2017
OFFICIAL 2017
Kansas Wedding Register EXCLUSIVE TIPS FOR
Display until April 10
Planning your Prairie Wedding
kansasweddingsmagazine.com
a hello. As many of us know, there is something magical about a wedding to which few things in life can even compare. When Sunflower Publishing began discussing the creation of Kansas Weddings Magazine, I had been married just barely a year. I was still in a whirlwind of one of the greatest events I had ever experienced with friends and family—my wedding. As my husband and I were planning our wedding and reception, we naturally shared ideas with others. It never failed that talking about our big day elicited memories of their big day. The more we planned, the more I looked forward to hearing others’ stories. Enter the Kansas Wedding Register, which you will find in the back of each edition of Kansas Weddings Magazine. Traditional formal announcements are a beautifully classic way to commemorate a couple’s joining in marriage. As we developed the magazine, we knew we wanted to include as many as possible. Thank you to all the couples who have participated in this
inaugural Wedding Register; we have absolutely loved hearing your stories and seeing your pictures— as I am sure readers will. For those who will say I” Do” this year, we hope you’ll consider sharing your story in the 2018 Kansas Wedding Register. As you will see in the coming pages, this magazine is 100 percent Kansas. Kansas weddings evoke thoughts of sunsets on the horizon of rolling hills, generations of families that join in celebration, and an appreciation for two people who want to make a lifelong commitment to each other. We wanted to celebrate all of that within Kansas Weddings Magazine. Thank you to our creative and marketing teams who spent over a year bringing this magazine to life. Thank you to all our contributors across Kansas. Thank you to the advertisers who have supported the brand. And thank you to all the happy couples who have shared their special day. Welcome to Kansas Weddings Magazine. We hope you enjoy reading and finding inspiration for your wedding.
Katy Ibsen
Sunflower Publishing
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w h o’s w h o .
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what is your
fondest wedding memory?
“We had dinner Editors Nadia Imafidon “My husband and with our parents Nathan Pettengill I thought it very following our important to walk small courthouse into our wedding ceremony on New ceremony with both Art Director Shelly Bryant Year’s Eve. We sets of our parents. celebrated with It truly made it feel love, laughter like we were uniting and lots of Advertising two families.” champagne. At Ariele Erwine Representative that moment we
Ad Designer
General Manager Sunflower Publishing
Director of Newsstand and Production Ogden Publications “We had the DJ lower
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Jenni Leiste
were with the most important people in our lives—who we loved with all our hearts.”
Katy Ibsen
Bob Cucciniello
the lights, blast jock jams and announce our entire wedding Publisher Bill Uhler party like we were Ogden Publications all starters at a basketball game.”
kansas weddings
Kansas Weddings Magazine is a publication of Sunflower Publishing, a division of Ogden Publications, Inc. kansasweddingsmagazine.com | (888) 497-8668
Invited YOU’RE
TA K E PA RT I N T H E
F O R M A L W E D D I N G R E G I ST E R Commemorate your wedding with a formal wedding announcement in the next edition of Kansas Weddings Magazine. This special opportunity will create a memory unlike any other for your wedding. Our formal wedding announcements are written by you and feature your beautiful wedding pictures.
Visit our website to learn more
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PICK UP YOUR COPY TODAY. Kansas Weddings Magazine can be found on newsstands at Kroger grocery stores and Barnes & Noble bookstores across Kansas. Purchase online at our website at kansasweddingsmagazine.com
2017
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contributors.
Contributing Writers
Susan Kraus Paula Naughtin Cheryl Nelsen Kim Gronniger MeLinda Schnyder
Contributing
Photographers Avion Photography Beautiful Isolations Elephant Juice Nicole Robins Hallie Sigwing
Beautiful Isolations
Avion Photography
Hallie Sigwig
Jake and Sarah Reeves are a husband and wife photography team who are native Kansans enjoying life in the Flint Hills. They do the best they can to survive the gap that society calls a “week” between Sunday brunches.
Avion McNab and Colton Bain are a photography duo with a combined 23 years of experience. They believe there is no job more rewarding than being able to spend time with great people and capture all of their special moments in life.
is a wedding and portrait photographer, born and raised in the heart of the Midwest. Hallie has been serving Kansas and the surrounding area since 2011. Her work is inspired by a combination of urban architecture and the rural Kansas countryside of her roots.
Elephant Juice Photography
Susan Kraus
Kim Gronniger
MeLinda Schnyder
Megan Saunders
is a licensed therapist and an award-winning travel writer. She believes in slow, intentional travel—and that visiting new places can be its own form of therapy.
wore a long-sleeved, lacey white dress for her July 1984 wedding in a country Catholic Church that didn’t have air conditioning. She regrets many things—principally the photographer and peach bridesmaid dresses she picked--but never the gown she wore or the man she married.
A temporary move to Kansas for native Missourian MeLinda Schnyder turned into a 22-year residence when she met and married a Kansas boy. She is a journalist based in Wichita.
s is a native Kansan, the mother of an adorable toddler and a K-State superfan. She has been married for nearly five years, and has loved (nearly) every minute of it.
Photographer Laura McPherson has been married to her high school sweet heart for 14 years. Together they have two boys, Barrett, 8, and Abram, 3. Prior to becoming a photography, over 8 years ago, Laura was an interior designer with a degree from Kansas State University.
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Welcoming Kansas Weddings readers to capture the essence of Kansas on their big day.
Beautiful and Essential
The Art of a Kansas Wedding
Kansas Weddings: Flowers
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2017
OFFICIAL 2017
Kansas Wedding Register EXCLUSIVE TIPS FOR
Display until April 10
Planning your Prairie Wedding
kansasweddingsmagazine.com
On the Cover Photograph by Meysenburg Photography
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Personality and Warmth
Nourishment and Specialties
Elegance and Style
Spirit and Fellowship
Kansas Weddings: Invites
Kansas Weddings: Food
Kansas Weddings: Attire
Kansas Weddings: Scene
f e a t u r e s
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Real Weddings Looking for a little inspiration? In this photo gallery, we share real Kansas weddings and real Kansas love.
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Sorry, brides. Sorry, grooms. Your big day might actually turn out to be all about someone else.
Straight Upp Creative Studio uses creativity and style to transform weddings into visual masterpieces.
Homes turned venues in the most fantastic way—a Kansas way.
Marriage and family therapist recommends engaged couples take a pre-ceremony getaway or family gathering.
All about the Flower Girl
Planning the Perfect Wedding
There’s No Place Like Home
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I Take Thee, Kansas!
A Grand Entrance Before you both say, “I do,” leave your life-partner-to-be speechless as you walk down the aisle in the perfect dress.
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2017 Kansas Wedding Register
The Wedding Register is a collection of wedding day announcements, both beautiful and unique—just like the two people who fell in love.
