The Wedding Story of Lauren and Kraig Sanders

Lauren and Kraig have known each other for many years. “We originally met during Kraig's glory days as a Ball State student,” explains Lauren. “It wasn't until fall of 2012 that we reconnected. I was dressed in 80's gear and headed to a fundraising event with a dear friend. We made a quick stop at a friend's of hers before heading to the event. Kraig happened to be there, and we reconnected. From then on, we ran into one another around town, and each time we would talk a little longer. Kraig finally asked me on a first date to Flatwater, and the rest is history!”

Every year, the couple has a date night that includes "Christmas at the Zoo" and dinner downtown. December 16th, 2016 was a day they will never forget because their annual date was followed by an unexpected surprise! That night, Kraig asked for Lauren’s hand in marriage on the steps of Monument Circle.

Turning to friends who were great resources for planning, the couple started their venue search and found the Barn at Bay Horse Inn after several months of looking. “When we saw their outdoor space and the open flow of the venue, we knew it was the one!” says Lauren.

“Pinterest is where I began with my vision and saving items that seemed to feel like us," says Lauren. From there, I created the vision for our wedding day. After that came research—lots and lots of research. I spent a lot of time really looking into vendors, their services, reviews and pictures of their work. Looking back, that was the best use of my time. I could not have asked for a better team of vendors! Their work and guidance were such an inspiration for our wedding day.”

 

Although the couple knew they wanted their wedding to be laid back, comfortable, easy going and romantic, they found that the free flowing feel was not an easy one to create. “When we visited The Barn at Bay Horse Inn, we knew we could transform their beautiful space into something wonderful!" says Lauren. 

Lauren found her gorgeous David Tutera dress at Leena’s Bridal in Carmel, Indiana. Lauren says, “It was a large lace design overlay with mocha underneath. I love my dress, and the whole experience was everything a girl could dream of!”

Some of Lauren’s favorite touches included the handmade sign at the entrance to the aisle that was made by a dear friend, decorative crates made by Kraig’s dad, her first looks, officiant, day of coordinator and readers. “Without a doubt, my very favorite moment that will always come to mind when I think of our wedding day was our handwritten vows,” says Lauren. "Writing our own vows is something I will always be grateful we decided to do!”

With the help of the couple’s day-of coordinator, they created several projects that helped bring their vision to life. “We had a large cloth backdrop made with our initials on it, and for that we built a large arch for it to hang from,” says Lauren. “A dear friend made the sign to our ceremony entrance, and my mother made the linen skirt for our stage. I can’t say I did a lot myself, but we did a lot together. It was a team and family effort for sure!”



 

Advice From the Bride

Lauren says, “Don’t stress! Planning a wedding is truly a lot of work. I don’t think I realized how much work before I started. The best thing we did was continue to keep the focus on what was most important, and for us, that was to have a fun stress-free day with those we love most. And remember that this one day is the start of our journey together as husband and wife.”

 

What we Love

Lauren says, “I believe I found WeddingDay in a Google search for wedding ideas and inspiration. I did utilize the website for just that! To find the style of flowers or photography, I used resources like WeddingDay Magazine to find inspiration for our vendor selection.”

 

 

 

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