I had the bestttt time photographing Courtney + Mitchell Martinez’s June wedding at Stony Point Hall!! This day was the epitome of finding the silver lining even when it rains. These two + their loved ones were great at rolling with the punches as their day went on.
Courtney wore a trash bag to get from the bridal suite to the venue, we popped champagne, and ended the night with a rainbow. It might not have been the day they imagined but it was perfect!
Their original date was pushed back because of COVID, so this wedding reception was on the one year anniversary of their small backyard wedding. They finallyyyy got to throw the big party they had always dreamt of!!
Courtney + Mitchell got married at Stony Point Hall, a gorgeous wedding venue in Baldwin City, Kansas. With 14 acres of rustic land filled with beautiful green trees, various flowers, and rolling hills, this venue is to die for. It’s the perfect romantic getaway, especially since you’ll have the whole property to yourself!
Even though the venue is basically a rustic barn, Courtney + Mitchell told me they’re not really a “country vibe” type of couple. They were drawn to the beautiful land and the great staff at Stony Point Hall. And I’ve gotta agree that it was the perfect venue for their big party!!
Since Courtney + Mitchell weren’t able to get the wedding party pictures they wanted last year at their micro wedding, we made sure to have a blast capturing them getting ready!
One of Courtney’s favorite parts of the day was getting all dressed and ready just to have it pour. Her bridesmaids had to put her in a trash bag so her dress wouldn’t get messed up! It was hilarious and definitely memorable. Courtney looked like a cute pink burrito!
We found a small overhang to grab some wedding party photos. I know Courtney + Mitchell were both sooo ready to celebrate with the people closest to them!
I can honestly say that Courtney + Mitchell’s wedding reception was soooo much fun. They had the super unique idea of playing trivia with all their family + friends!! They had a music round, a miscellaneous round, and a third round of questions about themselves!
When I asked about their fave part of the day, they both said they loved seeing their friends + family for the first time in forever. They also said that playing trivia was such a blast!
The newlyweds were so happy to be surrounded by all their favorite people. As they mingled with their guests, it was so obvious that they were just thrilled to be there.
After tacos + trivia, everyone hit the dance floor.
They also had a super cute photo area for all their guests to jump into. This is something I always recommend to my Kansas City couples – a photobooth or photo backdrop is a great way to provide entertainment for your guests AND to capture everyone who came!
During the reception, we grabbed a big group photo. I looove this idea! It helps us ensure everyone at your wedding is captured. It doesn’t need to be a big formal thing, because that could easily get crazyyyy. We can make it fun, like Courtney + Mitchell did here!!
With a cute umbrella, Mitchell helped his blushing bride across the grounds where we grabbed some pics under a gazebo. Kissing + dancing in the rain is always iconic and these two made it even more romantic!
Both of them told me that their favorite images from the whole day are the ones we captured with this surprise rainbow! It was honestly so cool to have this little reminder that despite the COVID delay and then the rain, everything turned out perfectly.
What is some advice you’d share with a future couple that is planning their wedding day?
Research every vendor. Do not be afraid to ask questions to make sure the service you want is what you are going to get. Also, book Natalie, you will not regret it.
What was your biggest concern/pain point throughout wedding planning?
Covid-19 pandemic. We couldn’t wait any longer so we had a small backyard wedding. But we were so grateful to celebrate at a later date with everyone else!
What was most important to you when looking for a Kansas City wedding photographer?
Quality of images and staying true to what the day actually looked like. Also, we wanted someone to click with, Natalie was a no-brainer for us!
Courtney + Mitchell were such a joy to work with. I was so thankful to be a part of their wedding at Stony Point Hall. I loved how their priority was getting photos that genuinely looked exactly like their day. They helped me remember that no pandemic, no weather, NOTHING can stop you from making the most out of your day. After the storm, there’s always a rainbow. 🙂 Congrats again to the Martinez’s!
If you’re still worried about rain on your wedding day check out my blog post here on how to prepare for rain! Or for another example of a beautiful rainy ceremony check out Kala + Cooper’s wedding at Bliss Plaza.
Every bride deserves to be celebrated in way that is unique to them. Here are my tips for 5 ways to level up your bridal brunch.
This is the first step since everything else like food, florals, and decor are based off of that! Ultimately the goal here is to find something that mimics the bride’s taste, since her opinion matters the most!