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Kansas Wedding
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PHOTOGRAPH Meysenburg Photography
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t’s a beautiful May night in Kansas. Family and friends gather in the twilight to celebrate the marriage of two lovely people. Everything is set up in a barn owned by the 95-year-old neighbor of the bride. It’s rustic, yes, but magical as well, lit with candles in jars and fairy lights, and decorated with simple flowers. The stars shine down as the evening wears on, and the sound of katydids and crickets chime in during the lulls in the music. One of the highlights of the reception comes when the groom serenades the bride. “I was born in Kansas, I was bred in Kansas and when I get married, I’ll be wed in Kansas. There’s a true blue gal who promised she would wait, she’s a sunflower from the Sunflower State. Skies are fair in Kansas, clouds are rare in Kansas, never saw a place that could compare with Kansas. So I’m goin’ home to keep a weddin’ date with a sunflower from the Sunflower State.”* There are still some who think that marrying in Kansas requires a compromise between marrying in the state you call home and having a beautiful ceremony. But there are many weddings that have already disproved that, like the wedding described above, one I attended when a dear family friend was married just outside of Lawrence. And there are many future weddings that can take advantage of all that Kansas can offer. Want to be out under that glorious, wide Kansas sky? There are fields upon fields, sunflower-covered or not. Opt for a scaled-up picnic featuring one long span of tables with more than 80 chairs. A friend planning her daughter’s wedding collected wooden chairs in many styles from second-hand stores and painted them all the same hue to unify them. You can make it personal—even nontraditional—according to your own story as a couple. I attended a lovely wedding on a ballfield owned by the bride’s family in Kansas City, Kansas. The couple’s reception was held in a Catholic cathedral, just a short way from the ballfield. Pans of enchiladas, spaghetti and chicken were contributed by friends and family. The day illustrated everything that was valued by the couple and echoed both of their cultures: friends, family, baseball, tradition and food prepared with love. There are the park gazebos in almost every town in Kansas, perfect for open-air ceremonies, and with a roof to protect the couple from the always-changing Kansas
weather. Gazebos are also inherently decorative, with ornate tracery in wood or metal, and they are almost always set in the midst of beautiful flowerbeds—lots of blooms at no added floral cost! And there are castles in Kansas, or close facsimiles, for fairytale weddings. At least two, the Castle Tea Room in Lawrence and Caenan Castle in Shawnee, will host a wedding and reception although you may have to arrange your own horse-drawn carriage. Holding out for a truly unique and quirky wedding? I know I’m still waiting to attend a ceremony in front of the massive diorama at the KU Natural History Museum. After all, the tableau of the arctic has lots of white. (Yes, there is also a looming polar bear, but think of the photo ops!) Another benefit to planning a Kansas wedding? Kansans. People are incredibly kind and helpful here. That means the young woman who pulls a wedding dress off the rack—one you would never had even thought to try—not only has an eagle eye for what suits you but also will be charming, friendly and funny during a lengthy, sometimes taxing, process of dress shopping. She’s someone you want as your style consultant, yes, but she’s also someone who could easily join your circle of friends. But for all of the beautiful, quirky, elegant venues, it’s important to plan a wedding that is authentic—that truly reflects your everyday life and values— so you can start a marriage that will be authentic as well. A Kansas wedding can be homey, hip, elegant, or informal. Here you can create the scene of your dreams, down to the food, flowers, guest list, venue and attire, while still establishing that Kansas sense of place and belonging. This fall, two very loved people in my family celebrated their wedding. They’ve picked a renovated cider mill, full of old stone and brick. They were surrounded with family, friends and music. Some guests from the East Coast asked early on, ‘Why are you getting married in Kansas?’ Of course, that question was answered once they sampled the hospitality and beauty, but more than anything, once they saw that the wedding reflected the couple and foreshadowed the marriage to be. Honest, forthright, friendly, and unique, true to the couple.
*Sunflower, by Mack Davis, Published by Famous Music Corp., NY, NY 1948
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Written by Paula Naughtin
Wedding trends &
I D E A S
Written by Kim Gronniger
Everyone is an expert on weddings, right? Your family, your friends, your social media pals, that coworker who has the “best” advice on what you should do and exactly how you should do it on your big day—they all know … right? Of course not. Your wedding day is your day, based on your tastes and values. We hope these pages inspire your imagination and fuel your individual style with ideas both classic and contemporary. To help, we asked some industry leaders and professionals we admire throughout the state for their take on the best trends. We hope you will find some of them to your liking and look forward to hearing from you if they help make your wedding day more memorable.
Flowers
Invites
Food
Attire
Scene
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PHOTOGRAPH Rick Messina Photography
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PHOTOGRAPHS Avion Photography, Kelley Photo and Design (opposite)
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Papers to Petals by Aimee Gillum offers intricately designed custom-order paper flower bouquets, flower walls and more for special events and home decor. paperstopetals.com
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Beautiful & Essential Grown in a greenhouse or your grandmother’s garden, flowers add color and subtle scent to enhance the ambiance for a wedding of any size in any locale. But one strong trend is prevailing: tightly bunched balls of flowers on stems have been supplanted by flowing bouquets with ample greenery and lush ribbon for a lovely twist on tradition in a bride’s hands or atop a head table. BOUQUETS Kansas bridal preferences and wedding planner floral recommendations range from selections in vivid coral, tangerine and other colors to shades of blush and allwhite creations combining hydrangeas, roses and mums to provide texture. Dahlias, peonies and lamb’s ear can also be mixed for a looser look. Since peonies are seasonal and hard to secure at other times of the year, exquisitely shaped Juliet garden roses look similar, often cost less and are available year-round.
EDIBLE ELEGANCE For receptions, wedding planners are mixing blossoms with spiky elements and seasonal produce like apples, artichokes, Brussels sprouts and berries. Pineapples and pumpkins are being repurposed as vases. Reception tables are bedecked with garlands and branches artfully arranged with baubles and feathers. Consider tiered metal dessert stands arranged with roses or three small vases with blooms in varying heights and hues of the same color to make a statement.
KANSAS STYLE Kansas is known for sunflowers, which symbolize adoration, loyalty and longevity, and wheat, which symbolizes charity and love. As decorations, they are perfectly paired sentiments to celebrate a wedding! Whatever you choose to carry down the aisle—freshpicked blooms or a cherished family Bible—make sure it brings you joy. Your selection will be displayed on a dresser or a mantle in a photograph or as preserved décor for decades to come!
ALTERNATIVE ACCENTS Some brides and bridesmaids are opting for “clutch” arrangements, a stylized arrangement that often incorporates natural, elongated greenery that sweeps over the side to create a feeling of dynamic motion. The clutches can also incorporate an object, such as an ivy-laced lantern or candle. Other simpler, sentimental options trending now include an assortment of bejeweled brooches and treasured books trimmed in lace.
OUTDOOR ELEGANCE Foliage, succulents and greenery—eucalyptus, ferns, ivy, lavender and herbs—can elevate the simple to the sublime and be a less expensive but no less elegant alternative to floral bouquets. Moss is also in play as a woodland motif for chair wreaths, aisle accents, drink board borders and table runners.
WEDDING PLANNER’S WISDOM—GO GREEN Kayci Schumaker, Wedding Connections + Events, Hays, says that mixing 10 to 15 varieties of greenery can create “a fuller abstract work of art with so many more textures and elements than you can get with flowers alone. Using a lot of greenery, especially rosemary, herbs, eucalyptus and lavender, can make your space smell amazing too. Guests comment on that all the time.” Schumaker advises costconscious brides to maximize the impact of their expenditures. “If you only have $110 left and you want to do something with it, put it toward more flowers or greenery or something else you’ve already invested in instead of ‘kind of ’ doing something else that won’t deliver the ‘wow’ factor you’re looking for.”
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i n v i t a t i o n s
Personality & Warmth
In the age of Snapchat and Facebook posts, friends or family (and even total strangers) will know about an upcoming wedding long before final plans are set. But instant communication is no substitute for written wedding notices. In fact, because of the ubiquity of digital communication, formal announcements and invitations have become even more important to weddings. Received in the mail and written on beautiful paper, these artifacts of elegance generate excitement and set the tone for the wedding.
KANSAS STYLE If you have guests arriving from outside the state or beyond the Midwest, chances are they might be thinking “Kansas?” when they see the location. Embrace it. Consider including a Kansaspositive design element in the invitation such as an RSVP note in the outline of the state or a small bag of organic, non-GMO sunflower seeds to plant. Handdrawn maps pinpointing locations for the ceremony and reception are another personalized gesture.
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WEDDING PLANNER’S ADVICE: GUEST WISELY Wedding planners we talked to strongly advise couples to create intentional, meaningful guest lists. There is no magic number of people to invite, but every guest should be someone whose presence would genuinely bring you pleasure. Faith Gellenfeldt of Bel Amour Events in Wichita suggests that culling guests is one step that can save money and create a more intimate, harmonious atmosphere: “Focus on the marriage part and cut the guest list if you’re concerned about budget. You should only invite the people you want to be a part of the biggest day of your life, not the people you feel obligated to invite.”
ENSEMBLE Creating invitations with stacked layers and decorative belly bands (a paper wrapping that keeps the layers together) elevates the impact while communicating the pertinent information. These bands not only are practical but are decorative as well; they can feature a splash or design embellishment that provides visual unity and introduces wedding themes. The attractively assembled packets convey the care and attention to detail the special occasion calls for.
WHEN TO SEND Save-the-date cards should be sent six months before the wedding date, and invitations should be sent eight weeks out to give guests time to clear their calendars and make travel arrangements if they live out of town. Ideally, RSVP dates should be set for three weeks before the wedding. For destination affairs, send savethe-date cards eight months out if possible to give attendees time to request vacation time and stash some cash to pay for the trip.
