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.
EvanLee and Brad are getting married on Halloween ( and YES it will be a Halloween Themed Wedding!!) I am absolutely thrilled to get to photograph their wedding because it is going to be EPIC! Since their wedding will be a little spooky they wanted to reflect that in their save the dates and engagement photos. We set up their smoke bomb engagement photos in Lawrence Kansas.
I am a wedding photographer based in the Kansas City area so I serve clients all around the metro on both the Kansas and Missouri side. I headed out to Lawrence to meet EvanLee and Brad on their family owned property.
When planning the session we agreed it would be a good idea to do a mix of smoke bomb pictures and some classic photos of just the two of them, that way they can use these images as decor in their houses, social media posts, and decor at the wedding. Evan though their wedding is Halloween themed, they are still the main focus.
EvanLee and Brad have been together for quiet some time, they seem like the perfect pair. We had a great time getting to know each other. They told me all about their plans for the wedding, without giving too much away I’ll share two hints …. fog machine and costume contest. Honestly I don’t think anything else even needs to be said for it to be clear their wedding is going to be one of the coolest weddings ever.
I loved that EvanLee and Brad decided to bring in some smoke bombs for their engagement photos. It gave me the opportunity to really get creative and incorporate a cool element that I don’t typically use during sessions. They just picked up some smoke bombs from their local fireworks stand, super easy and afforadable!
Smoke bombs are a great way to add in a little pop of color, or you can make your session a little more moody by using a darker color. No matter what shade you get ALWAYS make sure you are in a location that allows the use of smoke bombs. We were on family owned private property so we had full permission. Public places, parks, or even places that seem “abandoned” all have rules that photographers and clients need to respect. Be sure to do a little research before bringing in a smoke bomb to your session.
These smoke bomb engagement photos in Lawrence Kansas were insanely fun be sure to check out my tips and tricks on how to best prepare for your engagement photos