• Over 9,000 sq ft for unlimited possibilities
• 360 degree views of Indianapolis from 48 floors up
• In-house lighting, A/V and video screens

Let’s face it… some Indianapolis Wedding Venues just have that WOW factor, and D’Amore ranks amongst the city’s best is delivering that unique experience many couples look for when planning their weddings.  Nestled high above Monument Circle (48 floors to be exact) in Indy’s tallest building, The Chase Tower, Weddings at D’Amore Indy pack a powerful punch with great service, phenomenal food offerings from Thomas Caterers and truly unique space.

After stepping off the elevator on the 48th floor, you’ll notice three distinct areas to host your Indianapolis Wedding. The south-facing room is setup perfect for evening ceremonies and features an awesome view of Indy’s Monument Circle and Lucas Oil Stadium, while the west-facing room is typically reserved for socializing/cocktails, and finally the north-facing room plays host to dinner and dancing. All three spaces feature breath-taking views of Central Indiana with floor to ceiling windows throughout.

“We wanted a great party for our wedding reception, and Event One DJs did not disappoint!  Wes was fantastic to work with, the music selection kept the party going from start to finish, and all of our guests had a fabulous time!  Wes even did the sound for our ceremony, and it was so nice to know he was there and in charge of it all.  It helped my mom and I relax and enjoy the pre-wedding moments.  The night was exactly how Nick and I envisioned it, and we have Wes to thank for that.  If we could do the whole night over again, we wouldn’t change a thing…including hiring Event One DJs.  Thank you for making our wedding ceremony and reception a special memory we will cherish forever.”   ~ Nick & Jenny

• Over 15,000 sq ft for unlimited possibilities
• Onsite chapel for ceremonies
• Cool, outdoor reception pavillioon

One of Carmel Indiana’s premier wedding venues is The Ritz Charles, an expansive facility located just minutes North of I-465 on Meridian St.  With it’s adaptable floor plan (both inside and out), onsite ceremony chapel and prime location with proximity to hotels and restaurants, The Ritz Charles should definitely be on your list of places to tour when planning your Indianapolis Wedding.

For those couples who prefer not to have a church wedding, Weddings at the Ritz Charles offers the perfect solution with an onsite, detached chapel so your wedding ceremony can be held conveniently close to your reception space.  With beautiful hardwood floors and a breath-taking vaulted ceiling, the Ritz Charles’ Wedding Ceremony Chapel is a great option for a unique and intimate wedding ceremony.

When you’re ready to party, The Ritz Charles can easily accomodate your needs with a customizable space inside, and an open-concept Garden Pavilion for those who want an outdoor wedding reception.  A friendly/welcoming staff and solid food choices further establish The Ritz Charles Weddings as a stress-free solution for your Carmel Wedding plans.

“From the first moment we chost EventOne we knew everything would be taken care of. We had some song choices in mind but there were a few we were stuck on. Tony gave us great options and was very knowledgable!! The music was great from the start of our ceremony to the last song of our reception!! I have and will be recommending EventOne to all of my friends.”   ~ Mark & Tiffany

“Everything was wonderful!! Our DJ was so nice and constantly making sure everything was taken care of. We got many compliments about him. Thank you so much for everthing, we will definitely refer you to our friends!!”   ~ Jared & Carli

“Everyone at the reception thought you did a fantastic job! I was very pleased with the professional appearance, and the uplighting looked amazing! I will certainly recommend to others.”   ~ Matt & Liz

“Thank you for a job well done! You took much of the worry out of our day and I’d recommend you for anyone shopping for a wedding DJ.”   ~ Matt & Nikki

“DJ Tony was great! He really got the crowd up on the dance floor. Everyone had a blast!”   ~ Josh & Kathi

“Great DJ service! We were very pleased with everything and would recommend to everyone looking for a good DJ to keep the party going!”   ~ Blake & Molly

As the guests settled in to the ballroom, they were immediately greeted to a phenomenal dinner presentation provided by the JW Marriott’s wedding staff, only to be topped by some witty and thoughtful speeches from Austin & Renee’s close friends to close out the dinner festivities.

