Late Winter Wedding at Hotel Carmichael

Sydney + Bode’s Unforgettable Winter Wedding at Hotel Carmichael | Plum & Poppy Weddings

We were absolutely smitten with every single unique moment of Sydney and Bode’s gorgeous late winter wedding at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel, Indiana! From a jaw-dropping display of hand-folded paper cranes to the groom and his crew getting their game on with Magic: The Gathering while the wedding day buzzed around them, this day was as personal and fun as it gets. The couple truly made their wedding a one-of-a-kind celebration. Check out the sneak peek below — trust us, you won’t want to miss it!

Wedding Photographer: Alison Mae Photography
Wedding Coordination: Plum & Poppy Weddings
Venue, Caterer, and Bakery: Hotel Carmichael
Florist: Violets Are Blue
Hair & Makeup: Black Swan Beauty
Wedding Gown: The Wedding Studio
Wedding DJ: Niko Flores

A Wedding Day That’s So Them in Carmel, Indiana

Sydney and Bode’s wedding at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel, Indiana was packed with personality! Imagine hundreds of handmade paper cranes hanging delicately around the venue — a super thoughtful detail that added charm and a dash of good luck to the whole event. Hotel Carmichael provided the perfect setting for their winter wonderland, with all the elegance you’d expect but also plenty of space to get creative.

And who says weddings have to be all formal? Sydney and Bode kicked things off in their own way with a little friendly Magic: The Gathering battle. Yep, you heard that right — the groom and his family played some cards and had a blast before the real wedding magic began. It’s safe to say their wedding was as much about fun moments as it was about timeless memories.

Let’s Talk About These Vendors Who Nailed It!

Sydney and Bode’s wedding dream team crushed it from start to finish! The talented Alison Mae Photography captured all those heart-melting moments that will have you swooning (seriously, the photos are everything). For the flowers, Violets Are Blue knocked it out of the park with their stunning arrangements that complemented the winter theme perfectly. And let’s not forget the beauty squad — Black Swan Beauty had Sydney and her bridal party looking absolutely flawless.

Plus, how could we leave out The Wedding Studio for that stunning gown that had everyone doing a double-take? Absolutely show-stopping. As for the dance party, DJ Niko Flores kept the beats going all night long, ensuring no one wanted the party to end!

Why You’ll Love Hotel Carmichael for Your Wedding

Looking for a wedding venue that’s as stylish as it is fun? Hotel Carmichael in Carmel, Indiana is your place! Whether you're planning a winter wedding or looking ahead to spring, this venue combines charm, luxury, and a whole lot of heart — perfect for couples who want their big day to be both elegant and uniquely them. And of course, if you want to make sure every little detail is taken care of, Plum & Poppy Weddings is here to help make your wedding day dreams come true!

Oakwood Resort at Lake Wawasee Wedding Planner

We loved helping Sarah & Chris celebrate their wedding at the beautiful Oakwood Resort at Lake Wawasee. We dodged raindrops all day but made it happen so we could sneak in the ceremony outside. See some of our favorite images below.

Vendors:

Photographer: Amanda DeBusk

Wedding Coordinator: Plum & Poppy Weddings

Venue: Oakwood Resort at Lake Wawasee

Caterer: Oakwood Resort

Videographer: Ewing

Florist: One of a Kind Events

Hair & Makeup: Glam Lab

DJ: Amplified Events

Bakery: Pumpkin Patisserie

Rentals: Warsaw Tent Rentals

Ritz Charles Garden Pavilion New Years Eve Wedding Planner

We loved helping Michaela, Joe and their families plan the most epic New Year’s Eve wedding! Michaela and Joe live out of state like many of our clients so we did many things remotely. It was still a seamless day full of fun! See some of our favorites below.

Vendors:

Photographer: Stacy Able Photography
Wedding Planner & Designer: Plum & Poppy Weddings
Videographer: MK Wedding Story
Venue & Caterer: Ritz Charles Garden Pavilion
Hair & Makeup: Something Blue Stylists
Lighting: NBE Event Group
Decor & Balloons: Atmosphere's Indy
Band: My Yellow Rickshaw
Florist: Posh Petals

Daniel's Vineyard Wedding Planner

We loved helping Danielle + Kevin plan their wedding at Daniel’s Vineyard. See the beautiful images below from the Siners Photography!

Vendors:

Photographer: The Siners Photography

Wedding Coordinator: Plum & Poppy Weddings

Venue: Daniel's Vineyard

Bakery: Classic Cakes

Florist: Violets Are Blue

Black Iris Estate Wedding Planner

We loved helping Alexis and Adam with their beautiful late Fall wedding at Black Iris Estate in Carmel, IN. We blended some beautiful cultural details together from the cake to the ceremony for the perfect wedding day. See a few sneak peeks below.

