Greg & Shelly – Love, Laughter, Great Food, and One Slightly Terrifying Golf Cart Ride

Some weddings are all about the big party. Some are all about the details. Some are all about the couple. Greg and Shelly’s wedding at The Sycamore at Mallow Run was all three. After working with these two for over a year, the wedding day finally arrived and, despite Mother Nature trying to keep us guessing all week, (We literally had tornades in Indiana the night before) we were able to have their ceremony outside exactly where they had hoped. The weather cooperated, the vineyard looked beautiful, and everything came together exactly the way it was supposed to.

Shelly looked absolutely stunning. Her off the shoulder gown featured beautiful lace detailing from top to bottom and a train that looked amazing whether she was walking down the aisle or posing among the vines. The dress felt elegant and timeless, which fit her perfectly. And then there was Greg, looking sharp in a classic black suit and proving that sometimes simple is the way to go. Together they looked incredible.

What I loved most, though, was that Shelly wasn’t afraid to have fun. Most brides don’t go from elegant vineyard bride to rocking a bright pink feather boa and heart shaped sunglasses in the same afternoon, but Shelly pulled it off flawlessly. One minute she was posing for beautiful portraits and the next she had everyone laughing. That pretty much sums up Greg and Shelly as a couple. They know how to enjoy life, laugh together, and not take themselves too seriously while still creating a beautiful day filled with the people they love.

One of the things I loved most about Greg and Shelly is that they simply enjoyed the process! Just two people excited to get married and celebrate with the people they love.

The Outdoor Ceremony Space Looked Incredible

The outdoor ceremony space looked incredible. The team at The Sycamore at Mallow Run always does a fantastic job, but the floral designs from Gracie Mae Events took everything to another level. The soft blue ribbons, colorful florals, vineyard backdrop, and gorgeous arrangements on the wine barrels created a setup that felt elegant without trying too hard.

Inside the Estate Room, the same attention to detail continued. Floating candles, fresh florals, beautiful tablescapes, and thoughtful personal touches made the room feel warm and welcoming from the moment guests walked in. One of my favorite details was the custom M&M favors. Not only were they adorable, but they were personalized with Greg and Shelly’s names and wedding date. It’s always fun when couples add little pieces of their personality throughout the day. Speaking of personality… Let’s talk about the specialty cocktails.

The open bar was provided by Sycamore and Greg and Shelly created three signature drinks that told their story perfectly. First up was The Butters, named after their dog. This was a Colorado Bulldog made with vodka, Kahlua, cream, and a splash of Coke. Then there was The Hazel, named after their cat, featuring a classic margarita. And finally, my personal favorite name of the bunch, The Mosquito Bite. Apparently, that’s where their love story began, so naturally it became a cocktail. Made with vodka, coconut rum, cranberry juice, and pineapple juice, it was a huge hit with guests and definitely wins the award for Most Creative Drink Name of the Day.

Now let’s move on to the food because we need to talk about the food. The catering team from Grafton Peek Catering absolutely knocked it out of the park.Guests enjoyed roast beef, chicken, pork loin, mashed potatoes, vegetables, salad, and every single thing I tasted was fantastic.

And Yes, I Sampled It. It’s Called Quality Control People!

The meal was outstanding and guests were still talking about it long after dinner ended, I know this as I like to eaves drop while monitoring the bar. LOL Just kidding……. When it came time for dessert, there wasn’t just one cake. There were two incredible cake companies involved. Top Tier Cakes Indy created a beautiful three tier wedding cake with three different flavors, with 3 ADDITIONAL Cakes, while Gwendolyn Lee provided a gluten free cake option for guests who needed it.

Now I’m not saying I played favorites. But if we’re being honest, that Champagne flavored cake from Top Tier Cakes Indy may have stolen my heart! WOW!
The music throughout the ceremony was provided by Violin Olga Events. Olga’s violin performance was absolutely beautiful and added such a classy touch as guests arrived and throughout the ceremony itself. Greg and Shelly also asked me to officiate their ceremony, which I was more than happy to do. One of the advantages of having such an experienced team is that we can often wear multiple hats when needed. While I was up front officiating, my team was behind the scenes handling the bridal party, cueing music, keeping everyone where they needed to be, and making sure the ceremony flowed smoothly from start to finish.

We joke that sometimes we play double duty, but having a strong team in place allows us to do exactly that without missing a beat. It’s one of the things I love most about working with our couples. Whether they need a planner, Coordinator, an officiant, or both, we can make it happen seamlessly.

Newlyweds Greg and Shelly sharing a romantic moment among the vineyard rows at The Sycamore at Mallow Run wedding venue

Bride Shelly posing with bridesmaids and flower girl outside The Sycamore at Mallow Run wedding venue in Indiana

Later In The Evening.

Later in the evening, Nathan from First Class Sound and Light kept the celebration going. Nathan was fantastic to work with all day. Great communication, professional, easygoing, and he played exactly what Greg and Shelly wanted to hear. 70’s, 80’s and 90’s with a little early 2000’s mixed in. MY VIBE!

The dance floor stayed busy all night, especially once the kids got involved. Those kids had energy levels I can only dream about. Maybe the M&M’s and cake had something to do with the hyped up levels? LOL Who knows..who cares….everyone had so much fun!
One of the highlights of the day was heading out to the vineyard for photos with Greg and Shelly and the photographer. I’ve worked with Larry many times over the years, he’s just a sweetheart of a man. And a talented Flute Player! Check out his FB page when you get time. For this adventure, I was promoted to Golf Cart Driver.

Now, those who know me know that giving me the keys to anything with wheels is always a questionable decision. But I’m proud to report that everyone survived. The bride survived. The groom survived. Larry survived. I survived. And somehow, I managed to keep my lead foot under control for the day. It was a close call, but we made it. Ya’ll, When I say LEAD, I mean Titanic Heavy Foot here. The vineyard photos were absolutely worth it.

A Huge Shoutout goes to the Incredible Staff at Sycamore, especially Kim.

I’ve worked with this team for years and they continue to impress me every single time. What makes them special isn’t just the beautiful venue. It’s the people. They genuinely care about their couples. They care about the guest experience. And they care about the vendors. That kind of dedication is hard to find and it’s one of the many reasons I always enjoy working there.

I also couldn’t get through wedding days without my amazing assistant coordinator, Emily. Emily was by my side once again and, as usual, absolutely crushed it. The best thing about working with Emily is that I never have to worry. She sees what needs to be done and simply does it. She jumps in wherever she’s needed, takes initiative, keeps things moving, and helps make the entire day run smoothly. Every planner deserves an Emily.

Greg and Shelly, thank you for allowing us to be part of such a special chapter in your story. Watching the two of you together throughout the day was a reminder that love doesn’t care how old you are, how long you’ve waited, or when your story begins.
Sometimes the best chapters come later. And this one was definitely worth the wait.
Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Wieneke.