Valparaiso, Indiana | November wedding at Aberdeen Manor

I couldn’t have asked for better weather for this November wedding in Valparaiso, Indiana! Jen and Mitch’s wedding at Aberdeen Manor was so beautiful and a ton of fun. I met Jen through another photographer friend who she went to college with (thanks Hannah!!) and I knew just talking with her that their wedding was going to be amazing. I actually met up with both Jen and Mitch for their engagement session about a year before their wedding, so we had an idea of what the weather could be like, but that day it was cold and wet. Not only did it not rain until evening, it was actually pretty warm! It was in the mid 50s with the sun out pretty much all day.

The day started out at Hampton Inn & Suites Valparaiso where both Jen and Mitch got ready separately. Mitch surprised Jen with a wedding gift, the purse she had been eyeing and saying “one day” to. It was such a sweet moment - she didn’t see it coming at all! The ceremony was so beautiful, just seeing Mitch cry as Jen walked down the aisle made me cry! After the ceremony we went outside for family photos, including some BIG groups and then headed out for wedding party photos.

I love bigger wedding parties, they are always so much fun and this group was a hoot! We still had a good amount of time before we had to head to the reception, so we stopped around Valparaiso for some photos of Jen and Mitch alone, and Hannah scoped out a GORGEOUS location right by the venue for some beautiful family photos of Jen, Mitch and Mitch’s son.

The reception started with some pretty epic entrances and the cutting of the giant donut! Mitch actually surprised Jen with their first dance song, which was so cute. Jen’s dance with her dad and Mitch’s dance with his mom were just as beautiful - I’m also just a sucker for parent dances. Remember when I said this wedding party was a hoot? They did not let me down during the reception. They were all on the dance floor just having a blast.

I asked Jen about how her and Mitch met and about their first date, “We met at work! I was an intern at an event company and Mitch worked in logistics. One night we were at a wedding reception waiting for the party to end so we could pick up/teardown our event items. The brides parents paid off the DJ to play for another hour, so we all had to wait outside! We started chatting that night waiting, and then exchanged numbers and that was it!  A few weeks into talking almost daily, Mitch asked me out to dinner after work. We went to Scotty's Brewhouse and had strawberry margaritas and burgers (we didn't drink craft beer back then!). It was a lot of fun, and pretty much after that we were inseparable.“

I of course had to ask Jen about Mitch’s proposal, “Mitch was off work and told me he was driving around scouting new job prospects (we were both looking for a new opportunity with work). I had just gotten off work after doing an interview for a new job that same day. I got back to my apartment and Mitch was there and acting kind of weird, messing with his phone. I went back downstairs to get a bag out of my car, and when I came back up Mitch was grinning at me, and got down on one knee! It was super sweet and just the two of us. I was completely surprised. Turns out, Mitch wasn't scoping new jobs he was getting my ring! Mitch can't keep a secret/surprise to save his life - he said the second he put it in his car and thought about "hiding it" he knew he couldn't wait any longer and proposed that same day!”

Jen and Mitch, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you for both being so amazing throughout the whole process and on your wedding day. It was an honor to be your photographer, and I loved being there to witness your commitment to each other and Gavin. I also want to thank you for hanging out in the rain with me for a few minutes for that epic night photo, it’s one of my favorites!! I wish you both the best.

Photographer: Sydney Marie Photography

Make-up Artist: Morgan Hecht

Florist: Sugarfield Flowers

Ceremony venue: Saint Patrick's Catholic Church, Chesterton IN

Reception venue: Aberdeen Manor

Transportation service: First Student Charter (guest shuttles)

Around Limousine (wedding party)

Bakery: Chemshawz 13 Donut

DJ/Band: 27 Entertainment

Additional vendors: How Sweet It Is - Donut Wall Rental & Decor