2020 // The Best of Weddings - Part Two!

Part two of the recap of 2020 weddings is here!! What’s funny (and by funny, I mean not funny at all, and instead… slightly annoying to my OCD) — is that I didn’t quite manage to align these two separate posts right down the middle… As in — post one would’ve been January (or in my usual case, April) — April through July — and this second post should’ve been more like, August through November. I mean, that makes total sense, right!? But nah man, instead — post one was April through August… and now post two is September through November. Am I boring you yet?

Maybe I should just get on to the recapping of photos below cause trust me on one thing — there is a lottt of goodness in here!! I could and should echo the same thing I mentioned in post one — choosing faves is an impossible task!! I freakin LOVE my job! I freakin ADORE my couples! :)

Now let’s dive in, shall we!?!

Alli + David

Love these guys! Their day was at the Timber Barn at Weston Red Barn Farm, and of all shots to start off my faves with, it has to be the shot of Alli showing her dress to her sweet parents… love love love. Any time a bridal party (or anyone) wants to do a shaken champagne shot for photos — despite my fear of getting my camera accidentally soaked, I’m always SO excited about it because it produces SUCH fun shots! Alli’s sweet Grandma helping carry her train — she did it all day, I smiled every single time, and I LOVE that shot so very much. Alli’s sweet Dad joined her officiant to do part of their ceremony… there was hardly a dry eye to be found. Beautiful day, all around!

Kirstyn + Aaron

One of the only couples I’ve ever known who absolutely wanted to stay out and about for photos of the two of them as long as possible — vs going to party it up at their reception, because they just enjoy their time together, enjoy getting pics together, and really prioritized such. Was all that picture time worth it? One million percent yes. Was tromping though those thick yellow wildflowers worth it? One million fafillion percent yes!! Loved Kirstyn’s bridesmaids’ reaction to seeing her in her dress! And Kirstyn is one heck of a stellar bride for allowing those cute kiddos to pick her bouquet apart — how cute are those little hands though!? Picking favorites from their portraits … kind of impossible, ugh. Love them all!!

Stefanie + Cory

Stefanie put SO much thought into her wedding day — and it paid off, so beautiful, so fun!! The ways in which she chose to decorate Timber Barn at Weston Red Barn Farm were impeccable, and she truly thought of everything! Loved their bubble exit from their ceremony, loved the portrait time with these guys — we went all over that dang property!! Such a great day all around!

Erin + Gabe

These cuties, goodness. Gabe’s reaction to seeing Erin was quite possibly one of my favorite groom first look reactions of allllllll time — and that’s saying A LOT. But just wait til you see!! He was in that zone where you’re like, he’s smiling so big his face is going to break + he’s totally crying. These guys had a super fun bridal party too! And they transformed the front lawn of The Hawthorne House into what was for me a first — a Jewish Christian wedding ceremony! Everything about this day was magical!

Brooke + Austin

These two decided to have a smaller guest count and a more laid-back wedding with their kiddos, and it was truly absolute perfection!! Tobacco Barn Farm is always beautiful and I love shooting there! LOVED Brooke’s reaction to Austin’s handwritten wedding vows. LOVED her wedding dress! LOVED how pics with their kids was really just chaotic play time — I mean come on, that’s real life with kids!! And I LOVED the three on one tickle fest that ensued against Austin by his sisters! What a fun day!!

Miranda + Mark

Ohhh my love for Miranda runs deep y’all! She’s been a bride of mine once before and I’m truly so happy to see her in an even happier chapter of life!! She became a bride turned friend many, many moons ago — and I truly treasure our Starbucks coffee dates and chats!! For this very intimate wedding of hers and Mark’s — we spent more time at a nearby lake for photos than anything else and it was beautiful! Miranda loves wildflowers as much as I do so I’m thrilled we found some for her! A quick outdoor garden area ceremony at a nearby courthouse with only five guests — myself included, and it was a done deal — a perfect done deal!

Hannah + Brian

Hannah and Brian at The Hawthorne House! Basically all one knows to say about these two, over and over and over — is “omg they are SO cute!!” — and they are, in fact, so very cute. They had a precious wedding day with their friends and family — even dialing the best man in via a Facetime call so he could give his toast!! So many awesome memories came from this day!

Amy + Dalton

Okay, I was (and still am!) super freakin’ duper obsessed with Amy’s wedding day style… The pampas grass? Her boho wedding dress? HOLY SMOKESHOW LEFT AND RIGHT. I loved her sandals too! And freakin’ Dalton went with a dark green suit and a gorgeous patterned tie for a pop of color that matched the decor — what!!! Loved! Ya know what else I loved? ***LOVE*** as in … my love for this never ever fades, ceases, diminishes… lol — putting a beautiful couple in a field of tall grass in golden light. I mean really, these are the things dreams are made of. For a few super personal shots — the candid shots of Amy’s Mom and sister, and niece hugging her right after she put her dress on — my heart. And then the giggly huggy photos of Amy with her Grandma, I can’t even deal. Such special moments!

