Wedding Advice & Photography

Two things we are confident in: Wedding Planning & photography. Van Elk & Co is made up of a team of photographers who love to create portraits of love & happiness and share advice for wedding couples.

This isn't your typical photography blog. We share useful info for couples who are getting married and those who are heading that direction. Let us show you pretty things while you fill your head with all things wedding planning.

August 5, 2022

FILED IN: Weddings

man and woman dance at night for their first dance at their Richmond Indiana wedding.

The sun had set and the air was just starting to cool off on this hot summer day. The dance floor was cleared, and Miranda and Wade stepped out into the center. They held each other close and danced slow, as their friends and family made a circle around them to watch. We loved this […]

March 9, 2021

FILED IN: Weddings

groom dips bride and kisses her at sunset on an overcast day at a Franklin Barn Wedding

The first words I heard after walking into the bridal suite were, “You know he’s an amazing photographer, because I’m a photographer and I picked him to shoot my wedding.” It was one of the nicest things I’ve ever heard a bride say, especially within moments of first meeting in person. Charrie is a great […]

November 12, 2019

FILED IN: Weddings

man and woman hug under trees in a clearing in a park during their Bel Air Kokomo wedding

On a sunny day at the beginning of October, it felt almost too hot to be autumn. The sun shone down on Jackson Morrow Park, and in a clearing betwixt the trees, Lindsey and Sam hugged. They were both dressed in white, her in her wedding dress and him in his full dress Navy uniform. […]

August 3, 2018

FILED IN: Weddings

a groom walks toward his blonde bride under an arch on culver academies' campus

The light of the sun reflected off the pavement and up under an archway at Culver Academy, backlight Niki and Sam as they walked toward each other. Sam reached out his hand to Niki as we walked toward her, wrapping it around her waist once they came together and hugging her close. There were so […]

December 1, 2017

FILED IN: Weddings

a bride and groom dance in a dark room filled with fairy lights at mill top in noblesville indiana on their wedding day

Rows of string lights hung from the ceiling in an undulating stream trailing from the back of the room to the front where they cascaded down the wall. It was in front of this waterfall of lights that Heather and Kyle were married, and later in the day, after all of the guests had moved […]

November 28, 2017

FILED IN: Weddings

a bride and groom stand amongst lush greenery at the inn at irwin gardens

The ivy hung down over the the top of the trellis, vines creeping back down toward earth, reaching to where Jessica and Pat stood underneath with their bridal party. This small bridal party looked ensconced in the greenery of the Inn at Irwin Gardens. Behind them, behind the brick wall that the ivy grew over, […]

November 16, 2017

FILED IN: Weddings

As the sun was setting, Lotti and Rodrigo walked away from the Purdue Memorial Union and toward the Loeb Fountain. When they were dating at Purdue, they used to climb up on the fountain to talk after the water was turned off. Upon arriving at the fountain, they found that it was still on and […]

June 21, 2011

FILED IN: Weddings

Molly and Ben’s wedding was an adventure.  A little before 3:30pm, right as Molly is about to slip the ring on Ben’s finger, the power goes out.   I quickly turned on my flash and continued with pictures, but I saw my husband running down then stairs to grab his.  This was definitely a first. The […]

December 1, 2010

FILED IN: Engagements

                  It was so wonderful to finally meet Kayla and Jeremy. We had been communicating through email for so long because of conflicting schedules. Well, everything is finalized and I’m so excited to be shooting their summer wedding!                    The […]

November 17, 2010

FILED IN: Weddings

                  Who would have thought October 9th, 2010 would be so warm! It was a perfect day for a wedding! This was a very challenging wedding for me, but I’m always up for a challenge. Along with carrying my heavy equipment and a 6 month pregnant belly, I […]