Generations Riviera Maya Wedding

Ryan and Naomi’s Generations Riviera Maya was nothing short of incredible! The day, the resort, the couple, and all of the guests were absolutely perfect. This sweet couple chose to have a beach wedding right on the resort beach on the Generations side of the resort. The resort is actually three resorts connected. Couples can choose to get married at El Dorado Royale, Casitas, or Generations. Ryan and Naomi chose to get married at the Generations side, because it’s the family friendly section of the resort. This allowed them to include their two sweet daughters in the wedding, and it also allowed their guests to bring children to the wedding as well.

I love how Naomi and Ryan chose to mix both formal and casual elements into their wedding. For example, Naomi wore a beautiful ballgown wedding dress and Ryan wore a suit with a jacket, but they chose not to wear shoes since the entire wedding day took place in the sand. I just love that they took advantage of all of the fun elements that come along with a beach wedding.

I loved both their ceremony and reception set ups with beautiful pink and white flowers on the arch at the ceremony and gold pineapples filled with tropical florals for the reception centerpieces. And it was so fun that the reception tables were set up under twinkling lights right next to the ocean. How romantic! But my absolute favorite thing about Ryan and Naomi’s wedding day was how much their love for each other and their two daughters was so evident throughout the day. At the end of the day, that’s what matters, and that’s what it’s all about.

Naomi and Ryan, you two are awesome, and I LOVED getting to be your wedding photographer for your beautiful destination wedding! Enjoy these sneak peaks while I finish editing your full wedding gallery!

A HUGE thank you to Ryan an Naomi’s amazing vendor team:

Cancun Wedding Photographer: Michelle Rakotomalala, Rakoteet Photographer

Venue/Resort: Generations Riviera Maya

Florist: Generations Riviera Maya

MC: Ben Elder

Hair and Makeup: Generations Resort Spa

Catering: Generatons Riviera Maya

Bridal Gown: La Reve Bridal

Bridesmaid Dresses: Etsy

Men’s Attire: Indochino

Save the Date’s, Invitations, and Programs: Vista Print

Officiant: Kieth Freeman

Best of Getting Ready Photos 2019

I’m so excited to continue on with my blog post series, “Best of Weddings 2019.” I’ve already covered Best of Engagement Sessions and Best of Bridal Detail Photos. Today’s blog post covers Best of Getting Ready Photos 2019. I’m showing off some of my favorite photos from that last couple minutes of hair and makeup, the bride and bridesmaids in their robes having fun together, the mother of the bride and the bridesmaids helping the bride into her dress, and the groom putting on his suit.

The getting ready portion of a wedding day, while some say can be one of the least exciting times of the day, I find to be an extremely special and sentimental time. It’s the calm before the storm. The bride and groom are just relaxing and hanging out their their best friends, talking about how excited they are that they are about to marry the love of their life. It’s often such an emotional time for the mothers as the mother of the bride helps her daughter into her wedding gown and as the mother of the groom helps to put on her son’s boutonniere. I absolutely love this portion of a wedding day.

One of my favorite weddings this year was Amanda and Alex’s destination wedding in Puerto Vallarta. Their getting ready photos are ridiculously epic, taking place on the balcony of their private villa with mountains to one side and the ocean on the other side. It will be hard to ever top those photos, but I have a ton more that I really loved from 2019 as well. I hope you enjoy some of my favorite getting ready photos from last year, and make sure to stay tuned for the rest of the series!

Are you looking for a wedding photographer? Contact me here to chat about your special day!

Best of Bridal Detail Photos 2019

In my last blog post, I got to show off my favorite engagement photos of 2019. At the beginning of every year, I always love to go back through all of my weddings and sessions and show off some of my favorite couples from throughout the last year. My brides and grooms are so amazing and have such inspirational weddings. I’m such a lucky photographer. In 2019, I was fortunate enough to photograph over 40 weddings. Because of that, I need to break my “Best of Weddings 2019” blog post up into a series of blog posts, each showing off a different part of the wedding day. I’m starting with the first thing I photograph on a wedding day, bridal detail photos.

Although I call this portion of the wedding day photography “bridal detail photos,” it actually includes both the bride’s details and the groom’s details. These photos generally include the rings, the invitation suite, the shoes, the flowers, the dress hanging, perfume bottles, the tie, cufflinks, etc. I love when my couples bring extra details for these photos such as a custom Mrs. Box or a personalized dress hanger.

I hope you enjoy looking through some of my favorite bride and groom detail photos below! Coming up in the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing the rest of this “Best of Weddings 2019” series including Best of Getting Ready Photos, Best of First Looks, Best of Bride and Groom Photos, Best of Bridal Party Photos, Best of Ceremonies, Best of Reception Detail Photos, and Best of Receptions. There is so much yet to come! I also can’t wait to tell you a little bit more about all of my amazing weddings and brides and grooms that I was blessed to serve last year as the series progresses. In the mean time, enjoy!