Jensen + Dominic

You wanna talk about a couple who KNOW how to lock down that serious, editorial vibe for photos? It would be Jensen and Dominic, hands down — up one side and down the other. They are tooooo good at this look!! It comes so naturally to them! These two tied the knot at Timber Barn at Weston Red Barn Farm in October and as you can see for yourself, they had a beautiful day to match their inner and outer beauty! In lieu of wedding cake — they had a funnel cake from Kansas City Funnel Cake Truck!! And so therefore, in lieu of cutting a traditional wedding cake… get this, they held a single funnel cake together and blew the powdered sugar off of it… TALK ABOUT CUTE!

Jennifer + Tanner

These two had some serious laid-back wedding dreams and the truth of it all is that this was their fourth attempt… These two planned a wedding in California three times.. threeeeee timessss!! But 2020’s curveballs and pandemic really screwed them over, not once, not twice, but all three times. Jennifer shared with me that all those California wedding plan attempts were geared toward this big huge wedding affair, but what they both really truly wanted, was something small and intimate. So, if ya think about it, all worked out for the best — because a beautiful small and intimate wedding is exactly what they got. And with the help of a unique venue — Cedar Crest Lodge, and the incredible talent from Hitched in KC Planning + Floral, this perfect affair came together, and it was stunning! Ya know what else is stunning? These newlyweds!!

Meghan + Chris

Meghan and Chris were both surprised by how emotional they ended up being on their wedding day — and I think my own emotions surprised me. These two share something so so special and witnessing it, photographing it, being around it — oh so good. Their entire day was magic-filled from start to finish!! Their sweet doggy came for a quick visit and for some photos and I’m so glad they were able to make that happen because I know she is their first born! Loved how they decorated the arbor at the ceremony spot at Timber Barn, and loved how the poor sweet little flower girl did not enjoy walking down the aisle and having everyone stare at her — relatable. Lastly, ever known a couple who wanted to get IN the cow field WITH the cows on their wedding day?? Cause I have — see for yourself! These guys are awesome!!

Molly + Scott

These cuties!! Their first look and Molly coming down those stairs to Scott, that was quite special let me tell ya! Going to downtown Kansas City from Liberty took us a bit of time but it was worth it considering that stop at Off Broadway Theater — and how the photos ended up looking like maybe we were in Ireland instead. Yeah, I’m obsessed. And I couldn’t have been happier to have caught the wink that Molly gave her sweet Mom as she came down the aisle! LOVE!

Laura + Rodger

Another wedding with some seriously well thought out details… best detail of all?? Well, I might be partial cause CAT LADY over here, but guess what?? Laura and Rodger are cat people too! And their freakin cake toppers??? They had custom cat cake toppers made to look just like their actual cats! Aaahhhh! Who does that!? Awesome people that’s who!! The Barn at Riverbend was a perfect venue for these two and everything was so beautiful! Loved their portraits… loved their reactions to each other’s personal wedding vows (which were insanely good, by the way), loved this entire day!!

Jillian + Drew

These guys!! Poor Drew was completely overwhelmed by his beautiful bride — and how could he not be!?? Guess what else?? Drew surprised Jillian with a new custom designed (and trust me when I tell you, he put a lot of thought into it!) engagement ring … on their wedding day no less!! SO special! Jillian’s reaction to her new ring was so so precious. Loved how these two just laugh and laugh together, gosh it is the very best. And their indoor ceremony at KC Wine Co was super gorgeous!

Annie + John

Oh Annie and John! Love these guys so very much. Their wedding day plans came very close (too close for comfort) to the possibility of not even happening because they both were exposed to Covid!! Luckily, they dodged a bullet, didn’t have Covid, and though they did end up deciding to cut the guest list down and forego the bigger reception and venue — their day was still immaculate and special… as if anyone had any doubts. Married in the Catholic Church on their Catholic College campus in a beautiful ceremony! The wind we had gave us a hard time with Annie’s veil but the way she owned it — the way John himself owned it lol — just wait til you see. These guys are the absolute best, and SO FUN to be around!!

Emily + Joel

These guys were my last wedding of 2020 and that is always a bit bittersweet to me — this day proved to be nothing short of that same feeling. I adore Emily and Joel, and their wedding albeit a tad chilly, was so so sooo wonderful. These two are blessed with such great families and friends, and I ended up feeling like part of it all, completely. LOVE when that happens. I’m in love with the shot of Emily walking across the front lawn of The Hawthorne House to go see Joel in their first look as her Mom and all her bridesmaids stood on the porch and balcony to watch! Loved their portraits, loveee Emily’s laughter. Their bridal party was the best and kept me laughing the entire time!! And that first look with Emily and her sweet Granddad — ugh, ugh ugh my freakin’ heart. Absolutely precious. And thennn that sweet old soul himself cried almost the entire ceremony and I’m so glad I stuck up behind him for a shot of him with his handkerchief. These are treasurable memories!

Wrapping up a wedding season is always such a good, accomplished, bittersweet, amazing feeling — and going back and choosing a few faves from each wedding to create these posts, though a lot of work, is REALLY important and special to me. If you made it this far and have seen the previous post as well as the best of couples engagement/anniversary — you’re the real MVP.

Bring on the 2021 wedding season! And stay tuned come the end of this year / start of 2022 for the recaps of the 2021 wedding season!! EEEEE!! :)