Furry Friends and Best Buddies

Indiana Wedding Design is totally pet friendly. We LOVE our fur babies! We all have our pets, and treat them like members of the family. Sara is a proud Mommy of her Four-Frenchie squad, Sarah Ellie is a legit “Pommy Mommy”, Shelby has a full house of pups and kitties, Sandi and Sunny have a beautiful blue eyed Persian named Twinkle, and her sister Lilly.  I have what I call our “Menagerie” of animals. My two poochies Carol and Lilly, and our super cute Bun Bun, a Holland Lop Rabbit.

We LOVE LOVE LOVE when our clients include their pets in weddings. We thought it would be handy to have a Do’s and Don’ts blog post, to aide our clients along while making decisions on if, or how to include their Four Legged Friends in their big day!

Ringo, Best Dog Of Honor Ever!

My little Carol presiding as Witness

DO

If you are not planning an outdoors elopement, and have a paid venue, make sure to ask them well in advance if their facility it pet friendly. If a venue has a “no dog” rule it is likely based on health and legal requirements that you should be aware of. Unfortunately we have had some instances where the client brought their pet without checking, and they had to take their baby home on the day of. If they do not allow animals, its likely due to health codes or legal requirements. If for some reason they are anti-pooch, we can easily plan to add them in photos, just not in the ceremony itself.

 

DON’T

Expect Doggo to walk down the aisle unattended. Even the best behaved pets can go rouge. Try to send the animal down with an appointed pet wrangler, or a member of your bridal party.

 

DO

You definitely want to consider your pets disposition. If she is skittish or grumpy around little ones or strangers that could totally put a damper on your big day. Even though it might be disappointing not to to have your Bestie with you, it could be stressful for your guests, bridal party, or vendors, thus adding more stress to you, the couple.

DON’T

Forget the treats!

 

DO

If you are sending invitations, make sure you let your guests know that an animal will be present. Some guests may have allergies, or a fear of a certain breed of dogs, or dogs in general.

Azia from The Moments Between Us captured this special moment for an IWD elopement at Eagle Creek Park

 

PH-urry PH-otography

Here is a link we loved from Buzzfeed to give you some super cute ideas for your photography.

Our own Sarah Ellie at her Fairy Tale Wedding

We also did some research on Etsy and here is another link to find some adorable accessories to add to the cuteness for photos!

Put it on Paper!

Think about using these terms if you are making programs, invitations, or creating a website!

• Pup of Honor — He can walk down the aisle with the wedding party and then sit alongside them for the ceremony. It may be best to keep him on a leash; get creative and decorate the leash to fit your wedding theme.
• Flower Dog — She can carry a basket of flowers in her mouth, as the flower girl spreads the petals. Be sure the flowers are safe and nontoxic for dogs, in case she decides to sneak a taste.
• Ring Bearer — Naturally, your dog doesn’t have thumbs or pockets, but you can tie the rings to his collar with a ribbon or find a custom-made ring holder.
• Honored Guest — If your dog is better suited to a calmer, more restrained role, give him pride of place in the front row, sitting with someone he’s familiar with.

 

Wook at that Widdle Face!

Pups at our old Wedding Room

Bun-Bun making appearances daily!

“Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it waiting for us to come home each day. It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives and even how much closer we become with each other because of them.” John Grogan, American Author

 

Cheers-

Angel

 

 

The Not-So-Notorious M.O.B.

Wedding season is quickly approaching. Before we know it, the birds will be singing, the flowers will be in bloom, and the brides will be walking down those aisles. Do you know who else is following closely behind? The MOTHERS of the bride. Often, these fabulous characters garner a negative reputation for their roles in the wedding planning. But even more often, our Indiana Wedding Design M.O.B.’s are wonderful and caring women that hold a special place in our hearts.  I thought it would be a wonderful idea to include the wedding from the perspective of one of our favorite M.O.B.’s.

 

Meet Michelle Ellis. She is the mother of Brittany Patton, and she has been in Retail Management for the last 25 years. We asked her a few questions about her experience from Brittany’s beautiful and elegant rustic barn wedding.

Michelle (left) and her Daughter Brittany 

Q: How did you daughter announce to you that she was engaged? 