Vendors:

Wedding Photographer: Eivan Photography

Wedding Coordination: Plum & Poppy Weddings

Venue: Black Iris Estate

Caterer: Thomas Caterers of Distinction

Bakery: Classic Cakes

Lake Wawasee Wedding Planner

Wes and Alden had to wait a whole extra year to celebrate properly after already navigating their original venue closing. See their beautiful family lake property wedding on Lake Wawasee in Syracuse, Indiana. We loved helping them plan every detail.

Vendors:

Photographer: Gaby Cheikh Photography

Wedding Planner & Designer: Plum & Poppy Weddings

Florist: Accent Floral Design

Tent & Rental: A Party Apart

DJ: AMS

Hair & Makeup: Something Blue Stylists

Donuts: Rise & Roll

Transportation: Gold Shield Indy

Videographer: Wandering Light Filmworks

Summer Coxhall Garden Wedding Planner

Shayna + Aaron were one of our many couples heavily impacted by COVID. We postponed their wedding multiple times and changed locations multiple times as well. They took it all in stride and were always so kind and positive all while living out of state. We finally got to celebrate them this summer and it was worth the wait! See their beautiful wedding below from Van Elk Co

Vendors:

Photographer: Van Elk Co

Wedding Planner & Designer: Plum & Poppy Weddings

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Coxhall Gardens

Caterer: Ritz Charles

Florist: Accent Floral Design

Hair & Makeup: Something Blue Stylists

Lighting & Rental: NBE Event Group

Band: My Yellow Rickshaw

Fort Wayne Wedding Planner

Kayla + Lucas had the most lovely day for their Fall wedding in Fort Wayne! We loved helping them coordinate all the wedding details. See some of our favorite pictures from their wedding day below.

Vendors:

Photographer: Conforti Photography

Wedding Coordinator: Plum & Poppy Weddings

Venue: Grand Wayne Center

Florist: Roses Bouquet

Bakery: Halls

DJ: Track 7

Videographer: Nita Media

Scottish Rite Cathedral Wedding Planner

We spent over two years helping Neggin + Kaivon plan their beautiful wedding at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Their Persian ceremony was so beautiful and connected their families so closely. We loved watching every tradition including our personal favorite at the reception, the knife dance. The day was full of joy! See some of our favorite wedding day images below.

Vendors:

Photographer: Nathaniel Edmunds

Videographer: Indy Visual

Wedding Planner: Plum & Poppy Weddings

Venue: Scottish Rite Cathedral

Caterer: Kahn's Catering

Florist: McNamara

DJ: DJ Sultan

Makeup: Salon 1 4

Bakery: Classic Cakes

The Barn in Zionsville Wedding Planner

We loved helping Brittney + Kevin with their summer wedding at The Barn in Zionsville. See some of the beautiful day below.

Vendors:

Photographer: Maria McKenzie Photography

Wedding Coordinator: Plum & Poppy Weddings

Bakery: Princess Confections

Caterer: City BBQ

Florist: Bokay

Hair & Makeup: Salon 1 4

DJ: DJ Connection

Daniel's Vineyard Wedding Planner

We loved coordinating Laura + Phil’s wedding at Daniel’s Vineyard. We dodged raindrops all day and managed to make their ceremony happen outside which was so exciting! An incredible vendor team worked so hard to make that happen for them. See some of our favorite images below.

Vendors:

Photographer: Kae Marie Photography
Venue: Daniel's Vineyard
Wedding Coordinator: Plum & Poppy Weddings
Transportation: Advanced Limo
Caterer: Oak Catering
Florist: Vineyard Floral Co
DJ: DJ Connection
Hair & Makeup: Rejuve

Notre Dame Wedding Wedding Planner

We loved helping Jane + Nate pull together the details of their beautiful Notre Dame wedding. It was a beautiful Summer day. Jane + Nate live in California so we never met in person until the week of the wedding. Thankfully Zoom made it feel like we already knew each other so things could go smoothly. See some of our favorite images below.

Vendors:

  • BRIDE’S DRESS : Pronovias

  • BRIDE’S SHOES : Dream Pairs

  • BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESS : David’s Bridal

  • CAKE : Macri’s

  • SWEETS TABLE : Macri’s

  • CATERING : Navarre Catering

  • CEREMONY LOCATION : Basilica of the Sacred Heart

  • DECOR : Burns Rental

  • ENTERTAINMENT : Pro Show

  • FLORIST : Martin’s Supermarket

  • GROOM/GROOMSMEN ATTIRE : Generation Tux

  • HAIR/MAKEUP SALON : Beauty & Bliss

  • INVITATIONS : Shutterfly

  • OFFICIANT : Father Pete McCormick

  • PHOTOGRAPHY : Katie Whitcomb Photography

  • RECEPTION LOCATION : Downes Club

  • TRANSPORTATION : VenueND

  • VIDEOGRAPHY : JV Weddings

  • WEDDING PLANNER : Plum & Poppy

Carmel Wedding Planner: Engagement Pictures

We have been busy planning away with this wonderful duo and Michaela’s mom for their New Years Eve wedding at the Ritz Charles Garden Pavilion. See their fun engagement pictures below from Stacy Able Photography