If you don’t have a theme in mind, pick a fun color palette and go from there! Not every bridal shower needs a theme, but a central idea/color is a great way to level up your bridal brunch.
For this bridal brunch styled shoot, we stuck with bright, vibrant colors like dark green, varying shades of pink, and gold. This created a super feminine and bold vibe for the decor!
Along with the colors and theme, decide what the dress code of the bridal shower will be! As the host/planner of the bridal shower, you set the tone here. Most likely, your guests will be wondering what to wear!
Will everyone dress up? Is this a casual yet cute event? Should guests all wear a certain color? If it’s going to be outside, make sure everyone knows so they can plan for the weather.
Bottom line: only the bride wears white!
Every party needs some snacks! To make it memorable for the bride, find something personalized and unique. You can never go wrong with cookies & cupcakes, especially when they’re from Kat’s Confections.
For Kansas City bridal showers, look into Go Go Candy Co! This is Kansas City’s one and only candy truck. This made our styled shoot sooo unique, fun, and YUMMY.
Decorating your bridal shower venue ensures that it’s photo-ready and super personalized for the bride! Being intentional with the glassware, signage, florals, and other decor really helps set a fun vibe and draw attention to the theme or color palette.
Centerpieces are an easy and gorgeous way to level up the area. These flowers are from The Little Clover and I’m obsesseddd with how they turned out.
While you’re planning the bridal shower decor, keep the bride’s chair in mind. This is where she’ll sit to open gifts. Decorate it BIG like with a balloon arch to really make her feel like a queen! This is more than a chair, it’s a throne.
Balloon arch courtesy of Dolli’s Design’s
During the bridal brunch, your guests will be mingling and eating and chatting with the bride about her upcoming wedding. It’s always fun to gather people with a bridal-themed game!
Keep these short and completely personalized to your guest of honor. The questions can be about the bride, her relationship with her partner, or about the partner! It’s always fun for everyone to learn more about them.
Playing bridal shower games is the perfect way to break the ice, get everyone laughing, and make the bride feel special.
Allllll the credit to these amazing Kansas City wedding vendors for their help at this styled shoot!
Venue: The Firehouse
Planner: Cake & Champagne Event Planning
Photographer: Natalie Nichole Photography (hey, that’s me!)
Videography: Isbell Creative
Rentals: Supply Event Rentals
Balloon Decor: Dolli’s Design’s
Florals: The Little Clover
Candy Truck: Go Go Candy Co
Cookies + Cupcakes: Kat’s Confections
Hair + Makeup: Lumiere Aesthetics Center
Inspo: Planning the Perfect Bridal Shower
Kansas City is one of the prettiest places in the fall. The crisp wind paired with the warm sun makes outside activities so much more enjoyable. The leaves stay bright fall colors for weeks (my favorite to photograph!) and everyone is soaking up time with their loved ones before the busyness of the holiday season. If you’re a fan of fall, you’ll love these Seven Kansas City Fall Date Ideas. From First Fridays to fruit-picking, we’ve covered it all! Grab your significant other for some quality time. Let’s make some memories!
Is anyone surprised this is first on my list of date ideas? With a 10-acre corn maze and a 10-acre pumpkin patch, this is one of Kansas City’s favorite fall date activities.
The drive down south to Louisburg Cider Mill is beautiful, and the journey is beyond worth it! Their corn maze is always a unique theme, and the cider donuts are *chefs kiss.* Look into their upcoming events to find a day with local vendors, live music, hay wagon rides, and farm animals.
Cider Hill Family Orchard offers tons of delish apple treats to enjoy before you head out into the orchard to pick apples! There are other activities too: pumpkin picking, hayrides, fishing, and lots of photo opportunities. Bonus: leashed dogs are allowed!
Open Saturdays and Sundays, Alldredge Orchards is the perfect pumpkin picking place! They have a hayride, barnyard, and lots of goodies in their rustic barn store. Don’t worry, your leashed dog is allowed here too!
Downtown is always fun on Friday nights but the Crossroads are the place to be for you + your boo on First Fridays. Grab an adult Capri sun from Mean Mule, stop in Parlor for some live music, and peruse through dozens of art galleries. There are always booths to shop unique, local trinkets, and don’t forget about the food trucks!
