Warsaw, Indiana Wedding | Steph & Tony

It was a beautiful summer morning in Northern Indiana. The energy was calm and quiet when I arrived at Steph and Tony’s lakeside home. Stephanie had her closest family and friends there to get ready with her, and it felt so intentional. No extra fluff or noise –just a sense of peace and togetherness before her big day. 

Down the road at his mom’s home, Tony had his three brothers nearby to help calm his nerves. After the necessary sibling banter and group Fireball shot, Tony and I headed towards the lake for his first look with Stephanie.

As Steph walked down the dock, she was glowing in her simple white gown and mesh gloves. The joy across Tony’s face when he saw her was palpable. Their day was finally here.

The ceremony space matched the intention of Steph and Tony’s day perfectly. It was intimate and personal and most importantly located in Winona Lake, a place that means so much to them. Stephanie and her father shared a tearful first look before they walked down the aisle together. Everything was simple yet so intentional – a ceremony without any unnecessary fluff and noise. It was perfect.

After taking portraits in the park nearby, we all headed to Rua for drinks and bites. The energy in the space was so joyful and stress-free. I loved how the smaller restaurant space led to more connections shared between the family and friends in attendance. After dinner, guests watched as Steph shared a first dance with her father and Tony shared a first dance with his month. It was a deeply cherished moment by everyone.

It’s often easy to get swept up in the chaos of wedding planning and the pressure to do it all. Steph and Tony managed to shut out the noise and stick to who they are as a couple. Their day was simple and personal while still managing to be wonderfully unique. They were an absolute joy to photograph – it was an honor to be a part of their love story.

p.s. this was my first wedding I’ve shot in both film and digital formats and I am so incredibly grateful Stephanie trusted me to do so. The film photos turned out even more magical than I was anticipating. I hope to shoot many more weddings in film because you just can’t beat it <3

Dress: Grace Loves Lace

Ceremony Location: Westminster Hall

Reception Location: Rua

Film Processing: Indie Film Lab