Black Iris Estate Wedding Planner

We loved helping Hayley & Brian plan their Black Iris wedding! From finding the perfect location for their wedding to picking out all the beautiful details from floral draping the staircase to water color envelope liners. We loved helping them craft their perfect day! See some of our favorite images below from Vow & Forever.

Vendors:

Wedding Planner: Plum & Poppy Weddings

Photographer: Vow & Forever

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Black Iris Estate

Florist: Accent Floral Design

Hair & Makeup: Something Blue Stylists

Caterer: Thomas Caterers of Distinction

Wedding Gown: Marie Gabriel Couture

Bakery: Classic Cakes

Ceremony Music: Deoc Ensemble

Paperie: Noteworthy Expressions

Calligrapher: Laura Reily Calligraphy

Finley Creek Vineyards Wedding Planner: Zionsville, IN

Emely + Adam live in Florida but they’re from the Indianapolis area. They are both die hard Boilermakers which made helping them plan their wedding from out of town so fun. We added many fun Purdue touches that guests loved. See their Finley Creek Vineyard wedding day below.

Vendors:

Photographer & DJ: Complete Weddings

Wedding Coordinator: Plum & Poppy Weddings

Florist: Custom Blooms Indy

Venue: Finley Creek Vineyard

Caterer: Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering

Lake Wawasee Elopement

We loved helping Wes & Alden plan their beautiful Lake Wawasee elopement. Thanks to a great team of flexible vendors who made their dreams come true.

Vendors:

Photographer: Gabrielle Cheikh Photography

Wedding Planner: Plum & Poppy Weddings

Videographer: Wandering Light Filmworks

Hair & Makeup: Something Blue Stylists

Florist: Accent Floral Design

Tent: A Party Apart

Donuts: Rise N Roll

Bloomington, Indiana Private Estate Wedding

I had the most amazing time helping Carleigh + John along with Carleigh’s lovely mother plan their wedding. It was a beautiful day full of southern charm and amazing details! See all the pretty things below from Cory + Jackie. It was a complex wedding with lots of timeline and two weeks of load in and load out. Backyard weddings need a planner more than any other. See how we helped make magic happen for this sweet duo along with a fantastic vendor team.

Vendors:

Photographer: Cory + Jackie
Videographer: Mary M. Cinema
Wedding Planner & Designer: Plum & Poppy Weddings
Florist: Accent Floral Design
Bakery: Classic Cakes
Caterer: Kahn's Catering
Tent: A Party Apart
Rental: A Classic Party Rental and Wow Factors
Lighting: NBE Event Group
Chandelier: Atmospheres Indy
Hair & Makeup: Something Blue Stylists
Paperie: Creative in Bloom
Band: Fountain City Players
Transportation: Gold Shield Indy
Carriage: Blue River Carriage Company

Backyard Wedding Planner Indianapolis

2020 threw Mary & Chris more than one curveball and they handled it with grace. We went from a beautiful wedding at a wedding venue to an elopement in their parent’s driveway. We found a way to still make it incredibly beautiful and special. See their beautiful, intimate backyard wedding below. Thank you to an amazing vendor team who pivoted and made magic happen for this amazing couple!

Photographer: Sara Ackermann Photography

Wedding Planner: Plum & Poppy Weddings

Caterer: Thomas Caterers of Distinction

Ceremony Venue: St. Peter & Paul

Reception Venue: Private Estate

Florist: Accent Floral Design

Lighting: NBE Event Group

Rental: Wow Factors

Winter Columbia Club Wedding: Indianapolis Wedding Planner

We loved every minute of helping Sarah plan her beautiful winter wedding at the Columbia Club Indianapolis! We were so lucky to have had Shelly Ruth Photography along to capture the day so beautifully! See all the cozy fun below!

How Much Does a Wedding Planner Cost?

We came across this article from Brides magazine and thought it was so helpful we wanted to share! Check it out below!