Iron and Ember Open House

I was so excited to finally get the chance to explore Iron and Ember, the brand new sister venue to Mustardseed Gardens. Ever since Iron and Ember opened a few months ago, I’ve been seeing so many beautiful photos of it online. From the photos alone, I knew it would be the type of venue that I absolutely love, because the white walls and ceilings and light stone accents work so well with my light and airy style of photography. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled when Colleen, one of the venue managers asked me to photograph this styled shoot that they set up before one of their open house last night. Colleen is actually one of my brides. She’s getting married next month in Charleston, so I always love getting the chance to work with her. The staff at Iron and Ember fully set up the venue as if it was a really wedding day, complete with stunning florals from Violets are Blue. I loved getting to see what the venue looks like all set up.

I already know that Iron and Ember is going to become such a popular wedding venue choice for couples. They already have a lot of weddings booked for 2020 even though they just opened! The venue has so many cool and unique features like their floor to ceiling fire place that helps to give the venue such a classic look and their second story balcony that allows for more tables and chairs as well as a spot for photographers to shoot a really cool angle of the reception below. The venue is located on a golf course, which allows for amazing portrait locations for the bride and groom, bridal party, and family photos on the wedding day. Plus, Iron and Ember has such a perfect location right in the heart of Carmel, Indiana.

I’ve had so many people asking me about Iron and Ember already, and after finally getting to photograph this venue myself, I can definitely say that I recomend this venue to any brides and grooms looking for the perfect wedding venue! Check out my photos below to see how the venue looks when it’s fully set up for a wedding reception on a wedding day!

Destination Wedding at Sandals Ochi Jamaica

When Sharon and Andrew first got engaged over a year ago, they tried to start planning a local wedding close to where they live in Philly. But as Sharon started researching more and more, she discovered that destination weddings were a thing. And the more she and Andrew learned about destination weddings, they became convinced that a destination wedding was the perfect choice for them! They chose such a beautiful resort, the Sandals Ochi in Ocho Rios Jamaica. Let me tell you, Jamaica is such a beautiful place to get to photograph a wedding, How lucky am I that I get to be a destination wedding photographer? It’s the best job on the entire planet.

Sharon and Andrew decided against having a bridal party, which made their day so much less stressful. They got to spend so much time just the two of them, and they had a blast getting ready with and spending the day with their families. We had a few hiccups throughout the day (like a fire alarm separating the bride and groom for almost an hour!) but it still ending up being such a perfect, joy-filled day! I loved that these two just rolled with the punches and didn’t let anything bring them down on the most magical day of their lives. That’s the perfect attitude to have, especially as a destination wedding bride and groom.

Even though Sharon and Andrew’s wedding was all the way in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, they still had 60 wedding guests fly in to see them commit their lives to one another. When Andrew got up to give a speech at the reception, he commented how much it meant to them that he and Sharon had such strong bonds, friendships, and family ties, that 60 people would fly to the Caribbean for them. It was truly such a special night for the bride and groom, celebrating with the people closest to them.

Today, I get to photograph Sharon and Andrew and their wedding guests AGAIN as we set sail on a dinner cruise! I can’t wait!

Sharon and Andrew, you two are so incredible, and it was such an honor to be your wedding photographer! Enjoy these sneak peaks while I finish editing the rest of your wedding gallery!

Cancun Destination Wedding at the Secrets Playa Mujeres

Wow wow wow! That’s all I can say about Scott and Marianna’s STUNNING destination wedding in Cancun at the Secrets Playa Mujeres. From the weather, to the beautiful location, to the gorgeous flowers, to the amazing people, everything about Scott and Marianna’s wedding day was perfect. These two were so sweet, laid back and full of JOY to be getting married in front of 70 of their closest friends and family who had traveled all the way to Mexico to watch them commit their lives to each other.

Marianna and Scott opted for a first look, as most of my brides and grooms tend to do. Their reasoning for wanting a first look was a little different than most, though. These two love each other so much and were SO emotional and excited to get married to each other that they new they would both be a mess of tears if they waited to see each other until they walked down the aisle. They wanted to get as much of the crying out of the way before the ceremony as possible. I LOVED their sweet reactions and tears to seeing each other for the first time. They both mentioned that they were so glad they did a first look in order to calm their nerves before the ceremony. They got to have that intimate moment with just the two of them before standing up in front of all of their family and friends. But when Marianna walked down the aisle during the ceremony, they both still had such sweet reactions and teared up. These two were just the cutest and I love their love.

