An Elegant Indiana Vineyard Ceremony: The Real Wedding of Emily and Travis Whitlow

Both being optometrists, Emily and Travis met through work. "Travis helped me move and well, pretty much anything I asked him to do he was there to help me with. We started off just as friends until we realized we had feelings for each other and he asked me on a real date," Emily explains. In true romantic fashion, Travis proposed to Emily with rose petals, tea lights and music in her apartment after one of her Saturday shifts!
 

Emily and Travis started by finding local venues in their price range since where they live is halfway between both of their families. The venue they chose was a special place for them and their relationship. "We made a handful of trips up to visit long before we were engaged. It’s absolutely gorgeous, family-friendly, and it’s always a good time no matter what season," Emily raves. "And we wanted our wedding to be fun not just for us but for our guests."
 

Another perk to the venue was that catering and day-of-coordination were part of their package, which made communication easier for Emily and Travis. The remaining vendors they needed were found through wedding planning sites or other online searches. Their officiant was able to include something that the couple won't forget, too. She had them fill out forms about what they enjoyed about each other and what they looked forward to in their shared future.  Emily gushes, "We didn’t hear each other’s answers until we were standing there at the altar. So it was really special."
 

The theme for Emily and Travis's wedding was appreciating the fullness of summer. They tried to include as much greenery as they could, which they highlighted with neutral tones and gold elements. A fun touch they added to the ceremony was including cornhole boards for their guest to enjoy when not burning up the dance floor!
 

 

What We Love

Emily's aunt handmade her wedding dress. "We went dress shopping and weren’t super impressed by any of the dresses I tried on. We liked bits and pieces of different ones," Emily shares. "So my aunt bought a dress pattern. I ordered three yards of lace that came all the way from Germany." After a few fittings with Emily—and her sister as a stand-in model due to travel distance—the dress was complete. We think she looks absolutely stunning in it! Her sister-in-law also did her hair and makeup to highlight her natural beauty.
 

 

Advice from the Couple

Emily and Travis advise, "Don’t stress about the details. Get the big picture, know what vibe you’re going for, and if the details aren’t 'just right,' who cares. No one will know but you. When the day comes, enjoy it." Also, check if your reception venue allows for additional time to be added as not having more time with their loved ones is one of Emily's regrets.
 

 

 

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