October 18, 2025
Michaela + Cody | Black Creek Ridge Flower Farm | Laotto, Indiana | Indiana Wedding Photographer
Some weddings just have everything — golden fall light, a color palette that belongs in a magazine, florals straight from the earth, and two people so completely right for each other that even the rain feels like it was part of the plan. Michaela and Cody’s wedding day at Black Creek Ridge Flower Farm in Laotto, Indiana was exactly that kind of day, and I am still so in love with every moment I got to capture.
If you’re a bride or couple searching for a wedding venue in the Fort Wayne area, Black Creek Ridge is a hidden gem you need to know about — a working flower farm tucked into the northeast Indiana countryside that brings a romantic, effortless beauty to every wedding held there.
A First Drink Instead of a First Look
Michaela and Cody put their own spin on the pre-ceremony tradition. Instead of a first look, they did a first drink. Standing back to back, they shared a glass of champagne before the ceremony without ever catching a glimpse of each other. It was the perfect blend of sentimental and fun, and honestly, so fitting for two people with this much personality. As a photographer, I love when couples make the day feel like theirs, and this moment did exactly that.
The Details That Told Their Story
From the very first look at Michaela’s getting-ready details, I knew this wedding was going to be special. Her jewelry was stunning. Delicate, intentional, and so perfectly her. But what really made the details sing was the nod to Cody’s life as a pilot. Subtle travel and aviation-themed touches woven throughout the day gave everything a personal, storytelling quality that I absolutely love to photograph. These are the kinds of details that decades from now, you’ll look back on and smile because they were yours.
Florals Fresh from the Farm
One of my favorite things about a flower farm wedding? The florals are alive in a way you simply can’t replicate anywhere else. Every arrangement, every bouquet, every loose bloom was sourced right there on the property at Black Creek Ridge, and the olive greens woven throughout the palette made for the most gorgeous, rich fall color story. Earthy, romantic, and completely unforgettable against the warm tones of an Indiana October.
A Brother, A Best Man, A Marine
I have to talk about Michaela’s brother. He served as both her best man and the one who walked her down the aisle, and there was not a dry eye in the crowd, including mine, behind my camera. Watching a big brother who has served our country step up to escort his sister to the love of her life? That moment was everything. And then, later at the reception, the two of them shared a dance together that was so full of joy and love and a little bit of silliness that it became one of my favorite moments of the entire year.
Vows Written from the Heart
Michaela and Cody wrote their own vows, and I cannot overstate how beautiful they were. Personal, funny in the right moments, and deeply sincere. As a wedding photographer, I live for the expressions on people’s faces during vows. And Michaela’s face as Cody spoke? I will treasure those frames forever.
When the Rain Rolled In
Late in the evening, the clouds moved in, and the rain came with them. And you know what happened? Nobody cared. Heels came off and landed in a pile somewhere in the grass, and everyone gathered under the tent and danced like the weather was just part of the celebration. Because it was. There is something so magical about a wedding where the joy is so big that even an Indiana rainstorm can’t touch it.
Black Creek Ridge Flower Farm — A Dream Venue Near Fort Wayne
If you’re planning a wedding in Fort Wayne, Indiana or the surrounding area, including northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio, Black Creek Ridge Flower Farm in Laotto deserves a spot on your venue list. It’s intimate and beautiful, and the owners are so kind.
Michaela and Cody, thank you for letting me be part of your day. From the pilot details to the marine brother to the rain-soaked dance floor — your wedding was the kind I’ll be talking about for years.
Are you planning a wedding in Fort Wayne, Indiana or the surrounding area? I would love to chat. Get in touch here.
Photographer
LAUREN MICHAEL PHOTOGRAPHY
Venue
BLACK CREEK RIDGE FLOWER FARM
Hair & Makeup
SOUTHWEST HAIR & DAY SPA
Florals
BLACK CREEK RIDGE FLOWER FARM
Catering
SALVATORIS
Cake
COURTNEY’S CAKES
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