At their wedding reception, Scott and Marianna had their first dance to a song called Easy Love by Tom Misch. Before they danced, Scott got up and gave a speech about what the song meant to them. They found the song when they had been dating for about two years. They were in love but Scott hadn’t started thinking about marriage yet. He got a call one day that Marianna had been in a car accident. He rushed to the hospital, worried about her. She ended up being totally fine, but Scott said from that day on all he cared about was that Marianna was okay, physically, emotionally, and in every way. That’s when he knew she was the woman he was going to marry. I mean, have you ever heard a sweeter story?!

Marianna and Scott, you two are THE best! Your wedding day was as incredible and beautiful as you two are, and I cannot wait to finish editing your full wedding gallery. In the mean time, enjoy these sneak peaks while you wait!

A HUGE thank you to Scott and Marianna’s amazing vendor team:

Cancun Wedding Photographer: Michelle Rakotomalala, Rakoteet Photography

Wedding Planner: Jewell Event Design

Travel Agent: Roxanna with RNR Vacations

Bridal Gown: Pronovias

Officiant: Joe Copper - friend of the couple

Hair and Makeup: Tania Tagle Makeup & Hair

Venue: The Secrets Playa Mujeres

Florist: Secrets Playa Mujeres

Catering: Secrets Playa Mujeres

Cake: Secrets Playa Mujeres

November Wedding at Balmoral House

It was such a beautiful day for my first wedding of November over at the Balmoral House in Fishers! Kyleigh and Demos’s wedding day could not have been more perfect! It made my heart so happy when I pulled up through the winding driveway of this beautiful venue and saw that they still had so many bright red trees and pretty leaves all over the ground. Kyleigh and Demo LOVE fall, so I knew they would be so happy about all of the fall colors in the background of their portraits.

The temperature was a little bit too chilly to hold the wedding ceremony outside, so Kyleigh and Demos decided to set up their ceremony arch inside the building, which is such as beautiful! I love the huge windows and high ceilings! Plus the white brick fireplace just makes it feel so homey and intimate.

My favorite thing about Demos and Kyleigh’s wedding was just how obvious it was that these two are incredibly in love. I’m not sure if I’ve ever met a couple as excited as them to be getting married - and that is saying a lot! Their personal vows to each other were so sweet and touching, and I love the way they just had fun together all night after the ceremony.

Kyleigh and Demos, you two are so fun and sweet! It was SUCH an honor to be your wedding photographer! I cannot wait to send you your full wedding gallery soon! In the mean time, enjoy these sneak peaks from throughout your wedding day!

A huge thank you to Demos and Kyleigh’s vendor team:

Fishers Wedding Photographer: Rakoteet Photography

Wedding Venue: Balmoral House

Desserts: Jack’s Donuts

DJ: DJ Rock My World

Catering: Jonathan Byrd's Catering

Bridal Gown: Lulus

Bridesmaid Dresses: David's Bridal

Rings: Shane Co.

Men’s Attire: Macy's

Save the Dates and Invitations: Shutterfly

Favors and Gifts: Oriental Trading Co. for the bags & Jack's Donuts for the donut holes

Anderson, Indiana Barn Wedding

Ashlie and Josh were married at a beautiful barn property in Anderson, Indiana on the most popular wedding date of 2019! October is always such a popular time of year to get married, especially here in Indiana where the autumn weather is so perfect and the leaves on the trees turn such beautiful colors. I love that Ashlie and Josh totally understood that in order to plan the perfect October wedding in Indiana, they needed to start super far in advance. So they actually booked their wedding and all of their vendors TWO YEARS in advance. They were my first wedding booked for 2019, and we took their engagement photos over one and a half years ago. It was so crazy to look back on their engagement photos as I was preparing for their wedding day photography.

It always means so much to me when fellow photographers trust me enough to hire me for their own wedding days. Lately more and more photographers and fellow wedding vendors have been booking me for their own weddings, and to me, that is one of the hugest honors and compliments!

Ashlie and Josh are such a sweet couple and were so fun to photograph and work with. It’s always extra special when I get to photograph weddings that are as emotional as Ashlie and Josh’s wedding day was. I love that they both teared up as Ashlie was walking down the aisle towards her groom with both of her parents by her side. It even made me a little teary eyed.

Ashlie and Josh, it was SUCH an honor to be your wedding photographer! Enjoy these first few sneak peaks while I finish editing your full wedding gallery!

