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.

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

May 6, 2015

We were recently featured in an article on Buzzfeed! We had so many wonderful vendors we worked with and I wanted to give them each a shout out! if you are looking for extremely talented people, you must check them out! Lindsey Swanson Hair stylist Lindsey Swanson created wonderful looks for both of our men, the […]

January 7, 2015

So you want a quirky wedding? Well, if I could travel back in time, my wedding would have a woodsy feel and be filled with pastels, apple cider, and vintage dresses. I would want Wes Anderson and his film crew to capture the whole thing. “In your dreams!” would be an appropriate exclamation now. Since […]