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Even if you just elope you still deserve photos of you and your partner at this stage of life. Dress it up or keep it casual- do something that feels like YOU. Maica and Alfred did just that! They wanted spring wedding portraits the day after eloping!
We went to Spring Loose Park for their session and adventure around to everything it has to offer, which is A LOT! The gardens there are beautiful even when flowers aren’t blooming! Luckily for us though, they were! The park also had a pond we adventured around that was pretty central to the park.
Maica and Alfred had a super small, family-only ceremony and then the next day wanted couples photos to celebrate. Maica wore an adorable dress that was from Lulus. They both were so much fun, they were singing, dancing, and giggling throughout their entire session. Most of the time I’m not with my couples the day after they get married, but with Maica and Alfred, I’m so glad I was! This was the best day for Spring Wedding Portraits!
Thank you Maica and Alfred for being the best company!
Kirsten and Ryan’s wedding day with just their family and a few friends was in the beautiful Overland Park Arboretum. And it was such a stunning wedding venue. Highly recommend it to my Kansas City Brides!
Following their wedding they had an intimate dinner at Wandering Vine at the Castle. They road in a vintage getaway car they borrowed from their dad to the reception dinner! How cool is it to have all those special details on the day? This wedding was full of them and I am always a fan of that.
We made sure to make time for a first look separate from their ceremony to have a few moments to themselves too. You’ll see lots of private, meaningful moments in this day and it was so sweet to capture those moments for these two.
Kristen also has great taste in florals and her dream bouquet came to life that day. Make sure you scroll down to see it!! It was full of happy color which is so fitting for them! They are two of the most genuine people ever and deserved this day to be perfect. I was so honored to see all these special memories being made.
I loved being able to share my wedding experience with them for their Overland Park Arboretum wedding day on the blog. Kristen and Ryan, I wish you both the best life together! Thank you for letting me share this day with you!
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!!
Stony Point Hall
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!!
Getting Ready in the Rain
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!
Kansas City Wedding Reception
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!!
Couples Portraits
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.
Wedding Advice for Kansas City Couples
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.
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!
Pre-Ceremony Celebrations
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.
Their Wedding Outfits
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!
Kansas City Outdoor Ceremony
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!
Indoor Wedding Reception
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!
KC Wedding Vendor Credit:
- Venue – The Bliss Plaza Event Venue
- Stationery – Zazzle
- Florist – Blooms by Breck
- Caterering + Cake – Katie’s Catering
- DJ – DJ Fernando at Fernando Productions
- HMUA – Hyde Salon
- Bride’s Dress – Morilee/Wedding Expressions by Geri
- Rings – House of Diamonds
- Groom’s + Groomsmen Attire – Calvin Klein at Men’s Wearhouse
- Bridesmaid Dresses – Azazie
