1. Real Weddings

Kristen & Ryan: A Waterfront Wedding in Indianapolis, IN

Although they first met in high school, it was a trip to Italy during college that inspired Kristen and Ryan to choose a picturesque fountain beside a

Although they first met in high school, it was a trip to Italy during college that inspired Kristen and Ryan to choose a picturesque fountain beside a canal as the setting for their glorious summer wedding. The Bride Kristen Marsh, 22, graphic designer The Groom Ryan Cambridge, 23, landscape architect The Date July 26 After three years of dating, Ryan and Kristen spent Labor Day weekend together at a lake house in Wisconsin with his family. On the evening they arrived, Ryan took her outside and led her to the end of the dock, where he surprised her with candles, a bottle of ice wine, and a sparkling ring. Back in Indiana, they realized the lovely Central Canal in the heart of downtown Indianapolis was where they wanted to “take the plunge.”

No shortage of waterworks here! With more than 200 guests to witness the outdoor wedding, Kristen and Ryan were married in front of a spectacular fountain beside the canal.
The flower girl’s spectacular aqua wagon, expertly spray-painted by the groom himself, made for a splashy ride down the aisle. Her black-and-white polka-dot dress echoed the polka-dot trim on the bride’s gown.
Ever since she was a little girl, Kristen adored all things Tiffany & Co., so it made sense to incorporate the store’s signature color in her wedding decor. Tiffany blue satin was elegantly tied around chairs and draped over the head table at the reception.
The bride’s black-and-white polka-dot heels matched the trim on her gown and were a gift from her sister. She wrote the couple’s initials, along with a meaningful Bible verse, on the soles of the shoes and affixed tiny Tiffany blue bows to the backs for the bride’s “something blue.”
The reception was held in a spacious tent set up just across the bridge from the ceremony site. Inside, the ceiling was adorned with aqua and black-and-white Chinese lanterns and draped with yards of white chiffon.
On a dramatic black-and-white dance floor, Kristen and Ryan shared their first dance to “We Are Man and Wife,” by Michelle Featherstone. Meanwhile, guests were treated to an entertaining slideshow featuring the bride and groom in everything from childhood snapshots to their engagement photos.
Tiffany-style boxes were filled with pink roses and tiny scattered crystals. The beautiful tablecloths, which featured a reversible silver-and-black damask pattern, made the reception’s Tiffany blue elements really pop.
Kristen’s romantic arrangement was composed of soft pink roses, lilies, and silk flowers with pearl centers. The bouquet was wrapped in ivory satin lined with pearls.
Guests grabbed bottles of water dressed up with labels featuring the couple’s monogram and a special message of thanks. The chilled beverages were offered to guests before they were seated at the outdoor ceremony.
The bride’s Jessica McClintock gown set the tone for the day: whimsical and playful with a black-and-white polka-dot trim and tiered ruffled trumpet hem. The bridesmaids wore short, black Ruby Rox dresses with aqua sashes and matching aqua kitten heels, while the groomsmen wore tuxes with aqua ties.
Kristen and Ryan wasted no time in beginning their dolce vita together: After the ceremony, the newlyweds were whisked away Venetian-style in an elegant black gondola. Kristen stayed cool in the summer sun with a chic black-and-white parasol, while guests lined the bridge overhead to shower them with pink rose petals.
To get the three-tiered, square wedding cake just right, Kristen made a mock-up of her vision in Photoshop and took it to the bakers at Heavenly Sweets. The base of each buttercream-frosted tier was trimmed in polka-dot, paisley, and aqua ribbon, while the cake’s mod design was softened by a romantic cake topper composed of a real Tiffany box filled with pink roses.
Kristen and Ryan took a novel DIY approach to the escort cards by spraying smooth, black river rocks with a clear coating and hand-labeling them with each guest’s name and coordinating table number. The original idea had a practical purpose as well -- paper place cards would’ve quickly blown away on the breezy summer day.