Chloe Luka Photography has moved from Ohio to Indiana, and has also moved to a new blog and website! You can find us by following this link: http://www.chloelukaphotography.com/.
Thank you so much for continuing to follow along with our journey! We look forward to hearing from you soon :)
From the Bride: “Our inspiration for this day was classic and simple. We really wanted our wedding to be timeless, and hope that when you look at our photos you can’t distinguish a year. What was most important to us was our love, and the love from our family and friends surrounding us so we wanted to create a weekend where we could all be together and celebrate that love. We feel that our love is timeless and want the most important aspect to be who we are sharing the day with and have tried to honor our families in small ways throughout the day. One small thing is carrying my Aunt’s and Grandmother’s photos with me in my bouquet.
Unfortunately, there are many loved ones that cannot be with us on October 2nd, so I had all of their initials put on the back of the charms. Also, out of my many, many first cousins there were only two girls – me and my cousin Rhonda. Both my grandmother and cousin carried calla lilies at their wedding so I will have three calla lilies in my bouquet, one for each of us. And will also be carrying my Aunt Linda’s favorite flower, hydrangeas. Joel and I both joined the Catholic Church as adults through RCIA and we will be getting married at St. Patrick’s, which is where I was baptized and confirmed earlier this year.
We are so in love with each other, so ready to become husband and wife, and so ready to share that love with all of the people we love. Joel was an answered prayer, one that I never thought would get answered. My life was full before him and now my life is complete, he truly completes me. Our journey has been beyond my wildest dreams, on October 2, 2014 Joel asked me to be his girlfriend (two months after meeting on August 2, 2014) and that night he said that he was so nervous and he thought it would be easier to ask me to marry him. And here we are, one year later getting married.
This has been the most wild and perfect ride. Each day I ask myself what I did to deserve this kind hearted, generous, giving, exceptional man. I may never know the answer, but I just can’t wait to marry him! I am so thankful for all of the love and support we have received during this time and so blessed to have found my soulmate.”
Joel & Mary are perfect for each other. While she was getting ready Mary teared up just at the thought of her groom. When asked what his better side was during groomsmen portraits, Joel replied: “Mary.” Being the one to document this once in a lifetime kind of love was a true honor and privilege. Thank you both for welcoming us into your lives and hearts with open arms. From being in your home for the engagement shoot to inviting us to the going-away brunch and making sure we left with boxes of cookies, you truly made us feel like part of the family. You two are something special and we are blessed to know you. Enjoy this preview of your perfect day!
Thank you to the incredible vendor team!
Wedding Jacket – Justin Alexander(Engaged at) Wedding Dress Store – Jacquline’s Bridal http://www.bridesbyjacqueline.com/
Tuxedo – American Commodore (http://www.actux.com/)
Wedding Invitations – Michelle Parros (http://www.michelleparros.com/)
Invitations Printed – Stuart & Associates
Florist – Urban Orchid (www.facebook.com/urbanorchid (www.theurbanorchid.com)
Ceremony Venue – Saint Patrick Parish (http://stpatrickbridge.org/)
Oh this sweet family. Faithe was one of the first people I met when my husband was interviewing for a job at College Park Church in Indianapolis. She hugged me, gave me a hand-written card with a bag of peanut butter cups and told me she had been praying for me even before we met. And just like that, I felt welcomed, loved and accepted. In the months since that moment I’ve come to realize that those words characterize the Hamer family. They welcome with open arms, love on others like crazy and have a real gift for making people feel accepted. They have blessed our lives tremendously since we moved to Indiana in June, and I was thrilled to be able to capture some family memories for them at Tuttle Orchards this fall! (Not to mention the fact that their family belongs in a magazine — how cute are their quadruplets?!!!) Hope you enjoy some favorites of our time together :)
From the Bride: “We wanted our wedding to first and foremost demonstrate what we believe marriage to be: a covenant between a man and a woman to love each other forever and reflect Christ’s love for His bride, the Church. Our commitment to Christ is the foundation of our relationship and for that reason the most important part of our day. Of course, we also like to have fun and we wanted to include sentimental details that would reflect our families, our history, becoming one, and I think we succeeded. :) I’m carrying a Spanish “abanico,” or fan, a gift from my maid of honor’s family, (who are from Seville, Spain) as a way for me to carry them with me that day. My “something blue” is the logo from one of my dad’s work shirts and my purse was handmade from my mother’s wedding dress as my “something old.” We couldn’t resist enlisting the service of a local coffee shop to represent our joint love of coffee at the reception, and some Italian heritage from my great-grandmother inspired the Italian cookies and chocolates to go along with the cake. Finally, Jeff and I met on the dance floor at a wedding and were seemingly whisked away into our own fairytale, so it is only appropriate that our wedding had that overarching “fairytale” feel…big dance floor, old theatre, princess dress, our name in lights, gorgeous candelabras filled with beautiful flower arrangements, and some movie scores from some of Jeff’s favorite movies to tie it all together. People told me that fairytales aren’t real, but sometimes I can’t help but think we found our very own. :) ”