METALLICS A recent trend that continues to gain favor is using metallic materials in rose gold, silver, gold or copper for paper selections or for foil stamping. Popular metallic embellishments include the names of the bride and groom, the wedding date, borders or a distinctive symbol like a fleur-de-lis.
LETTERING Another trend in invitations is printing them in multiple fonts, mixing in hand painting, lettering and monograms. Monograms often contain not only the couple’s initials but also other features meaningful to them. Too much mixing can become a distraction though—you want to keep it varied but elegant and thematically unified. In fact, that approach of “varied but elegant and thematically unified” should be a goal of any aspect of wedding planning.
PHOTOGRAPHS Meysenburg Photography, Emily Brensing (opposite)
i n v i t a t i o n s
Ruff House Art demonstrates the trend of mixing fonts on a letterpress invitation. ruffhouseart.com
PHOTOGRAPHS Hallie Sigwing
f o o d
Model Shelise Bremby samples a Good Vibrations crepe with creamy kale pesto and quinoa topped with micro greens, lemon poppy seed dressing, parmesan and toasted almonds. The dish is by Fine Thyme Foods, finethymefoods.com, one of the state’s caterers who are part of the trend in food truck wedding banquet fare.
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Nourishment & Specialties
In years gone by, weddings often followed a set pattern of a punch and cake celebration in a church fellowship hall, followed by guests’ tossing birdseed or blowing bubbles at the happy couple as they hurried to meet their destiny in a car decorated with streamers and strings of tin cans. But today’s couples often choose to create memorable celebratory meals, eating and drinking together in a variety of ways that reflect their backgrounds and personalities while delighting their guests.
DESSERT TABLES Some brides and grooms are supplementing a small ceremonial cake used solely for pictures with dessert tables laden with their favorite treats for guests to enjoy. Add patisserie panache with pretty platters and tiered trays for French macarons, pies, cupcakes, tarts, tiny éclairs. Multiple small cakes in different flavors and styles to appeal to varied tastes and enable couples to effortlessly treat guests who require gluten-free goodies.
CUSTOM CUISINE AND COCKTAILS Heritage dishes of significance to the couple and regional favorites are supplementing traditional entrees and appetizers or supplanting them altogether. Signature cocktails with clever names that incorporate some attribute of the bride and groom have become standard at receptions, but now couples are amping up the appeal of libation stations with craft beer gardens and martini bars with customizable add-ins.
LET THEM EAT CAKE! Cake trends range from big and beautiful fondant confections with intricate lace patterns to glazed naked cakes. Whether the cake is enrobed or bare, the layers are likely to be a bold batter choice like carrot or peanut butter or stacked atop flavorful fillings like chocolate salted caramel or raspberry cream.
WEDDING PLANNER WISDOM—PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD Many couples are disregarding traditional wedding conventions and exhibiting their own style for cuisine and cakes. Jenny Torrence, owner of Serendipity in Topeka, says, “There used to be expectations about what a wedding should be, but now you can choose things that reflect your personality. One couple I worked with placed a food truck in the parking lot and served Philly cheesesteaks and sides, and another couple created a wedding cake that was half gorgeous for the bride and half Batman for the groom.”
KANSAS STYLE Food trucks, a hot trend in Kansas cuisine, are becoming a popular choice for Kansas couples who want to serve their guests delicious food in a more casual environment conducive to mingling and added merriment. Food trucks serve everything from burgers and barbecue to carnitas and Cajun specialties, and the fingerfood fare often costs less than a catered sit-down meal.
WHAT’S FOR DINNER … AND BEYOND? Party options include plated dinners, passed hors d’oeuvres, a buffet spread, food trucks and trendy late-night snack deliveries like mini cocktails paired with complementary two-bite savory treats (think margarita shooters and tiny tacos or sliders with beer). Milk and cookies are a popular option on the sweeter side.
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Elegance & Style
Dressed classy or sassy, brides know that all eyes will be on them—so a bride should never be made to feel that she is spending too much time on dress selection. But it is also important to remember that everyone in the wedding party most likely will be photographed. No one wants to be preserved for posterity in ill-fitting formal wear or gimmicky garb. Coordinating with an expert can help ensure everyone looks their best.
BRIDES Kansas brides are selecting ball gowns over sheaths and lace over beads. They’re pairing their dresses with traditional veils and tiaras as well as crystal headbands and embellished combs. Bridal gowns with off-the-shoulder sleeves and 3D floral designs are hot picks. Some budgetconscious betrothed are even finding flattering options on clearance racks with pockets for carrying essentials. Comfortable footwear is crucial—a pretty pair for the ceremony and a practical choice like ballet flats for the reception.
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GROOMS Grooms are favoring more gray and navy tuxedos over black for elegant weddings though black-tie options are always a safe, stylish bet. Casual comfort is an option for some Kansas grooms who choose to say “I do” in vests and Vans or jeans and cowboy boots instead of ties and tails. But if you do go casual, make sure it fits into the wedding theme. If in doubt, save casual for the honeymoon.
BRIDESMAIDS Bridesmaids dresses fall into three main categories: the same dress in the same color, such as blush or black; different dresses in a palette of colors or in different shades of a single color such as aqua or lavender; or dresses selected by each individual in the same color. One-shoulder bridesmaid dresses in pastels, bold colors, gunmetal and sequins are popular, flattering choices. Matching bouquets can often help tie together any combination of styles.
MOTHERS OF THE BRIDE AND GROOM The mother of the bride should solicit her daughter’s advice and select a dress in a shade that complements the wedding colors but doesn’t necessarily match them. The mother of the bride typically selects her dress first and then conveys the particulars regarding color, length and level of formality to the groom’s mother so she can then choose her attire. More brides are encouraging their mother and future mother-inlaw to buy a dress in a color and cut that makes them feel their most confident.
WEDDING PLANNER’S ADVICE: BE YOURSELF Here’s the top advice for attire: what you wear should reflect your personality and complement the tone or theme you set for your wedding. Do you want to feel elegant and glamorous? Then choose attire that reflects that. Is your wedding more casual and relaxed? Then everything from the bridal dress to the groom’s outfit should follow that style.
KANSAS STYLE Flouncy or fitted, beaded or buttoned, wedding dresses should flatter your figure without sacrificing your comfort and mobility. For years, a single pretty, poufy dress was the standard, but recently some brides have opted for two dresses—a formal one for the ceremony itself and a shorter cocktail number for the reception (stylish and practical in a humid Kansas summer). Wedding dresses with detachable skirts can provide a compromise without sacrificing flair or carefree fun.
PHOTOGRAPHS Hallie Sigwing
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Model Lara Komosa displays a dress from J. Lynn Bridal, jlynnbridal.com. The trend of choosing two dresses—a formal ceremony dress and a more informal reception dress—provides Kansas brides more choice and more opportunity to match bridal fashion to their personalities.
PHOTOGRAPHS Emily Brensing, Kelley Photo and Design (opposite)
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A winter wedding provides for a festive backdrop.
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Spirit & Setting
Lighting, lighting, lighting! The wedding experts are united on this crucial aspect for establishing ambiance regardless of venue or budget. Professional floor-to-ceiling lighting at the ceremony and the reception are highly recommended, along with real candlelight emanating from holders in varying heights placed on mirrors or arranged with metallic and mercury accents to maximize shimmer.
LIGHTS Chandeliers, modern or vintage, are a classy addition for all gathering spaces, from gazebos to grand halls. Pendant lighting, especially bare bulbs, are both functional and fun. String lights and suspended candles lend a fairy-tale aspect to the festivities. Hurricane holders and lit metal renderings of the couple’s initials or words of love placed around the venue can be affordable, attractive accents too.
KING’S TABLE One popular trend we wholeheartedly endorse is to ditch the head table and go with a king’s table. The traditional head table, where the wedding party faces the tables of guests, is often an unpleasant experience for the married couple. It’s your wedding—your main concern should not be that the entire gathering is watching you eat! A king’s table, where the wedding party is placed around a table in the center of the room, allows for everyone to be near one another, but allows the bride and groom to enjoy their meal without constant scrutiny.
SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY Sentimental touches that point to shared history (a dream trip, an alma mater, a hometown) can show up in various ways throughout the venue. For example, a couple who loves to travel might have suitcases included in the décor or props that preserve a fond memory of the place where they first met or became engaged.
