! What a perfect day it was! Wishing you all the best as you walk hand in hand on sandy beaches and beyond! Congratulations to you, Mr. + Mrs. Stewart!!! xoxo

Bowditch Point Park | A Fort Myers Beach Wedding | Kathy + Mike

I recently had the incredibly fun and wonderful opportunity to photograph a sweet, talented, and beautiful (inside and out!) friend in some stunning bridal gowns. Add in a pretty awesome location. And the loveliest blooms you ever did see! We were all going gaga for these florals the entire day! I may have even twirled and sang while holding them between shots a few times…ok, so I totally did do that! I just couldn’t help myself! Ok, have I mentioned that Julia is gorgeous?! Aside from being a wonderfully talented makeup artist, she just happens to know how to work it for the camera too. What a beauty!!! Spring is just a few short weeks away, which is somewhat hard to believe after all of the snow outside my window right now! What better way to await spring’s arrival than with a little sneak peek at some of the loveliness from this dream shoot!