Kaila and Shaun go from IU to I Do at The Wilds Wedding Venue in Indiana
Kaila and Shaun found all that they were looking for at The Wilds. Their wedding day makes it clear why The Wilds is the go-to Indiana University Alumni venue.
The pair both played basketball in college. Bloomington holds a special place in their hearts as a majority of the bride’s family attended Indiana University (including her brother, Jordan “Jordy” Hulls, who plays professionally in Europe). Shaun also played basketball professionally in Europe, and during a visit back home, the pair met and fell in love. On a sweet fall evening, Shaun proposed to Kaila with her parents present to capture and celebrate the moment!
The family celebration and heartfelt moments continue throughout their June wedding at our close-to-IU venue.
The go-to wedding venue for IU couples
When it came time to plan their wedding, this Indiana couple fell in love with the versatility of The Wilds wedding venue. With our balance of classic and rustic elements, as well as our beautiful indoor and outdoor ceremony options, their choice was simple.
One of their greatest priorities was capturing the candid moments beautifully, and they were in excellent hands with Courtney Sinclair as their photographer and Alex Gurtcheff as their videographer.
Their timeless wedding design was sprinkled with classic design details and set perfectly in the Brown County hillside of our Indiana University venue.
The moments that matter most
Prior to their wedding ceremony, the couple chose two moments of important repose.
Kaila and Shaun opted for a first touch, saving the moment of seeing one another for the aisle, but taking a moment before the day began to focus on one another. This made all the sense in the world for these two sweet souls, now working as a Registered Nurse and a Youth Mentor. Our sliding barn doors made for a beautiful setting with logistical ease so that the visuals weren’t given away, but allowing the pair to start their day with one another.
Then, Kaila had an unforgettable first look with her dad in our outdoor, covered ceremony pavilion. The sweet duo took in this special moment together with sweeping forest views before the ceremony began.
Their wedding ceremony echoed their intentional hearts and love of family, as their parents prayed around them and the pair shared communion. Sealed with a kiss, this newlywed husband and wife were ready to celebrate at their wedding reception!
Personal touches to traditional outfitting
For their classic ensembles, Kaila and Shaun had two particular custom details with a lot of heart.
Shaun’s cufflinks were customized memorials for a beloved family member, with on side containing a beautiful photo and the other with a quote of “always by your side.” We absolutely loved this wedding memorial tribute!
Their flower girl’s dress was also a particularly special “something borrowed” detail. Crafted out of the Mother of the Brides own wedding dress, this sweet dress was another lovely homage to the history and the people that brought this pair together.
To complete the styling, tones of blue complimented each other perfectly for the groomsmen and bridesmaids. This navy color palette feels perfectly fresh against the natural splendor of this IU Wedding Venue.
Words of Wisdom from an IU Bride
Weddings hold a lot of logistics, but with an excellent wedding venue team behind you, you can trust it to all fall into place. Following her wedding, Kaila wanted to share this encouraging piece of advice to other couples planning their wedding day at The Wilds:
Enjoy the entire process no matter how stressful it may get! It goes by so fast. Also, don’t sweat the small stuff because everything always comes together in the end!
Indoor and outdoor wedding reception perfection
The focal-point for Kaila and Shaun’s wedding reception was a grand king’s table layout in our reception hall. The pair celebrated surrounded by their loved ones in framing farm house tables. Artful Blooms perfectly accented the room with low and tall arrangements of white and blue airy blooms with fresh greenery. From start to finish, the day ran smoothly under the expertise of the Dovetail Weddings professional wedding planning team.
The evening was filled with laughter and beautiful shared heritage in basketball and Indiana University history. Many of those family members and friends are notable IU basketball heroes, with Hoosier coaches and players whose accomplishments are joyful marks of pride for our Bloomington, IN community.
For both Indiana-natives, having their loved ones connect at our IU Wedding Venue was as easy as it was elegant. The evening was filled with dancing, inside and out, between our reception space and cafe-light illuminated open air patio with fireplaces.
The evening ended with an unforgettable sparkler last dance around Kaila and Shaun, sending them off just after an Indiana Summer sunset with a touch of magic.
Kind words of recommendation for our IU Wedding Venue
Nothing thrills us more than when our couples and their families look back on the wedding day with joy and beautiful memories. Kaila’s mother, Joni, very kindly wrote the following review:
The staff was very helpful and Alison was very patient with all my questions and she was always ready to help me. I can’t thank Alison enough first off for building a magnificent venue but also for her hospitality and expertise she gave to our family as we tried to maneuver through planning a wedding. We would highly recommend The Wilds to all of our friends and relatives looking to book the perfect wedding venue!
Mother of the Bride
If you are looking for the perfect Indiana University Venue, look no further! We’re ready to plan your dream wedding today. Be the next pair of Indiana University Alumni to go from IU to “I do” at The Wilds wedding venue in Bloomington!
The Vendor Team
| Wedding Venue | — | The Wilds Venue |
| Bar | — | Upland Brewing Co. |
| Caterer | — | One World Catering |
| Wedding Cake | — | Kaila’s Aunt |
| Planning | — | Dovetail Weddings |
| Photography | — | Courtney Sinclair Photography |
| Videography | — | Gurtcheff Media |
| Florist | — | Artful Blooms |
| Musicians | — | Mac Events |
| Hair & Makeup | — | The Mane |
| DIY Stationery, Signage + Details | — | The Bride & Mother of Bride |
| Bridal Gown | — | Sophia’s Bridal & Tux |
| Grooms Suits | — | Jos. A. Banks |
| Jewelry | — | Diamonds Direct |
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