COMPLEMENTARY COLORS Pick your venue and then pick your colors so they complement your surroundings. Pick no more than two to four colors that go well together and use them throughout every aspect of your décor. An all-white monochromatic theme is timeless and can help achieve an elegant feel without breaking the budget.
WEDDING PLANNER WISDOM— LIGHT IT UP! The ambiance of a wedding begins with the entrance to the church and lingers in the memories of the participants long after the last dance. Michael Nolte of Nolte’s Bridal, Overland Park, believes creating the right ambiance for the occasion is paramount and recommends professional lighting to set the scene. Since the guest experience often begins in a cluttered church foyer, he advises brides to work ahead of time with the church to temporarily remove bulletin racks or other objects that might be essential for a Sunday service but not for a wedding. Preferring authenticity over gimmicks, Nolte only uses fresh flowers and real candles in the weddings he oversees. “If you can’t afford flowers and candles, go with candles,” he says.
KANSAS STYLE It’s easy for couples to be swept up in endless Pinterest possibilities for perfecting their special day—and to spend a small fortune achieving it. There is nothing wrong with that, but couples should also feel free to exercise some Midwestern practicality and set priorities for what is essential—and what is not—to create a meaningful, memorable wedding. Making hard decisions on what to keep and what to let go will maximize the impact of the features that matter the most. Throw out the inessentials. Guests will never know what’s missing.
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KA N S A S
W E D D I N G S
Features
Consider this section your wedding day look book. Take a break from the checklist for just a moment and take some advice from couples that have been there. Flip through the pages and find real weddings that went off without a hitch (like yours will!); learn how one couple skipped the checklists and went straight to the wedding planner; plan a prewedding getaway with these scouted Kansas escapes; and finally, dive into our dreamy dress selection of this season’s most elegant styles.
26 Real Weddings
No Place 48 There’s Like Home
about the Take Thee, 38 All 52 IKansas! Flower Girl
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Wedding Grand 43 The 56 AEntrance Planner
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PHOTOGRAPH Beautiful Isolations
kansas weddings
In this gallery, we share real Kansas weddings and real Kansas love. These couples have taken advantage of the services available to them in the Sunflower State; now we’ve listed every vendor involved in planning their special day for your benefit. Find a caterer you like? Flag the page. Find a beautiful arrangement of flowers? Flag the page. We hope you find in these pages the inspiration you need to settle on your own dream wedding. Let these ideas be your something borrowed.
PHOTOGRAPH Liz Rudman Photography and Emily Nystrom Photography
W E D D I N G S
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Nicole & Joshua Fraser
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PHOTOGRAPHER Liz Rudman Photography and Emily Nystrom Photography | FLOWERS Everything Beautiful
A garland of silver dollar eucalyptus and olive branch was created to hang on the archway for the couple’s wedding. It was a natural, beautiful framing for an outdoor wedding.
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PLANNER Revelry House Events | LOCATION Circle S Ranch
Brooke & Adam Pfeifer
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PHOTOGRAPHER Kelley Photo and Design | CAKE Wedding Connections + Events & Parties by Design | FLOWERS Chestnut Street Floral
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DRESS Maggie Sottero | LOCATION Ellis County Fairgrounds | MENSWEAR Couture for Men | PLANNER Wedding Connections + Events
Erika & Evan Shaw
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PHOTOGRAPHER Meysenburg Photography | CAKE 4 Cakes | FLOWERS Dell Ann Upp, Supplies and Event Rentals | INVITATION Ruff House Art
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LOCATION Prairiewood Retreat and Preserve | PHOTO BOOTH Snap It Upp Bus | DRESS Sarah Seven | PLANNER Dell Ann Upp
Erica & Ben Foss
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PHOTOGRAPHER Emily Brensing | FLOWERS Florals of Elegance | LOCATION Sterling Church of Christ, Sterling College
“I think what has stuck with me the most was just the beauty that came out of the chaos of that weekend. I got to marry my love, and that’s all that truly matters. The ice definitely threw us a curve ball, but it made for some beautiful wedding photos!” —Erica Foss, bride
PLANNER Erica Foss, bride and her mother, Bonnie
Jillian & Chanler Simar
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PHOTOGRAPHER Rose Wheat Photography | CAKE Billy Vanilly | FLOWERS Kistner’s Flowers
LOCATION Prairiewood Retreat and Preserve | PLANNER Tara Grubb, All About You Event Planning and Rentals
Flowers by Englewood Florist, Lawrence
flower girl all about the
Sorry, brides. Sorry, grooms. Your big day might actually turn out to be all about someone else.
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hildhood memories are evasive, especially now that I am 66 years old. They swirl around in my mind, and as I pluck them out to re-examine them, I wonder if what I am remembering corresponds most to an actual event, photos I saw later in my life or the stories my family told about that day. All three are possible when I look back on being a flower girl in a wedding in 1956.
THE ACTUAL EVENT Growing up on a farm in the Midwest meant there was little need for dresses and sparkling shoes in my closet. On Sunday mornings, my bare feet were washed and my play clothes were put away. I donned my “church clothes,” and as soon as my family returned home from services, I returned to my “everyday clothes.” But at age 6, I was given a fancy new dress and black patent-leather shoes so that I could be a flower girl in a wedding. I jumped at the chance to wear these beautiful clothes, but I didn’t know I would have to wear them walking in front of a church full of people who would be watching me. Most of the time, I wouldn’t mind. I was a rather rambunctious tomboy at home. But when I got outside the comfort zone of my house, I preferred to view the world by peeking from behind my mother’s flowered, cotton dress. The skirt of her dress was gathered at the waist, and its folds of drooping cotton fabric were perfect for me to wrap around myself when anyone approached. In other words, I was terribly shy. At the wedding rehearsal, I learned that I was to walk ahead of the bride in front of the entire crowd, but I was not to walk in a normal fashion. Instead, I was to step forward with my right foot, plant the left next to it, pause, and then repeat that action by stepping out with my left foot. Each time I paused, I was to scoop up rose petals from the basket and drop them.
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written by
Cheryl Nelsen photographed by
Jason Dailey Photography
When the time came for me to enter, I was awed by the crowd and the occasion. Suddenly, it seemed that dropping petals on the ground would be too much like littering in the house of God. And those petals were quite pretty in their white, lacy white basket. Plus, I was concentrating on how to plant my feet in the aisle without tripping. A few giggles from the crowd caused heat to creep up my throat and into my cheeks, turning them a bright pink. I would have given up that dress and those fine shoes at that moment if only I could retreat to the safety of the folds in my mother’s dress. THE PHOTO Somehow, I made it to the front of the church and through the service, where I joined the most important people of the day in photographs to commemorate the wedding. In one of the photos, a bow-tied ring bearer I’d never seen before and I stand in front of a wedding group of eight adults. The ring bearer holds a satin pillow, and I recall thinking he was cute. To me, in that moment, we are a reflection of the bride and groom and belong together for that day. I’m not smiling because I haven’t been told to do that yet. I’ve placed my left arm on the ring bearer’s right arm, and in my right hand I hold a basket of rose petals, still full. The picture is black and white, but I can see the dress’s apple-green chiffon over a white petticoat. The neckline and short sleeves of my dress are trimmed in white lace, and around my waist is a sash. The dress and new patent-leather, black shoes are so unlike my usual attire that my parents later take me to a studio to have a portrait taken. The outfit, however, wasn’t what gained the most attention the day of the wedding. My Shirley Temple curls cascading over my shoulders are what everyone noticed. One elderly gentleman at my church always touched the longest curl on my head and asked my mother if he could have that curl when my hair was cut. That might explain why I wanted to hide behind my mother’s skirt.