Once everyone was full, the reception shifted quickly into party mode as the bridal party and guests took to the floor for almost three solid hours of dancing! In between songs, the Wedding Photo Booth provided everyone a breather from the dancing action, and a great chance to get a personalized keepsake from the wedding.

As the evening began to wind down, Austin’s fraternity brothers gathered on the dance floor for a spot-on accapella serenade to their new ‘Sweetheart’ Nice work guys…

Overall, a great celebration from start to finish!  A very special THANKS to Austin & Renee for inviting us to help host this magnificent celebration.

A few more photos…

Song Selections:

Grand Entrance:  “Thing Called Love” The Darkness
First Dance:  “Tiny Dancer” Elton John
Cake Cutting:  “No One” Alicia Keys

Indianapolis Wedding Vendors:

Planner:  Jennifer McKinney Seet (JW Marriott Weddings)
Photography:  Amanda Duncan (Amanda Duncan Photography)
DJ:  Wes (Event One DJs)

Photo booths have come a long way from the basic “camera in a box” models that were prevalent in shopping malls and on boardwalks over the last few decades. A process that once required users to literally get inside the closet-sized compartment with the camera while having a very static picture taken can now be significantly different. “Open-air” style booths allow for larger groups of people to take pictures together, and some higher-end booths can now even record video messages as well!

One of the best ways to spice up a photo booth for guests is through the use of props. By having a selection of fun and quirky accessories available, basic “sit and smile” pictures can be tremendously enhanced and really add to the entertaining party vibe. Most photo booths will come with a selection of standard props, such as a variety of funny hats, glasses, feather boas, and the like. But the more unique and interesting you can make the selection of props at your event, the more you’ll see everyone taking the opportunity to really let loose and have some fun with them!

When you’re looking around for potential photo booth rentals, here are a few ideas for some of the more “off the beaten path” kind of props. Be sure to ask if your photo booth provider has props like these, or you can always go and purchase them yourself if you’d rather.

FACIAL FEATURES

We mentioned hats and glasses above, but there is so much more you can do to “funny” up your face in your pictures! From fake lips and mouths to a variety of facial hair and bushy eyebrows, having a little fun by changing your “look” will go a long way. After all, who doesn’t want to see Grandma with a handlebar moustache or cousin Billy with full, red, movie-star lips?

SPIN WHEEL

Much like a “choice wheel” in a board game or on a TV game show, this enhancement will have guests spin an arrow on a wheel full of postures and emotions to determine their pose – whatever the arrow falls on, that’s what they’ll have to do in the picture! Whether you create your own wheel or have one provided by your photo booth company with some predetermined options (like “fish lips,” “Vogue,” “shocked,” “flex your muscles,” or a variety of others), you’ll be guaranteed some hilarious pictures for sure.

CHALKBOARD THOUGHT BUBBLES

Simple yet wide-ranging, a blank chalkboard in the shape of a thought or speech bubble allows each guest to customize their photos expressly to them – and to you! Whether they write an inside joke that only you would get or a simple “Congratulations!,” these wonderful props add a written element that is sorely missing from many other pictures.

DRESS-UP/CHARACTERS

If you have a lot of younger guests or just those who like to play “make-believe,” providing multiple pieces of a character outfit will let them transform into someone different for their photos. An eyepatch, crossbones cap, and a parrot will make a rough-and-tumble pirate, and a tiara, jeweled necklace, and a sparkly wand will create a beautiful princess – the only limit is your imagination!

PHOTO FRAMES

Providing a few cool-looking empty wooden or plastic frames (like those you’d hang on your wall at home) allows your guests to take a “picture within a picture!” These are especially a huge hit with youngsters and the more “artsy” guests.

