When I heard Kara was getting married, I offered my services immediately because I loved her relaxed and fun vibe. Naturally, I wanted to ensure she had beautiful photos for her special day. Kara and Nate are high school sweethearts, and as the story goes, he was in love with her from the day he met her. They would even walk home from school together in the fifth grade. (I know, swoon).

The couple decided to tie the knot after ten years together. They wanted to make sure they celebrated their love while also respecting their budget. It was quite emotional to walk in and see how much thought and detail these two put into creating a beautiful wedding day curated specifically for them. In my humble opinion, they proved that less truly is more.

They had beautiful pearl details with simple string lights that created a beautiful, warm glow, which just made the venue even more special than it already is. From the lights to the sign language, this wedding was definitely telling Kara and Nate’s love story. A really fun fact about Kara is that she is fluent in ASL, as her parents are non-hearing. While Nate’s grandfather officiated the wedding, Kara translated until the kiss, of course.

Did I mention that these two had pizza and an ice cream cake? They were in it to celebrate the life they have built together and the love they share, and these photos are complete proof that they succeeded. If I were to take a page out of these two’s wedding notebook, it would be to prioritize the things you like for yourself and your partner. The people you want to celebrate with will be right there with you.

Check out this post if you are asking Is a Courthouse Wedding for You?

If you are looking for the cost of this wedding, let me know! The budget breakdown is below, as these two made their list of priorities and made sure to stay within their budget. It was such a beautiful day, and I was so grateful to help capture their love.

The Big 3:
Venue: Herr Cabin, Lebanon, IN $90
Catering + Beverages: Pizza and Soda $80, Ice Cream Cake $30
Photography + Videography: Courthouse Collection by Michelle Armantrout Photography, $1500 Value Donated.

Attire:
Bride: Dream Dress from David’s Bridal $300
Make-up & Hair: Nate’s Step-Mom did Kara’s hair and make-up
Groom: Suit, borrowed from brother
Jewelry: Kara wore special jewelry from their relationship
Viel: $100

Decor:
For Decor, Kara chose thoughtful options like table runners and warm lights to make the space magical. $100

Grand Total: $600
They would have spent $2100 if I had charged for their photography coverage. So you really can still have a wedding in 2026 for $2000. You just have to get creative!

Still craving more?

Check out The Courthouse Collection, where I dive a bit deeper into the courthouse collection.