My little brother got married to a lovely lady and I came out of wedding photographer “retirement” to document the day. It was such a joy to witness their day, their joy, and their love! Congratulations, Jacob and Mary!
Jessica and Cole’s wedding at Blue Vista near Manhattan, Kansas, could not have been a more perfect day — not only was it was amazing weather for July 2nd, but this couple is clearly worth celebrating. They are so sweet to one another and have lots of incredible people surrounding them who made the day extra special. We are so happy for you, Jessica and Cole!
This wedding day was long in the making. Not only because of a pandemic-caused delay, but because Meg and Mac’s story started when they were just 15 and 14 years old. So many of their loved ones shared stories about the origins of their relationship and how Meg and Mac complement one another so well in their differences and their shared values. One value I saw on full display was their love for people and the relationships they hold with the people who have been a part of their story. Their wedding day was lovely, inviting and welcoming — just like the two of them.
This celebration was brought to life through Meg’s vision and lovely vendor partners. Here are some of them!
Wedding Planner: Plan It Martha’s Vineyard & Nantucket
Venue: Long Point Wildlife Refuge
Videography: Anecdotally Yours
Tent: Big Sky
Catering: V. Jaime Hamlin
Cake: Meg, the bride!
Florals: Morrice Florist
Bar Service: Island Cocktail Company
Makeup: Cinnamon White
What a joy it is to witness the marriage of someone you’ve known literally their entire life. Kaylee is my best friend’s little sister — she was born the summer after we turned eight and a month before my baby brother, so we were old enough to treat our little siblings as our special charges. Kaylee was around for so much of my childhood memories, always the most adorable little girl and ready to have fun with us. Watching her grow up, fall in love, and then exchange vows with love of her life, Tessa, is such a joy. They celebrated with loved ones at The Hudson in Wichita — a heartfelt, fun, happy day. Congratulations, Kaylee and Tessa!
Over the pas several months, we’ve all experienced circumstances we certainly never expected and have had to adjust our lives, our plans, and our expectations. But through it all, there is still so much joy. There is still connection, relationship, and celebration. Victoria and Spencer’s wedding day was proof of all of those things. Even though they rescheduled their big celebration with all of their family and friends to next year, they still got to celebrate their marriage and exchange vows in a beautiful ceremony and gathering at the home of Victoria’s parents. It was sweet, special, beautiful, and personal — all the best things a wedding can be.
Congratulations to Victoria and Spencer on your marriage! We can’t wait to celebrate with you again next May!
Tawni and Evan’s wedding day was a beautiful sunny (but windy!) day at the Dyck Arboretum in Hesston, Kansas. It was so fun to document their wedding day and help capture their story — they’re both thoughtful, genuine people who were excited to marry each other. Their first look was one of my favorite parts of the day to witness, when all of the busy getting ready part of the day was over, and they had some time to themselves to soak it all in before Tawni walked down the aisle to Evan.
Thank you for asking me to capture your day. It was such a joy! Many more photos to come very soon in the full gallery!
Melanie and Brogan’s wedding in her hometown area in rural Missouri was such a great day — despite the rain threatening all day, but they say rain on your wedding day is good luck! :) Melanie and Brogan don’t need luck, though. They have a super sweet and strong foundation for their marriage and tons of family and friends surrounding them and cheering them on, which was so evident on this day. I loved how involved their families were in the day, as members of the wedding party and guests.
Big thank you to my second shooter, Chloe Rensenhouse, who can make kids smile like no other! :)
Congratulations, Melanie and Brogan! Enjoy this sneak peek into your day!
Whitney and Andrew’s wedding day at The Grand Hall at Power & Light was so personalized for them, which we absolutely loved. Some of our favorite parts involve their favorite canine children — their flower girl and ring bearer. ;) You’ll definitely want to see those cute pups during the ceremony! We also loved the strong military ties that are in both Whitney and Andrew’s stories. And of course, the day itself was perfectly planned by Karoline with Events by Elle — and The Grand Hall is the perfect spot for a rainy wedding day, since we didn’t even leave the premises because everything there is so beautiful! Big congratulations to Whitney and Andrew!
Side note: we always love shooting photography and videography of the same wedding! Special thanks to Jeff for being an amazing videographer (can’t wait to finish this video story also!), and big thanks to our second shooters Jenny Shipley and Shawn Gormley!
I’m not sure there have ever been two people who were as SMILEY as Emily and Kenneth on their wedding day. Huge smiles, all day. They are both happy, fun-loving, sweet, enthusiastic people who are sure to have a marriage full of all of those kinds of moments. I loved how their joy just spilled out all day!