CUSTOM PROPS

to make the pictures even more memorable, consider adding some of your own props that have special meaning to you, your family, or your event. Hosting a winter wedding? Provide a Santa cap, reindeer antlers, and fake presents. Trying to keep things classy yet fun? Get a top hat, monocle, and some canes. Even if you are fans of a particular musician or movie/TV show, you can tailor your props even further to yourselves: grab a Michael Jackson sequined glove, Elton John-style sunglasses, or “The Simpsons” masks or wigs to let your guests share your passions with you!

The ceremony was held in the north-facing room, which offered a great view of the setting sun over Lucas Oil Stadium and the west side of the skyline.

While two of Indy’s premier wedding photographers (Rich Miller and Ian Borgerhoff) handled the after-ceremony formals shots, guests enjoyed a social hour complete with cocktails, finger foods and of course… NCAA basketball on the flat screens   After a few family photos, and a bit of personal time to relax and breathe, Nick and Jenny made their reception entrance in ‘grand-style’ to LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem”. Without a doubt, the pace was set for an incredible night of dinner and dancing to follow…

One of the more memorable moments throughout the fun-filled night, was the accapella serenade from Jenny’s sorority sisters that really capped off the night with a personal touch!

A few more photos…

Song Selections:

Grand Entrance:  “Party Rock Anthem” LMFAO
First Dance:  “Fly Me To The Moon” Frank Sinatra
Father & Daughter Dance:  “Just the Way You Are” Billy Joel
Cake Cutting:  “Pour Some Sugar On Me” Def Leppard

Indianapolis Wedding Vendors:

Planner:  Kelly Robertson (D’Amore Weddings)
Photography:  Rich Miller (Rich Miller Photography)
DJ:  Wes (Event One DJs)

The entire Event One family is proud to announce/welcome Associate Wedding DJ, Jon Brackman, to our full-time office staff.  DJ Jon joined our family in early 2004 as a DJ assistant, but quickly sharpened his skills to let his natural abilities shine through as a proficient wedding host.

When not hosting weddings on the weekends, Jon will work out of our Indianapolis Wedding office as a Solutions Specialist to connect directly with Indianapolis Wedding Venues.

As we continue to grow, we welcome Jon and his dynamic skill set to our office!

After holding their ceremony at The Tabernacle Presbyterian Church just north of the city, guests traveled downtown to join the masses all around Monument Circle as everyone was celebrating the Irish holiday and recovering from the morning’s fun-run. Once inside the beautiful Columbia Club, wedding guests were treated to the venue’s top notch hospitality during an hour of cocktails and mingling in the French Room, before moving to the breathtaking Crystal Terrace Room for dinner and dancing.

Upon enter the Crystal Terrace room, guests were immediately transported back in time with a roaring 20′s theme that included period-specific music to lay the foundation, and softly-lit walls of gold accents. Once settled in, the newlyweds and their party made their spirited arrival via the grand staircase and the celebration was on…

After enjoying dinner, and some incredibly witty speeches from Taylor’s dad and a few VIP’s, they opened the dancing portion of their night with a perfectly choreographed number to Michael Buble’s ‘The More I See You.’ Almost immediately, the dance floor came to life and friends of all ages joined David & Taylor to ring in their marriage (and of course, to honor St. Patrick )

Here’s a few of our favorite photos from the night:

Song Selections:

Grand Entrance:  “Sing, Sing, Sing” Benny Goodman
First Dance:  “The More I See You” Michael Buble
Father & Daughter Dance:  “Sweet Child O Mine” Guns N Roses
Mother & Son Dance:  “I Hope You Dance” Leann Womack

Indianapolis Wedding Vendors:

Planner:  AJ Ploughe (Columbia Club)
Photography:  Jenna Davis (Jenna Davis Photography)
Videography:  Jet Kaiser (Jet Kaiser Films)
DJ:  Wes (Event One DJs)

When seeking out your artistic expression for your wedding, i.e. wedding photography, what is a wrong question to ask?

