I get excited for all of my couple’s weddings, but guys, I’ve been DYING for Nile and Haylie’s big day to arrive. I mean, their wedding has been a long time coming. This stunning couple dated for nearly eight years before tying the knot, and their perfect wedding at the Lahr Atrium in Lafayette, Indiana was worth the wait!
While Nile and Haylie both went to Tri-County High School (Which is also where I went to school. It was nice to see so many people from my hometown at this wedding!), they’re seven years apart in age, so they didn’t know each other very well until Nile sent Haylie a Facebook message. In spite of their age difference, they hit it off. I mean, it only takes about 30 seconds of seeing Nile and Haylie together to realize that they’re perfect for one another. They’re both funny, a little silly, and love to have a good time. They keep up with each other well!
At the beginning of this year, Nile realized he had no doubts that Haylie was the one and decided it was time to ask Haylie the important question. I love how Nile put it:
“One morning, I woke up and I asked myself a few questions. ‘Who else would be there for me like she is?’ ‘Who is the person I miss the most, and who is the person my heart leaps at when I see?’ ‘Who makes me the best person I can be every day?’ I found the answer to all of those questions was only one person, and that was Haylie. I knew that I wanted to be with her forever and I had a good feeling that she felt the same way. So that morning, I decided it was time, and I asked her to be wife. I was super pumped and surprised that she said yes. Just kidding. I wasn’t worried!”
Nile and Haylie are now Mr. and Mrs. Seward, and their big day was just as fun as they are!
Because Haylie was SO organized during the planning process, she & Nile got to relax on their big day.
I feel like I need to get Haylie a trophy because she is by far my most organized bride ever! All of my brides are very on top of things, but Haylie takes the cake (Or donut. Nile and Haylie opted for Hammer Donuts instead of cake for their guests!).
Nile proposed in March 2018, and Haylie wanted a fall wedding. Not wanting to wait another year, Haylie got down to business right away. She booked her vendors quickly, and to be honest, I almost had trouble keeping up with her! For example, I ask my brides for their vendor list a month before their weddings. However, two months before Haylie’s, she sent me a list of all of their vendors with their phone numbers and email addresses. She’s incredible!
Because Haylie was so organized before the wedding, she and Nile got to relax and enjoy every second of their big day. She even stayed off her phone and let others tell her when it was time for the next item on the agenda. On the happiest day of her life, Haylie was the most calm, collected bride I’ve ever seen!
Hilariously enough, the only thing Haylie waited to do until the day of was write her note to Nile. When Ashley (my second shooter), Luke and Logan (associate videographers for Snapshots by Sally Jane), and I arrived at Second Level Studios—where the girls were getting ready—Haylie was Googling quotes from The Office to work into her letter. Now, that’s my kind of bride! I think Zach and I have watched The Office all the way through at least 30 times.
Haylie shared a little of her letter with us, and because she included two of my favorite Office quotes, I feel like I have to share them with you too!
- “The only time you should care about a [man’s] age is if [he] is too young for you. And, I am not robbing the cradle. If anything, I am robbing the grave.” – Michael Scott,
- “I want the house, [Nile]. I want the picket fence. I want the ketchup fights and the tickling and the giggling.”
Haylie, thank you for being such a joy to work with! You were a dream bride!
Rain didn’t stand in the way of Mr. & Mrs. Sewards’ wedding day!
In typical Indiana style, the weather on Nile and Haylie’s wedding day was questionable. There were moments of sunshine and then moments of crazy downpour out of nowhere. Ashley and I watched the radar like crazy all day.
But, with a little prayer, the weather cooperated exactly when we needed it to. With the exception of moving Nile and Haylie’s first look inside and cruising in the party bus from Lafayette Limo during cocktail hour hoping the rain would stop, everything went exactly as planned. Nile and Haylie were completely relaxed, and we were able to get all of the photos needed and then some. It was a wonderful day!
That said, Nile and Haylie’s wedding is the perfect example of why it’s wise to do a first look. Had Nile and Haylie not done a first look, we would’ve missed the window of opportunity for clear skies, leaving them with a rushed schedule, fewer wedding photos, and having to take photos in front of their guests (since the Lahr Atrium is one room and Nile and Haylie used the venue for both their ceremony and reception).
