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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.
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:
1. Have a back up plan
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.
2. Buy some clear umbrellas
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.
3. Embrace it!!
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.