Michelle: Her now husband, Evan, actually surprised us (most of us, I think her dad and brother knew) at our weekly family dinner, and proposed! My daughter, myself, and the kids were completely floored when he dropped to one knee amidst a hectic midweek family dinner night.  It was perfection.

Q: What emotions did you have when she told you?

Michelle: I was surprised, and loved that Evan included all of us in on the proposal.  I already considered Evan a part of our family, I was excited to make it official. My mind immediately raced to wedding plans, and dress shopping.

Brittany and Evan 

Q: What venue did you have the wedding at?

Michelle: The Barn at Hawks Point in Anderson. She was looking for elegant, country farmhouse, and this turned out to be a beautiful choice.

Q: What ways did you feel that you were the best help to her?

Michelle: Her dad and I were helpful financially, but more importantly I hope I was a sounding board for her ideas. Her and I together were creative and we did a great deal of DIY, and thrifty shopping to stay within budget.

Overall, I tried to make her wedding dreams and ideas become reality, and honestly I didn’t do that alone.  I was blessed with the help of my sisters, and a very dear friend who’s artistic talents and take-charge attitude, made the day of the wedding less stressful, and more beautiful than I could’ve imagined.

Let’s not forget the friends, and family who contributed, even if it was bouncing ideas off of each other…. It takes a village!!

Michelle’s favorite wedding moment. ❤

Q: How did you find IWD?

Michelle: My daughter found you!  Angel came highly recommended by a friend of hers.

Q: How important was the officiant to you in the wedding?

Michelle: Very important!  More important than I could have imagined.  I went in to this thinking the officiant should compliment the vibe of the event, and the couple’s personalities.  Brittany, though easy going about many of the wedding decisions, was firm in her decision to have Angel officiate her ceremony.  Lucky for us she was available. 

Angel has a casual elegance about her that just fit.  She didn’t just perform a ceremony-She brought with her years of experience that kept us on time and on track, she brought a wicked sense of humor, and she knew exactly what to say to calm bundles of nerves.  

A word to all the mom’s: if your prospective officiant doesn’t instruct the bride, and bridesmaids on the proper way to carry their bouquets, make a nervous bride laugh just when she thinks she might cry, AND perform a flawless ceremony …. keep searching, you’ve not found the right one.

Q: What were the things that really stressed you out about the wedding? 

Michelle: Will all the “moving parts”, and little details come together and be the end result we all pictured in our minds?  

I wanted everyone to enjoy themselves.  

Lastly, please Sweet Lord in Heaven don’t let it rain during the outdoor ceremony!

Q: What did you do to calm that anxiety?

Michelle: Great friends, wonderful family, and one smart officiant that reminded me to relax and enjoy the day.  That, …and wine. The wine helped too.

Oh, Prayers were answered regarding the weather; torrential rains all morning but the afternoon wedding was sunny and 72.

Q: What was your favorite part of the wedding?

Michelle: That’s a hard one to choose, but I think it might be when the barn doors slid open and everyone gets their first glimpse of the bride … I got to watch my beautiful daughter be walked down the aisle by her dad.  Her dad; the no nonsense, hard working, man’s man; holding back tears. Brittany looked gorgeous; she was glowing. The moment was perfect.

Q: What advice to you give to the next mother of the bride?

Michelle: Do all the planning, and the DIY-ing, and the shopping, and the decision making. 

Do all the things … then call it done, and enjoy the day!  Be done, let go, Relax, and enjoy the day! It’s the “rough edges” and minor imperfections that show character and sometimes provide the best memories.  

My favorite part of the wedding that I described earlier, I forgot to mention it was also one of the biggest blunders of the day.  Apparently it was a beautiful and emotional moment when my husband saw his baby as a beautiful bride for the first time- so emotional that after the hug, the wiping of the tears, and straightening of the tie… my daughter forgot to pick up her bouquet before heading down the aisle!   Her gorgeous bouquet of peonies and roses never saw the ceremony! 

Thank you for your kind words, and your heartfelt advice Michelle! We love being connected with you, and your family on social media, so we can continue to watch all of the memories you make as a family!

Brittany and Evan chose our Traditional Package. We had a ceremony consultation to personalize and perfect their ceremony. We ended up having the rehearsal at Michelle’s home the night before, and we had an officiant there approximately an hour before the ceremony! You can find the Traditional package HERE. 

 

Cheers,

Angel

The “E” Word. Elopement.