Ashlie and Josh’s Wedding Vendor Team:

Anderson, Indiana Wedding Photographer: Michelle Rakotomalala, Rakoteet Photography

Location: Anderson, Indiana

Wedding Florist: George Thomas Florals

Cake and other desserts: Laura Blackford

DJ: IndyRoxEntertainment

Hair and Makeup: Moriah Justin Artistry

Catering: Sahms Catering

Bridal Gown: David's Bridal

Men’s Attire: Men's Warehouse

Stationary: Shutterfly

Mavris Arts Center Indianapolis Wedding

Megan and Kyle’s Mavris Arts and Events Center Wedding on Friday was an absolute dream! It was such a perfect day! Their wedding ran so smoothly and was so much fun AND the weather could not have been better. These past few weeks have been so perfect in terms of the temperature. Plus the beautiful leaves turning colors on the trees has been a perfect photo backdrop for this wedding photographer!

One of my favorite parts of any wedding day is the speeches. No matter how much I get to know my couples before their wedding day, I always seem to learn the most fun things about them while their friends and family and the people closest to them get up to speak about them during the reception. I especially loved hearing what Megan’s best friend had to say about the way Megan and Kyle met and how they got to know each other. They moved in together randomly after college. I bet neither of them thought they would meet their future spouse that way! They got to know each other first as friends, becoming best friends before they started dating. Everyone loved to say that they are marrying their best friend, but I feel like for these two it’s a little extra true!

Megan and Kyle, you two are so great! It was SUCH an honor to be your wedding photographer! Enjoy these sneak peaks while I finish editing your full wedding gallery!

A huge thank you to Megan and Kyle’s amazing vendor team:

Indianapolis Wedding Photographer: Michelle Rakotomalala, Rakoteet Photography

Wedding Venue: Mavris Arts and Events Center

Florist: Violets are Blue

Cake and other Desserts: Heavenly Sweets

DJ: Circle City Sound

Hair: Sarah Smith

Makeup: Hello Gorgeous

Catering: Mavris Art and Events Center

Bridal Gown: The Wedding Studio

Bridesmaid Dresses: Revelry

Bride’s Shoes: Von Maurer

Jewerly/Rings: Shane Co

Men’s Attire: Jos A Banks

Transportation/Limo: Antique Limos

Stationary: Minted

Favors/Gifts: Carmel Apples from Tuttle Orchards

1899 Wedding Photos Indianapolis

If you follow my blog or any of my my social media accounts, then you know that ceremony and reception details, especially the beautiful flowers, are one of my absolute favorite parts of photographing a wedding day. So when Denese from over at Blooms Custom Floral Design asked me to come photograph her stunning floral work for a wedding she designed for at 1899 Wedding Venue in Indianapolis, I was super excited! Getting to just photograph the beautiful venue and gorgeous flowers? How cool! Of course, I’d always rather photograph an entire wedding day, but I was so happy that I was able to squeeze photographing these wedding details into my full day of shooting on Sunday including a sunrise engagement session and a sunset engagement session.

Denese’s floral work through her wedding floral business, Blooms Custom Floral Design always amazes me. I absolutely LOVE following her. I photographed her wedding work in the spring as well at the beautiful Black Iris Estate. And I love getting to see how brides and grooms react to her stunning floral arrangements and set ups. Her clients are always amazed that the flowers match their vision for their wedding day perfectly.

This wedding at 1899 was amazing. First of all, I love all of the natural light in the venue. It makes photographing the reception details a wedding photographer’s dream. All of the unique floral centerpieces were so cool! The white and greenery theme was classic and timeless. And the moon gate floral backdrop for the ceremony was so stunning it left me speechless. Denese is amazing at what she does, and I can’t wait to work with her for many more weddings in the future!

Vendor Credits:

Indianapolis Wedding Photographer: Rakoteet Photography

Indianapolis Wedding Venue: 1899

Florist: Blooms! Custom Floral Design

Wedding Planner: Magical Moments Event Planning

Downtown Indianapolis Wedding at Cyrus Place

Jillian and Dalton’s downtown Indianapolis Wedding at the Cyrus Place last night was a dream! This wedding meant so much to me, because I’ve known Jillian and Dalton for a few years now. We first bonded over both being wedding photographers. And I first took Dalton and Jillian’s couples photos over 2 and a half years ago! I still can’t believe it’s been that long since our first session. Since then, Jillian has become the venue manager for the Cyrus Place. I’m sure that she’s seen, photographed, and helped plan hundreds of weddings by now. And it was finally her turn to be the one getting married. It always means so much to me when fellow wedding vendors, especially wedding photographers, chose to hire me for their own wedding day. Because out of every photographer that they’ve worked with throughout the years, they chose me! That is honestly the biggest compliment and the highest honor that I could ask for as a wedding photographer!

