Military Wedding at St. Mary's Church in Griffith, Indiana
A newly married couple dips as the Air Force Honor Guard salutes them with sabers.
When Catherine and her mom had a meeting with me to fill me in on all the details of her military wedding to Matt, I knew we would be getting some unique wedding photos. From the Air Force Honor Guard awaiting the happy couple outside St. Mary's Church in Griffith to all of the silly, fun shots and dramatic bride and groom images we took at Oak Ridge Prairie County Park this Fall wedding certainly lived up to expectations. By the way, please don't smart off to the bride or she will crush you with her, blue opened toed wedding shoes. Got that groomsmen!! :)
A bride and groom embrace in a dramatic looking wedding photo at Oak Ridge Prairie County Park in Griffith, Indiana.
The groomsmen pretend to get crushed by a gigantic bridal shoe in this fun wedding photo.
It was a gorgeous day for a Fall wedding which started off at Studio 4 in downtown Griffith. I played roving reporter as the bridesmaids got their hair and make up done. We also had fun doing some retro, old school photos using the washing station and hair dryers as props.
A retro looking, Instagram like getting ready wedding photo under hair dryers at a hair salon.
The bride and her bridesmaids gather around the washing station at Studio 4 hair salon in this fun, retro styled wedding photo.
Catherine had some great wedding photo ideas of her own such as having the rings tucked into the back of her wedding dress and having a first look for her bridesmaids at the Hampton Inn Hotel in Schererville.
Wedding rings tucked into the lacing of the bride's dress.
The bridesmaids are filled with excitement as they anticipate their first look of the bride in her wedding dress.
Catherine's mom helped lace up her dress and stopped for a nice portrait with her daughter. Soon it would be time to drive to St. Mary's Church for the first look with her soon to be husband Matt and of course, the ceremony itself.
Mom helps lace up the bride's wedding dress.
The mother of the bride poses with her daughter for a portrait just before the wedding ceremony.
Catherine and Matt chose the sun drenched fountain area on the side of St. Mary's Church for their first look. It was an exciting moment as they turned to see each other.
An air force soldier turns to greet his bride for their first look at St. Mary's church just before their military wedding.
A tender moment between a soldier and his bride just before their Fall wedding ceremony.
St. Mary's is located in the heart of Griffith on Broad Street and the scene of many wonderful weddings that I have shot. It had been 2 years since I last photographed there and it was great to be back for this wonderful gathering of friends and family of Catherine and Matt.
A military wedding ceremony takes place at St. Mary's Church in Griffith, Indiana.
The bride's father walks her down the aisle at St. Mary Church in Griffith.
It was quite apparent that the emotion from the father and daughter first look that occurred earlier at the hotel would carry on here at the ceremony as well as throughout the day. It was great to see this familial love on display. it warmed my heart to be able to capture it in photos.
The bride's father gives her away at the altar during a church wedding ceremony.
The bride prays at the statue of Mother Mary.
When Matt and Catherine were pronounced married, they had an extra long kiss at the altar as all looked on.
The first kiss at a Catholic wedding ceremony at St. Mary's Church.
The bride and groom celebrate by raising their arms after being pronounced man and wife.
We took family photos immediately after the ceremony and then we took advantage of the gorgeous Fall day to everything from beautiful bride and groom photos to fun wedding party pictures. One of Catherine's request was this selective color shot from the back of the church.
The groom dips his bride at the back of the church in this gold toned wedding photo.
The bridesmaids huddle up together within a heart.
In this fun wedding photo, the girls emulate the Bridesmaids movie poster by looking disheveled and mugging for the camera.
Most of our outdoor wedding photos were taken at Oak Ridge Prairie County Park where we had clear skies and the occasional gust of wind. Perfect for a dramatic bride and groom wedding portrait with veil blowing into the air.
A soldier dips his bride and the wind makes her veil float behind her in this wedding photo taken at Oak Ridge Prairie County Park in Griffith.
The wedding party poses in front of the large sled hill at Oak Ridge Prairie County Park in Indiana.
Soon we were off to the reception at the Halls of St. George in Schererville, Indiana. Once again, the emotion of the day got the best of the bride and her father as they danced their father daughter dance.
An emotional father and daughter dance at the Halls of St. George in Schererville, Indiana.
The bride and her father smile on the dance floor at her wedding.
The seemingly mild mannered groom and his mother took us all by surprise when they went from slow dancing to rocking out to AC/DC.
The groom and his mother smile on the dance floor at the Halls of St. George.
A candid wedding photo of the groom and his mom wear sunglasses as they dance together at his wedding reception.
The groom and his mom play air guitar on the dance floor during his wedding reception.
A whole slew of fun moments broke out at the reception at the Halls of St. George such as this sorority sister dance with the bride.
Sorority sisters surround the bride on the dance floor at her wedding.
I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek at Catherine and Matt's military wedding at St. Mary's in Griffith, Indiana. For more photo updates, please stay tuned here and give the Region Weddings Facebook page a like.