A beautiful moment on the Canal Walk, Downtown Indianapolis

One of my goals when I started Indiana Wedding Design, and started performing small ceremonies, was to eliminate the stigma of what used to be a dirty word…The “E” Word. Elopement. Gasp! You’re eloping? You must be pregnant, or SNEAKING away in the middle of the night, and ostracizing yourself from the family. Trust me. I’m from a very rural area, and I’m almost 40. There, it meant just that. I found out that it was also true here in the more metropolitan areas. Well guess what, it’s not a BAD thing. Let me tell you a little bit more about the types of elopements we perform, and some of the different reasons couples would choose to elope.

Here is the textbook definition:

 

Elopement, colloquially speaking, is often used to refer to a marriage conducted in sudden and secretive fashion, usually involving a hurried flight away from one’s place of residence together with one’s beloved with the intention of getting married.

 

WRONG. Here is IWD’s definition:

 

Elopement, a fabulous, cost-conscious way to have a simple wedding ceremony that is intimate, tailored to you as a couple, and planned precisely when and where you want it to be.

 

I would easily say that 50% of our ceremonies fall under this elopement category. There are so many reasons that couples choose to elope, and we think all of them are fantastic.

Here are the top 5 reasons that our couples choose to elope.

Money Savings

Elopements save SO much money. We have found that our couples will have a private ceremony then splurge on an amazing honeymoon or family vacation. It also allows brides to budget on a focal point that is important to them…perhaps photography, or her dress…or an amazing dinner for her family. There are all kinds of benefits to having a small and intimate elopement.

Just Us

One reason that people choose an elopement package is that they envision a totally intimate wedding experience just for the two of them.

When we are getting to know the couple, some feedback we get is that they are relieved about stripping away the pressure, anxiety, and obligation that they personally felt about having a traditional wedding—and instead, they wanted a day that was more true to who they were and what they wanted—a “just us” experience.

You Can’t Make Everyone Happy

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all just get along? Not every person in the world has that close-knit relationship with their family that automatically makes them feel entirely comfortable or even want to scrimp and save to contribute to the drama.  Guess what? That’s OK. Even those couples who do get along well with their families sometimes choose to elope to avoid family drama because of the pomp and circumstance, or their families belief of what a traditional wedding should be.

The Benefits of a Legal Marriage

Lets be real here. Marriage comes with substantial benefits. Insurance, military benefits, and life insurance beneficiaries are among the common items. We often marry aging couples because it is important to them that someone that loves and cares for them can be left in charge of their needs, or that the other can be taken care of. For some women, (I was one of these) its nice to have the same last name as their baby when they deliver in the hospital. We believe if it’s your legal right to get married, then it is our job to make that happen for you, the way you want it to be done.

Don’t Look at Me!!!

Introverts make up a good part of our human race, so it makes sense that having a traditional wedding (which, typically directs a lot of attention to the bride and groom) might cause someone a ton of anxiety. A lot of people said that they chose to elope because of social anxiety and the desire to have a day that didn’t make them the center of attention. Eloping lets you be who you are. You don’t need to edit or water-down your truest, heartfelt thoughts when you commit your life to your partner. You don’t have to consider an audience when you write your vows (or say them). You don’t have to spend the day worrying about other people’s opinions or judgment. Some of the most beautiful moments that I have witnessed as an officiant over the last few years have been at my home wedding room, or in the most private ceremonies.

Elopement, (and I’ll say it louder for those in the back) IS A BEAUTIFUL THING. These are some of the more popular reasons to elope, but we embrace them all!

Cheers,

Angel

Meet OUR Funny Valentines!

This week on the Indiana Wedding Design Blog, we wanted to keep it light, and super lovey-lovey. Because, you know, Valentines…and Weddings. I chose most of the familiar ladies faces that you may have seen from #teamIWD in photos, or even at your wedding! I thought I would share our own personal wedding photos, and some Valentine’s trivia, and some random photos of our sweethearts!