Answer: How much are you? This question kills the romance. This is the same as saying to your spouse, “what can you offer me that make it palatable to marry you?” Huh? Not the great basis for a relationship.

A better question for a bride to ask herself would be, “Is your wedding worth the investment of great & memorable romantic wedding photography?”

Consider this. You invest your hard earned money to have your event in a venue you will remember. You order the most beautiful floral arrangements so the fragrance permeates the atmosphere. You order a cake from your favorite baker in the design that has captured your heart. THEN, spend little or nothing on someone who has a digital camera who says they can photograph your wedding. In your politeness to Aunt Cindy or Uncle Phil, you let them shoot throughout the day, only to find those tender moments missing from the most romantic day of your life because your family friend was hanging with the family instead of doing what you wanted them to do.

The one thing I hear from many of my brides is that the ONLY thing that will last will be those precious moments captured by a GOOD wedding photographer who knows what he/she is doing.

I have hear the same question over and over again for over 30 years. It would seem that many brides do minimal research except to think that Uncle Kilroy can capture the one day that launches a marriage. Aunt Betsy may own a digital camera, but do you trust your LEGACY to your favorite aunt because she’s taken a few snapshots?

Of course we know the most money spent will be on the food and the venue. You spend the money on your flowers, your food, the grand hall, the officiant, the wedding dress, etc. How many of them will last without an investment? Who will remember the food (except through images)? Who will remember your favorite grandparent (who may passed away after the wedding), because Uncle Kilroy was having a beer instead of capturing his last event with the bride?

Let’s think beyond the moment. Food is eaten. Alcohol is consumed. Your college roomies were drunk. Great party, huh? Well, where’s the one who photographed your dancing in the dark. You’re the one who’s face we can’t see because Uncle Amateur did not use correct lighting to catch the speed of the bouquet or garter toss. Or wasn’t “johnny on the spot” to get that special kiss moment.

What about asking the groom to help in decision making? Team efforts are a good thing. Deciding on what the groom should have a part in is a tough one as well. So what do you want him to help with? Venue? Usually a bride see the artistic side and the dream is mostly hers. Maybe not the groom decision, although his input is valuable. How about photography? Usually the groom is only interested in the bottom line. When it comes to art, he will mostly choose by “how much”. Not a great way to choose art. What about floral? You know he isn’t interested in that. How about the music? Now this is a safe area. He can haggle with the DJ, live band, or whoever. Usually the bride and groom are on a similar page when it comes to music.

Here are some tips for hiring a wedding photographer:

1) Get recommendations and referrals. Our vision at Bello Romance Photography is to “capture romance”.

2) MEET IN PERSON. I can’t emphasize this enough. The chemistry is not understood via email. We will be with you all day on your special day.

3) Understand the packages. Know what you’re getting for your investment. Order an album. Digital media has changed and will continue to change over the next several years. Your CD today may become unreadable in 10 years. And the photographer may have purged his media by then.

4) If you hire a good wedding photographer, your family can come without cameras and enjoy the party.

5) Timing. A good photographer is usually booked 9 months to a year in advance. There are dates they may have available, but mostly they are locked in.

Contributed by:
Marty Moran
Bello Romance Photography

• Banquet seating for 300
• Unique, loft-style event spaces
• Beautiful outdoor wedding garden

If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary for your wedding, you owe it to yourself to tour one of downtown’s most interesting venues, Mavris Arts & Events Center. WIth a warm & inviting interior, Mavris offers couples three unique events spaces plus a spacious downstairs entrance lobby, each filled with it’s own brand of urban charm.

For couples looking to host their ceremony and reception at the same venue, Mavris offers two main solutions. If the weather permits, you can utilize the outdoor wedding garden that features a grand staircase worthy of any bride’s ‘grand entrance’ and an unbeatable view of the downtown Indianapolis skyline. If Mother Nature decides to work against your outdoor wedding plans, Mavris is one of the view venues in the city that has an equally awesome indoor ceremony space up on the third floor of the building.

