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Emma and Albert had a beautiful Carriage Club Wedding Day with their closet friends and family! Emma really made her day unique to her and I couldn’t stop obsessing over her details! The pearl shawl she added to her dress was stunning! And her color palette that was used throughout the entire day was beautiful!
I spoke with Emma shortly after their wedding and asked her what she loved about her venue! She said that The Carriage Club has so much character alone, so wasn’t hard to make the space beautiful! She also said that their wedding day truly did feel like a dream to them and that things went better than they expected! They had super fun reception and even spared a few moments after the sun went down to get some more portraits done! Their Carriage Club wedding day was all they could have hoped for.
And they even wrote me the nicest review:
“Natalie encapsulated everything I wanted in a photographer. Her photography style is stunning, she helped us throughout the planning process, and was always happy to answer questions. Natalie was great at directing people. She knows beautiful poses and works with her surroundings to make sure each picture is beautiful. I am so grateful for her expertise!”
So blessed to have such amazing people to work with every weekend! This one was sure one for the books!
McKenna and Micah’s summer wedding at Mildale Farm was filled with personal touches, from early morning devotions to private last dances. Every last detail was planned to focus of their relationship and their soon to be marriage.
McKenna reached out to me to photograph their wedding about 12 months before their date. We had plenty of time to work together and build a photography package that truly fit their needs for their day. I knew they had many important moments through out their day and I wanted to be sure to capture them all.
The planned ahead of time to schedule in some special moments for just the two of them through out the day. They both woke up earlier than everyone else and did devotions together before the hustle and bustle of the day really got started. This gave them the chance to really let it sink in that it was their wedding day. Once their wedding party woke up they both went to their separate getting ready rooms to spend the rest of the morning with their friends and family. They didn’t see each other again until the moment Mckenna walked down the aisle and Micah got to see his soon-to-be wife in her wedding dress.
After the ceremony they dedicated time for just couples portraits. They sent all their guests, family, and wedding party to the cocktail hour. This gave them another moment to just be together – officially married!!
Then it was PARTY TIME! After a yummy BBQ dinner and delicious desserts McKenna and Micah hit the dance floor with all their guests. Nothing beats getting to celebrate with all the people in your life that love and support you.
Once the party started winding down McKenna and Micah planned to have a private last dance. Their guests headed outside to get ready for their sparkler exit while they slow danced in the now empty space. They both we’re very emotional because the day they’ve been dreaming of was over and they were so happy to finally be married to one another.
It is so important to schedule all of these intimate moments together when you’re creating your wedding day timeline. Getting to pause a little of your wedding day and truly soak it all in.
Advice from the Bride
Your wedding day really does go by so quickly and it’s over and done before you know it. Hire vendor that you trust so you can leave all the details and worries to them and really soak in every moment of the day!
Summer Wedding at Mildale Farm Vendors:
Venue: Mildale Farm
Day of Coordination: Taryn Golling
Photographer: Natalie Nichole Photography
Videographer: Isabel Lauby
Florals: The Little Clover
Caterer: Katie’s Catering
Invitations: Minted
DJ: DJ Connections
Bride’s Dress: Natalie M
Hair: Emily Perry – CopperCanyonCo
MakeUp: Ashley Strasser
Grooms Attire: Generation Tux
Hannah and Greg got married at the Overland Park Ballroom, but wanted to get some photos of them and their wedding party outside in the gorgeous summer weather. I suggested we take their wedding photos at The Museum at Prairie Fire. As a wedding photographer in the Kansas City metro area I strive to find different locations that’ll fit my couples personal needs. Hannah and Greg didn’t want to waste time on their wedding day having to travel super long distances or needing to do to multiple locations. Prairie Fire was the perfect option for them.
Before we got into photo-mode the afternoon started off with popping some bubbles and toasting mimosas as the ladies got ready. The Hannah put on her dress and took her bridesmaids breath away before she got to see Greg.
Hannah and Greg had their first look when we arrived at Prairie Fire. Greg was speechless and Hannah’s smile was radiating with joy and excitement. We had so much fun taking all of the wedding photos at the Museum at Prairie Fire in Overland Park. Hannah and Greg were extremely happy with how fast the photos took us, we got every photo they were wanting with their wedding party, all their couples photos, and a few extra fun shots with plenty of time to spare. With our extra time we got to be silly and do tons of funny photos, laughing with their friends on their friends on their wedding day are moments they’ll always remember.
“Natalie knew exactly how to organize us and get us ready for the picture she wanted and I felt like the process was SO easy.” “Her attention to detail, pace, and personality was the most perfect fit ever for our photographer!”