Cheryl Nelsen served as a flower girl for this 1956 wedding. Photograph courtesy Cheryl Nelsen
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THE STORY MY FAMILY TOLD FOR YEARS I might have failed at strewing flower petals in the aisle, but I was determined to stay in my place next to the ring bearer for the wedding photos. I thought he was my partner, and I followed him throughout the reception. Once we had returned home, my family teased me about traipsing behind the ring bearer all day. I remember I was perched on top of the living room couch, leaning back against the wall, which was not how I was supposed to be sitting. As my siblings teased me, I told them I was in love with him. I thought that explanation ought to shut them up. “How do you know?” they asked. “What is love?” “Love is like floating on a cloud,” I said from my perch above the rest of the family. That heartfelt sentiment haunted me for the rest of my life; whenever the subject of love came up, I was unmercifully reminded of it. THE LESSON OF THE FLOWER GIRL The young ring bearer grew up to marry a cousin of mine, but the marriage did not last. Perhaps storm clouds are more descriptive of their experience, or of the fortune of many other couples. I’ve decided, however, that my definition of love at the age of 6 wasn’t so far off-base. It’s what we should feel when we are in love.
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Planning the Perfect Wedding Overwhelmed by the details? Leave it up to a professional to use creativity and style to transform your wedding into a visual masterpiece. written by Megan Saunders
photographed by Beautiful Isolations
“I never imagined mine would come together like this, with all the beauty that’s been created.” —Morgan Potter, former bride Decor by Dell Ann Upp, Supplies and Event Rentals
W
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Cake by 4 Cakes
hen you want your home to look beautiful and polished, you hire an interior decorator. When you want the same for your wedding, you turn to Dell Ann Upp. Upp founded Supply Events, based in Manhattan, in 2015. “Our rentals aren’t one specific style,” she says. “We offer everything from elegant to vintage to rustic.” Upp meets with clients—usually a bride and her mother, she says—to hear their wedding goals from a visual standpoint. From table layouts featuring custom-made linens to romantic vintage furniture, Upp treats the wedding like a production, using props to set the perfect wedding scene. “The first thing brides say is, ‘I don’t know where to begin,’” Upp says. “They show me a picture of what they like, and I can grab a few pieces to play with. They’re relieved when they leave because they can finally see it coming together.” Morgan Potter and her husband, Kyle, were married in Manhattan in June 2015, after taking advantage of nearly all of Upp’s planning and décor services. From designing invitations and tallying RSVPs to planning table settings and renting décor, Upp took the weight of the entire process off Morgan’s shoulders. Instead of worrying about the logistics, Morgan was able to enjoy the ride.
Dell Ann Upp
“At our first meeting, she had supplies and decorations on display. I loved her professional knowledge and connections to local vendors. Overall, Dell Ann helped me enjoy this exciting time in my life.” Morgan and Kyle got married at her parents’ home. The wedding style she settled on was classic, romantic and vintage, featuring shades of pink, blush and oyster. “Most girls imagine their weddings for years, but the details aren’t vividly bright. I never imagined mine would come together like this, with all the beauty that’s been created,” Morgan says. Brides usually have some kind of vision for their wedding’s style, Upp says, but don’t know how to execute it. That’s where she comes in. Through pictures, Pinterest and plenty of questions, Upp reins in scattered ideas and crafts them into a specific look. This often requires a little creative thinking, which was the case when a client requested 270 vintage books. For these requests, Upp takes advantage of local businesses. And if necessary, she’ll custom make the item. “If they request something we don’t have, we’ll go find it,” Upp says. And no need to worry leading up to big day! Upp will organize and run the rehearsal, set up and tear down all wedding décor, and keep everything on schedule throughout the day.
Flowers by Kistner’s
Wooden signs by Lauren Heim Studio
UPP THE ANTE A little creativity goes a long way in styling weddings. These are Upp’s top tips for turning wedding fantasies into reality.
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KNOW YOUR STYLE The first question Upp asks during a consultation is if the couple has chosen their colors. After deciding on colors, she recommends finding a few pictures of a style or items that strike the couple’s fancy. “You want your wedding to reflect you and the groom,” Upp says. “How someone describes something verbally versus what they’re seeing in their head can be completely different.” KNOW WHERE TO CUT COSTS Couples frequently underestimate how much their dream wedding will cost. Upp cautions that food, alcohol, venue costs and more can add up quickly. To stay within budget, she suggests being realistic about your budget limitations. But that doesn’t mean you have to have a drab wedding. “Look for creative venues that offer an exceptional look,” Upp says. “When you choose a venue that is very inexpensive but is just a plain building, you’ll spend more money on décor. Instead, choose a venue with character, style and
natural beauty. Be intentional in where you spend your money. Never scrimp on venue or food.” KNOW YOUR GUEST COUNT This is important not only for your budget, but also for rental items. Upp says the number of people you expect will affect how many tables, chairs and other items you need to rent, not to mention other big-ticket items, such as food. “Once you have your RSVPs in, you can finalize your details,” Upp says. KNOW WHAT YOU LOVE A memorable wedding is a personalized wedding. The days of wedding rules are out the window, Upp says. “If you like fried chicken, serve it,” she says. “If you love pecan pie, have that instead of a cake. People aren’t going to remember what flavor of cake you had, but if they had a good time. Look for ways to put your personal style into whatever you do.” Morgan Potter’s advice for future brides and couples: remember the bigger picture. “Months of planning went into the tiniest of details, but the ultimate focus of the day was our vows,” Morgan says. “When I began to feel stressed about the upcoming day, I just focused on a champagne toast to the fact that I married my best friend.”
While you plan your wedding, let me plan your future! First time buyers or seasoned market shoppers, allow me to do the work for you.
Casey Williams REALTOR®
www.caseywilliamsrealty.com (785) 550-1302 caseywilliams@kw.com Your Kansas agent serving the NE
We d d i ng s , ge taWay s , c or por ate r e t r e at s a nd c e l e b r ations.
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For a unique, artfully decorated setting, high-tech conveniences, and exceptional service, plan your special day at the McPherson Opera House.
McPHERSON OPERA HOUSE 219 S Main Street - McPherson KS 67460 (620) 241-1952 - mcphersonoperahouse.org A convenient destination – centrally located off Interstate 135.
events@circlesranch.com | 785-843-4124
www.circlesranch.com
Homes turned venues in the most fantastic way—a Kansas way
by MeLinda Schnyder
PHOTOGRAPHS CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Elephant Juice Photography, Courtesy of Cedar Crest Lodge, Elephant Juice Photography
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ouples are looking for more than just a wedding location— they want a place that can add to the nuptial experience for themselves and their guests. For example, a limestone estate built in 1860 surrounded by one of the nation’s remaining large stretches of tallgrass prairie, a bluff quarry settled in the 1880s, a pre-World War I home in the capital city and a hilltop retreat with access to a 100-yearold pecan grove. These historic Kansas homes available for weddings provide authenticity that can’t be replicated with new construction. “The people who come to a location like this are looking to get away from the cookie-cutter venue,” says Laura Cunningham, owner of Cedar Crest Lodge in Pleasanton. “They want something that’s unique, and this kind of setting allows them to be a little different.” We’re spotlighting four Kansas homes turned venues for special occasions. They are the site of hundreds of weddings each year, generally accommodate no more than 200 guests and offer multi-day packages for pre- and postceremony activities. While each spot provides a distinctly faraway feel, all offer any service you may require locally.
