• Venue: Bread and Chocolate– Goshen, IN
• Caterer: Bread and Chocolate– Goshen, IN
• Cake: Sweet-Em’s Cake Shoppe– Goshen, IN
• Flowers: Camille’s Florist– Bristol, IN
• Hair and Makeup: The Red Stiletto– Fort Wayne, IN
• Cake Stand custom made by Elizabeth’s Grandpa Rothhaar

Bruce and Elizabeth had a Friday evening wedding. I’m grateful that they were completely on-board to do all their photos ahead of time. It was a great relief. Friday weddings usually begin after work hours, so it shortens the potential timeline if the couple doesn’t plan to do their photos ahead. Photos were important to the couple, so they made plenty of time to take lots of them.

The couple had coordinating footwear. They’re so stinkin’ cute!!

The Red Stiletto does great work. Elizabeth, an already beautiful girl, had skin that looked dewy and perfect all day! Her hair stayed perfectly in place. They did a fantastic job of highlighting her natural features and helping her to feel her best on her wedding day. I love their on-site services too. They come to you! It’s fantastic.

I can’t even imagine how much Bruce and Elizabeth had aching cheeks at the end of the day. Every time they glanced at each other they grinned broadly. Even from the back, you can see that their faces are split into huge smiles. I love it!

Elizabeth is one of ten children. Shooting family photos for her side was tricky… because they’re all so tall!!

Signing the guest book is serious business!

At the beginning of the day Elizabeth made a comment to me about how she wasn’t sure if Cecilia would make it down the aisle. I laughed and assured her that no matter what happened it would surely be cute. Here’s what went down.

She needed a little help right out the gate.

Then she swerved faaaaaar to the right….

Then she got back on the right path, but took a long pause at the end of the aisle and seemed confused by the mess her sister had made with the flower petals….

And then Aunt Mateah had to help her down the aisle.

Bread and Chocolate features three large meeting spaces on the third floor of the Old Bag Factory. This repurposed space is perfect for weddings. The guests simply had to walk from one room directly into the next to transition from the ceremony to the reception. It’s so convenient! The staff is friendly, helpful, and professional. It’s such an ideal wedding venue.

The couple chose MudLove bands as their favors for the guests. I love that this is a gift that gives twice. Each band provides a week of clear water to someone in need. Usually someone in the Central African Republic. This is a company that I used to work for and that Elizabeth’s brother Jacob works for. I love this cause and the people behind it, so I love Bruce and Elizabeth even more for choosing a favor that’s simultaneously cool and philanthropic.

The menu at this wedding was something completely new and different that I’ve never seen done at a wedding before. I loved it. They served biscuits and gravy, french toast, hash brown casserole, and an egg bake with bacon. Breakfast foods! I love a good bringer, but who doesn’t! The guests LOVED it! The delicious comfort foods were so warmly appreciated.

Much to the delight of all the guests, Bruce busted out some goofy dance moves during the first dance. He spun and dipped and Elizabeth just beamed with love and amusement.

When Elizabeth began dancing with her dad it seemed harmless enough. They smiled, they laughed, the spoke quietly with each other. Then they turned away from me, I saw Elizabeth rest her head on her dad and I instantly knew that when I rotated around to their faces I would see streams of tears on both faces. It was Beeeeeeauuuuuutiful!

You might be wondering about the contents of this backpack. Don’t worry, I inquired.
It holds a crocodile. No, silly! Not a REAL crocodile. A STUFFED crocodile!

The couple agreed to sneak out of the reception for a brief sunset photo time. We enjoyed about 10 minutes of cooler weather and beautiful warm golden hour light.

When we returned to the reception inside, it was just in time for milk and cookies!

Great grandparents and eight of their great grandchildren. Do you see those beaming grand faces? I can’t even handle it!! There were never two people more pleased to be dog-piled by a set of sweet rosy cheeked babies.

To wrap up the night, the couple exited through a tunnel of glow sticks. I love that some of the guests even connected theirs to span the gap between rows. So fun!!

Bruce and Elizabeth, congratulations! A HUGE congratulations! I enjoyed you both so much and I’m so happy for you.
I wish you many, many, many happy anniversaries. Thank you for asking me to part of such a beautiful day.