A Notre Dame Wedding at the Basilica & Morris Inn Smith Ballroom

Samantha and Jonny’s Notre Dame wedding was two years in the making, and one I had been looking forward to photographing for a long time. Jonny attended Notre Dame, and the two first met in South Bend while Samantha was finishing her senior year at Saint Mary’s. Years later, they returned to where their story began to get married at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

Their July wedding was romantic and emotional, with so many beautiful details, from Samantha’s Monique Lhuillier gown to their candlelit reception in the Morris Inn Smith Ballroom. Even a surprise rainstorm gave us some of my favorite portraits from the day.

After two years of planning with Samantha from across the country, watching those Basilica doors open and seeing her walk toward Jonny felt so meaningful. Their wedding had everything I love photographing: genuine emotion, thoughtful details, beautiful spaces, and a day that looked incredible on both film and digital.

The Details & Getting Ready For an Unforgettable Notre Dame Wedding

Samantha and Jonny started their Notre Dame wedding day surrounded by their closest people. The details were classic with soft blue touches throughout, like their illustrated stationery to Samantha’s blue Badgley Mischka heels. Samantha wore a lace Monique Lhuillier gown with long sleeves and a full skirt, paired with a long veil that made the entire look feel romantic and timeless.

The morning itself was relaxed. While Jonny got ready with his friends at the Embassy Suites by Hilton South Bend at Notre Dame, Samantha spent the morning with her bridesmaids getting ready at The Morris Inn before stepping into her gown. I loved having time to photograph both the smaller details and those quieter moments before everyone headed to the Basilica.

A Little Rain Before the Ceremony

Right before the ceremony, the rain decided to make an appearance, but Samantha handled the change of plans like a champ. I stayed with her at the Morris Inn, where we used the hallways for portraits with her bridesmaids and some of my favorite bridal portraits from the entire day.

The soft light, her lace Monique Lhuillier gown, and that long hallway worked so beautifully together. Meanwhile, my second photographer was with Jonny and his groomsmen for portraits around the Basilica. The rain may not have been part of the plan, but it gave us such a beautiful mix of images before their Notre Dame wedding ceremony.

A Basilica of the Sacred Heart Wedding Ceremony

There’s nothing quite like a wedding ceremony inside the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. But watching Jonny see Samantha for the first time made this one even more special. His reaction as she walked down the aisle was one of my favorite moments of the day.

Samantha said it perfectly: “We’ve both waited for this moment for so long. The ‘I Do’ I’m about to say will be the easiest thing I ever do.”

After their Notre Dame wedding ceremony, Samantha and Jonny walked back down the aisle as husband and wife. Everyone then gathered outside the Basilica to celebrate them. Their ribbon-wand exit was such a fun ending to the ceremony, especially after all that rain earlier in the day.

Wedding Portraits Around Notre Dame

One of my favorite things about Notre Dame weddings is having this entire campus for portraits. The architecture is beautiful, but so are the gardens, walkways, and all the greenery.

We started with wedding party photos before giving Samantha and Jonny some time for portraits together. I photographed their portraits on both film and digital as we walked around campus. It gave us such a beautiful mix of classic portraits and more candid moments.

Cocktail Hour & A Morris Inn Smith Ballroom Wedding Reception Room Reveal

While we finished portraits around campus, guests headed to cocktail hour at the Morris Inn. They grabbed drinks, enjoyed appetizers, and spent some time together before the reception began.

After portraits, Samantha and Jonny came back for a private room reveal. I always love making time for this. Couples spend so much time planning every detail, and it’s nice to actually see the finished space before everyone comes in.

Their Morris Inn Smith Ballroom wedding reception was classic and elegant. It was full of beautiful white florals, gold chairs, candlelight, and soft draping. And the black-and-white dance floor really added just enough contrast to it all.

The Lindell’s Morris Inn Ballroom Wedding Reception at Notre Dame

Samantha and Jonny made their grand entrance into the Morris Inn ballroom and went right into their first dance. From there, the night was full of great speeches, dinner, cake cutting, and a very full dance floor. They even brought a little Notre Dame into the details with waffle cone bowls stamped with the ND monogram!

This is exactly the kind of wedding I love photographing. A sweet couple, a beautiful church ceremony, an elegant reception that gets a little moodier once the lights go down, and plenty of moments that feel especially good captured on film.

And I truly love when couples getting married at the Basilica keep their Notre Dame wedding on campus at the Morris Inn, too. It gives the entire day such a natural flow, from the ceremony all the way through those late-night reception moments.

Planning Your Own Notre Dame Wedding?

After photographing several Notre Dame weddings over the years, I never get tired of coming back. There’s something so special about celebrating in a place with this much history, from a ceremony at the Basilica to walking across campus with the people you love most.

My approach to wedding photography blends digital and film with an editorial eye and a focus on the moments that happen naturally. I work with couples who care about beautiful details and timeless photographs, but also want to be fully present with their people. If you’re planning a Notre Dame wedding and that sounds like what you’re looking for, you can learn more about me here, or inquire about your wedding date here. In the meantime, you can see more Notre Dame weddings here on the blog.

Love From Samantha & Jonny:

“I booked Cynthia two years ahead of my wedding that was on 7/18/26 and it was one of the best decisions my husband and I made for our wedding day. I first found her on Instagram when a bride I followed posted her wedding gallery, shot by Cynthia. Immediately fell in love with her style of editing and the way she captures a couples big day.

Cynthia was so professional, organized, supportive and everything you would want out of someone who is going to capture the biggest day of your life. I said this to her post wedding but it truly felt like we gained a friend throughout the process, someone who checked in regularly to make sure everything is going smoothly. Come day of and Cynthia was my calm amongst the chaos of the day. From unexpected weather to dress mishaps, Cynthia never showed any other emotion other than calmness and a “we got this” attitude. So many people came up to Jonny and I and told us how organized and nice Cynthia was.

I just went on on and on about Cynthia as a person but her talent behind the camera is just the cherry on top. Her gallery has me distracted at work everyday because all I can do recently is look at my full wedding gallery. Cynthia’s style of editing is timeless and so beautiful. You will not regret booking Cynthia to be your photographer! Her future couples are lucky to have her:) – From a very happy bride with amazing wedding photos.”

Cynthia Mae Photography | South Bend & Notre Dame Wedding Photographer

Vendors:

Photography: Cynthia Mae Photography

Florals: Cherry Road Florals

Cake: Three Leaf Catering

DJ: DJ Visionaries

HAMU- Allee Gushwa, Girl On The Glow

Dress: Julietta Bridal / Monique Lhuillier Dress

Bridesmaids: Dessy Group

Tuxes: Men’s Wearhouse

Rentals: AAYS Rentals

Pipe & Drape: ProShow