Intimate Rustic Barn Wedding at The Journey Home {Shane+Jme}

Ceremony and Reception: The Journey Home

Video: Shawn Gormley Films

Dress: Natalie M

Catering: Brancato’s Catering

Cake: Nothing Bundt Cakes

How they met: We met on match.com on March 25th 2016. We talked for about 2 months and then we decided to have our first date in Hawaii. We met in Oakland California and flew over to Hawaii for our first date. we had a great time and we have been together ever since.

The Elms Hotel Wedding {Jeff + Yasmine}

Venue: The Elms Hotel and Spa

Floral: Blue Boquet

Hair and Makeup: Salon Kismet

Dress: The Gown Gallery

DJ: Complete Weddings

How they met: For those who do not know the story on how we met it can easily be stated in one simple phrase: Jeff dated the client.
Our first initial meeting was small but it left an impression on both of us - mainly because we found another Packers/sports fan to watch a game with during the project. The one thing I could never get out of my head was Jeff’s laugh. I remember mentioning it to my best friend (and maid of honor) when she asked about the new “fusion” Cerner counterparts working with our team. A little later, I also mentioned that when I looked at Jeff I saw someone who was married with a baby so even though his laugh stuck with me I did not believe he was available so I was going to ignore any feelings I could possibly develop. A month later, the Cerner team came back to our corporate office in Phoenix for a week long “fusion team” meeting. During the week, I spent a day with the training team taking part in their meeting and in turn, spending more time with Jeff. During one of the afternoon breaks, we passed one another in the hall and Jeff made it a point to stop and tell me that he thought the dress I wore was cute and that I looked - and was - beautiful. In that moment I realized that he was single (with no babies!), interested, and so was I. The next day started like any day, my best friend at my desk and us catching up on events from the day/night before. As I told her about the encounter she asked if I was planning on saying something to Jeff to let him know I was interested. After an indecisive speech of “no” and “never mixing business with pleasure”, I received log in information for the Cerner team for our domains - Jeff’s logins were included. I know I made a face as she picked up on it and told me to say something in my email to him with some playful shoving and poking. After my failed attempts at saying “no” she finally told me: “Either you say something to him or I’ll sit on you and I’ll be the one to say something.” For the sake of my sanity, I agreed and at the end of my email to Jeff I wrote: “Let me know when you want to catch a Packers game!” Within an hour, we had traded personal phone numbers and started talking almost nonstop. A week later we had our first date. Jeff and I were both going to be at his project site and decided to have dinner after work at a brewery to watch the Monday night football game. Within a few minutes we were no longer nervous with first date jitters and talking as if we were the oldest of friends, and very little football was watched (if any). Neither of us realized it but three and a half hours had passed before one of us thought about checking the time - our only cue to finally look at a clock was the realization that we were one of two groups still at the brewery and it was rather quiet. It was late (a little after 9:00pm) and I still had an hour drive home. There was so much more that we could talk about but with it being as late as it was we had to call it a night. An awkward car hug goodbye later, I remember having a huge smile while singing loud and off key to my music during the drive home. When I woke up the next morning, I was still smiling so I sent Jeff a text that said: “Good morning handsome! When are we doing date number two?” The rest, as they say, is history.

Heritage Ranch Styled Shoot - Sedalia MO

Heritage Ranch Spring Styled Shoot

Heritage Ranch

Ivory and Lace Bridal

Wild Hill Flowers + Events

Bichsel Jewelry

Hannah’s Cakery

Mia Bella Salon

Bodyworks Day Spa

Weller’s Men’s and Formal Wear

The Crafty Pisces

 

 

28 Event Space Wedding {Mark+Amanda}

Venue: 28 Event Space

Videographer: Morgan Foitle

Hair and Makeup: Traci Morby Styling

Dress: Bridal Extraordinaire

Catering and cupcakes: Shining Stars Catering

DJ: ICON

Hair: Faith Manning and April Bowen

Makeup: Mae Monroe

Officiant: Pastor Timmy

How they met: Mark lived with 2 of his best friends in Waldo, Spencer and Steven, and my best friends habitually hung out over at their house as it was the ‘party house’. I had been invited by my friends numerous times to go hangout over there and party but adamantly declined since I didn’t know any of the guys.. Finally I gave in on Cinco de Mayo to hang out there before we all headed out to a bigger party. We were all hanging out, Mark wasn’t there as he hadn’t got off work yet, then Mark walked in and I immediately knew I had to meet him (TOTALLY HAD A HUGE CRUSH!!). After we met, I continually kept going over to their house and we eventually started dating. Now, almost 6 years later, here we are- getting ready to get married!