Jeff & Morgan’s wedding was nothing short of a dream. From the gorgeous florals by Genesee Valley Florist to Warner Castle where we took bridal party portraits, and the amazing Harro East Ballroom providing a stunning backdrop for it all! Since we were unsure of the weather, the bride and groom rented some time at the Lamberton Conservatory, which I think was one of the best decisions of the day! The portraits we captured there made it feel like we took a quick trip to Florida and Arizona, and I couldn’t be more excited with how they turned out :)
I was thrilled to be shooting a wedding in my hometown of Rochester, New York, and my sister was able to be my second shooter for the day which made it all the more special. Jeff & Morgan – thank you for trusting us to capture these precious memories for you. Every part of your day was perfect, and it was an honor to celebrate with you, cry happy tears with you, and break it down on the dance floor with you ;) This wedding will always hold a special place in my heart and I hope you enjoy some of my favorite images from your fairytale day!
Morgan’s grandma seeing her as a bride for the first time….we were all crying!
Aren’t the florals stunning?!! Well done, Genesee Valley Florist! 
Morgan’s dad seeing her for the first time..such a precious moment! 
Warner Castle was a perfect place for fairytale dreams to come true ;) 
And then we went to Lamberton Conservatory for some more ‘just married’ moments!
Who needs Florida when you have this?! 
Morgan and her family made the marquee sign themselves – doesn’t it look amazing?!
Hands down, these were the best family/bridal party introductions I have EVER seen! Each couple had chosen their own song and made a dance to it for their entrance. Here are some of my favorites, starting with Morgan’s parents! 
Love these girls! We all went to Cedarville together, so of course we had to get a group shot at the end of the night :)
Many thanks to the incredible vendor team that made Morgan’s dreams come true:
From the Bride: “We wanted our wedding day to be more than just a day in a pretty dress and a suit. Our day is about the two of us becoming one, by the powerful grace of God. We are chasing after a love for each other that reflects the love Christ has for us, and we wanted this day to emulate that as well. We want our wedding day to be a huge celebration of the gift of marriage. We have been together for 6 years and are so excited for what is to come.”
Jamie and Corey’s wedding at The Excelsior Room in Wooster, Ohio was a dream to be a part of. Jamie found me through Instagram, and she and Corey traveled 3 hours to do their engagement shoot with me in Ohio. (Already this proves how amazing they are!) From the beginning their mantra was – “We trust your creative eye. Do what you do best!” Seriously?! I could not have asked for a sweeter couple who made my job so easy and so fun because I knew they were up for anything, and they valued creativity and quality for their images.
From the moment I arrived at the bridal suite and saw the raspberry and grey color palette, I knew this would be a good day ;) The colors complemented each other so well for the bridal party and floral arrangements! The bride and groom gave me a full hour for portraits of the two of them after the first look, which made me SO excited for the images we would create together. The love these two share spans 6 years, and it’s so obvious that Corey adores Jamie. He was so precious to watch during the first look, and seeing him shed a few tears as she walked down the aisle to him as his bride made me well up behind the camera. These two also know how to throw a killer party! Their bridal party was so much fun, and the dance floor was full from the moment the music started playing. I loved every minute of celebrating this wedding day, and had the hardest time narrowing down favorites for this post! Jamie gave me extra time to capture details, as well as time with her and her bridesmaids (seriously – such a dream bride!) and I’m thrilled with the results! Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy scrolling through this gorgeous wedding day :)
Vendor Credits:
From the Bride: “Corben and I met while doing a Discipleship Training School in Tennessee. We spent months pressing into Jesus and worshipping Him all over Tennessee and Uganda! I fell hard for the way he treated people, talked about Jesus, admitted his faults, and made me laugh like no one ever had. The months we spent in Africa enhanced our already very simplistic lifestyles and personalities, so we wanted our wedding to exemplify that. We both envisioned a simple, elegant, sweet and rustic wedding, and that’s exactly what came to be!”
