Rowan and Coralyn told me right away that they knew they trusted no one else to capture their wedding and their love story. Their complete trust and faith in me left me speechless. I knew I wanted to do everything in my power to make their wedding weekend completely unforgettable.
All weddings require extensive time planning and coordinating. And these two wonderful humans had friends from across the US help them pull off the most meaningful weekend filled with good food, lots of laughter, and marriage. So much marriage. I stayed with the wedding party at an AirBNB and got to be a part of each event from the bachelorette party to the cupcake making to the certificate signing at the coffee shop to the intimate outdoor ceremony at Swope Park to the potluck dinner afterwards to the Sunday afternoon extended family and friends celebration and reception. It was a whirlwind of a weekend, and I walked away exhausted yet fulfilled. But this weekend was SO not about me at all.
When Rowan and Coralyn trusted me to show up and photograph their wedding, it gave me freedom to shoot and keep shooting. I witnessed the couple being showered in love from friends and chosen family and strangers across the US and even Canada in the form of surprise package of cards and letters. I watched the wedding party rally together to create secret bouquets from Trader Joe’s flowers. We stayed up way too late baking and decorating cupcakes and making a secret wedding cake. There was laughter. There were tears. There were so many service dogs. There was love.
And, if ever I’m allowed to make such a claim, the most important photo I took this weekend was the “just married” hug in the coffee shop after the couple signed their certificate. It shows the hope, the joy, the relief, the love, the comfort of what marriage means to them.
Enjoy this intimate outdoor wedding and weekend adventures in Kansas City.
Your faithful truth-teller,
ashley
Planning your own intimate wedding day? Check out this post featuring some of the Best Midwest Wedding Venues for Small Weddings!
I'm a Minnesota wedding photographer. I am best known for my candid photos that showcase the truest spirits of you and the people you love. As a documentary wedding photographer, I give you space for uninterrupted moments to experience your event as it happens. Always present, but not intrusive. I am always on the move, working my way into the middle of the action as often as I stand back and observe. This approach results in a comprehensive gallery of images that honestly and wholeheartedly tell the story of your wedding day-- the story of how you love, who was there, and why it matters.
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