“Don’t fall in love in Ireland.”
Kylei’s mom, Kelly, said these words to her daughter just two years ago before Kylei left for a study abroad trip. And, well, Kylei didn’t listen! (To be fair, Kelly was afraid Kylei would fall in love with someone who lived in Ireland. Thankfully, Cole was another Purdue student on the trip!)
You can learn more about Cole and Kylei’s epic, Irish love story here, but judging by the happy tears Cole and Kylei’s parents shared, the joy that was felt all day long, and how big Cole and Kylei had one another smiling, I think it’s safe to say that Kylei has been forgiven.
And, today, I’m so excited to share Cole and Kylei’s Hawks Point Acres wedding in Anderson, Indiana on the blog!
Cole & Kylei became husband & wife with a very sweet Hawks Point Acres wedding in Anderson, Indiana.
Now, I get excited for all VRP couples’ wedding days. But, I have to say that I was particularly excited for Cole and Kylei’s celebrate because (1) this is the third wedding I’ve had the pleasure of photographing for the Hickner family—whom I absolutely adore—and (2) Cole and Kylei are some of the smiliest, most kind-hearted people I’ve ever met! (If you want to see more of the incredible Hickner fam, check out Shane and Kate Evans’ and Alex and Casey Hickner’s blog posts!)
Seriously. These two radiate joy and kindness, especially when they’re together, and when I think about them, the word “sun” comes to mind. Between their eagerness to help others, their passion for their careers (They both work in ag.), and their naturally sunny dispositions, Cole and Kylei make the world a better place. And, now, they’re married!
As they planned their wedding day, Cole and Kylei wanted to ensure that their family, bridal party, and guests had a great time. As a result, Cole and Kylei decided to do a first look and take both bridal party and family photos before their ceremony. This way, after their ceremony, Cole and Kylei could spend a little time alone relishing being husband and wife and then spend about 15 minutes taking their “just married” photos. This meant guests didn’t have to wait long at all for the party to really begin!
As you’ll see in the photos below, every detail of Cole and Kylei’s Hawks Point Acres wedding came together beautifully. And, Cole and Kylei’s planning and flexibility allowed them to have a truly fun and amazing wedding day. (Cole and Kylei, if you want to get married every Saturday, I’d be totally cool with it!)
Cole & Kylei used their wedding day to honor their families & gain a little marriage advice.
As a wedding photographer, I’ve shot about 100 weddings at this point (some of these as a second shooter), so I thought I’d seen it all. But, Cole and Kylei are so thoughtful and thankful for their loved ones that they included a few things I’d never seen before, and I can’t help sharing a list of these sweet details!
- Cole asked his grandpa to be his best man. Cole and Grandpa Ron have a special relationship that was built on the farm, and Cole couldn’t imagine a better example of a man to stand by his side on this wedding day.
- Cole and Kylei asked Shane—Cole’s brother-in-law—to officiate their wedding. Cole and Kylei are thankful to be living so close to Shane, Kate, and sweet baby Fox these days, and they wanted to be sure that Shane, a man they love and admire, played a special role on their big day.
- During their ceremony, Cole and Kylei asked each of their parents to stand and offer marriage advice. Through happy tears, Rodney, Kelly, Pat, and Barb shared how thankful they were that Cole and Kylei found one another and encouraged the newlyweds to put God and one another above all else. Barb even wrote a book inspired by The Giving Tree for the occasion, and it makes me teary-eyed thinking about Cole and Kylei someday reading their story written by Cole’s mama to their children.
- After making their entrances to the reception, Cole and Kylei did a photo dash. I’ve heard about this, but this was the first time I’ve done it. Basically, the DJ played a song, and during that song, Cole and Kylei rushed from table to table to take a photo with every guest. This was so fun and sweet, and I’ll certainly be recommending this to other VRP couples in the future!
- Rather than doing a bouquet toss, Kylei presented her toss bouquet to the sweet couple who won the anniversary dance who have been married for more than 65 years. Then, they had the winning couple share their marriage advice with the room.
Cole and Kylei are kind, thoughtful people because they were raised by kind, thoughtful people. And, Mr. and Mrs. Hickner’s wedding day was a beautiful testament not just to the love Cole and Kylei share but also to the incredible examples of marriage, hard work, and caring for others that Cole and Kylei have been blessed with all their lives.
Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Hickner!
Cole and Kylei, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for trusting me to be your wedding photographer!
It’s crazy to think back to Shane and Kate’s wedding day, which I know was one of the first times you’d even met the Hickner family, Kylei. I remember seeing you two having a grand time on the dance floor and you being included in family photos, and I thought, “They’re going to get married. Barb and Pat seem to already know.”
I’ve loved getting to know the two of you over the last two years and having the opportunity to photograph the two of you and the Hickner family multiple times. I hope you love these previews from your Hawks Point Acres wedding in Anderson, Indiana, but I hope you love doing life together even more. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Hickner!
Cole asked his grandpa to be his best man. How sweet is that?!
Because Cole and Kylei decided to do a first look, we were able to take all of their bridal party and family photos before their ceremony. This allowed them to get to their reception faster and thoroughly enjoy their wedding day!
So thankful that this was the THIRD wedding I’ve had the privilege of photographing for the Hickner family! That’s an honor that I just can’t begin to explain. 
The groomsmen did a very convincing “Who has the rings?” fake out!
Want to see more of Cole and Kylei AND read their epic Ireland love story? Seriously. Their story is better than any Nicholas Sparks book. Then, check out their engagement photos at Peaceful Valley Farm in Delphi, Indiana!
Creative Team
Venue: Hawks Point Acres
Officiant: Shane Evans
Wedding Dress Boutique & Seamstress: Trudie’s Bridal & Formalwear
Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist: Detour Salon & Style
Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal
Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse
Florist: Flowers & Friends
Caterer: Shoup’s Country Foods
Ice Cream: American Dairy Association of Indiana
Baker: Jama Cowen
DJ: Bill Shidler
Invitations: Shutterfly
Rings: Fielding’s Jewelry & Time
Photographer: Victoria Rayburn Photography