First Fridays is a classic Kansas City date night! This Fall, the dates are September 3, October 1, and November 5th. Mark your calendars!
If you’ve been in Kansas City for any length of time, chances are you’ve been to the River Market! Every Saturday dozens of vendors gather to showcase their fresh fruits & veggies, homemade bread, specialty salsa, & beautiful bouquets of flowers.
This is a fun Kansas City date if you’re a fan of supporting local businesses and shopping small! After shopping, grab lunch at The Opera House Coffee & Emporium, or take the free street car downtown.
There’s nothing more “Kansas City” than the plaza! The 2021 Plaza Art Fair is held September 24-26th and if you haven’t been before, this is your shot. This year is the 90th anniversary of the art fair! With live music, food stands, art exhibits, and different activities, you and your date won’t be bored.
Spend the afternoon shopping, trying drinks, & supporting small businesses. Pick up dinner from a food stand and eat it while you enjoy a live band. Grab ice cream from Ice Cream BAE in the Made in KC Marketplace to end your evening on a sweet note! This is a Kansas City fall date that you’ll remember for years.
Everyone knows Kansas City is beautiful in the fall. The trees stay yellow and orange for weeks and the weather is perfect. It’s definitely my favorite time for a couples photoshoot!
A photo session is such a cute way to top off your date. I can meet you at any of the places listed above to capture the sweet memories of your fall date! Or do you have another location in mind? Let’s chat about it and make alllll your Kansas City fall date dreams come true.
Follow along on Instagram where I’ll soon release my dates for mini-sessions! These are totally a fan-favorite so I don’t want you to miss them.
These Kansas City fall date ideas are perfect to spend some time with your boo, check out some photo inspo from last season here and here.
This colorful day celebrating Kala + Cooper was amazing. I know a lot of couples might be nervous about planning an outdoor wedding in Kansas City, because our weather can be a little unpredictable! But Kala + Cooper proved that with the right venue, a few umbrellas, and a whole lotta love, nothing can stop a wedding that’s meant to be. This blog post will feature all my favorite parts of their outdoor wedding at Bliss Plaza.
As a Kansas City wedding photographer, I LOVE when my couples know how to party! These two planned a day that honestly felt so unique to them.
From the bright color palette, to the fun socks, all the way to Kala killing it on the dance floor… These two were clearly sooooo happy to get married. They’re head over heels for each other, and we had a wonderful time celebrating that!
Everyone got ready on-site at The Bliss Plaza Event Venue. Their bridal suite was perfect for pre-wedding drinks + dancing! Kala and her girls rocked their Harry Potter themed shirts.
Cooper grabbed a drink with his guys. They were such a fun group!
Kala told me that the moment this felt real, the moment it really kicked in, was reading the letter that Cooper wrote her. She said this was one of, if not THE, best part of her day.
Something unique I looooved was the first look Kala did with her grandmas. This was such a special moment and I hope she cherishes these pictures forever.
Kala was absolutely glowing in her Morilee/Wedding Expressions by Geri dress! My favorite part is this detail on her bodice.
The coolest part about Kala’s wedding OOTD was her shoes. She decorated them herself! Seriously so impressive.
The bridesmaids were gushing over her – It’s so fun to do a first look with your girls! Their dresses were so fun and really helped elevate the colorful theme of the day. All the girls looked bomb, and their dresses were from Azazie.
Cooper KNOWS that his bride is stunning. These two crack me up.
I love a navy blue suit, and Cooper was killing it in his. All the guys’ outfits were Calvin Klein at Men’s Wearhouse. Their pink ties matched the ceremony decor and coordinated with the girls’ dresses. These colors just make me so happy!!
And we can’t forget about the socks. Super cute, boys!
I love outdoor ceremonies because the lighting is natural and the scenery is beautiful.
The Hamiltons got married at The Bliss Plaza Event Venue, with a beautiful landscape surrounding their outdoor ceremony space. Guests were able to keep dry under this cute gazebo!
Kala + Cooper wrote their own vows. It always impresses me so much when couples do this!! I love hearing what you love about your favorite person. The Hamiltons did a beautiful job of speaking from their hearts. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
Despite the rain, everyone was so happy to see these two finally tie the knot.
But nobody was happier than Kala + Cooper!
