Dakota + Jake; How They Went From a Large Wedding to an Intimate Elopement

The plan originally started with a big wedding in downtown Kansas City on the most popular wedding date of the year; October 10, 2020 (10/10/2020). As the coronavirus quickly made its way around the world Dakota and Jake decided to change plans; they went from a large wedding to an intimate elopement in their neighborhood.

bride and groom with their large handmade wooden cross at their outdoor wedding ceremony on Raintree Lake in Kansas City, unique modern pose idea for bride and groom

The uncertainty of the pandemic definitely made for an interesting challenge when it came to trying to make wedding plans. On top of that Dakota and Jake found out they were pregnant with a beautiful baby girl due close to the end of the year.

They thought about keep all of their original plans of a big wedding the same but moving the date up earlier in the summer, but because COVID effected rates were starting to skyrocket they thought it would best to keep their original date but downsize their wedding as much as they could.

Dakota, Jake, and their boys moved into a new house in the most beautiful neighborhood surrounding a gorgeous lake. They knew outside by the water would be the perfect spot for their intimate fall elopement.

From a Large Wedding to an Intimate Elopement at home
From a Large Wedding to an Intimate Elopement, diy wedding decor
From a Large Wedding to an Intimate Elopement at home near raintree lake
From a Large Wedding to an Intimate Elopement, love story sign
bride getting ready for her at home elopement at Raintree Lake in Kansas City
brides mother helps her put on shoes before intimate wedding ceremony
MOB helping bride get ready before her at home wedding ceremony
bride gives her mother a gift, a custom personal handkerchief
mother of the bride embroidered handkerchief
mother of the groom pins his white rose boutonniere to his navy suit jacket

They downsized their wedding by cutting their guest list, only hiring the necessary vendors (me their wedding photographer, a videographer, and catering from Jack Stack BBQ). Everything else they did completely on their own. Their families helped with decor, ceremony seating, a beautiful cross as their backdrop, Dakota even made her own bouquet with flowers from Trader Joes.

bride and groom have their first look in their backyard at Raintree Lake in Kansas City during the fall
brides diy bridal bouquet made from trader joes flowers, pink roses, white roses, eucalyptus, baby's-breath,
bride and groom in their backyard before their intimate wedding ceremony at Raintree Lake
pregnant bride with groom, pink roses, white roses, fall wedding ceremony
bride and groom with their sons before their october wedding ceremony
ring bearers wearing navy pants and vests with rose boutonnieres at a fall wedding
groom wearing a navy suit, a white shirt, and a brown watch at a fall wedding with a white rose boutonniere, before his October wedding ceremony at Raintree Lake in Kansas City. fall wedding color palette,
pregnant bride in an elegant simple wedding dress carrying the bouquet she made herself, made of white roses, pink roses, eucalyptus, baby's-breath, her hair is half up half down with a tulle mini veil hair clip
pregnant bride in a simple modern wedding dress with flowy sleeves at her intimate fall wedding elopement
pregnant bride photo idea, bride places her hand on her stomach with her wedding ring wearing a simple belted wedding dress with flutter sleeves
bride and groom at their fall ceremony at Raintree lake before their intimate october elopement, groom wearing a navy suit bride in a flowy dress
bride and groom fall wedding color palette in Kansas City
pregnant bride wearing a flowy flutter sleeve wedding dress with a sparkly beaded belt and groom wearing a navy suit in their backyard before their intimate elopement at Raintree Lake in Kansas City
bride and groom with their golden doodle dog in their backyard before their fall wedding ceremony and intimate elopement in October, how to incorporate your dog into your wedding
golden doodle dog at wedding
bride with her dad and brother before her intimate elopement in their backyard at raintree lake in kansas city

They invited only their dearest friends and family to witness their sunset ceremony right by the water. Dakota and Jake promised to love each other, their boys, and their, soon to arrive, baby girl for all the years to come as the sun cast a golden light across the lake.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd as they read their vows to each other. The joy was contagious as they shared stories of their favorite memories and joked with one another.