Enjoy this peek into their wedding day story! Congratulations, you two!! :)
Amanda and Jeff’s wedding in downtown Kansas City was such a gorgeous, elegant day. Planned by Karoline with Events by Elle, with a ceremony at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception and the reception at The Grand Hall at Power & Light, the day was filled with beauty. But most importantly, the day was about celebrating Amanda and Jeff. We loved these two and their families and friends, who were a joy to capture in photo and video. Enjoy this preview of their wedding day in photographs!
And a big thank you to my photography second shooter, Jenny Shipley!
I’ve known Taberie for a lot of years now (through HOBY) and have always admired her inner spark, her quick smile, her intelligence, and heart for others. She’s one of those people that you want on your team. I knew whoever she married would have to be great. :) Taberie and Eli’s wedding was such a happy, fun day in her hometown of Caldwell, Kansas, which is basically on the Oklahoma border. I loved getting to document this day for such a sweet couple! Enjoy this sneak peek of their day!!
When Ellen first told me about their plans for the backyard wedding she and Jim were going to have, I was all in. There are few types of celebrations I love more than a gathering of a bunch of family and friends in a location that is meaningful to a couple — and what is more meaningful than their own home and backyard? Ellen and Jim had worked hard to make the yard so perfect (it is such a gorgeous setting to begin with!), open the pool, and create a space where those closest to them could come and celebrate their marriage in a fun and relaxed party. As the day got closer, the weather forecast got worse, and they decided to move the ceremony into the living room, which ended up being so lovely. Later on, the rain lifted and guests were able to move outside and still enjoy the beautiful setting on a mild spring evening.
Since we didn’t know if the rain would ruin all outdoor plans on the wedding day, I also went by their home the evening before the wedding to capture some of their family members having a little get-together, and I’m so glad I did! Enjoy this sneak peek at their wedding weekend — the evening before, and the day of the celebration! Congratulations, Ellen and Jim!
Kolin and Katie said their vows and became husband and wife in the field behind Katie’s grandparent’s farmhouse in rural Missouri. It was a perfect sunny day that reflected their joy and excitement so well. From the close-knit family bonds, to the sweet moments between Katie and Kolin and those close to them, to the Shatto Milk bar at the reception, and the ceremony performed by Katie’s uncle, this day was such a reflection of the couple and their sweetness. Enjoy this peek into their day.
Thanks to my second shooter Jenny Shipley for her work!
We just can’t say enough wonderful things about Whitney, Taylor, and their families and friends. Celebrating their wedding and getting to help tell their story was such a joy because everything about it was done with intentionality and thoughtfulness. Even in the 3 minutes of this teaser film (a preview to their longer story film), we love how you get a real sense for who they are, what they value, and the spirit of their wedding day. We can’t wait to tell a richer and more complete story in their long film as well. Whitney and Taylor, thank you for trusting us with your story. :)
Venue: Rosewood Hotel
Planner: Julie, JBD Events
Photographer: We Are The Parsons
Florist: La Lavande Floral Studio
The thing we love most about our jobs is being invited into personal, meaningful spaces with people. A wedding day is incredibly personal and meaningful. Being invited into that day — with cameras, no less — is not something we take lightly. Alisha and Tyler embraced us as their wedding filmmakers wholeheartedly. We loved this day with them at Alisha’s family’s home in New Hampshire, an area that is quickly becoming one of our favorites. These two love deeply and celebrate well. They personalized everything about their day, and their longer film shows so many impactful personal moments. This shorter highlight film gives you a glimpse into this day, their story, and the beauty of people and place that surrounded them.
Big thank you to the other vendors we were grateful to work with on this day!
Photography: Meredith Jane Photography - www.meredithjanephoto.com
Planning/Coordination & Floral Design: Amy McLaughlin Lifestyles - https://www.amymclaughlin.com
DJ: HIFI Entertainment - http://www.hi-fientertainment.com
Caterer: Timothy Hopkins Catering - https://www.tshcatering.com
Rentals: Sperry Tent Seacoast (https://www.sperrytentsseacoast.com) and PEAK Event Services (http://www.peakeventservices.com)
The day was blustery and cold, but as cheesy as it may sound, the hearts truly were warm on this wedding day for Allie and Hank. The overcast day added a sort of romance and reverence to the preparations and ceremony, held at Allie’s hometown church. I loved the personal touches that made what Allie and Hank value front and center. They had so many children involved in their wedding (Allie loves kids and is a teacher), Allie’s sister and brother-in-law sang during the ceremony, their parents and grandparents proudly watched them all throughout the day, and their wedding party was a great mix of funny and sentimental.
