Back in 2020, you might remember seeing Kelly and Michael’s first wedding day on my blog. That’s because they were one of those lucky couples that got to have a micro-wedding in 2020 followed by a big celebration in 2021! After making the very best of the cards they were dealt, they shared a vow renewal at The Armory in South Bend in September 2021 and hosted the celebration they had originally planned, but better!
They used all their original vendors, Kelly got to wear the wedding dress of her dreams, and they danced the night away with all their family and friends. It was certainly a celebration to remember forever!
The Armory South Bend Wedding Celebration
When Kelly and Michael’s original 2020 wedding plans changed due to COVID-19, they couldn’t have known that waiting a year would result in one of the most joyful, energetic celebrations I’ve ever photographed. Their September 2021 vow renewal at The Armory in South Bend wasn’t just a makeup celebration. It was a year’s worth of anticipation, love, and gratitude finally released into one incredible night.
The Armory provided the perfect setting for their long-awaited party. The historic industrial space with its exposed brick walls, soaring ceilings, and authentic character created a stunning backdrop for the elegant celebration Kelly had always dreamed of. The venue’s combination of historic charm and open layout allowed Platinum Wedding and Events to transform the space into something truly special.
Kelly’s Dream Dress
One of the most meaningful aspects of the 2021 celebration was that Kelly finally got to wear her dream wedding dress. Designed by Rita Vinieris and purchased at Marie Gabriel Couture, the gown was everything she had imagined. Classic lines, elegant silhouette, and timeless beauty. When she put it on a year after their intimate ceremony, it felt like the moment she had been waiting for.
The dress moved beautifully as she walked through The Armory and later at Copshaholm Gardens for portraits. Clean, sophisticated, and absolutely stunning on her. Paired with her veil and the gorgeous florals from Poppies, Kelly looked like a bride who had been dreaming of this moment for a very long time.
Commemorating a Year Later at Copshaholm Gardens
Just like their 2020 wedding day, Kelly and Michael returned to Copshaholm Gardens for portraits. This time, it was about more than just beautiful photos. It was about commemorating where their marriage began a year earlier. Walking through the same gardens, standing in the same spots, but this time with their full wedding party and Kelly in her dream dress.
The September weather was perfect once again. The gardens provided a romantic, timeless setting for their couple portraits and wedding party photos. There’s something powerful about returning to the place where you said your vows and creating new memories there. For Kelly and Michael, Copshaholm Gardens will always represent both the intimate beginning of their marriage and the joyful celebration that followed.
The Vow Renewal Ceremony at The Armory
Inside The Armory’s industrial brick walls, Kelly and Michael renewed their vows surrounded by everyone they love. The ceremony took place in the heart of the venue, with Burns Rentals providing elegant seating and setup that complemented the space’s historic character. The atmosphere was charged with emotion and excitement.
After a year of waiting, after the small ceremony in the gardens, after all the uncertainty of 2020, this moment felt significant. You could feel it in the room. Family and friends who had watched them navigate the challenges of the pandemic were there to witness them reaffirm their commitment in the celebration they had originally planned.
An Epic Reception
The energy at this Armory South Bend wedding reception was absolutely insane in the best possible way. A year after COVID turned the world upside down, people were ready to celebrate. And celebrate they did.
Pro Show DJ kept the dance floor packed all night long. The Silver Strings Quartet had provided beautiful music during the ceremony, but once the reception started, it was pure party energy. Guests danced, laughed, hugged, and celebrated with an intensity that only comes when people have been waiting for a moment like this.
The speeches were heartfelt and often funny. The father-daughter dance was tender. The mother-son dance was sweet. But mostly, this reception was about joy. Pure, unbridled, long-awaited joy.
Macri’s Bakery delivered a stunning wedding cake that looked almost too beautiful to cut. The stationery from Twigandjuniper tied all the details together. Kelly’s hair and makeup by Nicholas J Salon stayed flawless through hours of dancing. Michael looked sharp in his tux from Louie’s Tux Shop, and the bridesmaids in their Bella Bridesmaids dresses and groomsmen created a wedding party that looked like something out of a magazine.
But the real magic of the night wasn’t in the details. It was in the atmosphere. The Armory’s industrial brick walls and open space allowed the celebration to expand and fill every corner. People weren’t sitting politely at tables. They were on the dance floor, mingling, celebrating, living in the moment.
Worth the Wait
Photographing Kelly and Michael’s journey from their intimate 2020 Copshaholm Gardens wedding to their 2021 Armory celebration was an honor. These two didn’t just endure the challenges thrown at them. They embraced each moment, found meaning in the intimate ceremony, and then threw the party of a lifetime when the world reopened.
Their Armory South Bend wedding proved that sometimes the best celebrations are the ones you have to wait for. The anticipation, the gratitude, the sheer relief of finally being able to gather with everyone you love creates an energy that can’t be manufactured. You have to live through it.
Kelly and Michael lived through it. And they came out the other side with two wedding celebrations, countless memories, and a marriage that was tested and strengthened before most couples even finish their first year together.
VENDORS
Photographer: Cat Alkire | Vow Renewal & Reception: The Armory South Bend | Florist: Poppies | Planner: Platinum Wedding and Events | Rentals: Burns Rentals | Stationery: State of Grey Co. | Cake/Bakery: Macris Bakery | DJ/Band: Pro Show DJ | Hair/MUA: Nicholas J Salon and Spa | Wedding Dress Designer: Rita Vinieris | Purchased At: Marie Gabriel Couture | Bridesmaids Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids.com | Tux: Louies Tux Shop | String Quartet: Silver Strings Quartet
Vow Renewal at The Armory
Planning an Armory South Bend wedding or vow renewal? Whether you’re starting fresh or celebrating a milestone, I’d love to document your day. Contact me to check availability and talk about your celebration.
