Wedding Photography in downtown Indianapolis, IN

I photographed Eve and Chris’ wedding on a beautiful, sunny November day in downtown Indianapolis at the Omni Severin Hotel. Typically, I like to share the story behind my couples, but Chris and Eve have already done a great job of capturing/writing their love story so I’m going to share it in their own words.

Eve’s Version: (I love how she went for what she wanted!)

“When people ask how we met, I always tell them ‘I picked him up at a bar.’ Embarrassing, but true. There was an outdoor screening of one of the James Bond movies at a rooftop bar in Minneapolis. I had moved to the city a little over a month earlier to start my residency in Emergency Medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center. Chris had recently returned to the Twin Cities from Chicago to start a new job working with autistic children at the Lazarus Project. We both went out that night with our respective groups of new co-workers, attempting to get acquainted. I spotted Chris from a distance and thought he was really cute. It took me a while to work up the courage to approach him, and I chose an awkward moment; he had reached the front of the line at the bar. I had to excuse myself person by person, stepping in front of them to get to where Chris stood. When I finally reached him, I assured him I was not cutting in line (I later learned they say “budging” in Minnesota), and simply explained I just wanted to introduce myself. I extended my hand and he smiled at me, shook my hand and, while quite taken aback, politely offered to buy me a drink. We found a table and chatted the rest of the evening, ignoring the groups with which we’d each arrived. We traded phone numbers and made plans for later in the week. Chris likes to tell everyone that I couldn’t wait to see him and called the next day, which is kind of true.

We went out for dinner on our first date and got to know each other a little more. I found out he was a good Christian boy, artistic but also very pragmatic. He found out I’m a girl who enjoys sports and camping. It was enough to spark a second and a third date, and by then we were inseparable. That was August. By October Chris will tell you that we both just knew. We would stare at each other and smile, and say things like “are you kidding me?” and “really?” We were in awe of our easy connection and the comfort we each had in the knowledge we’d found our partner for life.

Chris sent flowers to Eve in her dressing room.

It has not always been easy getting to this point. Chris supported me through the most difficult period of my life, my three years of residency. He brought me food, dog-sat, bought me flowers and wrote letters of encouragement. I in turn helped him get through his master’s program in business administration. We’ve grown a great deal together over the past 4 years in Minnesota, and are thrilled to be starting our new life together in Chicago.

Chris’ Version:

Eve and I met at a rooftop bar called Brit’s Pub. I tell people, “She picked me up at a bar.” It had to be fate because there were multiple reasons why I almost didn’t go that night. There were also countless reasons a cute girl should have never come up and introduced herself to me 1) Uncharacteristically, that night I was smoking some cigars left over from a bachelor party. Eve was glad to find out later that this was not a habit and rather a very rare occurrence.
2) I had duct tape on my wallet. Although she would have never known before approaching me, she could have turned and ran when I paid for her drink and revealed my old wallet with duct tape holding it together.

Instead we found an open table and talked the night away until our respective groups started to leave. We exchanged numbers and went on our way. The very next day she broke all the rules and called to invite me to a cookout. A few dates later I was in love.

Chris and Eve chose to have a “First Look” on the balcony of one of their rooms.

Eve and I quickly discovered that we both desire to live a Godly life and strive to be good people. We easily connected in many other ways, but the key ingredient to my attraction to Eve was her openness to a life of faith and her ability to live it without judgment of others, nor being a complete hermit. Who would have thought I would meet a girl at a bar and one week later feel completely comfortable inviting her to a worship service at my alma mater, Bethel University? Fate I tell you! It was around this time that I realized this: I may have caught her eye first, but she quickly captured my heart. By no means are we perfect, but I am so excited to start a life with Eve with these values in mind.

A group shot near the downtown canal.

Chris and Eve incorporated a foot-washing ritual into their ceremony symbolizing their vow to serve each other humbly.

I recall the daily rush home from work to my apartment in Plymouth, showering, and then driving at the heart of rush hour to south Minneapolis to go see Eve for a few hours or meet her for dinner and drinks. Navigating through Minneapolis rush hour was well worth every second with Eve.

Four fun years filled with friends in Minnesota, traveling back and forth to Indy and Chicago for he holidays and working around each other’s schedule later and here we are! I still try everything I can to see her amazing smile. She still laughs at my jokes even though she will never admit that I am the funniest person she knows. We are an unbeatable Cribbage, Euchre, Pictionary, Trivial Pursuit, and Scrabble team. We are as loving, caring and mushy with each other as ever. We also have an amazing ability to be brutally honest with each other and to accept our shortcomings.

I am the luckiest guy in the world  to marry the love of my life!

One of my favorite times during the wedding day is when we escape the crowds and have a few minutes of playful relaxation.

STUNNING!

The rest of the evening was spent in celebration. Toasts, dancing, and remembering good times dominated the evening. What a beautiful night. I was humbled by the graciousness of Chris and Eve and consider it a privilege to have spent time with them. May you both be blessed with a love that continues to grow stronger with each moment.