I’ve been looking forward to Corben & Marissa’s wedding day ever since their snowy engagement shoot this winter! It is unquestionable that these two love each other in a special way – you can see it in the way they look at each other. It’s beautiful to see and brought many people to tears when they exchanged their vows! Polen Farm in Dayton, Ohio was the perfect location for their elegant day, and we were given perfect weather for shooting portraits – even sneaking some ‘just married’ shots in before a storm rolled through! It’s a joy to know this couple, and I have been incredibly blessed by their friendship and the way they selflessly serve and love on those around them.
Corben and Marissa, I wish you the absolute best as you start this journey together. I know that God has huge plans for the two of you, and I can’t wait to see where He leads! Thank you for inviting me into your day and for making me feel so appreciated and loved. Your day was a true pleasure to document and I hope you cherish the images we were able to create together :) Love you both!
I had the immense privilege of working with Benjamin McCain of Silver Living Productions, who produced an amazing video for Corben & Marissa! He was great to work with, and his video brought me to tears. What more could you ask for?! Enjoy another glimpse into the Barber wedding:
As always, a huge thanks to the vendor team!
Photography: Chloe Luka Photography (http://www.chloelukaphotography.com)
Dani surprised Trey with these special cuff links to wear on their wedding day :)
Look at that mirror! Isn’t it amazing?
I loved the beautiful robes that Dani bought for each of her bridesmaids to wear – so gorgeous! 
What did I tell you about this getting ready space?!! Isn’t it perfect?! 
It’s safe to say that Trey loved the cuff links Dani bought him ;) 
I swear Dani is a model in another life. She’s a stunner!!
Trey and Dani also share a love of coffee, so Madcap was an obvious decision for some bridal party images!
I was thrilled when Dani took us to the Amway Grand to grab a few portraits before we had to head back for the ceremony! It provided a stunning backdrop for this beautiful couple :) 
Dani’s nieces were the cutest. Just wait until you see their moves on the dance floor ;)
I loved that Trey’s mom looked back to watch him while Dani came down the aisle. 
I loved that Dani and Trey chose to sing ‘Great is Thy Faithfulness’ together with all of their bridal party and guests at the end of the ceremony. 
The reception at The Pinnacle Center was filled with blue and white china, hydrangeas, and books. The perfect complement to this couples style! 
The favor that they left for each guest was also a beautiful, personal touch. Dani’s mother is the president of Women at Risk, International, and her organization sells coffee beans from Cafe Feminino that are harvested and roasted by a women’s cooperative in Peru. 
And then there was the most perfect golden hour. Dani and Trey were up for anything, and let us pull them from the reception for a few minutes to take advantage of a beautiful sunset and I couldn’t be more pleased with how these images came out! 
And then it was back in to the reception for a dance party! 
This was Dani’s grandma’s first time dancing ever!! Isn’t she the cutest?! 
It’s not everyday that you have a bridesmaid come up to you at the reception and offer to take pictures of the photographers dancing to one song! So since it was a once in a lifetime kind of opportunity, we decided to take her up on it for a minute or two ;)
The night ended with a perfect sparkler exit as the happy couple drove off in their limo as husband and wife! 
Thanks to the amazing vendor team that made this day possible!
I just love this couple. They are obviously head over heels for each other, but the way they love other people is also radical and authentic. They welcomed us into their home, made us dinner, and enjoyed a Parks and Rec marathon with us to celebrate the end of the photo shoot ;) Who could ask for more?! Oh wait — they also brought us donuts for breakfast! Yep. It’s love.
I’ve known Kate since I was in high school, and to see her as a radiant, married woman with her soul mate was a seriously beautiful thing to capture. He makes her laugh – the real, deep, free kind of laugh, and the way she looks at him is so tender it made me cry while I was editing their images. (so this is your warning – get your tissues ready!)
The double bonus about this shoot is that Kate is also a photographer, and gave me full creative freedom – all the way down to helping them choose their outfits and some location scouting! They were such a dream to work with, and the fact that they are basically models also made my job an easy one.