Who should we start with…hmmm. I chose Sara Dodson and Her Husband Jeff. Sara does it all. She is an Officiant, Coordinator, Planner, Food & Beverage Director, and Team Therapist (LOL)

Sara and Jeff Dodson, Indianapolis Zoo

 

Valentine Facts:

• Every year, more than 36 million heart shaped boxes of chocolates are sold across the country.
• Sorry men, it looks like you’ll be spending twice as much as women this year on gifts. The average man spends $130 on Valentine’s Day, while women spend about $70.
• Don’t forget about your pets! Every year, around 9 million people buy their pets a Valentine’s Day gift.
• February 14th is the second largest card giving day of the year, just after Christmas. This year, it’s expected that 1 billion cards will be exchanged around the world.
• Teachers receive the most Valentine’s Day cards, followed by kids, mothers, wives and girlfriends.
• Hallmark was one of the first to mass produce a Valentine’s Day card, all the way back in 1913.
• More than one-third of men are comfortable not receiving anything from a lover on Valentine’s Day.

 

Next, here is the Gorgeous Sarah, and her hubby Andrew. Sarah and Andrew are a package deal for IWD. Officiating and photography for both, and Sarah is a client liaison, and coordinator also for us. Andrew is also a fantastic musician, as you learned in the previous blog post. (You can find him here)

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew and Sarah Moore

 

Here are the most searched flowers on Valentine’s Day!

1. Rose (with almost 3 million searches!)
2. Iris
3. Lily
4. Sunflower
5. Orchid
6. Tulip
7. Daisy
8. Gardenia
9. Lavender
10. Hydrangea

 

 

Next Up, Yours Truly, Me, and my husband Scott. I can’t lie, this isn’t an actual pic of my wedding day, but hey. There is nothing wrong with a fun photo shoot. This is from Christmas time when we did an elegant family shoot with Beth Waterman! (You can find her here)

 

Mr. and Mrs. Bodenhamer, Christmas shoot, 2018

 

Did you know?

 

St. Valentine’s Day falls on February 14th of each year. Although the name is Saint Valentine’s Day, most people refer to the day as Valentine’s Day, or even the Feast of Saint Valentine. It was originally a day to celebrate Saint Valentinus, who performed weddings for soldiers who were not allowed to marry. He was imprisoned for this, as well as for ministering to Christians. Saint Valentinus wrote a letter to the daughter of his jailer before he was executed. His letter was signed ‘From your Valentine’. He was buried on February 14th. Valentine’s Day was not associated with romantic love until the middle ages. By the 1700s in England it began to resemble the Valentine’s Day we know today. At this time lovers began to express their love with gifts of flowers, candy and cards, which were called ‘valentines’.

 

 

Next up, our Azia, an amazing full time photographer. Last season, she started officiating, and clients love her spunky and uber fun style. She is moving on to speaking engagements as well. She is married to Nicholas, and owns The Moments Between Us photography! 

 

Azia and Nicholas Singleton, on their wedding day!

 

Check this out!

William Shakespeare’s most famous romance Romeo and Juliet has captured hearts for decades – so much so that Juliet still receives love letters on Valentine’s Day! Every year, the city of Verona in Italy (where the play was set) receives around 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet. Not bad for someone who’s been dead for hundreds of years.

 

And last but not least, our newest member to this crazy crew, Shelby. She just married her husband Larry last year (an IWD wedding of course.) She is a junior officiant, training to be a client liaison, and administrative support. (For now, give her just a bit and she will be a superstar)

32 Unexpected Valentine’s Day 2020 Date Ideas.

• A Bonfire.
• Chocolate Tasting and Truffle Making. …
• A Paint and Sip Class. …
• Dancing. …
• A Ghost Tour. …
• Ice Skating and Après Skate.
• A Wine Bar Crawl.
• A Tour of Your Favorite Places

 

Happy Valentine’s Day to all you crazy kids and readers out there. I hope you enjoyed a little tour of our sweethearts!

As always, you can visit us on our website HERE, Facebook HERE, and Instagram HERE.

 

“Each time you love, love as deeply as if it were forever.” – Audre Lorde, Civil Rights Activist

Cheers,

Angel

Meet Sarah Ellie Moore! -The Marvelous Mrs. Moore

I wanted to spotlight the “Marvelous Mrs. Moore” today on our blog post. (Eat your hearts out Mrs. Maisel). She is a very important part of #teamIWD. Not only is she an amazing Indianapolis based Wedding and Portrait photographer, she officiates, adds administrative support, and acts as a client liaison for our larger wedding packages! She does it all, ladies and gentlemen! Her emphasis is on Illustrative photography, and she is known for her vibrant color style, and clients love her candid captures of their moments. I  wanted to ask Sarah a few questions so you can get to know this absolutely MARVELOUS lady!

