A lakefront wedding with a bride who is as equally sweet as she is stunning? A groom in uniform? A super fun bridal party? AND, gorgeous florals? Yes please!
I’m so excited to share photos from JR and Elizabeth’s Dunwell’s wedding at The Lighthouse Restaurant in Cedar Lake, Indiana on the blog!
JR & Elizabeth defeated countless obstacles to celebrate their wedding.
Marriage means holding onto one another tight and prioritizing your spouse regardless of what life throws at you. And, after seeing everything JR and Elizabeth endured to get to their big day, I think it’s safe to say that Mr. and Mrs. Dunwell are going to be really great at being married!
I mean, JR and Elizabeth planned their wedding from 2000+ miles away, decided to technically get married the night before their wedding so they could still have their church ceremony while abiding by coronavirus restrictions, were nothing but understanding as their guest list and bridal party changed due to COVID, and handled rain on their wedding day with positivity.
You see people’s true colors when they’re put in stressful situations, and the last few months have proven that both JR and Elizabeth are selfless people who know how to love others well.
And, because they were willing to simply go with the flow, I can honestly say that their wedding was by far one of the most lovely, joy-filled weddings I’ve ever had the pleasure of photographing.
JR & Elizabeth celebrated their wedding at The Lighthouse Restaurant in Cedar Lake, Indiana.
JR and Elizabeth started their wedding day by getting ready at the Staybridge Suites in Schererville, Indiana with their parents and their best gals and guys.
After taking getting-ready photos and doing a first look with Elizabeth’s dad (Larry) and stepdad (Terry), Elizabeth and their bridal party boarded the party bus to head to The Lighthouse, while JR rode with his mama to his wedding.
Initially, JR and Elizabeth hadn’t planned on doing a first look, but after so many changes and since they technically got married the night before, they decided to change their plans last minute and break tradition.
And, I’m so glad they did! Not only was their first look a super sweet moment, but with it raining on and off all day, doing a first look gave them more flexibility for photos, and we were able to adjust their timeline according to the weather.
After their first look, bride and groom portraits, and taking bridal party photos on the doc, JR and Elizabeth said their vows in front of their family and friends. Well, technically, their officiant read their vows, which I thought was ingenious! This allowed JR and Elizabeth to share their thoughts and promises without having to read them themselves through tears. This was both sweet and practical, which is very true to who JR and Elizabeth are!
After becoming husband and wife for a second time, taking family photos, and taking bride and groom photos on the dock, Mr. and Mrs. Dunwell were ready to party! And, considering how sweet these two are and everything that they endured to get to their wedding day, they definitely deserved an incredible celebration. And, that’s exactly what they had!
Their matron of honor and best man (who happen to be married to one another) kicked off the reception with sweet, hilarious speeches, and once the dance floor opened, it never emptied!
Basically, JR and Elizabeth radiate so much joy and love that not even rain or the coronavirus could put a damper on their wedding day. And, I think it’s safe to say that their family and friends will remember September 12, 2020 with nothing but joy!
Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Dunwell!
JR and Elizabeth, I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am for the two of you or how honored I was to be your wedding photographer! From coffee and Google Hangout dates, to getting to take your engagement photos and drink margaritas with you guys in San Diego, to your amazing wedding day, I’ve loved every second of working with you both.
I hope your big day was everything you dreamed it would be and that you love these previews. But, I hope you’re loving being married even more!
Enjoy Napa, Mr. and Mrs. Dunwell! Congratulations!
According to JR, this sticky note is an inside joke. But, he sure did smile when he saw it!
Gotta love a groom in uniform! Thank you for your service, JR!
I can’t begin to tell you how much I adored this bridal party. They were so much fun and just went with the flow without every complaining about the rain!
In case you’re wondering, I bring clear umbrellas to every wedding just in case!
There wasn’t a dry eye among the bridesmaids!
I couldn’t help grabbing a photo with the bride and groom and with Elizabeth and Sarah. Sarah is a 2017 VRP bride!
On Sarah’s wedding day, Sarah and Elizabeth took the mic and sang/rapped every word of “Lose Yourself” by Eminem on the dance floor. So, naturally, I had to request this song for these amazing VRP brides!
Want to see more of JR and Elizabeth? Check out their San Diego engagement photos!
Creative Team
Venue: The Lighthouse Restaurant
Wedding Dress Boutique: Something Blue Bridal
Wedding Dress Designer: Essense of Australia
Seamstress Niaomi at Thread Diva
Bridesmaid Dresses: Azazie
Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist: MADEYABLUSH Bridal
Tuxedos: Dunhill Tuxedos
Florist: Kristina Lynn Floral
DJ: XXVII Events
Invitations: Zola
Photographer: Victoria Rayburn Photography
