The Wedding Story of... Tammy & Brian Hartley

A year and a half into their relationship, Brian popped the question. “Brian and I had dinner reservations and as we were walking to his car, he handed me an envelope and said, ‘Someone told me I was supposed to give this to you.’” When Tammy opened the envelope, she saw a picture of their cat and dog sitting together with the words “Mommy, please say yes so we can be a real family.” “I was in shock!” Tammy says.  “All I remember is Brian saying some really nice things and at the end asking me to marry him, and I said yes!”   

 

 

 

 

 

As planning began, the couple decided for a summer wedding, with a bright, bold purple and silver jewel tone color palette. 

 

The two wed on August 14, 2010, which turned out to be one of the hottest days that summer. “We knew it was going to be a hot day regardless,” Tammy says.  “Brian and I made an old fashioned lemonade stand to add to the feel of the wedding, and everyone raved about it!” Fresh lemonade and ornate wooden fans kept guests cool during Tammy and Brian’s outdoor ceremony. “Luckily, the ceremony was short and there was some shade from the trees, but it was still pretty warm!” Tammy adds.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the ceremony at the Indianapolis Museum of Art Formal Gardens, guests moved into the IMA’S Deer Zink Pavilion for dinner and dancing. Décor included a mix of high and low centerpieces featuring deep hot pink sorbonne lilies, green bells of ireland, green hydrangeas, purple larkspur, dahlias, lisianthus and roses, mixed with peacock feathers atop silver linens.

 

The couple seized every chance to customize their wedding. For a twist on the traditional escort cards, Tammy and Brian named each table after a fun fact about themselves. Tammy says, “...we thought it would be fun if our guests could learn some fun facts about us! Examples included where we went to college, the name of Brian’s swim team, where we first met and the name of our cat and dog. Everyone seemed to really enjoy it, several guests even walked from table to table just to read more about us.” 

 

In memory of Brian’s late mother, the couple choose to forego the traditional wedding favor and opted to make a donation to the local Breast Cancer Group “Saving Second Base.” Brian’s mom’s memory was also alive as the couple used the same pen his parents used for their guests to sign in at their wedding reception.