Here is Sarah Ellie! She is the queen of the 5 Minute Makeup face!

You Started as a photographer with Indiana Wedding Design. What inspired you to start officiating?

As a wedding photographer, I’ve  always enjoyed hearing couples love stories. How they met, when they knew each other was “the one,” and how they popped the question. My job as their photographer is to capture the essence of that story through their wedding photos. I knew that as an Officiant I’d get the opportunity to help them express that love outwardly to one another. It was a new and exciting way to be a part of making their day special and I’ve come to really enjoy it.

 

You are still in your newlywed phase! Can you tell us a little bit more about your own wedding? 

My wedding was a whimsical garden theme. I grew up a Disney fanatic and I knew I wanted a little fairy-tale magic sprinkled into my big day. Cue the sparkles, the ball gown, and the musically inclined Prince Charming. Oh, and throw in a fluffy ring bearer and flower Pom!

Sarah’s Big Day, and her Bridal Party

A sweet moment for a sweet girl

 

What would we be surprised to learn about you? 

I’d like to think I’m full of surprises at first, but once you get to know me I’m pretty much an open book. One kind of nifty thing to note is that sometimes I step out from behind the camera and on to the stage as a singer in my hubby’s band.

Sarah with Andrew performing with Circle City Steel

What would you describe as your signature photo style?

I’ve tried to find the right words to describe my signature photo style I think it’s best described as Illustrative. I know you’re probably thinking, “what does that mean?” It means my goal as your photographer is to preserve the raw beauty of your candid moments while still giving your photos the gorgeous “golden” lighting, stunning angles and artistic flair they deserve.

 

What was your favorite IWD wedding?

Oh goodness, it’s hard to pick a favorite IWD wedding! Each couple is so unique and lovely in their own way. I really enjoyed the Dickinson wedding! They were such a sweet and in the moment couple! I had a great time capturing their big day.

 

On a personal note, Sarah Ellie and I met through Facebook a few years ago when when she was seeking an officiant for her wedding, while she was in the later part of the planning process. Though she didn’t go with IWD (she had a personal officiant perform her ceremony) we remained friends for a while before she responded to an open ad I posted for photographers to join the team.

She is an AMAZING friend, and such an optimistic person. I have told her often she makes me a better person <3. When she and I are not traveling and camping, you will find her raising her Pom Squad, compiling epic Pinterest boards, and spending time with her awesome husband, Andrew.

 

 

You can find Sarah Ellie Photography on the following:

Website –https://www.sarahelliephotography.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/sarahelliephotography/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thesarahelliephotography/

 

You can also find her husband, Andrew Moore, of Circle City Steel on his website:

https://www.circlecitysteel.com/

 

Cheers!

Angel

Remembering Past Brides!

Mini Weddings!

Hod Rod Shop Elopements

 

We always say that IWD would not be worth anything without the amazing couples that have chosen us to be a part of their special day, whether it be just officiating the wedding, to planning the whole thing from top to bottom. I’ve made a decision that each month, we will dedicate one blog post to remember brides of our weddings past. Each wedding is always unique and as bright and different as the couples themselves. This post, we asked Jaymie (left) and Sara (right) a few questions about their wedding experience, and submit a few images of their wedding day!

 

How did you meet your husband?

Jaymie: I met my husband via Facebook in 2017 he got in my DM. 

Sara: Through my sister. Scott coached her Roller Derby Team.

Jamie with her Handsome Ring Bearer

Saying “I Do!”

 

What was your favorite part about being engaged?

Jaymie: Favorite part bout being engaged was planning my wedding.

Sara: Definitely how excited and happy we were.

 

In Front of Bubba’s Hot Rod Shop

Father Daughter Dance!

 

How did you find Indiana Wedding Design?

Jaymie: How I found IWD was I was online looking for a venue and it popped up I clicked on it spoke with Angel. I loved how energetic she was with the place.

Sara: I found Angel online and called her because I thought she is gorgeous and wanted her in my wedding photos HAHA 

 

Where did you get married?

Jaymie:  I got married at the Dunes. I absolutely loved the place reminded me of a country club setting.