Their reception was at Terradyne Country Club in Andover and kicked off just as a cold mist started falling (check out the nighttime portraits of Allie and Hank!) and was a fun party full of laughs and funny moments (I’ll save some of those moments for their full gallery!).
Congratulations, Allie and Hank! :) Enjoy this preview of your day!
I didn’t grow up with a sister. I was actually lucky enough to be the only daughter with a brother before and after me, which is a pretty great place to be. But sometimes, when I see sisters, I think that relationship must be a pretty special one to have. And in this family’s case, there are three of them, which is even better (and CUTER). I loved documenting this family at home with their three little girls, especially after obsessing over every photo their mom has posted on Instagram (it’s not creepy, I promise — I’ve known her for years!). ;) Anyway, check out this cuteness overload:
My friend Laura is one of the most insightful, genuine, and kind people I know. She approaches life with a wisdom and perspective that most don’t. When it came time for family photos, she told me that this year she wasn’t sure she was too excited about taking htem — because, in a way, it felt inauthentic. She meant that to present one’s family in a “perfect” light is to betray the realness of who we are as families (especially with young children). We are imperfect. We are flawed. Opinionated (have you met a toddler?). Tired (have you met a parent of a toddler?). We’re just human.
I’ve been thinking a lot about what she said since then. On one hand, as a photographer, I think it’s beautiful and wonderful to celebrate the goodness and joy in whatever life stage you’re in — even if your daily life doesn’t look like that one image might suggest. On the other hand, I think it’s raw and honest and vulnerable to present the parts of life that aren’t polished — that’s where real relationships form, and one of the reasons I love Laura as a friend.
So as I edited through her family’s photos, which were taken at the most picturesque time of year at one of the most picturesque locations in Kansas City, I was struck by how the beautiful and the imperfect intermingle in this space we call “family photos.” We’re presented with the lovely and the chaotic all in one space, which is such a picture of what family life is like. I love the image of Laura and her husband, Blake, laughing together under the perfect yellow trees. What you don’t hear in that image are the shouts of children running in the background (their children AND mine because they let me bring my OWN children to this photo shoot… see the next image after it, or the photo at the very end that shows my Luke covered in mud thanks to his big brother). ;) But in that image of Laura and Blake, their laughs are real. The story is real. It may just be a different one than you perceive.
So, I hope this year when you look at your family photos, you can appreciate the images of imperfection just as much as the holiday-card-worthy images. This time is fleeting. It’s happening right now. Document it well, and appreciate it for what it is.
(This is my little Luke, covered in mud by the end of the shoot…what kind of photographer takes her own kids to a photo shoot? Lol. The kind whose husband is out of town and it’s busy October and who has great friends who say “of course!” when you ask if your kids can come so you can fit it all in) :D
The sun was shining. The smiles were big. The love was palpable. No detail was left undone. Maile and Patrick’s love is one that is so obvious when you’re with them. They just make sense together. They both are SO HAPPY to be with one another, and this joy was even more magnified on their wedding day, which was a gorgeous fall day at Mildale Farm (one of my favorite places!). You’ll be able to see it in the photos — from their sweet first look where they read each other letters, to their ceremony where they couldn’t stop smiling, to their party bus ride and fun portrait time (check out the series of photos of their champagne popping… ha ha!), to their reception that was a perfect mix of heartfelt, personal, and a great party.
I also loved how involved their parents and family members were all day (and in general in their lives!) and I got teary-eyed several times watching them with their parents throughout the day. It was also fun to see other couples whose weddings we’ve done in the past!
Okay, I’ll stop talking and let the photos tell the story (and the video later when it’s ready!). A big thank you to my second shooter, Kassie Wolfinger.
Maile and Pat — congratulations! Enjoy this preview of your day!
In all my years of photographing weddings and visiting the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (it’s one of my favorite KC landmarks — both for photography and just to visit!), I have never actually had a wedding inside the museum. So when I met with Laura and Mike and heard about everything they had planned for their day, I was excited to be able to capture it! It was such an elegant day (Laura’s dress could not have been more perfect for this setting and style!!) and everyone had a great time. Their ceremony was inside the gorgeous Kirkwood Hall and they moved into Rozzelle Court for dinner. Rozzelle Court’s string lights, archways, center fountain, plants, and balcony makes it such a dreamy setting for a dinner like this. Then, everyone went back out into Kirkwood Hall which had been transformed into a (giant) dance floor, which was full all night. The fun energy and the guests enjoying themselves so much had me smiling all night until the most beautiful send-off with sparklers.
Thanks to my second shooter, Jenny Shipley, for capturing this day with me!
Big congratulations to Laura and Mike! Enjoy this peek into their wedding day. :)