Pleasanton Built as a residence and artist retreat in 1984, the main house at Cedar Crest Lodge sits on a hill about 1,000 feet above sea level and often is at the center of weddings taking place here. On the north lawn, couples can get married in front of sweeping views of the rolling hills of eastern Kansas. On the west lawn, ceremonies can capture majestic sunsets. Smaller weddings can take place in front of the large brick fireplace in the home’s open-beam great room. “We also have a 100-year-old pecan grove on the edge of our property that looks like a state park with big, expansive trees, or many small intimate areas,” says Laura Cunningham, who bought the property in 2000 with her husband, Matt. “With 111 acres, there’s really no end to what we can do.” Cedar Crest, on the Kansas-Missouri border about 75 miles south of Kansas City, has a pool, full-service day spa, on-site chef and 12 guest rooms operated as a bed and breakfast. Newlyweds prefer the 1,200-square-foot Tuscan Manor luxury suite. The Cunninghams also offer romantic proposal packages and have found that many couples like the idea of getting married where they got engaged (two birds, one stone). cedarcrestlodge.com
Winfield On Martin and Cheryl Rude’s 35-acre farm in Winfield, in the south-central region of the state, couples can get married in an 1881 stone barn that is on the National Historic Register or at an outdoor stone chapel facing the front of a bluff quarry. The property on the banks of the Timber Creek is where G.W. Yount built a home and barn in the late 1800s while raising crops, planting a fruit orchard and quarrying stone. On the foundation of the original home is Homestead House, a structure moved to its current location in the 1920s and recently converted to rooms for the wedding party. Near the original stone barn is an 1890s post and beam barn the couple moved to the farm. First used as the Rudes’ home, the beam barn now holds five themed bed-and-breakfast guest rooms. Newlyweds most often spend the night in The Birdhouse, a queen suite with a balcony in the loft of the beam barn, or the Barn Owl Treehouse, a two-story room in a hedge tree near the main barn. With a rustic, chic style and authentic historical elements, The Barns @ Timber Creek is “a great place to express your Pinterest dreams,” Martin Rude says. timbercreekbarns.com
About 12 miles west of downtown Manhattan, Prairiewood Retreat & Preserve offers a destination-wedding setting with the convenience of staying in Kansas. Through numerous land acquisitions, owners Kail and Becky Katzenmeier have reassembled about 400 acres of native tall grass prairie along the Wildcat Creek valley of the Flint Hills with the goal of preserving the land. A popular weekend package includes three nights’ exclusive access to the 150-acre Retreat House campus, including use of the house for rehearsal dinner, other meals and overnight accommodations; the wedding meadow for an outdoor ceremony; and the Blue Sage Barn for the reception or an indoor ceremony. These buildings were built in the 1960s as a dream equestrian retreat and elegantly renovated by the Katzenmeiers to match the natural prairie environs. Small ceremonies can be held on the northern section of the Prairiewood property inside the StoneHouse, an 1860 limestone estate restored in 2014, or outside on the surrounding courtyard, stone terraces or roofless barn patio. “We offer an authentic place that celebrates where we are and what’s around us, then we turn this incredible place over to our guests and let them bring their own ideas to it,” says Kail Katzenmeier. “It’s truly the essence of ‘make yourself at home.’” prairiewood.com
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Topeka For couples who dream of making a grand entrance on their special day, it would be hard to find a more beautiful option than descending the stairs at the historic Dillon House. In fact, some couples hold their entire ceremony on the 7½-foot-wide grand staircase, originally constructed in 1911 and leading up to intricate stained glass windows. Directly across from the State Capitol in Topeka, the three-story Italian Renaissancestyle house—built by Hiram and Susie Dillon for entertaining—has returned to its intended purpose since reopening in 2015 after a $5.5 million restoration. The craftsmanship and historical preservation of the project have won local, state and national awards. The entire first floor of the Dillon House is available for rental as a wedding and reception venue. In addition to the stairwell, couples can hold their ceremony in front of a fireplace or framed by a 16-foot-wide bow window in the home’s west wing. “Minimal decoration is needed because the beauty of the house provides such a spectacular backdrop for a wedding,” says Sarah Dunekack, Dillon House vice president. The option to take engagement photos on the property is included in wedding packages. dillonhouse.com
PHOTOGRAPHS CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Kail Katzenmeier, Jerry Wang Photography, Studio 22 Photography, Deja Vu Photography
Manhattan
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785 249-4662 (call or text) www.facebook.com/kschweitzerphoto Instagram @schweitzerkristen www.KSchweitzerphoto.com
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K-State’s hometown photographers (since 2006)
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RadianceKS.com 5120 SW 28th St | Topeka, KS 66614 | 785.408.5800 | 844.758.0877 toll free
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Marriage and family therapist recommends engaged couples take a pre-ceremony getaway or family gathering
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hen my mother and father married, they had known each other for several years and all lived in the same section of New York. When I married my husband, we both lived in Kansas, but his parents lived in Texas and my parents in New Jersey. Our wedding was the first time they all met. Two families joined together, our parents and our siblings all becoming “in-laws,” for better or for worse, in the course of one afternoon. We live in a culture where people usually do not marry their childhood sweethearts, where families do not know one another. We may move far away from our hometown for school or work and return home to introduce our future spouse. Our weddings are filled with people from far-flung locations who have never met one another. And that is not always a plus. As a marriage and family therapist (who much prefers doing pre-marital counseling to divorce mediation), I often recommend, if at all possible, that families of the couples meet before the wedding. Book a weekend in a neutral location, where everyone has a private room to decompress. Just a little time to get to know each other, have a few meals, go for a walk or an excursion, share something about their respective histories and anecdotes about their respective children. I also highly recommend that engaged couples schedule a weekend away, alone, six or eight weeks prior to the wedding. They should set aside 48 hours, with no interruptions (put away anything with a screen), to remind themselves, in the midst of the inevitable pre-wedding stress, why they are making this commitment. Here are just a few options of hotels, B & Bs and guest ranches across Kansas that could be perfect for your pre-wedding escape or for premarital, multi-generational family introductions. MILFORD LAKE | ACORNS RESORT Located right on Milford Lake, with a small beach and lake swimming, this venue allows you
to choose from large, modern 5 BR cabins with spacious decks, cozy studios and 1 BRs. For very large parties, there are also a number of additional hotel-style rooms in a central lodge. There are kayaks and canoes, or you can rent a pontoon boat for a sunset cruise. BBQ or grill for the gang, or eat at the new Cove Bar and Grill. There is also a new convention center on the grounds, with ample room for weddings of any size. Go to acornsresortkansas. com for more information. WICHITA | HOTEL AT OLD TOWN This hotel sits smack in the middle of Old Town, the renovated, historic section of Wichita where you can hear music drifting over from bars and clubs as soon as you walk out the door. It’s a bustling, urban atmosphere with plenty of choices for every age. Dine at Public, just across the square, for scrumptious food. The hotel provides a full breakfast in a lovely 4-story lobby atrium, perfect for family gatherings. The staff will set up informal appetizers/buffets for getting-to-know-you brunches. Aunt Sally can even play the grand piano. For more specifics, go online at hotelatoldtown.com or email kwhite@ hotelatoldtown.com. COTTONWOOD FALLS | GRAND CENTRAL HOTEL AND GRILL This small-town venue features a lovely dining room with brick walls and 10 rooms, a patio area with 7-8 tables and a historic downtown with that “village” feel. Guests can hike or tour the National Tallgrass Prairie Preserve just down the road (and an outdoor wedding on one of the bluffs, with panoramic vistas of the Flint Hills, is about as “destination” as you can get). For more information, go online at grandcentralhotel.com. WILSON | MIDLAND RAILROAD HOTEL AND RESTAURANT Just off Interstate 70 and a few miles from the trails and lake of Wilson State Park, this 1889 hotel features romantic rooms, a dining area and
SET ASIDE 48 HOURS, WITH NO INTERRUPTIONS TO REMIND YOURSELVES, IN THE MIDST OF THE INEVITABLE PRE-WEDDING STRESS, WHY YOU ARE MAKING THIS COMMITMENT.
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basement bar right out of the 1800s. Ask about their three apartments (with kitchenettes) for a secluded weekend. With 28 guest rooms, this location can provide everything from a minihoneymoon, a pre-wedding weekend for the families, or a destination wedding. For more information, check out midlandrailroadhotel.com.
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FLINT HILLS (NEAR CLEMENTS) | FLYING W RANCH If your new relations are from the East or West coasts, blow them away with a night on a Flint Hills working ranch. Flying W allows parties to go for a sunset trail ride or crowd into a wagon bed for a narrated horse-drawn wagon ride. The ranch has a lodge and several smaller cabins, all with porches equipped with rocking chairs. Guests can cook for themselves or hire in-house catering. It’s a perfect blend of natural beauty and comfortable amenities. Go online at flinthillsflyingw.com for more information. FLINT HILLS (NEAR ELMDALE) | CLOVER CLIFF RANCH BED-AND-BREAKFAST Close to the Flying W but with a very different ambiance, Clover Cliff is an elegant mansion with panoramic vistas and period design. This simply and classically romantic venue features a spacious and lovely main lodge and provides the option of separate houses (2-3
BR) with fully equipped kitchens. A full breakfast is served to all guests at the lodge. For more information, go online at clovercliffranch.com. EDSON | KUHRT RANCH This is a no-frills option whose proximity to hunting fields will make any hunter in the family very happy. The limestone Resort Lodge (on National Historic Register) offers 4 bedrooms (3 private; 1 semi-private), a communal kitchen and room to hang out. It is remote, quiet and peaceful (set about 20 miles east of Goodland) and has been in the same family for 5 generations. Bring your own food or arrange with owners to have something catered in. You can walk for miles and not see a soul, which might be just what you need if the wedding-planning stress is at an all-time high. For more information, go online at kuhrtranch.com. ALL OVER KANSAS | KANSAS STATE PARKS Twenty-five of the Kansas State Parks have cabins, and most have kitchens, AC/heat, etc. Bring your own linens, and ask specifically what is in the kitchen. You can choose the more romantic and economical couples’ cabins or book a large cabin that will sleep up to 10 people. But the attraction is not the lodging; because these are in state parks, these cabins are always near trails, lakes or other natural attractions. Get more details at ksoutdoors.com.