Sara: Bubba’s Hot Rod Shop! And I loved how unique it was.

 

Jamie with her Handsome Ring Bearer

 

How did you feel on your wedding day?

Jaymie: I was nervous but excited at the same time. Angel and Sara was the absolute best in calming me down and letting me know everything would be great.

Sara:  I was super excited, nervous about the rain, lol.

 

What was your favorite part about your wedding?

Jaymie:  My favorite part of my wedding was everything I loved the whole day. 

Sara: The purple shoes! And seeing all my family together

 

Purple Converse Sneakers

Sitting at their Sweetheart table

 

What IWD package did you choose, and why?

Jaymie: I picked the Mini Wedding at the Southern Dunes Venue. I didn’t have a DJ but added food.. it was definitely reasonably price that’s for sure.

Sara: We purchased the Circle City $360 package. Angel and the photographer traveled to us. We chose it because it was affordable, easy, and stress free.

What are your plans for the future?

Jaymie: Our plans for the future is to live and have a happy marriage ❤

Sara: We want to renew our vows, focus on our new home, and travel a lot!

 

Getting to know both of these ladies has been a joy. I performed Sara and Scott’s ceremony in 2015, and it was in the earlier days of our company. I have had the privilege of being a part of her life, both in person and social media. She and Scott have faced both joys and losses in their marriage together, from losing her mother, and best doggie friend, and a horrific car accident, to building and purchasing a new home, and other amazing wins. She is always truly optimistic and such a bubbly gal.

Sara and her new baby puppy

Jayme looking on fire!

I’ve gotten to know Jaymie thru social media as well. She is such an amazing supporter and fan of our business. She was married this past summer. Her reception was SO MUCH FUN. Apple Crown and sprites for days! I love Jaymie because every time I see her shes always so well put together. Her lashes, hair and nails always look on point! I enjoy watching her funny posts on Facebook, and I hope to get to know her even better as the years pass.

 

Cheers,

Angel

 

 

Going to the Chapel and we’re…(you finish the song)

You know this title is stuck in your head now! I sing this to myself every time I book, or even think about our little chapel….of loooove, the 1060 East Wedding Chapel.

We call it a Chapel, but really it’s more of a wedding room. It’s another safe and happy option that we provide our clients with. We found early on that we had many couples that wanted something affordable, but they simply had too many guests to utilize our $75 Courthouse Alternative. It’s also a fantastic back up plan in the event you book one of our outdoor packages and the weather does not understand you have a wedding that day! Since 2016, we have had this service available, and have performed hundreds of ceremonies for vast and unique varieties of brides and groom from all walks of life.

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Our Chapel story started in Irvington, when the veritable King of Justice of the Peace weddings, Rev. David Daniels handed his crown down to me, at the JP Chapel located in a strip center near the interstate. We learned quite a bit from him, and took it to the next level. We stayed in the Irvington area, and partnered with a fantastic local drummer and musician Adam Riviere in the historical district of this cute east side neighborhood. He owns a production studio, named The Playground. We then moved officially this year to our new location in Brownsburg. There are some pictures of the older chapel below.

Original Irvington Chapel

People loved that big arch

We’ve come a long way.

We knew that the 1060 East Chapel was the perfect location. It’s in a large building full of businesses. They just repaved the parking lot, and there is plenty of space for everyone. Sara and I busted our butts to get everything painted, decorated, and ready for our couples within a week. I have to admit, it looks pretty darn good. We chose Sherwin Williams “Rain Wash” as the wall color, and our Pinterest Queen Sara figured out the perfect way to drape the tulle in the ceiling with the chandelier. It has those nice industrial ceilings, with our touches of chic. We even added glitter…yes GLITTER, to the concrete stain for the floor. I knew I wanted a copper arch, so a quick trip to Lowe’s, and I built that sucker, and Sara draped it. This really is a total win for girls with tools.

Offerings in the 1060 East Wedding Chapel

The 1060 East Wedding Chapel is for the ceremony only. We currently do not offer any reception options here. (We do have our Mini and Maxi Packages that boast all those goodies on our IWD site). But, what you can get is an amazing ceremony tailored to you and your fiance by one of our talented in-house officiants. You can get married in front of up to 10, 20, or 50 of your closest friends and relatives.  We also offer photography sessions you can add on to your ceremony choice. Your photos will be professionally edited, and available via email within 24-48 hours.

