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 22, 2017

FILED IN: Weddings

On a warm summer day in June, a few a grey clouds hung over the gazebo at Mustard Seed Gardens. The forecast hadn’t called for rain, but with each passing moment leading up to Kendra and Sam’s outside ceremony the sky turned darker. As Kendra walked down the aisle toward Sam, a few little rain […]

March 10, 2017

FILED IN: Weddings

The window shades were pulled shut on the western side of the loft, but the light of the setting sun was still seeplng through the cracks. Margo and Will stood next to one of the windows, highlighted by the glowing light behind them. Margo wrapped her arms around Will, and he in turn hugged her […]

December 1, 2016

FILED IN: Weddings

The midday sun was shining through the leaves of the tree, leaving a speckled pattern of light and shadow on the sidewalk in the park. It was one of the last warm days of autumn, and the leaves on the trees were a dark shade of green as they began preparations to change color before […]

October 20, 2016

FILED IN: Weddings

The gentle water lapping against the side of the dock on Lake Wawasee sounded like the beginning of a soothing lullaby. As Katie and James stood on the end of the dock, looking out over the water, the sun sank slowly toward the horizon. They turned away from the water, leaving the glare of the sun […]

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 […]

September 13, 2016

FILED IN: Weddings

Lights were strung up on the balcony of the River Glen Country Club overlooking the golf course. The warm glow of their tungsten bulbs looked beautiful under the shadow of the overhang. Wendy stepped out of her reception and onto the long wood planks of the balcony. As she stood looking out at the rain soaked […]

September 8, 2016

FILED IN: Weddings

Light was filtering through the  skylight of on of Indiana State House’s atriums. Outside the sky was overcast and the clouds provided a slight drizzle. This gave the skylight a muted, soft glow instead of a brilliant dazzle like it would typically have midday. On the fourth story of the Indiana State House, standing on a […]

August 19, 2016

FILED IN: Other

Every picture you shoot tells a story. At a wedding I was shooting with my wife, I headed outside of the reception venue to capture some exterior shots of the venue. While I was shooting, one of the videographers working the wedding approached me and he said, “Sometimes I wish I did photography instead of […]

August 18, 2016

FILED IN: Weddings

The reflection of the billowing white clouds against the backdrop of the dark blue sky as they floated over the Fountain Square Library was captured and reflected by the dark windows of the Pioneer restaurant. Meredith and Jake were holding hands as they walked through the Fountain Square Plaza next to the restaurant. As they walked […]

August 4, 2016

FILED IN: Weddings

The branches of a deciduous tree in Matter Park were reaching upward toward the heavens, drinking in the light from the sun with their green leaves. While the tree yearned for the warmth of the sun on this hot day in July, Caleb and Matlin took shelter from the light in the shade provided by the […]