Planning & Parties Blog
The Wedding Story of Ashley and Marc Veenstra
Carri Fras | January 31, 2018Ashley and Marc met their freshman year of college when Marc’s best friend happened to be Ashley’s next door neighbor. After Marc surprised Ashley by proposing to her over dinner and champagne at one of their favorite restaurants, the two began planning the wedding of their dreams.
Elegance, Charm and a Bit of Royalty: A Wedding Day Fit for a Princess
Carri Fras | January 31, 2018Many things can serve as inspiration for a wedding, and for Mary and Matthew Mergy, their wedding was brimming with extra special components and a formal, contemporary feel that would leave Mary feeling nothing short of a modern-day, real-life princess.
Drama Meets Romance: A Modern, Classic Wedding at the Empyrean
Carri Fras | January 25, 2018With the beautiful Empyrean event venue as our backdrop, rich with both luxurious and modern detailing, we knew our cover shoot was sure to inspire. Combining the experience of a vendor dream team led by Empyrean’s Chief Event Designer, Renee Miner, we combined several bridal looks that seamlessly married romance with a bit of drama. “The concept behind the shoot was driven by a combination of different styles and moods colliding into one rich and dramatic, almost theatrical design,” says Renee. “We have found our most successful ideas come from a team effort and this shoot was no exception. Our design team collaborated from concept to completion and created a stunning look that encompassed the exact style we were trying to achieve.”
The Wedding Story of Julia and Vincenzo Rulli
Carri Fras | January 24, 2018Graduating just one year apart, Julia and Vincenzo spent their elementary and high school years navigating the same hallways. It wasn’t until their sophomore year in college that they officially met. “Our story began on September 8, 2012 when Notre Dame’s football team was playing Purdue University in South Bend,” Julia recalls. “After attending the game, I celebrated the Irish victory with a bonfire at a friend’s house. As it turned out, Vinnie and I had mutual friends, and we were casually introduced at the bonfire. We hit it off immediately and became friends ourselves.” After a month or so of friendship, Julia agreed to be Vinnie’s date at his cousin’s annual Halloween party. Besides spending a lot of time together that weekend, Vinnie fixed the brakes on Julia’s car and even met Julia’s entire family at Sunday dinner. “That weekend, I got my first glimpse into the incredible person Vinnie is,” says Julia. “Our friendship grew stronger and continues to grow after four and a half years of dating—and now marriage!”
Beautiful Bohemian: A Southwest-Inspired Style Shoot
Carri Fras | January 23, 2018The gorgeous, outdoor setting of the historic Ambassador House in Fishers, Indiana was the perfect, natural location for this Southwestern, bohemian style shoot.
WeddingDay Exclusive Style Shoot: The Sanctuary on Penn
Carri Fras | January 22, 2018To bring The Sanctuary on Penn’s old-world motif to life, we turned to owner and executive planner Sarah Farthing of All in the Details. The classy, art-deco style she envisioned was a perfect fit for the venue’s beautifully rich and historic aesthetic. Sarah says, “Immediately upon entering the venue, I was struck with inspiration as how to best communicate the grandeur of the space and at the same time amplify its natural, historic beauty.”
The Art of Romance: A Cover Shoot at Gallery Forty-Two
Carri Fras | January 18, 2018This cover was all about romance and simplicity. But instead of the typical hues that exude romance like reds and pinks, our team of vendors wanted to show how the same look and feel could be achieved with light lavender and tons of greenery and florals. To bring nothing short of a wow factor to the shoot, we partnered with Magical Moments Event Planning to make our exciting dreams come to life. Another magical twist? A live artist on set to capture all the beauty and love!
The Wedding Story of Lia and Christopher Simeri
Carri Fras | January 17, 2018Lia and Christopher met in March 2010, when Lia started training at a new restaurant that was opening near her home where Christopher worked. “Our first conversation was in the tiny, little room in the kitchen where we had to roll silverware at the end of the night to get ready for the next day’s shift,” Lia says. “I’m pretty sure I stayed back there to help him roll all of the silverware, even though it was his responsibility.”
The Wedding Story of Jenny and Jake Golic
Carri Fras | January 17, 2018Jenny and Jake got engaged in the exact same spot they met—their ceramics classroom at Notre Dame. She explains, “I got switched into ceramics the night before by my advisor so it wouldn’t interfere with practice. I wasn’t thrilled about an 8 a.m. start time, but I guess it worked out!” When the two returned to campus for Jake’s sister’s graduation, Jake proposed in that very place. Jenny recalls, “It was awesome, and I was a blubbery mess!”
Desert Vibes for the Free-Spirited Bride
Carri Fras | January 16, 2018Ever since Chelsea of Chelsea Seekell Photography started shooting weddings eight years ago, she dreamt of planning her own style shoot. That dream fueled her hunt for the best locale while she collected treasured items along the way.