Nile and Haylie’s first look allowed us to shoot all necessary bride and groom portraits, the bridal party, and family photos before the ceremony. So, when we only had 20 minutes of clear skies after the ceremony, there wasn’t anything to worry about. We took a few more photos of the bride and groom while the bridal party enjoyed champagne on the party bus and guests enjoyed cocktail hour.
If you’re a bride or groom debating whether or not you should see your fiancé before your ceremony, I highly recommend opting for a first look! It will take so much stress out of your day and give you flexibility, especially if the weather isn’t in your favor.
Nile and Haylie’s wedding day included special touches that showed the bride and groom’s personalities and what’s most important to them.
It’s easy to plan a wedding day when you simply pick colors and follow traditions. But, what really makes a wedding stand out is when a couple uses their big day to show their personalities. And, this is exactly what Nile and Haylie did!
Just to name a few of their special touches:
Haylie’s ring includes the main diamond from her Gram’s wedding ring.
I’ve known Haylie since grade school, so I can tell you that her grandmother (“Gram” as Haylie called her) was one of the most important and influential people in Haylie’s life. The Pangle family lost Gram to cancer a couple years ago and took the loss very hard.
In memory of her grandmother, Roth Bros Jewelers designed Haylie’s ring around the center diamond from Gram’s ring. I’d be lying if I told you that I didn’t tear up a little while taking ring shots. Now, Haylie will always carry a memory of her grandmother with her.
Belle, Nile & Haylie’s Yorkie, came for photos!
If you know anything about Nile and Haylie, you know that they ADORE their dog, Belle (or Bae, Poopy, or one of the other dozen nicknames they have for her). Belle came along for Nile and Haylie’s engagement session and got to make an appearance at Mom and Dad’s wedding! She didn’t walk down the aisle, but she was still an adorable “dog of honor.”
As a mama who loves her pup like crazy, I’m so glad Nile and Haylie arranged to have Belle dropped off for a few minutes. I know they’ll always treasure these photos. Plus, as if this day couldn’t be anymore perfect, I got to pet a dog on a wedding day!
See Nile & Haylie’s engagement photos!
The bride & groom served donuts instead of cake.
While Nile and Haylie cut a beautiful cake from Mammaw’s Sweet Shoppe, they opted to serve their guests donuts instead of cake. This couple loves Hammer Donuts in West Lafayette, Indiana and made a donut wall featuring their favorite flavors.
This was a fun way to incorporate a treat the bride and groom enjoy and (not that I have any idea what this cost) likely a cost-effective alternative to cake!
I feel SO honored that Nile & Haylie planned their wedding around my schedule.
About a year and a half ago, I gave away a free photo session, and Haylie won! So, I got to photograph Nile, Haylie, and Belle last fall. It was an incredible session and left me hoping that Haylie and Nile would contact me whenever Nile popped the question. And, fortunately for me, they did!
After telling their family and closest friends the big news, Haylie called me and said, “We definitely want you to be our photographer, so please give me all of your fall dates. We’ll plan around your availability when we look at venues.”
Haylie, I can’t tell you how much your words meant to me. Brides like you and grooms like Nile are why I love what I do. Thank you for trusting me to be your wedding photographer!
Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Seward!
Nile and Haylie, your wedding at the Lahr Atrium in Lafayette, Indiana will forever be one of my favorite wedding days! I mean, you planned so well, made your day fun for both your guests and vendors, and were a joy to work with.
I hope you loved every second of your big day. I mean, how could you not?! It was incredible! But, more importantly, I hope you love being married.
Zach and I will both tell you that marriage is hands-down the hardest and most rewarding thing we’ve ever done. With this in mind, my prayer for the two of you is that you’ll continue to find joy and fun in each other but also that every trial will bring your closer together and make your relationship even stronger.
Congratulations, Nile and Haylie!
Creative Team
Venue: The Lahr Atrium
Getting Ready Venue: Second Level Studios
Officiant: Ken Pangle
Wedding Dress: Christina Vail Bridal & Formal Couture
Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal
Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse
Rings: Roth Bros Jewelers
Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist: Shear Madness by Paige
Florist: Rubia Flower Market
Invitations: Basic Invite
Photo Booth: Heartland Party Pics
Caterer: Sovereign Catering & Events
Cake: Mammaw’s Sweet Shoppe
Donuts: Hammer Donuts
Videographer: Snapshots by Sally Jane
Photographer: Victoria Rayburn Photography
Second Shooter: Ashley Richardson Photography