A Sophisticated, Outdoor Indianapolis Wedding: The Wedding of Kara and Mike Bauer

Sometimes, being a little clumsy in love can pay off! Kara and Mike met one summer in college while hanging out with mutual friends, which led them to meet up at the same bar. Kara says, “Mike spilled a red drink all over my white shorts, which sparked a conversation. The rest is history.”

 

Engagement can be the best Christmas present a girl could ask for. It was in the case of this couple, too! Kara and Mike had been living long-distance between Indianapolis and Baltimore before Mike came to visit her for Christmas. Kara remembers, “On Christmas Eve, I took him to my favorite restaurant in the city. We hadn’t seen each other in several months, so it was really special just to have him there. After we had finished eating, Mike stepped away to go to the restroom. Shortly after, our waiter came into the room and announced that there was something special going on. Mike appeared, got down on one knee, and proposed in front of the whole restaurant.” This memory couldn’t have been sweeter! 

 

Kara says that she wanted to find a classic yet stylish dress she could look back on and still admire, while also finding one with straps. “None of this pulling up my dress all night was going to work for me!” she jokes. “I went to  shops and tried on many gowns before finally putting on my dress—as soon as I put it on, there was no going back! After putting on that dress, no other dress could compare.” We love the intricate details this dress has. Kara is rocking those straps!

 

This couple took their time during their engagement process, not wanting to rush it or stress themselves out. They picked the location—Indianapolis—based on where their mutual families lived and turned to Pinterest to start planning! 

Kara says, “We were both in agreement early on that our number one goal was creating a fun, enjoyable atmosphere where we could celebrate with the people closest to us. We knew that we wanted something fairly casual with an outdoor aspect. Creating a day that reflected who we were as a couple was also really important!”

 

Kara and Mike knew they wanted an outdoor ceremony with a close reception, and Mustard Seed Gardens provided the perfect venue for both. Kara says, “We also loved the rustic yet sophisticated vibe of the venue. It has a simple, unique, elegance that lends itself to beauty regardless of the decor chosen. We also loved the team there, who made us feel like making our day perfect was their number one goal from day one.”

 

 

What we love

Kara admits one of the best parts of getting married was coming home to Indiana. She says, “Mike and I both grew up and went to college in Indiana, but then moved away for six years before our wedding. Being back with the people and places we had built so many early positive memories with was so special.” You can take the couple out of the Midwest, but you can’t take the Midwest out of the couple!

Mike also surprised Kara in a few ways during the celebration. “He and one of his groomsmen performed a choreographed serenade and dance for me to kick off the evening. Later in the night, he and his groomsmen put on inflatable dinosaur costumes—mainly representative of a poem we read during our ceremony (‘The Lovely Dinosaur’), but also because Mike loves to make people laugh and be silly.” We love a groom that can make his bride laugh!

 

 

Advice from the couple

Kara advises future couples to take their time and not rush the wedding process. She says, “Don’t be afraid to let the day reflect you and your spouse—there are no rules, so make the day what you want of it. Think about what is most important to you for that day— direct your funds and time towards making that stand out.”

 

 

 

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