Kala + Cooper told me the best part of their day was having all their favorite people in one place. As I looked around their reception, I could tell their favorite people were over-the-moon happy for the beautiful couple!!
The Bliss Plaza was the perfect space for their indoor wedding reception in Kansas City. It’s a blank slate with the ideal balance of rustic and elegance! The neutral aesthetic makes it easy to customize, especially with the bright colors that Kala + Cooper picked.
I loved this H that all their guests signed. This is a unique way to display all the support from their family + friends!
The cupcake bar was an easy and DELICIOUS way to feed a crowd, plus the colors matched their theme perfectly! All their food was done by Katie’s Catering.
As Disney fans, their first dance song choice was obvious. Can You Feel The Love Tonight was the perfect pick, and honestly, yeah, I could feel the love! These two practically have heart eye emojis when they look at each other!
When I asked Kala to describe how they felt on their wedding day, she said, “Pure bliss. The whole day felt perfect and wonderful.”
These two are both vets, so now they’re BOTH Dr. Hamilton!!
I asked them…. What’s some advice you’d share with someone who’s planning their wedding day?
“Weddings are stressful, expensive, and time-consuming to plan. Lean on the people who ask to help, and lean on each other through the process. Enjoy the process and the day, it goes so quick!”
For more advice from real couples check out this blog post: Advice from Real Brides
Congrats BIG TIME to Dr. + Dr. Hamilton!!
To plan your own outdoor wedding at Bliss Plaza check out these amazing vendors!
I know it’s hard to imagine now (in the heat of July!) but Kansas City winters are COLD. As a Kansas City photographer I’m shooting weddings year round, so I’ve seen my fair share of winter weddings. If you’re planning a winter wedding this blog is for YOU.
If your dream is to have a wedding ceremony with white snowflakes floating through the air, wearing the ice queen dress of your dreams, with snow frosting the trees, as your guests bask in the beautiful oasis of your love, I get it.
Be crystal clear on your wedding invites that the ceremony will be outside so that everyone can dress accordingly. I’ve seen some couples offer blankets as wedding favors. I’ve also been to a couple weddings where they set out space heaters! I promise your guests will appreciate the forethought.
Work with your officiant to plan a wedding ceremony that doesn’t last more than 30 minutes or so. Everyone is excited about your big day and wants to focus on that without the distraction of numb fingers or toes!!
This is a cute way to get the outside vibe while providing coverage from any inclement Kansas City weather. Make sure to ask if the tent rental company needs insurance! Also ask if they’ll set it up for you. If not, plan accordingly to have some friends set it up the morning of or the day before. You can use cute lights to decorate the ceiling, or hang lanterns around to add to the ambiance.
I definitely recommend an indoor wedding reception venue so your guests can be comfortable while they eat, mingle, dance, & hang out. If your dream has always been a beautiful outdoor ceremony, ask your wedding venue what their backup plan is in case of inclement weather.
Last minute weather situations are why I always suggest hiring a wedding planner as well! They can work with the staff & the team of vendors on the backup plan. Planning ahead and delegating jobs means you can enjoy your winter wonderland wedding day worry free.
You could even have this available before the wedding ceremony! This is a fun way to keep everyone warm and to really make it a winter themed wedding. Offer toppings like whipped cream, marshmallows, or candy canes. It’s a cozy and memorable treat everyone will love.
You deserve to have the wedding of your dreams. No matter the season, your wedding will be beautiful and your love will be everlasting. For more wedding planning tips check out these blogs; How to Prepare for Rain on your wedding day, How to choose your wedding photographer, Wedding Planning Advice from real brides, and much more!
As a Kansas City wedding photographer, I’m obsessed with checking out the best local bridal boutiques. Since I’m always in contact with at least a dozen different brides, I always want to know the best places to recommend to them.
Here’s a list of my favorite Kansas City bridal boutiques to make all your dress dreams come true. This list was so much fun to put together since I’m searching for my own wedding dress for my September 2022 wedding!
With two locations in Lenexa, Kansas and downtown Kansas City, you have to check out True Society! They offer a luxury experience with dozens of designer dresses. From sophisticated chic to classic lace, you’re sure to find a dress to wow the crowd.
They also house a wide range of inclusive sizes! There really is something for everyone searching for that perfect, elegant wedding dress.