October sunset at Raintree Lake in Lee's Summit Kansas City, warm golden hour fall sun
wedding guests set up intimate wedding ceremony for a fall elopement during sunset at Raintree Lake
father of the bride carries handmade wooden cross to ceremony site for intimate at home elopement during covid-19 pandemic at Raintree Lake in Lee's Summit Kansas City
wedding guests set up handmade wooden cross at intimate wedding ceremony for a fall elopement during sunset at Raintree Lake
handmade wooden cross for wedding ceremony draped with white fabric at intimate elopement at Raintree Lake in Lee's Summit Kansas City at golden hour in October
wedding details fall elopement at raintree lake in lee's summit kansas city missouri
wooden cross casts shadow in the grass at sunset intimate elopement wedding ceremony,
wedding guests at Raintree Lake in Lee's summit Kansas City at intimate elopement
groom at the end of the aisle waiting for his wife at golden hour in october at their at home wedding ceremony
bride walks down the aisle with both of her parents at her intimate elopement in her backyard at Raintree Lake in Kansas City
bride and groom get married at their fall wedding ceremony at Raintree Lake in Kansas City during sunset, golden hour elopement
wedding guests films fall wedding ceremony on cell photo during golden hour at Raintree Lake
golden hour wedding ceremony for intimate elopement outside in october
bride during golden hour at her intimate elopement wedding ceremony in the midwest in october
groom reads his vows to his wife at their outdoor wedding ceremony in Kansas City at Raintree Lake during golden hour in October
guests cry at intimate wedding ceremony while bride and groom read their vows at their fall elopement at Raintree Lake in Kansas City
groom reads his vows to his wife at their outdoor wedding ceremony in Kansas City at Raintree Lake during golden hour in October
bride and groom sun set outdoor wedding ceremony, groom in navy suit bride in flowy dress
bride and groom read vows to their kids during their elopement, how to include your kids in your wedding ceremony, step mom,
ring bearer cries happy tears during wedding ceremony watching his dad marry his step mom during golden hour at outdoor wedding at raintree lake in lee's summit in kansas city
ring bearer hugs his new step mom at his dads wedding ceremony
outdoor wedding ceremony at sunset in Kansas City
groom makes bride laugh for a candid moment during their intimate fall elopement and october wedding ceremony in kansas city
ring bearer hands grooms the rings and wedding bands during outdoor sunset ceremony in october during a warm fall in kansas city
bride reads vows to fiance, groom wearing a navy suit, at their outdoor fall wedding ceremony, intimate elopement on lake
bride and groom exchange rings and wedding bands at their outdoor elopement at raintree lake in Kansas City
bride and groom kiss for the first time as a married couple at their intimate outdoor elopement on the lake in kansas city
bride and groom celebrate their marriage right after their intimate outdoor wedding elopement on raintree lake in kansas city
bride and groom's grand exit from their outdoor wedding ceremony during a fall sunset october golden hour in kansas city

Their day was everything they hoped for; full of love, great weather, and an abundance of happiness. Dakota and Jack loved their decision of switching from a large wedding to an intimate elopement. It gave them the chance to focus on what was most important to them, their family.

Check out Dakota + Jake’s engagement photos with the Kansas City Skyline here.

Other tips on how to downsize you wedding here.

large group family photos during sunset after wedding ceremony at lake
bride and groom with their families after their wedding ceremony
bride and groom walk towards the water after their intimate outdoor wedding ceremony, elopement at the lake in kansas city
bride and groom sunset portraits on a dock after their lake elopement outside near the water in kansas city
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bride and groom kiss on the dock at the lake after their intimate elopement on the water after changing their large wedding into a small outdoor ceremony with just family
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bride and groom change their large wedding to an intimate elopement at the raintree lake in kansas city
bride and groom unique wedding photos during golden hour on the dock at the lake in kansas city
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pregnant bride and groom after their elopement, baby bump photos and poses to do on wedding day,
groom wearing navy suit and white rose boutonniere, pregnant bride wearing flowy white flutter sleeve wedding dress and hair half up half down
pregnant bride beautiful maternity photos on the lake during golden hour wearing white flowy flutter sleeve dress with beaded belt and hair half up half down
bride wearing a flowy flutter sleeve white wedding dress and holding trader joes flowers she made into her bridal bouquet of white roses, pink roses, eucalyptus, and baby's breath, groom wearing navy suit, fall wedding, fall color palette, kansas city lake
bride and groom walk by the water after their outdoor elopement on raintree lake in lee's summit kansas city in october with the rich fall colors
bride and groom walking by raintree lake as the sun sets after their backyard wedding in kansas city
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groom kisses bride on the forehead in front of gorgeous tree with red and orange leaves, pose idea for couples photos, From a Large Wedding to an Intimate Elopement at home
bride with her golden doodle dog after changing from a Large Wedding to an Intimate Elopement at home
From a Large Wedding to an Intimate Elopement at home friends and family gather for small reception
jack stack bbq catering for small at home wedding reception
From a Large Wedding to an Intimate Elopement at home groom pours champagne to celebrate
From a Large Wedding to an Intimate Elopement at home everyone raises their glass to toast the happy couple
From a Large Wedding to an Intimate Elopement at home bride and groom cut their cake, gluten free cake with gold script cake topper,
From a Large Wedding to an Intimate Elopement at home bride and groom have their first dance on the deck in the backyard under twinkle lights in kansas city
From a Large Wedding to an Intimate Elopement at home bride and groom have their first dance on the deck in the backyard under twinkle string lights in kansas city
groom dances with his grandma on back deck after at home wedding
bride and groom dancing in their backyard after their intimate elopement
groom dancing with his mom in the backyard after elopement at home
small backyard wedding reception after intimate elopement
From a Large Wedding to an Intimate Elopement at home bride and groom dancing on the deck in the backyard under twinkle lights in kansas city
bride dancing with her golden doodle dog, how to incorporate your dog into your wedding day even during a small at home elopement ceremony in kansas city

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Dakota + Jake; How They Went From a Large Wedding to an Intimate Elopement

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