We spent the evening exploring Michigan at its finest – some gorgeous woodland areas, barns, lakes, and as always, chasing the light.
Kate + Ethan – there are no words. So thankful for your friendship and the time we spent with you in your home. I hope the images we created are ones you will cherish for years to come! Thank you for trusting me and allowing me into this precious time in your lives :) So much love to you both, and happy anniversary!
We had such a fun time with Mary and Joel in downtown Cleveland on Friday night! They were the most gracious hosts – inviting us into their home for some lifestyle images, and then exploring some of their favorite places downtown. Their love is so authentic and joyful – you can’t help but smile when you’re around the two of them! Even though we only spent a few hours together, I felt like I had known these two my whole life. I am so excited to document their wedding in October! Hope you enjoy some favorites of our time together :)
From the Bride: “Our vision for this day grew out of who we are as a couple. Kurt and I love a good adventure, we love the outdoors, and we love time spent with our friends and family. We wanted our big day to represent our interests, our personalities, and of course our lifelong commitment to each other. As a graphic designer and an organizer, I jumped in to planning with two feet! I started a planning binder, spent countless hours on Pinterest, and sketched TONS of ideas. Piece by piece, our vision was formed (and transformed a time or two!). We hoped to create a romantic atmosphere that featured the juxtaposition of natural and refined (i.e. the wild and earthy flowers next to the ornate gold frames). Kurt always offered a listening ear and helpful input, and he even built our custom wooden signs! We owe a huge thanks to our parents for being so generously involved. In my experience, moms are the first to jump in with a list of things that need to be done, and are also the first ones to volunteer their time. Frankly, we’d fall apart at the seams without their constant support. A note to future brides: don’t underestimate your dad’s role in planning. My dad was out scouring thrift stores for vases every time there was a 50% off day, and Kurt’s dad found our venue for us! The planning process was stressful at times, but definitely worth the challenge. It’s the best day of our lives and one we will never forget. And now we begin a new adventure – our life together!”
Cat and Kurtis, it was a joy to celebrate with you two! The details of the day were absolutely stunning, and the dance party at the end of the night was one for the record books! You both bring out the best in each other, and bring so much joy and fun to all those that you spend time with. We loved being able to document your love, and hope you enjoy some of our favorite images from your day!
Credits to a dream vendor team:
From Lea, the Bride: “We met in France in October of 2010. Through years of Skype calls and plane flights, we have developed appreciation for both French and American cultures. We’re incorporating both languages into our wedding. For example, our menu as well as party favors are in french. Our inspiration for the decor is a classy/vintage look that incorporates both of our styles and likes. Through research and many hours of hard work (mostly by Lea :) our vision will come to life using the barn at the Willow Tree as the back drop, and adding elegance to this rustic scene.”
I really cannot say enough about this sweet couple. First of all, Matt plays for Hawthorne Heights. How cool is that?! And he met Lea when they were on tour in France, where she is from. Again, how cool is THAT?! Their day was stunning. Lea has a beautiful, creative style, and her vision for their day was magical, and also happened to perfectly correspond with Chloe Luka Photography’s branding colors! It was meant to be. :)
But in all seriousness, Matt and Lea, I was so humbled by your generosity and kindness. It was evident to all those that traveled hundreds of miles to celebrate with you, and especially to Tim and I. I’ve never had a bride and groom tell me thank you as much as you both did throughout the day. I felt genuinely welcomed into your lives, and felt like a member of the family, especially when you seated Tim and I with your parents for the reception! But that’s just who the two of you are. You love and serve those around you, and live every moment to the fullest. I loved every second I was able to spend with you both, and your wedding was a dream. So excited to share it today! Love you guys :)
Jessie of Sherwood Florist blew me away with her arrangements! Isn’t Lea’s bouquet to die for?! 
Matt built the two large wooden bars for the reception! Aren’t they incredible?! 
They are the cutest. 
I loved this. Both sets of parents left the ceremony together, holding hands. Such a beautiful picture that a marriage is not just unifying two people, but two sets of families. 
And these mamas were too precious. 
Don’t even get me started on these reception details. Lea, you did a phenomenal job! And Jessie from Sherwood Florist, again, so perfect. Everything was a dream! 
And the sun gave us some gorgeous light to end the day! 
The incredible team that brought Lea’s vision to life:
Chloe Luka Photography 