We do have a Bluetooth speaker as well. You can make a personal playlist for the event, or you can simply have a song played while you walk down the aisle. Speaking of aisles, some brides choose to walk down to their soon to be husband or wife, and some just choose to come right up front, and get down to wedding business. We have set up the room so there are two different backdrops that you can choose from. We have the arch, and a neat boxwood hedge wall created by our friends from Beth Waterman Photography. (She’s so creative. She should be a Hollywood set artist, you should check her work out!)

We always instruct our clients to plan on being with us for about 45 minutes to an hour, and sometimes maybe a wee bit longer if we are adding our photography package. Since we are only 25 minutes away from Downtown Indianapolis, a lot of couples plan their ceremony to coincide with supper time, and have a fabulous night on the town.

 

The Pretty Boxwood Hedge

Our color Inspo

Happy couples in front of the Copper Arch

Ending in a Sweet Prayer

The “Office” Area

I DO

Sweet Kisses

LBGTQ Friendly

 

You can visit the 1060 East Chapel website to learn more about our pricing, or to make a reservation. Give the Facebook page a like or a share, or view our Instagram. Links are below.

http://www.indianasweddingchapel.com

https://www.facebook.com/1060EastChapel/

https://www.instagram.com/1060eastchapel/

 

Cheers!

-Angel

 

What? A $75 Wedding? I do!

Our $75 Courthouse Alternative wedding at my West Indy home is our most affordable and convenient package that Indiana Wedding Design provides our clients. In this blog post, we want to tell you more about what it includes, and how the package might be the best fit for you! Most county courthouses do not perform “Justice of the Peace” ceremonies or have judges that will perform weddings any longer. We are here to help!

Our first Courthouse Alternative was born in 2015 when a couple wanted to get married at Eagle Creek Park, and it had rained all morning. It was just the two of them. I said, “Why don’t the two of you just come by my house, I have a cute little office in the front room.” They were super happy about it, we performed their cute little ceremony, and off they went into the world. Then I started thinking. I thought that there had to be so many more couples out there that could benefit from a small, intimate affordable ceremony space. I just happened to glance over to the bookshelf, and there it sat. My Mammaw Patty’s marriage license from 1960. I remember her always telling me how they went to the Preachers home after work, and got married! Right then and there the Courthouse Alternative was born. We even bought our new home in the same area due to the fact it has its own private entrance.

This is where you say “I Do!”

Customized with your date!

Fast forward to 2020, I have married HUNDREDS of couple since we started. We perform ceremonies in the wedding room 7 days a week, and we are always available with little to no notice. We also take appointments for months in advance. We tell our couples to plan on being with us for approximately 25-30 minutes, unless we really get to chatting, which happens often. It’s really fun getting to know couples. Everyone has a great story of how they met, got engaged, or how they fell in love! We sit down at the desk, and get to know each other a bit while we fill out your paperwork, perform your ceremony, and lastly sign off on the documents. We always take lots of cell phone pictures. 

No ring, no problem. We have them!

Mommy to be!

Sometimes it is private!

Say Cheese!

Gorgeous couples!

Christmas Surprises

Who books the $75 Courthouse Alternative? We have couples that book this package because they want a quick, efficient and affordable ceremony that otherwise would have been done at their county courthouse. Some couples want a simple ceremony with no pomp and circumstance and that is OK.  Some people cannot afford anything more, and that’s OK too. Some couples are traveling thru Indiana and want a quick stop. There are couples that want a quick paper signing and an I Do, and want to immediately file the license back with the clerks office. Are you having a destination wedding and prefer your license be filed locally? We have you covered.

One of the biggest questions we do receive is: “Can I bring a guest?” Yes! You can bring a guests. The maximum number of guests you can bring, however is 2, plus yourselves. It’s not because I don’t want you to have your loved ones. Trust me. I would let you invite the whole crew if I could. The fact is, we are operating an at-home-business, and with Marion County ordinance guidelines, we cannot have more than 4 individuals at a time inside the wedding room.

Mammaw’s Marriage License

Guests enjoying the fun!

Never can go wrong with flowers!