Located in the east crossroads of Downtown Kansas City, Bride is the hub for unique wedding dresses. They have a wide range of options no matter what vibe you’re going for!
If you’re hosting a simple, boho wedding, they have dresses perfect for that. If you’re planning a personality-packed wedding, they have whimsical wedding dresses as well.
Kansas City wedding vendors actually voted Something White as KC’s Bridal Boutique Of The Year for 2020! So obviously I had to include them on this list.
Located in the crossroads district in downtown Kansas City, Something White prides themselves on fashion-forward wedding dress options. Everything they house is chic and elegant. If you’re looking for a wedding dress that’s classic yet modern, I really recommend going here!
Bridal Extraordinaire values not only high quality wedding dresses, but the entire wedding dress shopping experience. They offer a VIP shopping experience for brides to receive a private, personal consultation and appointment with their lead stylist.
Located in Shawnee, Kansas, Bridal Extraordinaire is the perfect bridal boutique to find a show-stopping wedding dress!
This Kansas City bridal boutique is just…. fabulous! Nestled next to the Country Club Plaza in the West Plaza neighborhood, Fabulous Frocks fills their racks with the industry’s top wedding dress designers.
To make the wedding dress shopping process easy for brides, they offer two options for their blushing brides. You can get your dress “made-to-order” or “ready-to-wed” right in store!
I hope this list helps you find the dress of your dreams! I’ve been told by many brides that when you know, you know. Kansas City has so many bridal boutiques, so it was hard to narrow the list down to just these five. All of these bridal boutiques require appointments, so make sure you call ahead to schedule a time to meet with a consultant. Happy shopping!!
Once you find your dress you’ll want to start thinking of where you’ll be getting ready on the day of your wedding, check out my blog post all about things to look for when choosing your getting ready location.
Kansas City is full of gorgeous locations to propose to the love of your life. Jackson planned his proposal at the WWI memorial in Kansas City.
Jackson wanted to fully surprise Kiley so he needed a little help. He reached out to me a couple weeks before and asked me to help him plan it so it went smoothly and to photograph it when the time finally came. I was absolutely thrilled to do both!! It’s so fun to photograph a couple at the very beginning of their engagement all the way up wedding day and beyond.
I was so happy Jackson reached out when he did because we are getting close to one of the most popular times of the year for marriage proposals.
There are two times through out the year that your Instagram feed is more likely to be full of “I said yes!” And “pop the champagne I’m changing my last name!” posts.
The holidays❄️; between November and the new year, and a few spread out till Valentine’s Day.
A great way to celebrate with the whole family!
And
SUMMER time☀️; June through August. There’s more time in the day, people are naturally more relaxed and happy.
With temperatures rising and the rain finally leaving the forecast we are getting closer to summer with each day.
Jackson planned his proposal at the WWI memorial in Kansas City. Kansas City has so many beautiful places to propose including; The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, Loose Park Rose Garden, Union Station, Crown Center, or The Plaza.
If you’re planning a proposal for the upcoming months reach out and let’s get it all worked out! It can be overwhelming trying to coordinate everything but I’m here to help!!
And you’ll even have photos of your partners reaction 🥰
For more tips on planning a proposal check out my blog Planning the Perfect Proposal in 5 easy steps
As a Kansas City wedding photographer, I get asked all the time how couples can personalize their sessions to represent their relationship best! I’m here to give you my best tips to make your engagement session super personal.
A majority of my wedding packages include an engagement session so that I can meet my couples and they can have a little practice in front of the camera. Once we start the planning process I usually get the same question, and the answer is actually super simple!!
The conversation usually goes like this;
My couple: “How can we make our engagement session feel more… like “us”?? “
My cheesy answer: JUST BE YOU! ✨
My couple: “But like how?! “
📸 Easy- it all starts with the location. Pick a spot that you love or that means something to you!
Think back to your first date, or the trail you always walk on, or a well known landmark in your city, or maybe your favorite ice cream place, or that cute park you always drive by.
There are tons of options and a good photographer can make any location work!
We can even do multiple locations if you want to explore a new photo worthy spot in your city and then relax back at your favorite local coffee shop.
