Catholic Wedding in West Lafayette | Mr & Mrs Thomas
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas | A Faith-Filled Summer Catholic Wedding in West Lafayette, Indiana
Some weddings just stay with you, and this one? Oh my heart, it was a sacred kind of beautiful.
Carrie and Paul were married on a sweltering Indiana summer day, but no one let the heat steal the joy and love. From the first prayer in the garden to the final dance at the Purdue Memorial Union ballroom, this wedding was overflowing with love, faith, and intentional celebration.
Where It All Began
Carrie and Paul’s story started right where they said “I do”: St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Center at Purdue University. Every Sunday night, St. Tom’s hosts a $3 dinner, and one evening, Paul sat down at a random table and met Carrie. That simple meal turned into a friendship, then a love story filled with laughter, two heartbreaks (Paul got turned down twice before Carrie said yes, but don’t worry, the third time was the charm), and eventually, a lifelong commitment.
These two love cooking together, exploring new places, and binge-watching shows, but most of all, they love Jesus. And it showed.
A Wedding Ceremony Filled with Worship
There’s something powerful about a couple who pours their heart into planning a ceremony that reflects their faith. Carrie and Paul didn’t just invite their guests to witness their marriage, they invited them into worship.
Paul and Carrie have been a part of the St. Toms music ministry for several years. And it was such a blessing to have this talented group sing at their wedding. The ceremony was packed with praise. Song after song lifted the atmosphere to something truly worshipful. As someone who has photographed a lot of weddings, I can honestly say this was one of the most moving Catholic masses I’ve ever experienced.
Before the ceremony began, Carrie and Paul chose not to do a first look, but they did something very meaningful: a first touch and prayer. Standing back to back in the garden, they held hands as the priest offered a private blessing. Then Carrie and Paul prayed together. It was one of those moments I’ll never forget. Quiet, holy, and full of purpose.
Classic Elegance in Purple, Green and Gold
Carrie’s favorite color is purple, and that set the tone for the wedding day’s palette. Add in fresh greens, soft whites, and gold accents from their rings, and it all came together with effortless beauty.
The florals were a true showstopper, designed by the very talented 21 Petals Flower Farm, and Carrie’s mom also wove in lavender flowers by Carrie’s grandmother. It was personal, meaningful, and just stunning.
Hair and makeup by 212 Salon Spa Barber kept everyone looking stunning even in 103 degree heat.
The Purdue Memorial Union South Ballroom was the perfect reception backdrop and located just down the street. As Carrie said, they chose it because it “had good bones,” and with the natural beauty of the room, they didn’t need to do much to make it shine.
A Joy Filled Reception to Remember
Once the vows were spoken and the joyful recessional ended, we took as many portraits as the heat allowed before heading to the Purdue Union.
I’ve got to give a big shoutout to their wedding party. Every single person was kind, cooperative, and full of joy, even in the heat.
The reception was a celebration in every sense. Heartfelt toasts, delicious food, lots of laughter, and dancing into the night thanks to DG Visionaries spinning the music. The ballroom was filled with warmth, literally and emotionally, as friends and family surrounded Carrie and Paul with so much love.
One of the sweetest parts of the evening was during the anniversary dance. As couples gradually left the dance floor based on how long they’d been married, the final three couples left standing were Carrie’s grandparents and two sets of great aunts and uncles.
Even more special, one of those couples—Carrie’s great aunt and uncle—were celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary that very same day. June 21 is now a double anniversary in the family, and what a beautiful legacy of love for Carrie and Paul to step into.
Why I Loved Photographing Carrie and Paul
As a Christian wedding photographer and fellow Purdue alum, weddings like Carrie and Paul’s are especially close to my heart. Their faith is not just a part of their lives, it’s the foundation of their love story. Photographing a couple who worship together, pray together, and build their marriage on Christ? That’s everything.
Even though the weather pushed us to adapt and get creative, we captured so many meaningful moments. And those quiet moments, like the prayer in the garden and the music during the ceremony, were ones I’ll hold close for a long time.
One more thing that made this day so meaningful
Paul’s family lives in India and was not able to travel for the wedding. The ceremony was live-streamed so they could still witness this sacred day from across the world. Because his parents and loved ones couldn’t be there in person, I took every single photo with that in mind.
I wanted them to be able to feel the joy, see every expression, and truly experience the beauty of the day through the images. This wasn’t just about documenting a wedding. It was about creating a bridge across continents, one image at a time.
Carrie and Paul, thank you for inviting me to tell your story.
I’m so honored to have been part of your wedding day.
I pray your marriage is filled with laughter, purpose, and the same steadfast love that was so evident on your wedding day.
And just a little personal note — your wedding day also happened to be my birthday. Spending it doing what I love, with people as joyful and faith-filled as you, was such a gift. I truly couldn’t have imagined a better way to celebrate.
Enjoy these pictures from Mr. and Mrs. Thomas’s summer Wedding at St. Thomas Aquinas and the Purdue Union Ballroom, West Lafayette Indiana
The Wedding Team
Venue
Ceremony – St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Center
Reception – Purdue Memorial Union South Ballroom
Florals
21 Petals Flower Farm
Hair and Makeup
212 Salon Spa Barber
Photographer
Heather Corbin Photography with Myah and Amy- two fabulous “second shooters”! Teamwork makes the dream work. I am thankful to work as a team!
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I’m a photographer who loves to celebrate faith-filled love stories. I specialize in documenting weddings with both timeless beauty and heartfelt storytelling.
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