The best part about our wedding room? Anything goes. If you want to write your own vows, DO IT! Do you want to exchange rings, DO IT! Do you want to video chat someone that can’t be there, DO IT! Christian ceremony, hand-fasting, sand ceremony, song lyrics, non religious, DO IT! The even better part, say it with me now, FREE PARKING! I have not even mentioned the cutest part, you might even run into our resident cutie, Bun Bun (pictured below)

Just remember, with any package from Indiana Wedding Design, or any of our sister companies, Indy Wedding Officiants, Elope in Indy, or our 1060 East Wedding Chapel: Whether your ceremony is Simple or Spectacular, it will always be Fabulous!

Stay tuned next week for our Photography Spot light!

-Angel

 

Save money- get married at home!

The Circle City 360 package is one of our most well-loved due to its affordability, efficiency, and flexibility. We’ve shown you a couple of different options with the 360 package; getting married in a venue of your choice such as the statehouse, or in one of our premier venues such as the Irvington Wedding Chapel, but what we haven’t talked about is the best venue of all- your own home!

Bronwen and Emily tied the knot in their home (in a totally transformed garage! Seriously, you can’t even tell,), which means they had 100% control over the decorations, the food, and all the other vendors. They opted to use not only an Indiana Wedding Design officiant, but also one of IWD’s independent photography partners. They had a small wedding with about 8 guests, but they set up a camera to live stream the event to all of their loved ones who could not join them that day.

Their day was full of little details, from the box where their rings were kept, to the meticulously hung lights that set a romantic mood for the ceremony, to the cake that fit the theme perfectly. Their homemade appetizers were made with love and sophistication and were laid out in an appetizing spread.

Their ceremony showed just as much personalization as the rest of the day, with sweet yet funny (and true) vows like, “you can tell me what to do, but we’ll always work through it together.” One of the best parts? They high-fived before their first kiss as wives.

Tune in next time for a photographer spotlight!

-Angel

*All photos taken by Cait Potter Creative, LLC

 

Big Dreams, Small Budget

Here at Indiana Wedding Design, it is our distinct honor and prime goal to offer you the wedding of your dreams at a price you never dreamed possible. Hundreds of Indianapolis couples have taken advantage of our packages to start their lives together. One of our favorite couples, Steve & Shea, enjoyed a beautiful, intimate ceremony at the Indiana State House. We asked Shea to talk to us more about her Circle City 360 wedding!

What was your favorite part about being engaged and your wedding planning process?

The euphoria of being in love, and knowing I was marrying the man of my dreams. The excitement of researching how we wanted to do our wedding, finding a wedding dress and his suit, and all the accessories. It was so wonderful!

Where did you get married? What did you like most about your venue?

The Indiana State House, at Angel’s suggestion. I had no idea you could go in there for free! I am so thankful for her knowledge and advice, she made my wedding go from 0-60. We were just going to do something simple for the two of us, but wanted it to be nicer than a quickie courthouse type wedding.

How did you feel on your wedding day?

The ceremony was really just a means to an end, we did not want to spend a ridiculous amount of money on it. But I still wanted to feel like a princess on my wedding day. I found IWD via a wedding dress listing online, and was ecstatic to find out they offered packages that would let us jazz up our ceremony but still stay on budget. So knowing that we were getting to have a gorgeous wedding without spending thousands of dollars was pretty awesome.

What was your favorite part of the day?

The moment we both said “I do” to each other!

Was there a particular moment you are glad to have memorialized in your photos?

Our photographer captured several amazing moments and it’s honestly hard for me to pick a favorite! There are 2 that he did that I wouldn’t have even thought of, and they were gorgeous! One where it was just me, sitting on the floor of the state capital with all the gorgeous architecture around me, and my dress spread out. The other was of my husband and going down the stairs. My favorite moments though are the ones where we are kissing. I think that sums up all the feelings from that day!

What is one piece of advice you have for other couples planning their weddings?

Even if you weren’t considering hiring a wedding coordinator or officiant, talk to IWD. They have SO much knowledge, and are more than happy to share it. I was really so intimidated and anti-big wedding, but didn’t know that there was actually a way to have the best of both worlds!

What is your favorite part about marriage so far?

Having a permanent best friend to share life with!

What are your plans for the future?

Raise our kids together and continue having adventures together!

Would you recommend working with IWD to others?

Yes, I highly recommend IWD! I refer them any chance I get.