When we got back to the Overland Park Ballroom Hannah’s dad got to see her for the first time that day. It was an emotional moment for the two of them, they have been best friends ever since Hannah was a little girl and today was the day her dad got to walk her down the aisle and into this next part of her life.
There will be a moment on your wedding day that everything finally soaks in and it actually feels real that you’re about to marry the love of your life. For Hannah, that moment was right before the ceremony while she was standing next to her dad.
“He looked at me and did the thing he always does when we are in an exciting situation, he grabbed my arm and shook me a little. He said “are you excited?” and I was like oh my gosh this is happening. My dad has been my best friend forever, and standing there before we walked made it so real.”
Hannah and Greg were announced Mr. and Mrs. Hegner and excitment filled the room. It was now…. PARTY TIME!!!
All of their guests know how to have a good time so their reception was a blast! After they ate dinner and cut the cake the DJ organized some fun games to kick off the party – the shoe game and the anniversary dance. Then the officially opened the dance floor.
WHAT A NIGHT! The dance floor was POPPIN and there was a smile on every face in that room. Everyone was so excited to get to celebrate Hannah and Greg and their new marriage.
Every wedding I photography I’m reminded why I do what I do. Capturing all the little details through out the day that my couple would typically miss. Photographing moments so they can be remembered and shared for years to come. After I delivered their final gallery I asked Hannah how she felt when her and Greg looked back through the photos,
she said, “The first time Greg and I went through the gallery, we cried and laughed and couldn’t stop smiling. I loved that it captured moments I missed, like people outside and dancing and having a blast. One picture that made me cry, and that I did not expect at all, was the one where my aunt has her hand on my uncles shoulder. My uncle in the picture has recently had a lot of health issues, We didn’t think he was going to be healthy enough to come. I was so glad to see such a tender moment captured, and I will cherish that picture forever.”
As a wedding photographer it’s not about how big or grand or expensive a wedding is. It’s about the people. The couple, their friends, and their family all having an amazing day together. The laughs, the tears, and the hugs. It’s the moments between the people they love that’ll want to remember forever.
Wedding Vendors:
Hair: Melissa Fuller
Make-up: Kelsey Shannon – Radiate beauty
Bride’s Dress: Emily Hart Bridal
Grooms Attire: Tip Top Tux
Bridesmaids Dresses: Azazie
Florals: Rosemary with Final Touch Studios
DJ: Robert Kinnard with Soundworx
Check out another amazing wedding; Liz and Scott even had an ice cream truck!
There are many benefits of a first look on your wedding day. If you’re planning your wedding, having a first look is definitely something to consider. But really, what are the benefits of a first look?!
More Time with Your Fiancé
One benefit of a first look is of course -more time with your fiancé. If you are having an evening ceremony but not a first look, you won’t be able to see your partner for the entire day before you walk down the aisle. This isn’t just a regular day…. this is your wedding day. This day is one of the most important days of your relationship. Let’s fill your entire day with love instead of just a couple of hours.
Cure any butterflies
Wedding days are notorious for being a little chaotic. Wether you’re feeling nervous, excited, or overwhelmed there are a lot of emotions happening at once, but the best way to calm any butterflies is to look into your partner’s eyes. The minute you see the love of your life on your wedding day, your jitters float away. It’s a minute of calmness before the natural chaos of the day. Sometimes the first look is one of the only moments you’ll have alone throughout the entire day. A quiet moment all to yourselves to just be together.
Flexibility in Your Timeline
First looks give you the opportunity to slow the day down a little, you don’t have to rush everything in the short little window of time between the end of the ceremony and the beginning of the reception. First looks early on in the day allow most of your photos to be taken before the ceremony even starts. Then after the ceremony you’ll only need time for a few more family photos and a couple portraits of the two of you as the newly married couple but then it’s time for the reception! You’ll actually get to go to your cocktail hour and enjoy it. You’ll be excited to welcome guests and celebrate with everyone because you’ve been able to relax throughout the entire day and have had your love by your side.
Overall first looks benefit the day by taking a way some of the stress. They save a little time in the timeline because you can get so much done early on in the day without having to stay hidden from each other. They also give you an intimate moment alone to be yourselves without the feeling of being in front of a crowd.
regardless of if you choose to have a first look or not your wedding day is going to take your breath away. You’ll marry the love of your life and celebrate with allllllll of your friends and family that support you.
learn how to plan the perfect wedding day timeline (with or without a first look) here