Of course, Jillian and Dalton’s wedding day went as smoothly as I knew it would. After all, these two had a TON of wedding experience before even beginning to plan their own wedding. What I think I loved the most about their wedding is the priorities that they chose and the way they decided to spend their time on their wedding day. Jillian and Dalton had a little bit of a longer engagement. They took the time to think about what they really wanted for their wedding before they started to plan. They decided to have just one bridesmaid and one groomsman, which helped their day go so much smoother. But at the same time, Jillian had all of her closest girl friends come help her get ready in the morning. She really got the best of both worlds because she still got to spend tons of time with her closest friends on her wedding day, and of course, we made sure she got photos with all of her girls. I also loved that Jillian and Dalton made so much time for bride and groom portraits. We spent over an hour just taking bride and groom photos both right after their first look and during the reception when it was a little closer to golden hour. Downtown Indianapolis has so many beautiful locations for wedding day portraits. We took most of the photos at Lockerbie Square, which is located right in between the Cyrus Place and the ceremony venue, St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

The other thing I really loved about Jillian and Dalton’s wedding day was that they chose to eat their dinner in a private room, so they could just have 30 minutes alone to themselves before spending the evening partying with their guests. I’ve never seen that done before, but I think it’s a great way to spend a little bit of alone time with your new spouse on your wedding day!

Okay, I could keep talking about this amazing couple forever, but you’re probably just ready to see their photos. Check out a few of my favorites from throughout their downtown Indianapolis wedding day below!

Jillian and Dalton, you two are incredible, and it was SUCH an honor to be your wedding photographer! Enjoy these sneak peaks while I finish editing your full wedding gallery!

A huge thank you to Jillian and Dalton’s amazing vendor team:

Indianapolis Wedding Photographer: Michelle Rakotomalala from Rakoteet Photography

Reception Venue: The Cyrus Place in Downtown Indianapolis

Ceremony Venue: St. Mary’s Catholic Church in downtown Indianapolis

Florist: Lilly Jane

Cake and Other Desserts: Sweeties Gourmet Treats

DJ: DJ Rakobeat (my amazing hubby)

Hair: Everything Beautiful Beauty Salon

Makeup: Makeup by Jenna Marie

Catering: Heavenly Helpings

Bridal Gown: Bride’s for a Cause

Bridal Veil: Zelie Veils

Bride’s Shoes: Shoe Dazzle

Men’s Attire: Men’s Warehouse

Wedding Stationary: Zola

Officiant: Deacon James Horton

Ceremony Musicians: DEOC Ensemble

Ritz Charles Garden Pavilion Wedding

Ellen and Rob’s Ritz Charles Garden Pavillion wedding was one I had been looking forward to ever since these two love birds first reached out to me a year and a half ago. I knew immediately that we would be the perfect fit to work together, and it was so fun getting to know them at their engagement session and over the course of their engagement this past year. But I always get to know my couples the best on their actual wedding day. I love getting to see them interacting with their closest friends and family and with each other on the happiest day of their lives.

One of the first things I could tell about Ellen and Rob was how much fun they have together! And with 18 members in their bridal party and 170 guests at their wedding, it was evident just how loved these two are by so so many people. But something really hit me emotionally during Ellen and Rob’s wedding ceremony and reception yesterday. Every time Rob would look at Ellen, I got chills, because I could truly tell how much he loved her just by seeing the way he looked at her throughout the day. After photographing over 100 weddings, you would think they would become somewhat routine for me, but that’s not the case at all. I started tearing up during their first dance, because I realized just how perfect they are for each other. And it was so fun to hear the same sentiments from their best friends during the speeches.

Rob and Ellen, you two are both such incredible people, and it was SUCH an honor to be your wedding photographer! I hope you enjoy these sneak peaks as I finish editing your full wedding gallery. I can’t wait to send you the rest of your wedding photos SO soon! In the mean time, have such an amazing time on your honeymoon!

A HUGE thank you to Ellen and Rob’s amazing and talented vendor team:

Indianapolis Wedding Photographers: Rakoteet Photography

Wedding Florist: Homegrown Florist

Wedding Ceremony Venue: St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church

Wedding Cocktail Hour and Reception Venue: The Ritz Charles Garden Pavilion

Wedding Cake and desserts: The Ritz Charles

Dj, host, and MC: Jim Cerone

Hair and Makeup: Sara Cross

Catering: The Ritz Charles

Bridal Gown: Hayley Paige

Bridesmaid Dresses: David's Bridal

Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Engagement Ring: Diamond's Direct

Men Band: David's Jeweler

Bride Band: Perry's Jeweler

Men’s Attire: Men's Warehouse

Transportation: Indianapolis Trolley

Stationary: Minted (save the dates) & Zola

Videography: Freehand Film

Officient: Cara Spaccarelli (Reverend)

Favors/Gifts: Coozies (Etsy)

Aloft South Bend Wedding | Hannah and Bryson

Hannah and Bryson’s wedding last night at Aloft South Bend was so beautiful! Hannah and Bryson met through their campus church at my alma mater, Ball State. I LOVE that they put such a huge emphasis on their faith being the core of their relationship. And because of that, they wanted it to be at the center of their wedding day as well. I’ve said it so many times, and I will continue to say it. Your wedding day should be about YOU and your relationship, and everything about your wedding should be about who the two of you are as a couple! Hannah and Bryson’s wedding day was totally THEM, and that was my favorite thing about their beautiful wedding day!

