Cope Environmental Wedding Photography::Bailey and Braden

The new building at Cope Environmental in Richmond, Indiana is the perfect for a wedding, and great wedding photography. But this post isn’t really about Cope per se, it’s more about a wonderful couple saying their vows (more on that!), a large and loving family, great wedding day organization, friends from seriously far and wide, and gorgeous weather. There’s so much to show you. I hope you can spend at least 15 minutes to scroll.

I first wrote about Bailey and Braden after spending time with them during their engagement photo session. It was a great time, but it was even better seeing them surround by all of their people with so much love oozing out around the edges on their wedding day.

Another cool tip: Braden decided to give his groomsmen shoes as a gift. No monogramed beer steins instead something useful for the long-term.

Learn from those who have gone before

I ask my couples after the wedding if they have advice to give to engaged couples who are in the process of planning their own wedding. So, if that’s you read on for tips from those who have gone before, especially for Cope Environmental Wedding Photography. And if that’s not you, you still might find it interesting.

BAILEY’S ADVICE:

• Do a first look and get your photos done early!  
• I know its not for everyone, but I am SO glad Braden and I did our vows privately. We were able to say what we felt without feeling like we had a thousand eyes on us. I didn’t have to dial back to try to keep myself from crying in front of all our guests or  worry about holding a microphone and speaking loudly and clearly. Every moment of your wedding you’re surrounded by so many people, and this was a private, intimate moment that was just between Braden and I (and Susanna). I wanted to bare my heart to Braden, not Braden and 175 guests. Plus, I think doing our vows beforehand allowed our ceremony to be a lot more fun; we got the hardest part of the ceremony out of the way so we were able to be fully in the moment. I know that if I hadn’t done that, I would have stood there during the welcome and the poem thinking about saying my vows rather than laughing and smiling.*
• Say hello and thanks for coming to the people who traveled far to see you, those that are extra important to you and those that helped you plan/organize/decorate. If you go around to every single person though you’re going to spend your wedding making small talk rather than enjoying it. Once the reception started I only left the dance floor to go to the bathroom. I was like “Hey, I’m the girl in the white gown. I‘m easily the most identifiable person here, so if someone wants to see me they know where to find me.”

BRADEN’S ADVICE:

• Get started planning your wedding ahead of time. There are so many things that can go wrong (like losing your original venue). It gives you time to send out invitations, discuss the set-up of the venue and make everything as perfect as possible. 

PRIVATE VOWS: It was a privilege to witness this promise to love, lift up and support each other every day from here on out. With only the sounds of nature to accent their vows in the enchanted forest, it was incredibly intimate and meaningful. A memory I won’t forget.

Every wedding has a funny story to tell

BAILEY:

I had a hair fiasco at 10:15 the morning of the wedding. The night before my hairdresser Christine went to my sister and  I’s hotel room to lay out her styling tools and products for the morning. She told me to wash my hair, put this gel in it, dry my hair then go to bed. Well, it was late, I was exhausted and I couldn’t remember which product I was supposed to put in my hair. So, my sister and I took our best guess at which thing was the gel and went to bed. Next morning when we told Christine what happened I’m pretty sure we gave her a heart attack. Apparently we had put the pomade that was meant for my brother in my hair. The hotel was like a scene from a movie I swear! My poor roommate Brooke from med school (who was doing my make-up) had to witness all this chaos. I had to wash the product out of my hair immediately. So here we are —  me leaning over the edge of the hotel bathtub with a towel around my neck trying to protect Brooke’s handiwork, Christine shampooing one half of my head, and my sister, literally baseball catcher squatting in the tub trying not to get her own hair wet washing the other half of my head. I wish my mom had taken a picture of this! Thank goodness we miraculously finished hair and make up on time. 

BRADEN:

When saying “I do” I was supposed to say “We do”. I got a little lost in the moment, but everybody seemed to have a good laugh over it. 

One of Bailey’s highlights of the day. Read her “Most memorable moments”.

If I had it to do over again…

BAILEY:

While we were bustling my dress I noticed that the caterer was already plating and serving  the salads, at least 45 minutes before dinner was supposed to start. I wish I had been more firm when I asked them to hold off because it meant that instead of guests enjoying cocktail hour and the appetizers, they all sat down to eat the salads. We had planned a long cocktail hour so that Braden and I could socialize before dancing started, but it was cut short. So, be firm in what you want! I should have put my foot down and said “go ahead and plate, but do not serve until 6!” Other than that I wouldn’t change anything. I had so much fun at my wedding!

BRADEN:

I wish I would have spent more time on the dance floor. It was so easy to get caught up socializing with friends and family.

Isn’t it great when a couple does what they want and not what tradition dictates. No cake for Bailey and Braden. Instead guests could munch all evening on Little Debbie snacks. I heard a lot of positive comments about this.

Bailey comes from a spirited family, and they welcomed Braden into their family with a song and dance, and then a big group hug. Too many photos to post of this but trust me, it was pretty endearing (and…joyful!)

Look beyond the Braden and his mom and you’ll see a whole bunch of emotion going on in the background between the Bailey and her dad. I was so happy to have captured all four of them in one shot. It really show the story of how much love was going on that day.

Saving the best for last

BAILEY:

I have a few memorable moments from the day:

• crying/hugging with my Dad after our dance (see photos above)
• late in the night, my brother stopped dancing with his girlfriend to hug me, and while crying he said to me “I’m sorry I didn’t have a bigger reaction when you asked me to walk you down the aisle. It all hit me today. I couldn’t stop sobbing.”
• taking a shot with my dad and brother before walking down the aisle. Everyone cheered, and people were “catcalling” us as we walked down the aisle. I felt on top of the world! (See the photos above)
• But my MOST memorable moment was the first look and our private vows together. Braden hugged me before he even saw the whole dress to try to keep himself from crying. It was so sweet to see how happy he was, and I felt so beautiful.

BRADEN:

My most memorable moment was the first look and exchanging my vows with Bailey, for sure. Right up there was the first dance with Bailey and dancing with my mom. 

College buddies forever (Earlham College)

Dance songs 

Processional: Hey Soul Sister by Train

Bailey walked down to: Can’t Help Falling in Love cover by Hailey Reindhart

Recessional: Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen 

First Dance: Oh What a World by Kasey Musgraves

Father/Daughter Dance: Fathers and Daughters by Paul Simon

Mother/Son Dance: Forever Now by Michael Buble 

The Deets

Wedding gown: David’s Bridal, Melissa Sweet/Linear Lace

Bridesmaid Dresses: Dance with Me Bridal and Occassion Wear

Venue: The Cope Environmental Center

Caterer: Radfords 

Photography: Susanna Tanner Photography

DJ: Party Pleasers DJ from Dayton, OH

Rings: Midwestern Jewelers and Estate Buyers in Zionsville, IN

Florist: Amber at Leaning Lily Florist