The Wedding Story of... Cara & Craig McMains

 

While Cara Reiter was finishing up her last year at Ball State University and Craig McMains was beginning his first year of medical school, at the Muncie campus of Indiana University School of Medicine, the two were introduced through mutual friends at a local restaurant.

 

“We actually met on my birthday,” Cara recalls. “We immediately bonded over all the things we had in common and soon started dating.”

 

 

 

 

As time went on and their relationship blossomed, Cara grew confident that Craig was “the one,” especially after meeting his parents and family. “It was so obvious that the McMains have strong family values that provide the foundation for their tightly knit family,” Cara says. “Their strong and consistent family values are very desirable to me because they lead to trust and commitment in each family member.”

 

 

 

 

 

In 2010, two and a half years after they met, the two enjoyed a romantic dinner in downtown Indianapolis, followed by a walk to the Monument Circle before attending Craig’s medical school gala event. After arriving at the circle, Craig asked a horse-carriage driver nearby if he would take some photos of the two in front of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument.

 

“While I was walking up the steps to the monument, Craig instructed the carriage driver how to operate his camera,” Cara remembers. 

 

After the driver took a photo, Craig asked for one more picture. Smiling and posing for the camera, Cara was caught off guard when she heard Craig say, “Cara!” She looked down to see Craig  on one knee, asking her to marry him. “The driver was snapping pictures the entire time and even a small crowd came and gathered to watch Craig’s proposal.” 

 

Cara of course said yes and found out later that evening that Craig’s grandfather had proposed to his grandmother in that exact same spot.

 

 

 

 

 

As planning began, Cara’s inspiration for her color palette came from a pair of Christian Louboutin turquoise glitter pumps, which were a gift from her mother.

 

“It was my something blue,” Cara says. “We then incorporated hints of turquoise throughout the wedding details, starting with the hand painted invitations and food station cards, and then with our cake and edible glitter bon bons.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before the evening ceremony took place at SS. Peter & Paul Cathedral, Cara and Craig decided to spend some private time together and took some photographs around downtown Indianapolis.  “Seeing each other before the ceremony,” Cara says, “was the best decision we made in planning our wedding. It gave us the opportunity to kiss, hug and talk to each other, something we wouldn’t have been able to do if we waited to see each other until the ceremony.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following the ceremony, the newlyweds and their 120 guests made their way to the Evan Laurie Gallery in Carmel, Indiana, for an eclectic and fun celebration.

 

“Since our reception was in an art gallery, we weren’t shy about using a lot of color,” Cara says. “We wanted our color palette to complement the existing art and sculptures in the gallery.”

 

Various sized tables were dressed with peacock inspired colors adding brilliant pop and style to the evening. “Teal, aqua, deep blue for the guest tables filled the gallery with color and excitement,” says Cara.

 

Sparkling beaded chandeliers with aqua tear drop crystals hung with cascading lime green cymbidium orchid blossoms over the dance floor.

 

The couples menu featured heavy hors d’oeuvres and a dessert station of whimsical creations such as cotton candy, an assortment of disney waffles, a cereal bar, turquoise glitter bon bons, and amaretti bridal cookies, made by Cara’s mother.