Hannah and Bryson chose not to see each other before the ceremony, which is something that is becoming pretty rare nowadys. But they did share a sweet prayer before the ceremony without seeing each other, which was such a special moment. We took all of the portraits at the church after the ceremony. The church had some really cool architecture, which was the main reason Hannah and Bryson chose to get married there. After portraits, we headed to the reception at Aloft South Bend. The reception was on the 6th floor of the building, and it had a really cool view of South Bend along the full wall of windows! The reception was full of so many special moments as well, and I loved celebrating with such a sweet couple!

Hannah and Bryson, you two are SUCH an amazing couple, and I LOVED working with you! I’m praying for you as your start your marriage. I hope you enjoy these sneak peaks. I can’t wait to send you your full wedding gallery super soon!

A huge thank you to Hannah and Bryson’s amazing wedding vendor team:

South Bend wedding photographers: Rakoteet Photography

Ceremony Venue: First United Methodist church of Mishawaka

Reception Venue: Aloft Hotels South Bend

Florist: Country Florist and Gifts

Cake and other desserts: Macri's Bakery

Reception DJ: Sound FX

Hair and Makeup: Salon 301

Catering: Aloft South Bend

Bridal Gown: Lace Bridal Couture

Alterations for Bridal Gown: A Fit of Perfection

Bridesmaid Dresses: Azazie

Groom and Groomsmen Attire: Louie's Tux Shop

Save the Dates, Ceremony Programs, Invitations, and name cards: Minted

Videography: World and Wind Films

Officient: Brandon Clemens, The Revoluation

Balmoral House Wedding

Erika and Austin has the most FUN Balmoral House wedding last night! It had been over a year since I had photographed a wedding at Balmoral House, so I was so excited to finally get back to a venue that I love. The last wedding I shot there was 98 degrees. Erika and Austin’s wedding day was so much nicer in terms of the weather and temperature! So much so that they were able to have their entire wedding outside. The only thing that happened inside was dinner.

When I arrived at the venue early to check out the lighting and walk around the venue, both Erika’s mom and Austin’s mom were working so hard setting up all of the dorcorations and making sure everything was perfect for the bride and the groom. These two both deserve a “Mom of the Year” award for making sure this wedding was everything Erika and Austin wanted.

Erika and Austin were the most calm and laid-back couple I’ve ever worked with! They were also just so so sweet. They were one of the kindest brides and grooms I’ve ever had. They really just wanted everyone else to have a good time and feel loved on their wedding day, and I absolutely loved that about these two.

Erika and Austin, you two are so amazing, and it was SUCH and honor to be your wedding photographer! Have so much fun on your honeymoon while I finish editing your wedding gallery. I hope you enjoy these sneak peaks!

A huge thank you to Erika and Austin’s amazing wedding vendor team:

Fishers wedding photographer: Rakoteet Photography

Wedding Venue: The Balmoral House

Cake and other desserts: Nothing Bundt Cakes

DJ: DJ Connection

Hair Styist: Hair by Brie

Catering: Johnathan Byrds

Bridal Gown: BHLDN

Bridesmaid dresses: Azazie

Men’s Attire: Men’s Attire

Decor: Tagged with Love

Westminister Hall Wedding in Winona Lake, Indiana

Emily and Ian’s wedding at Westminister Hall in Winona Lake, Indiana was the perfect ending to a perfect weekend full of so many amazing weddings. Everything about their wedding day yesterday was perfect, but nothing was better than the joy and love of the sweet bride and groom. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a couple more excited to be getting married.

One of my favorite parts of Emily and Ian’s day was their first look. There were a few tears shed out of their immense love for each other, and they decided to read their vows to each other privately during their first look. I LOVE that this traditional of private vows during the first look is becoming more and more popular. I find it to be such a special, emotional, and intimate part of the day. I always stand far enough away from the couple that I can’t hear them, and it really is just a special moment between the two of them before the whirlwind of the day begins.

Emily and Ian were one of the most laid back and joy filled couples I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. The moments they shared between the two of them and among their family and friends made for such a touching ceremony and reception.

Emily and Ian, it was SUCH an honor to be your wedding photographer! Enjoy these sneak peaks while I finish editing your full wedding gallery!

