South Bend, Indiana, Wedding Photographers | January 28, 2012

Photographer: Katie Whitcomb | Photographers, Ceremony/Reception: Basilica of Sacred Heart at Notre Dame, Catering Venue: Gillespie Conference Center, Band: Midnight, Florist: Wygant Floral, Cake: Arlene’s Wedding Cake, Hair & Make-up: Nicholas J. Salon

Keaton and I met through mutual friends, and have been friends since our junior year of college. We didn’t start dating until the March after we graduated, though. Keaton sent me a bouquet of lilies (my favorite flower) and roses in January of my first year of teaching, partially to help my lift my spirits in the middle of what was a really tough year, but also to sort of put himself on my radar. Not sure of what I wanted and definitely not interested in the distance thing, I resisted him for a while. But eventually he broke through and we started dating that March.

Keaton knew he was going to ask during time off at Christmas, but he had to wait to have the opportunity to talk to my dad, which didn’t happen until the end of break. We spent a week and a half doing all sorts of romantic and fun things in both Colorado and Michigan, but I still had to wait because he had to talk to my dad. Just before lunch on Keaton’s last day in Michigan, we went for one last walk down my street (a snowy, rural dirt road in Michigan). We walked for about 45 minutes talking about the next time we’d see each other right before I was set to deploy for 5 months (a deployment that didn’t happen, thankfully). On the way back we paused next to a snow covered field with a frozen pond. He knelt down and pulled out the box in his pocket, said six words, I said one very enthusiastic word (several times), and huge hug and a kiss were exchanged…and the rest is history.

Again, an internet search brought up several options and, after looking through many of the samples, we decided that your pictures hold the most emotion and really capture the feelings of the day, rather than just a still image of something that happened. You also seem to be able to fit any style, which is good because Keaton and I wanted creative but nothing too wacky.

I looked up a couple of venues online and then my mom and I went and visited them one day. A few we were able to eliminate straight out because they just didn’t fit our needs. We were down to two. We finally decided on the Hilton because the room was perfect, the prices were good (with a lot included), the venue is attached to the hotel, and the woman who helped us out and showed us around was absolutely amazing. I really felt comfortable with her and I could tell she was going to take good care of us.

As I said before, I will have calla lilies in my bouquet. Though they are not the standard lily, they are still beautiful and will be the main white component. I will also, hopefully, have blue irises, only picked because they will match the blue bridesmaids dresses.

We kind of have a couple of themes going right now. One is the color scheme, which is navy blue and silver. I just really like the colors together and they fit in winter very well. We also have a sort of winter-y theme going on, obviously because it will be the middle of January in Indiana. Our invitations and toasting flutes have calla lilies on them because they are a beautiful flower and I will have some in my bouquet. And we will also have some angel decorations because Keaton and I look to our guardian angels a lot for protection and guidance.

I don’t know the details of my cake … I know that it will be 4 layers that are kind of separated from each other (space in between them) that will be filled with flowers. They will be round cakes and two different flavors. We’ll hopefully have some blue and silver ribbons at the base of each cake and maybe some small sugar snowflakes or other simple decorations. Nothing too crazy.

If it was just up to me I’d say smashing the cake in Keaton’s face But as a couple we’ve decided that the best moment was our first dance.

Start early, but don’t forget to have fun. Keep in mind that the details that you stress over generally won’t be the things that people remember. For example, no one will remember what type of chicken I have at my wedding. They’ll remember if the food is terrible, but as long as it’s passable no one will notice. They will remember if you look happy and if the dancing was fun. That’s about it.

To view more images from Jessica & Keaton’s wedding, go to www.pictage.com/1086649