LUSH GREEN Wedding Shoot at Loose Mansion

Venue: Loose Mansion

Planning: Nellie Sparkman Events

Hair and Makeup: Traci Morby Styling

Floral: Bella Chic Floral

Cake: Blue Thistle Cakery

Attire: Bridal Extraordinaire

Ring: Glitters Fine Jewelry via Kathryn Elise Studio

Stationery: Lauren Heim (handlettering) /Nellie Sparkman Stationery Studio

Specialty Rentals: UltraPom

Greenery: 2017 Pantone color of the year

This warmer winter weather has me in the spring mood. This winter, I enjoyed snuggling with our new baby girl and revamping a couple things in the business. Sadly I moved out of my studio in downtown Mission. Although I am very excited for the new in home studio/office. I’m itching to get out and shoot and the 2017 wedding trends have me excited for wedding season. We are seeing greenery in everything and it’s so lush and organic. Currently we are working on a styled shoot with this theme, so stay tuned. For now enjoy browsing how you can incorporate this gorgeous color into your wedding day.

photo credit: via bridesofadelaide / via marthastewartweddings / via kateaspen / via bridalmusings / via flaxandtwine / via elizabethannedesigns

Recently engaged? Where to start with wedding planning.

Are you recently engaged and ready to jump into the wedding planning process? Where to start? This article is going to hold some great tips from a photographer’s prospective on how to jump in feet first.

Ask your friends for referrals

My business and personal life is built on referrals. Instead of going to Google, I would rather ask my network. You can spend hours and days reading reviews and sometimes in an online presence you can get a false sense of how a business is run. It’s great to hear from real people who have actually used a vendor’s services.

Think about budgets

Before you even start looking at venues or dresses or envisioning your perfect day you have to figure out who is contributing and how much. You don’t want to get all these things in your head to let yourself down when you can’t afford them. Decide how much you and your partner are willing to put in and if either sets of parents are contributing.

Find a venue and set a date

Venues book up fast. If you have your heart set on a certain place, book it first! Some venues will book up a year or more in advance. Once you have your venue and date booked you can move onto other details and vendors.

Book vendors that can only take on one wedding a day

Photographer. Videographer. Wedding planner. Like a great venue, these people book up fast. Most of the clients I meet with have booked their venue and their second stop is me. I only book one wedding per day, and my associate only books one wedding per day, but I also block off dates throughout the year that I won’t book because of family events; therefore limiting my open dates. Same goes for most videographers and wedding planners, unless they have a larger staff.

Hire a wedding planner

Before you even start researching hours and hours, consider hiring a wedding planner. They can meet with you, get the general idea of the look and feel you are trying to achieve at your wedding and find vendors that would fit your style. This is so helpful because the great wedding planners have contacts with vendors in the industry to narrow things down for you. On your wedding day you do not want to worry about a thing. There are so many little details and logistical details that a wedding planner can take care of to ensure your day runs smoothly. Personally I love working with good planners because they make my job easier as well.

Valentine’s Day Inspired Wedding Shoot - Mission Theater - Kansas City Weddings

Valentine’s Day Inspiration shoot at the newly remodeled Mission Theater in Mission Kansas. Thank you to all our vendors. 🙂

Venue: The Mission Theater

Planning: Simple Elegance - Lauren Kadel

Models: Brennan Ridings + Mike Spero

Hair and Makeup: Traci Morby Styling

Florals: Wild Hill Flowers + Events

Rentals: Ultrapom Event Rental

Invitations: Little Yellow Leaf

Macrons: Au Bon Macaron

Bridal Accessories: The Yellow Peony

{Matt+Meg} Mark Twain Ballroom Wedding

Shot by associate photographer: Nancy Sikes

Bride and Groom: Meg {Glavinich} Smith + Matt Smith

Ceremony: St. Joseph Catholic Church

Reception: Mark Twain Ballroom

Floral: Craig Sole Designs

Dress: Bridal Extraordinaire

Hair: Kelly Hogan

DJ: Complete Weddings + events

Cake: Nothing Bundt Cakes

Catering: Garozzo’s

How they met: Matt and I met on a night out in Kansas City through mutual friends. Matt thought I was with one of the other gentleman in our group but was still trying to get my attention. After a few hours of talking and having drinks, I finally mentioned that I was single and that he should take me to get a glass of wine up the street!

St. Andrew’s Golf Course Wedding {Justin+Rhonda}

Bride and Groom: Rhonda {McNeece} Hohl + Justin Hohl

Ceremony and Reception: St. Andrews Golf Club

Video: Luxe Studios

Florist: May’s Floral

Hair: Alexa at Salon 119

Makeup: Ayesha Baig Artistry

Dress: Mia’s Bridal (Brand- Allure)

DJ: DJ Kreations

Officiant: Dan Deeble, Lead Pastor at Heartland Community Church

How they met: Rhonda was a waitress at Sullivan’s Steakhouse (it had just opened in Leawood) and Justin came in with a bunch of his golf buddies. He left his name and phone number on the receipt. She didn’t call him until almost 6 months later when she was cleaning out my server book. They had their first date at 810 Zone in Leawood. This was in early 2009.