Emily and Ian’s Vendor Team:

Indiana Wedding Photographers: Rakoteet Photography

Venue: Westminister Hall at Grace College

Florist: DIY Florist - Your Flower Outlet

Cake: The Cake Lady

Catering: Sodexo, Grace College

Bridal Gown: Wendy’s Bridal

Bridesmaid Dresses: Vinibelle

Stationary: Vistaprint

Bridal Shoes: DSW

Engagement Ring: James Allen

Wedding Bands: Shane Co

Bridal and Bridesmaid Jewelry: Kohls

Men’s Attire: Photobooth: Kaylynn Hamstra Photobooth

Wedding Reception at BASH in Carmel, Indiana

Last night, Stacy and Eric had the most beautiful wedding reception at BASH in Carmel, Indiana. I photographed Stacy and Eric’s intimate wedding ceremony on Thursday at Avon Gardens, and last night was the night they got to celebrate with all of the friends and family by hosting the loveliest reception.

BASH is one of my favorite local venues in the Indianapolis area, although I know I’ve been saying that about so many venues lately. Bash is a brand new venue, and I love the modern feel of the space with its white walls, open floor plan, long farm tables, and Industrial chairs. It was the perfect setting for Stacy and Eric’s colorful color pallet and stunning wedding decor.

Stacy and her family set up the entire reception, and they did such an amazing job with the entire design and set up. I think my jaw dropped to the floor when I walked into the reception room last night and I saw all of the colorful, elegant table decorations. The long centerpieces filled with florals and candles provided just the right mood for the evening.

All of the events for the evening were so touching. Quite a few happy tears were shed. You could tangibly feel the all of the love in the room, between Stacy and Eric, between the families, and among all the friends who came to support the happy couple. And once the party started, these two let loose and had so much fun. It was such a magical evening.

Stacy and Eric, I was SO happy to be your wedding photographer and photograph both your sweet ceremony and your beautiful wedding reception. I can’t wait to finish editing your reception gallery and send you all of these photos!

Stacy and Eric’s Amazing Vendor Team:

Indiana Wedding Photographer: Rakoteet Photography

Wedding Reception Venue: BASH

Florist: Violets are Blue Floral Design

Food Trucks: Chompz Food Truck and The New York Slice Food Truck

Rentals: Violent Vintage Wedding Rentals

Cake: Carmel Classic Cakes

Fall Sycamore at Mallow Run Wedding

I can’t say enough good things about Allison and Matt’s fall wedding at the Sycamore at Mallow Run last night! Events by D. Nicole put together the most beautiful intimate wedding for the two love birds and their 45 closest friends and family. The day was really all about who these two are as a couple, and it was absolutely perfect! From the fun balloons to the fall themed desserts to the fireworks to end the night, everything was amazing. It was honestly one of my favorite weddings of all time!

Allison and Matt have one of the cutest love stories I’ve ever heard! It all started in 5th grade when Matt complimented Allison’s overalls as she was sharpening her pencil. From there, they became best friends and started walking to school together every day since they lived across the street from each other. Walking to school turning into driving to school as they got into high school, and when they were 16, Matt asked Allison to be his girlfriend. They stayed together through all the ups and downs of high school, college, and starting their careers in order to bring them to this beautiful day where they got to commit to continuing their live story forever. How cool is it that they each found the love of their life at just eleven years old?!

I don’t have enough space in this blog post to name all the amazing things about Allison and Matt’s wedding day, so I’ll just name a few of my favorites. I loved that Matt and Allison read their vows to each other privately during their first look. I even stood super far away and used my longest lens so that I wouldn’t intrude on that moment between the two of them. I think it was one of the most special and emotional parts of the day for them. I also loved when they kissed each other during the middle of the ceremony before they were supposed to because they just couldn’t help themselves. And of course, the entire reception was a blast!

Matt and Allison, it was such an honor to be your wedding photographer! I hope you enjoy these sneak peaks as I finish editing your full wedding gallery!

A HUGE thank you to Matt and Allison’s amazing vendor team:

Indiana Wedding Photographer: Rakoteet Photography

Wedding Planner: Events by D. Nicole

Venue: The Sycamore at Mallow Run

Florist: Createrella Florals

Caterer: City BBQ

Cupcakes: The Flying Cupcake

Makeup: Simply Blue

Hair: Briana Bromley

Bridal Gown: BLHDN

Shoes: BLHDN

Jewelry/Ring: Blue Nile

Groom’s Suit: Custom suit from Men's Warehouse

Invitations: Minted

Intimate Avon Gardens Wedding

Stacy and Eric’s intimate wedding at Avon gardens tonight was truly a dream! It was the absolute perfect start to my fall wedding season. The beautiful September weather could not have been better. I had never been to Avon Gardens before, but after shooting Stacy and Eric’s stunning wedding there I’m absolutely obsessed! There are 5 acres of amazing gardens that all make great spots for wedding photos throughout the day! It’s really a wedding photographer’s dream!