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Before you both say, “I do,� leave your life-partner-to-be speechless as you walk down the aisle in a wedding dress that all of your guests will remember for years to come.
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Photography by Avion Photography location Abode Venue, Wichita
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Dress Gallery MODEL Elizabeth Stoots DRESS Ella Rosa Style BE337 (ivory/nude) Pearl and crystal tie headband: Bel Aire Bridal 6383 FLOWERS Aimee Gillum, Papers to Petals
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Accent Bridal & Tux MODEL Ashley Alford DRESS Style PV 11604 Luxurious ball gown with a sweetheart neckline. The gown is made of re-embroidered lace appliques on netting, lined with rich duchess lt. gold satin and trimmed at the waist with beaded embellishments.
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Sweet Illusion Bridal & Fashion MODEL Megan Meier DRESS Mori Lee Style 2895 “Ball Gown” Vintage embroidery trimmed with crystal moonstone beading on tiered organza ball gown (ivory/blush)
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Accent Bridal & Tux MODEL Ashley Alford DRESS Style 216161 Lace long sleeves and bateau neckline sheath with flared skirt fashioned from re-embroidered lace on net over rich nude satin bottom layer. Crystal buttons adorn the back.
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Dress Gallery MODEL Elizabeth Stoots DRESS Essense of Australia Style D2162 (ivory/almond) Veil: Maggie Sottero 6SC184
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Dress Gallery MODEL Elizabeth Stoots DRESS Moonlight Style J6364 (ivory) Floral vine headpiece with Swarovski crystals, rhinestones and crystal opal flowers: “Eden,” Paulette F. Carle Couture
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Sweet Illusion Bridal & Fashion MODEL Megan Meier DRESS Mori Lee 2704 “Mermaid” Elegant Alencon lace with crystal beaded straps (ivory/silver) PAGE 56 “Fit and Flare” Delicate beading on embroidered appliques onto soft tulle (ivory/light gold)
kansas weddings regi ster
2 017
68 The Wedding Register is a collection of wedding day stories, both beautiful and unique—just like the two people who fell in love.
kansas weddings regi st er
Shin Ah Rim Shin and Min Soo Choi were married at four-thirty in the afternoon of May 29, 2016, at Fulton Valley Farms in Towanda, Kansas. Officiating was Pastor Sam Mcvay and honorary speaker was Dr. Todd Stephens. Music was provided by Ju Heon Shin, Stephanie Lu and Paul Jang. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hyun Shin of Nashville. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jay Choi of Newport News. The altar was set near a beautifully decorated arbor in the pasture. Escorted to the altar by her father and given in marriage by her parents, the bride wore a beautiful Essense of Australia tulle and soft organza gown featuring a sweetheart neckline. The bride’s bouquet was made of blushing pink peonies, deeper pink alstroemerias, Queen Anne’s lace, roses, and hypericum berries arranged by one of her talented friends, Lindsay Posey. The bride was attended by her bridesmaids Eunice Lee, Joanna Tzen, Amy Cheng, Tsega Temtem, Tracy Tzen and Bonnie Cassidy, all friends of the bride. They wore varied navy blue tops with a blush tulle skirt and held bouquets of baby’s breath and white daisies. The whimsical wedding programs were handmade by Amy Shin, the bride’s sister-in-law. Sam “Soccer” Lee, Sam Lee, Andrew Chun, Frankie Lee, Ju Heon Shin, and Pastor Matt Ro, all friends of the groom, served as groomsmen. Following the ceremony, guests moved to the antique barn, decorated by glowing lights and a beautiful canopy of soft fabric.
Choi There was a playground outside the barn for the children. Guests could take pictures at the photobooth, featuring a backdrop of flowing ribbons of blush pink, satin, lace and burlap. The couple served a deliciously prepared whole roasted pig, along with their favorite dishes from local restaurants in Wichita. The bride and groom cut a Chantilly cake, and there were also pies from The Upper Crust, the couple’s favorite pie shop in Kansas City. Toasts for the bride were made by bridesmaid Tsega Temtem and Ju Heon Shin, the bride’s brother, and everyone choked back tears during his heartfelt speech. The entire barn rocked with laughter as groomsman Sam “Soccer” Lee and Frankie Lee gave a touching yet hilarious toast for the couple. Once the guests had finished eating, they joined the bride and groom on the dance floor underneath the soft canopy and danced the night away. The couple is able to forever enjoy memories of their special day captured by their cinematographers, Kevin Law and Jae Ro, and their photographer, Beautiful Isolations Photography. Joanne Kim, a dear friend of the bride, coordinated the beautiful ceremony and reception. Following their honeymoon trip to South Korea, the couple returned to Atlanta where the groom continues his work as a pastor at Journey Church of Atlanta and the bride begins her work as a physician. Their dream is to one day go overseas to serve medically underserved communities.
Fulton Valley Farms / Towanda / Beautiful Isolations
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Kathleen Renee Marickovich and Brett Michael Showalter were married at half past five in the afternoon on June 11, 2016, at Chrisman Manor, north of Lawrence, Kansas. Pastor John Flynn officiated. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. Rick Marickovich of Wichita, Kansas. The groom is the son of Mr. and the late Mrs. Mike Showalter of Derby, Kansas. The ceremony was set in the open field behind the venue. Escorted to the altar by her father and given in marriage by her parents, the bride wore a beautiful blush-pink gown featuring lace detailing, a long train and a sweetheart neckline. The bride’s bouquet featured white peonies and blush-pink roses and berries for a romantic garden feel. With her bouquet she carried a handkerchief given to her as baby by her late maternal grandmother, Mrs. Mabel Baker. Attending as matron of honor was the bride’s sister, Christine Linder. Attending as bridesmaids were Amy Ainsworth, Crystal Adrian, Allie Graham, Robin Hildebrand, Julie Peruman and Laura Vallier, all friends of the bride. The bridesmaids wore flowing white dresses with differing necklines to offset the blush color of the bride’s gown. Their bouquets were pink and white roses with other garden flowers. Randy Small served as best man. Groomsmen were Paul Becker, Joe Lonnberg, Jason Schoonover, Seth Smith, Dave Tryon and Scotty Wieters, all friends of the groom.
Showalter Ushers were Chanson Linder, nephew of the bride, and Ethan Ott, nephew of the groom. Calen Linder, nephew of the bride, and Jacob Poteete, nephew of the groom, served as lantern bearers. The ring bearer, Madelyn Ott, walked down the aisle with her sister, Ella, who carried the pastor’s Bible. Both are nieces of the groom. Carissa and Caria Linder, nieces of the bride, and Lillian Poteete, niece of the groom, waved ribbons as they danced down the aisle. Afterward, the guests enjoyed drinks and appetizers on the patio. Vintage seating and a fountain on the lawn provided a beautiful setting for guests to gather and relax during the cocktail hour. Inside the main ballroom, the couple served a beautiful plated dinner of hoisin barbeque steak, rosemary chicken, or pesto ravioli provided by World Cuisine Catering. The father of the bride, best man and matron of honor gave speeches with champagne toasts. After the toasts, the 4-tier cake was cut, and the bride and groom moved outside to take sunset photos. Dancing followed in the ballroom. On the eve of the wedding, the groom’s father, Mike Showalter, and his wife, Donna, honored the couple with a rehearsal dinner in the outdoor courtyard of The Castle Tea Room. Following dinner all guests were invited to the couple’s favorite hangout, Louise’s West. The next morning, the happy couple hosted a brunch for their guests at Genovese in downtown Lawrence. After a honeymoon in Antigua, the couple returned home to Lawrence.
