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.

January 23, 2019

FILED IN: Weddings

A Highlight of 2018 Weddings: Wedding day Details & Candids We had such a wonderful year with so many lovely couples. We saw some of the most beautiful details and moments. I think I can speak for our whole team that we feel so fortunate to have witnessed such special times in each of our […]

January 22, 2019

FILED IN: Weddings

Bride and groom walk while laughing on patio of the Mavris in downtown Indianapolis

Part 1- Wedding Portraits, First Look, & Send-off This year was filled with travel, unique outdoor settings, beautiful ceremonies, and a ton of people in love. We can honestly say that in 2018 we had some of the best couples! We’ve included some of our favorite portraits to celebrate a wonderful 2018 season. Thank you […]

September 5, 2018

FILED IN: Weddings

backlit photo of bride and groom in front of tea house at inn at irwin gardens at night

While their guests danced on the brick porch of the Inn at Irwin Gardens, Rachel and Rudy walked across the garden to spend a little time away alone, away from their guests. In front of the tea house, its tungsten lights glowing faintly at the darkness of a still August night, Rachel and Rudy held […]

December 5, 2017

FILED IN: Weddings

a bride with black hair a bejeweled earrings dances with a red haired man while backlight by off camera flash causing lens flares on the image at their the inn at irwin gardens wedding

The clouds began to gather over the Inn at Irwin Gardens. It was just minutes before Hillary and Nate’s wedding ceremony, and everyone was hoping the rain would hold off for just another hour. As Hillary and Nate stood in front of their family and friends to declare their commitment to one another, the clouds […]

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, […]

October 11, 2016

FILED IN: Weddings

A fountain ran down the side of a small hill that lead to the tea house at Irwin Garden. Two sets of steps led up either side of the fountain to the tea house. At the top of the steps, in the doorway to the tea house, Taylor and Mikey stood looking out over the Irwin […]

November 4, 2015

FILED IN: Weddings

As the sun began to set in Columbus, Indiana, the Inn at Irwin Gardens’s shadow began to stretch like a cat waking up from a nap. Moments later, before the wedding was set to start, that shadow would stretch out over the sunken garden and start climbing its way up the steps toward the tea […]

June 18, 2015

FILED IN: Weddings

Rachel and Stuart sat down back-to-back on the dance floor. They each removed their shoes, and handed one of their shoes to the other person. They were about to play the shoe game. The shoe game is simple. The couple is asked a series of questions where the answer would be one of them, such […]

June 17, 2015

FILED IN: Weddings

It was hot in Columbus, Indiana. My weather app had the temperature pinged at 85 degrees, but it also said that with the humidity it would feel like 95 degrees. The gardens at the Inn at Irwin Gardens are sunk down a few feet below street level and surrounded by trees, so there was no breeze down in […]

June 12, 2015

FILED IN: Weddings

Lisanne and Jay seemed to glide, arm in arm, into the venerable library at the Inn at Irwin Gardens. They sat on an antique loveseat, next to a wall of lanky windows that afforded a lovely view of the charming gardens outside. Before I had a chance to pose them, Lisanne leaned over and whispered into Jay’s ear. A soft smile broke across his face and lifted […]