I love Stacy and Eric’s love for each other so much! They only had two wedding guests, so their wedding day was truly all about THEM! I love when couples aren’t afraid to break the mold of traditions so that they can have the wedding that THEY truly want. That was absolutely the case with these two love birds. They were SO adorable together the entire day. I could really feel their love for each other with all of the tears they shed during their sweet ceremony. It was so sweet how Eric could not stop gushing about how beautiful Stacy looked in her dress. My favorite thing was when he said “I hope we have a daughter, so she can wear this dress someday.” Cue the waterworks!

Today I photographed Stacy and Eric’s intimate ceremony and portraits at Avon Gardens, and I’ll get to photograph their reception with all of their friends and family on Saturday at BASH in Carmel. I can’t wait for that piece of their wedding as well! I love that they had two different visions for their wedding, and they were able to accomplish BOTH of their visions!

Stacy and Eric, it was truly an honor to photograph your beautiful wedding day. I can’t wait to see you at your reception on Saturday!

Stacy and Eric’s Amazing Vendor Team:

Indiana Wedding Photographer: Rakoteet Photography

Wedding Venue: Avon Gardens

Florist: Violets are Blue Floral Design

Summer Wedding at Black Iris Estate

Nick and Ashley were married in a dreamy, romantic summer wedding at Black Iris Estate last night. One thing was evident to everyone throughout the entire day, and that is just how much Nick and Ashley love each other. It was so sweet to hear different pieces of their love story from them, from their friends and family, and then during toasts later in the evening. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room when Nick’s best man spoke about the love Ashley and Nick share or when Ashley’s father shared about just how much each of these two have accomplished in their lives and how special it is that they ended up together.

My favorite part of the day was Nick and Ashley’s first look. I love that Nick and Ashley chose to share a first look, something I recomend to all of my couples. I can’t wait for you to see how sweet his reaction was. The tears in his eyes spoke volumes about the way he feels toward his bride. He even teared up again later as she was coming down the aisle during the actual wedding ceremony. A true testament that doing a first way doesn’t take anything away from that special “down the aisle” moment. It only adds to it.

Nick and Ashley, you two are such an amazing couple, and it was SUCH an honor to get to be your wedding photographer. Your wedding day was so incredible, and your marriage will be even better. Enjoy these sneak peaks. I can’t wait to send you your full wedding gallery soon!

A HUGE thank you to the amazing vendor team:

Carmel, Indiana Wedding Photographer: Rakoteet Photography

Florist: Oberer's Flowers

Cake: Classic Cakes

DJ: DJ Rakobeat

Hair and Makeup: Something Blue Stylists

Catering: Thomas Caters of Distinctions

Wedding Gown: Madison James - from Becker's Bridal in Michigan

Bridesmaid Dresses: Azazie

Men’s Attire: Banana Republic

Wedding Stationary: Minted

Officiant: Clare Dardis (a friend of the couple)

Private Estate Wedding in Anderson, Indiana | Hope and Dawson

I’m so excited to share some sneak peak highlights from Hope and Dawson’s beautiful wedding last night at the Ayers Retreat Center, a private estate owned by Dawson’s parents. Hope and Dawson’s wedding day was so special for so many reasons. These two were surrounded by the love of their families and friends, and their entire wedding day centered around their faith. Two of my favorite parts of their wedding day were when they kneeled to pray together in the middle of their ceremony and the fact that they chose a worship song for their first dance.

We ended up with the most gorgeous weather we could have hoped for for a late July wedding. It was actually MUCH cooler than most of my May and June weddings! And the Ayers Retreat Center has the most beautiful land surrounding it, with open fields, rolling hills, woods, and a beautiful pond! What more could a wedding photographer ask for?! It was the perfect scenery for a beautiful outdoor summer wedding.

One of the most fun things about photographing Hope and Dawson’s wedding is that we love the groom’s family. I was roommates with his sister in college. And she was actually one of the people who introduced me to my husband. Speaking of my husband, it was so awesome to have him working with me as the DJ for this wedding. We always love getting the opportunity to work together.

Hope and Dawson have such an exciting future ahead! With Dawson joining the Air Force, I’m sure there will be a lot of travel in store for these two. That’s why they chose to have a travel themed wedding, which I absolutely loved!

Hope and Dawson, you two are amazing! I hope you enjoy these sneak peaks while you’re on your way to your honeymoon! I can’t wait to send you the full gallery soon!

Vendors:

Anderson, Indiana Wedding Photographer: Rakoteet Photography

DJ: DJ Rakobeat

Venue: Ayers Retreat Center

Bridal Dress: David’s Bridal