This is exactly what we did for Elena + Kade’s engagement photos. We started at the Nelson to get some beautiful fall colors and to represent Kansas City. Then we headed to Hi Hat coffee so they could sip their yummy drinks and get a few more photos that really help tell their love story. ☕️
For more engagement photo inspiration check out these blog posts Summer Engagement Session at Loose Park, Engagement Photos with the Kansas City Skyline, Smoke Bomb Engagement Photos, or Fall Engagement Photos at Shawnee Mission Park.
After months, or maybe even years of planning, there’s always one thing we can’t plan ourselves; the weather. But!! We can prepare ourselves for rain on your wedding day. My biggest wish as a wedding photographer in Kansas City is that I could have magical powers to control the weather.
Do you know rain on your wedding day is actually good luck?? 🌧
You know the saying “tying the knot” well, rain on a knot is only going to make it tighter and harder to undo. Rain on your wedding day symbolizes adding strength to your marriage.
This saying might have only come around to help keep couples calm when the weather isn’t ideal on their day, but the sentiment is cute☔️
And as a Kansas City wedding photographer, I have a few real tips to actually help you if it rains on your day:
If you’re planning for an outdoor ceremony have a way to prevent your guests from getting soaked. This could be moving your ceremony indoors or a big tent on hand you can set up if needed.
Clear umbrellas are great for your wedding party to use during photos, this will add to the aesthetic of the day and you’ll still be able to have photos outside! Check these out from amazon.
I know rain on your wedding probably isn’t what you were dreaming about since you were little, but remember when you were a kid and you begged your parents to let you go play in the rain? Bring that energy into your wedding day!
And besides; who doesn’t love a romantic kiss in the rain? Your whole wedding day will be like a movie.
Always remember; even on the rainiest of days the storm will always clear. You might even get a few precious moments of you and your love outside with the cloudy skies or maybe even a little sunshine.
For more wedding planning tips by a Kansas City wedding photographer check out a few more of my blogs.
like How to Choose your getting ready space or how to downsize your wedding.
As a Kansas City wedding photographer, my couples frequently ask me where the best place to shop for wedding stationary is. One of my favorite sites to recommend is Basic Invite. Their save the date templates are not only beautiful, but incredibly easy to use and to customize to fit your wedding style.
Basic Invite offers over 900 different wedding invitation sets which means that no matter what your wedding style is, they’ll have an invitation that fits your vision. All the wedding stationary you need can be found on one website. They have save the dates, wedding invitations, menus, programs, and even matching thank you cards!
My favorite thing about using Basic Invite is all the ways you can customize your wedding stationary to truly reflect you and your spouse’s style. They offer almost unlimited color options. So many other websites only give you a few color choices but Basic Invite has over 180 different hues. All of the elements colors are customizable, even down to the last detail.
But the personalization doesn’t stop there; Basic Invite offers over 40 different colors for envelopes! When you ask your guests to please save the date you won’t want any of their envelopes to get lost among their junk mail. Best part? Their envelopes are peel and seal, makes the entire process quick and easy! Plus, no paper cuts on your tongue!
Make your wedding stationary a statement! Standout with a unique envelope and an even more unique card that you helped design yourself.
For all my couples that have already been planning, if your wedding has been affected by COVID-19, have no fear because Basic Invite has tons of adorable change the dates to send out. Instead of having to double check that all your guests have seen your facebook post, just pick out a cute card on Basic Invite and send it straight to them. It’s simple and fun! Also your guests get a little bit of mail, and everyone loves surprises in the mail!
Whether you’re sending out save the dates, change dates, or full wedding invitations Basic Invite has tons of features that are hard to find on other sites. For instance they offer custom samples which lets you see a printed sample of your invitation and actually get to hold it in your hand before finalizing the design and sending it out to your guests. They also offer free address collection, all you have to do is share a link to your social media or email it out to all your guests, they enter their info and Basic Invite collects their info and will print on the envelopes for free. Super simple and will save you tons of time while wedding planning.
Basic Invite includes so many ways to make sure your wedding stationary matches your theme. Their save the date templates can be customized and personalized to ensure your wedding stationary stands out from the crowd. Check them out on their social media accounts for inspiration and get designing!
For more wedding planning tips and inspiration check out my Blog and for more info on Basic invite check out this post or give them a follow on Pinterest or Instagram.
*this is a sponsored post by Basic Invite