When it’s time for dinner & dancing, the second floor ballroom boasts room for 300 guests and is filled with loft-style, urban charm (exposed support beams, real hardwood floors, warehouse-style ceiling support pillars, exposed brick walls, and more!).

With it’s cool, sheik urban setting and plentiful food options, Mavris Arts & Events Center will continue to be a highly-demanded downtown Indianapolis wedding venue.

“Wes was very professional when we met with him for our pre-wedding planning; we could tell he was experienced and enjoyed his work. During our wedding reception we heard every request and artist we said we would like to hear. The atmosphere at our reception was so fun and our guests were commenting on how great of a time they were having and I believe this atmosphere was set by having Wes as our DJ. Thank you for the great work Wes!” ~ Carrie & Will

“It couldn’t have been more perfect. From our grand entrance to our amazing send-off, Wes made our wedding reception incredible. He has the perfect “DJ voice” yet doesn’t come off as cheesy either. He had everyone dancing all night. Every song choice was excellent. We mainly left that up to him, trusting his professional opinion. That was a great decision. We’ve only been married two weeks, but we have already received tons of complements on the music at our reception. Choose Event One DJs (Wes especially), and you will be more than pleased by the professionalism, fun, and expertise all for a very reasonable price! It was FANTASTIC!” ~ Jennifer & Robbie

“From the first time meeting Wes, we knew that he had the perfect personality and voice for our wedding. It was comfortable from the get go, and we knew that he could be trusted to put on a great reception. The website is an awesome tool to help plan and Wes started calling us months in advance to check in and offer assistance (with anything wedding related, not just necessarily music). Through the whole process, there was never a snag. Wes was very accommodating, and did above and beyond of what we would ask. I would recommend Event One DJ’s to anyone who needs a rocking party!” ~ Ashley & Jonathan

“Everything was perfect!! The music was fabulous and I couldn’t have asked for a better DJ!!! EXCELLENT!” ~ Teresa & Drew

Looking for more Indianapolis Banquet Halls? Check out our Indianapolis Wedding Venues page.

Bernie and Windy held their ceremony at the Indiana Landmarks Center immediately preceding their reception at the same venue, making for a very intimate evening for them and their 80-plus guests in attendance. Bernie and Windy wisely chose to utilize the talents of a wedding planner to help them coordinate their event to perfection, and right from the get-go, Michele Rogers of Accolade of London absolutely delivered a fantastic evening for both the couple and their guests.

The room looked amazing, the newlyweds and their VIPs were able to relax and enjoy the evening, and we even stayed almost exactly on schedule, a minor miracle for any big event!

In addition to having the entire building looking beautiful, Caitlin and her staff at the Landmarks Center seamlessly handled the guest’s transition from the ceremony to the reception in the Cook Theater. After a fun Grand Entrance, the party was off and running.

With the post-dinner bridal toasts and cake cutting happening right on the dance floor, we had a seamless transition into the lovely formal dances and open dancing. After the kids made their conga-line exit around 9:00pm, the adults danced the night away, with Kevin Monahan of Kevin Monahan Photography catching all the moves on camera just as he’d captured all the day’s special memories.

“Closing Time” by Semisonic was the last song of the evening and brought the party to a fitting end. All in all, it as an amazing event – congratulations again to our new friends, Bernie & Windy!

Song Selections:

Cake Cutting:  “How Sweet It Is” James Taylor
First Dance:  “Someone Like You” Van Morrison
Anniversary Dance:  “I’ve Had the Time of my Life” Jennifer Warnes
Last Dance:  “Closing Time” Semisonic

Indianapolis Wedding Vendors:

Planner:  Michele Rogers (Accolade of London)
Photography:  Kevin Monahan (Kevin Monahan Photography)
DJ:  Tony (Event One DJs)