How Much Does a Wedding Planner Cost?written by Michelle M. Winner updated Mar 02, 2020PHOTO BY LAUREN GABRIELLE PHOTOGRAPHY IN THIS ARTICLE

Planner vs. Consultant vs. Coordinator: What's the Difference?What's Typically Included in a Wedding Planner’s Fee?How Wedding Planner Costs are Calculated?Questions to Ask Before Hiring a PlannerMost couples need help with their wedding plans. A wise couple will work with a professional planner to ensure a seamless, stress-free celebration. But where to begin? And how much does a wedding planner cost?While your planner will help you develop your final budget, here are preliminary questions to define whom to hire. Consider location, guest count, how much time you can invest (without a planner estimates are 200+ hours over 12 months), and how much money is available for the wedding and associated costs. Based on these decisions, you can decide whether a full-service planner, partial planner or a coordinator would be best.All planners will save you time. Most planners will save you money by helping you create and stick to your budget. They have money-saving strategies, a network of trusted vendors and they’ll negotiate to get you the best deal without sacrificing quality. You're hiring them for their expertise, style, calming attitude, and business acumen. And for your once-in-a-lifetime wedding celebration, you'll want someone in charge who embodies all of these things.

Planner vs. Consultant vs. Coordinator: What's the Difference?You’re either looking for someone who plans and executes your entire wedding, or someone who manages specific tasks. If you want a destination wedding or a large wedding with multiple events and many moving parts, hire a full-service wedding planner. If you're a DIY couple who only needs guidance and assistance with wedding day logistics, hire a partial planner or coordinator.Full-service wedding planners are involved in the entire wedding process, which includes concept, planning, managing, coordination and a myriad of details until you wave goodbye to your guests.In today’s vernacular the term wedding consultant has largely been absorbed into the term wedding planner. "I think the word 'planner' is easier to comprehend for couples who are looking for assistance,” says Micki Novak, Executive Director of the American Association of Certified Wedding Planners (AACWP). “If someone advertises themselves as a consultant, there is always a question about what they can or will do." If you find a "wedding consultant" that you like, ask them what their services cover."A wedding coordinator is very different from a wedding planner," says Ashley Paul, Co-owner of C & A Event Planning. "Most think of a 'day-of' coordinator who manages the vendors and venue the couple has hired. Actually, the coordinator has to come onboard a month or more before the wedding to know who is who, what needs to go where and what your expectations are."

Don't be confused by an on-site coordinator offered by the venue. While they make sure the ceremony, reception, and catering are on schedule, they are working from the venue's point of view, not yours. Wedding Coordinator vs. Planner vs. Designer: What's the Difference?

What's Typically Included in a Wedding Planner’s Fee?"Every planning company is different," explains Kimiko Hosaki, Founder and Executive Director of Elements by K.H & co, specializing in destination weddings. "K. H & co. is a full-service design, planning and production company, so we take care of every detail. On average, we put 300 hours into planning, designing and producing a wedding for 100 people." Hire a wedding planner to take care of all of the planning and details so you'll be able to enjoy this joyous time with your family and guests. Hire a coordinator if you want help with the timeline, vendor management and specific tasks for your wedding day. 

The 6 Major Reasons You Should Hire a Wedding Planner Interview several wedding planners. You'll spend a lot of time communicating, so find someone that you like. Ask what their services cover and what they don't. For comparison, here are a few of the items the full-service planning company K.H & co. includes as they guide you through and manage the entire process:Assist with stationery design and printing Assist in venue scouting and negotiations. Assist in vendor sourcing, interviewing and negotiations RSVP and guest list management. Floral design, florist interviews, and proposal reviews Rental recommendation and sourcing Rain contingency planCatering negotiation, communication and menu development, Timeline management, Wedding day staffing, pre-production and post-production management

How Wedding Planner Costs are Calculated: The Typical Breakdown Ask prospective planners if they charge a flat fee, a percentage of total wedding costs, or an hourly rate for their services.

All-inclusive fee: The term "typical" is not used by Michele Fox Gott, celebrity planner and President of Center Of Attention Events, in Burbank, California. "I call myself a 'wedding producer' because I produce everything," Michele says. "We design every element, so all details match. We contract entertainment directly with the artists; we do lighting and set design in-house, which saves clients money and gives them a custom look. With a wedding producer, in the end, it should not cost you more than your total budget. We tell clients to give us an all-inclusive price and we will happily produce the wedding because we feel our discounts will cover our fee."

Blended Percentage and flat fee: Kimiko Hosaki of K.H & co. charges a design and planning retainer fee and production fee at a flat rate. Her vendor management and coordination percentage fees are calculated on a percentage of the total vendor and venue cost. "This is standard practice in the industry and is typically 20 percent,” Hosaki said. “Since we charge an initial retainer fee, we charge 15 percent on average. I don't suggest billable hours as your costs can get out of control quickly without you even knowing it."

Flat fee packagesC & A Event Planning's Ashley Paul, based in New York, offers two comprehensive base packages and a la carte options. "We customize anything in between as every wedding is different," Ashley says. Her full-service planning and coordination package starts at $6,200 and the month-of planning/partial planning package begins at $2,150.