The Wedding Story of Lauren & Jared Sparkman

Photos ByChloe Luka Photography

Written By

Date

April 4, 2018

An Alluring Wedding at The Cyrus Place

Lauren and Jared met for the first time while working on an Indianapolis music festival, but they really connected shortly after that, during an unexpected encounter on a bus tour of a local neighborhood. “He asked if he could sit by me on the bus, and the rest is history!” Lauren says. “We were both there to support a mutual friend, who we now credit with bringing us together. This friend even gave the blessing during our wedding ceremony.”

The Proposal

Jared’s proposal began with an impromptu request for an evening stroll with Lauren that led her to a downtown spot that was very special to them—the Indianapolis Repertory Theatre. “It wasn’t a huge spectacle,” Lauren fondly recalls. “It was a perfect, private moment under the bright, white lights of the theatre’s marquee.” Another special touch? Jared had arranged for a photographer to secretly take photos from across the street.

The Planning

'Understated,' 'magical' and 'excellent' were the three words Lauren and Jared knew they wanted their wedding to embody. “We knew we wanted it to be an authentic reflection of who we are as individuals and as a couple,” says Lauren. “Nothing too flashy, but definitely whimsical and well-produced.” Since Jared is a producer and Lauren works in events, they were able to plan everything themselves with the help of key resources and an amazing coordinator. In the end, the couple knew they wanted to stick to their clear vision for what they wanted—an intimate ceremony and incredible, live music. Lauren says, “That was the most important thing for us.”

The Dress

Lauren had her heart set on a Hayley Paige gown and was thrilled to learn Marie Gabriel Couture Bridal had an upcoming trunk show for the line. Although she was swept away in the magic of the collection, trying on Cinderella-like dresses, she quickly decided a sequined-covered silhouette dress of her dreams was “the one.”

The Venue

Lauren says, “We started our venue search by looking for empty rooms and warehouses and unique, non-traditional wedding spaces. We were really looking for an understated venue that could be a blank canvas for us.” The couple fell in love with the gorgeous, historic church that is The Cyrus Place. They especially loved its unique details, that it was in the heart of their city and not far from where they met and now live. “It was better than the blank canvas we set out to find,” Lauren says. “It was a beautiful backdrop.”

The Colors

“I knew I wanted a neutral palette over a specific color,” says Lauren. “The venue was too beautiful to add much more, and I truly love taupe—as boring as that makes me sound! Our wedding planner worked a lot of soft, taupe drapery into the intimate ceremony space, along with candelabras and, of course, the stained glass windows. He also knew where to add some appropriate color pops with the blue and burgundy hydrangeas.”

The Florals

Ivory and taupe roses with late summer greenery made up the bride’s bouquet, while the bridesmaids carried a similar style bouquet with blue hydrangeas, taupe and blush roses, burgundy dahlias and amaranthus, finished with late summer greenery.

Special Touches

This wedding was full of unique touches, including special musical contributions from friends—one of whom was American singer-songwriter, Jon McLaughlin. “Two good friends played the music at our ceremony and reception,” says Lauren. “We had an extra special acoustic performance by three of our friends (it happened later in the night), and everyone made a big circle around them and sang along. And my four-year-old nephew stole the show by singing ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight' from the Lion King at the reception. He was amazing and so brave!” Before the wedding, the couple also commissioned a local artist to create a drawing of the beautiful venue. “Then my husband designed all of the invitations, programs, table numbers, etc. himself,” says Lauren. A video booth for guests to record messages for the couple was a big hit, while food stations impressed, featuring a quinoa bar and sliders.

Advice from the Bride

Lauren says, “My advice is to be particular about the things that are a reflection of who you are —your values and passions—and don’t stress about the rest. Hand it off to the experts!”