Chrisman Manor / Lawrence / The Larken Photo & Video Co.
kansas weddings regi st er
Young Caitlin Reneé Young and Luke Henry Laha were married on May 21, 2016, at five-thirty in the evening, at LaSada, south of Russell, Kansas. Officiating was Carol Dean Fitch. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Young of Russell. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Laha of Clearwater. Caitlin and Luke first met in 2011 while Luke was attending Fort Hays State University. Caitlin was still in high school at the time and was focusing on her senior year. After several months of talking, Luke finally asked Caitlin to be his girlfriend January 1, 2012. The couple soon fell in love and enjoyed every moment they spent together, and most of those moments were in the hunting blind. After three years of dating, Luke took Caitlin on a hunt of a lifetime. February 15, 2015, Luke and Caitlin went on a goose hunt, when Luke tied an engagement ring onto a goose the couple shot together and got down on one knee to ask Caitlin to be his wife. Caitlin and her parents built a cantilever pavilion and altar near the Smokey Hill River on their property, LaSada, where Caitlin and Luke first met. Escorted to the altar by her beloved father and given in marriage by her parents, the bride wore a beautiful ivory Mori Lee gown featuring a beaded sweetheart neckline. The bride’s bouquet was full of color, with Kansas sunflowers, beautiful orange roses (the flower Luke gave Caitlin for their one-month anniversary) and a touch of purple, arranged locally at Off The Vine.
Laha Attending were Caitlin and Luke’s closest friends and siblings, and the couple’s yellow lab, Brooke, was the ring security. The bridesmaids wore elegant white lace dresses with eggplant-purple shawls. The groomsmen wore khaki slacks and yellow shirts, with camouflage ties handmade by the groom’s mother. Following the ceremony, guests moved to an open pavilion where they were seated at tables with a beautiful centerpiece arranged with a tree wafer, flowers, antlers, and a mason jar with a goldfish. The couple served a taco bar with a variety of options for each guest. The bride and groom cut a small cake, but guests enjoyed a selection of cupcakes and a candy bar. Toasts were given by the bride’s father, the groom’s mother, the maid of honor and the best man. On the eve of the wedding, the groom’s parents honored the couple with a rehearsal dinner at LaSada where they served a barbecue dinner. Following the dinner, dance lessons were offered by Caitlin’s godparents. Following their honeymoon cruise to Alaska, the couple returned to their new home in Luka where they live with their three dogs, Brooke, Emma, and Cara. The couple shares interest in both photography and videography and has recently opened Laha Media Group, specializing in event photography. They look forward to working with couples and families during their special moments in life.
LaSada / Russell / Josh Junghans Images
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Klassen 72
Megan Christine Klassen and Rodney Joe Nieman were married at five o’clock in the afternoon of June 27, 2015, at Hesston Mennonite Church in Hesston, Kansas. Officiating the ceremony was John C. Murray, and Sharon Woodward provided music. The bride is the daughter of Myron and Shelley Klassen of Hesston. The groom is the son of Mike and Kathy Nieman of McPherson. Escorted to the altar by her father, and given in marriage by her parents, the bride wore a Maggie Sottero gown that was ivory lace with a keyhole opening in the back. The bouquet was made of white hydrangeas, baby’s breath, and peach-colored roses was arranged by Ruzen Flowers in Newton. The bride was attended by her maid of honor, Heidi Richtig, and bridesmaids Kristen Betts, Courtney Callegari, and Shanda Swanson, all friends of the bride. The bridesmaids wore soft peach silk chiffon dresses and held bouquets of white hydrangeas. Chad Nieman, brother of the groom, served as best man. Brock Nieman, brother of the groom, Andrew Reese and Trent Swanson, friends of the groom, served as groomsman. Following the ceremony, guests traveled to McPherson to the Perkins Banquet Center for dinner, drinks and dancing. At the
Nieman reception venue, the tables were set with mason jars filled with white hydrangeas and baby’s breath arranged by Julie Gudenkauf of McPherson. Guests could also entertain themselves with a whimsical photobooth fit with fun props and cafe lighting. The bride and groom cut a small cake and enjoyed a glass of champagne in front of a beautiful barnwood backdrop with the letters “L-O-V-E” lit up. The toasts were then given by the maid of honor, best man, and father of the bride and guests enjoyed sheet cakes made by Arlene Anderson of McPherson. Once guests had finished eating, they joined the couple on the dance floor and danced the night away. The couple is able to forever enjoy memories of their special day captured by their cinematographers, Brickhouse Wedding Films, and their photographer, Megan Hein Photography. Bel Amour Events coordinated the beautiful ceremony and reception. For their honeymoon, the bride and groom traveled to the Bahamas where they spent a wonderful week at Sandals Emerald Bay. They returned home to McPherson where the groom works at CHS and the bride is a teacher at McPherson High School. The couple celebrated their first anniversary with their new baby girl, Camry Christine, born on June 4, 2016.
Perkins Banquet Center / Hesston / Megan Hein Photography
kansas weddings regi st er
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Gaither 74
Ashley Rae Gaither and Jacob Cole Kennedy were married at six-thirty in the evening on August 6, 2016, at Fulton Valley Farms north of Augusta, Kansas. Officiating was Pastor Glendon Epp. The bride is the daughter of Ronnie and Amy Gaither of Oxford, and the groom is the son of Todd and Miki Kennedy of Oxford. The arbor was set near the spring-fed creek and was surrounded by forested trails with picturesque wooden bridges. Escorted to the arbor by her father, and given in marriage by her parents, the bride wore a beautiful ivory mermaid gown featuring a sweetheart neckline. The bride’s bouquet of blushing pink mink protea and burgundy dahlias, arranged by Primarily Plants & Floral, made for an opulent and romantic display. Attending as matron of honor was her sister Bailey Lauren Gaither. Bridesmaids were Erin Gaither, sister of the bride; Janelle Kennedy and Ashley Bain, sisters of the groom. Cambrie Michele Kennedy, daughter of the bride and groom, served as flower girl. The burgundy bridesmaids dresses created a pop of whimsy. Their bouquets complemented the bridal bouquet. Kal White, best friend of the groom, served as best man. Wesley Palmer, Greg Higgins and Ryan Bain, all friends of the groom, served as groomsman. Logan Gaither, brother of the bride, served as ring bearer. During the ceremony the couple exchanged vows and had a sand ceremony.
Kennedy Following the ceremony, guests moved to the antique roundtop barn where beautiful candlelit mason jars waited for them, and soft music opened a pre-dinner dance floor. The dance floor featured a gorgeous white parachute with a stunning chandelier in the middle. The couple served a barbecue dinner with all the fixings from Hog Wild Pit Barbeque. The bride and groom cut a marble cake with buttercream frosting made by the groom’s aunt, Brenda Schlegel. Following the dinner, guests enjoyed dancing and even got to see and pet the reindeer that Fulton Valley Farms owns and uses for their Christmas display. After the first dance, the bride and groom left their guests momentarily to take romantic sunset pictures. They had a gorgeous sunset backdrop with a beautiful cornfield. Towards the end of the night, they also snuck away for a few photos near the lighted silo. On the evening before the wedding, a rehearsal dinner took place in the creek house that is on Fulton Valley’s property. Following the dinner, guests enjoyed one another’s company and the overall country atmosphere that the venue offers. Following their honeymoon trip to Cancun, Mexico, the couple returned home to Oxford where the groom continues his work as a semi driver for Fed-Ex and the bride continues her work at the local school.
Fulton Valley Farms / Towanda / Valerie Shannon Photography
kansas weddings regi st er
Gnad “Loved you yesterday, love you still, always have, always will”—it’s a quote that describes perfectly a couple who met and fell in love in high school, who would be united in marriage nineteen years later. On June 4, 2016, Brandy Lee Gnad and Edward John Ochs were united in marriage at two o’clock in the afternoon at St. Dominic Catholic Church, Garden City, Kansas, during a double ring ceremony. The wedding Mass was officiated by Father Reggie Urban. Their wedding day began with a “first look” in which Brandy and EJ shared a special, intimate moment seeing each other for the first time. The “first look” was followed by a beautiful ceremony that illustrated their love and commitment for one another. The bride was escorted by her father. Following the ceremony, family and friends gathered together in the St. Dominic’s parish hall to share drinks, food, and laughter. The reception commenced when EJ and Brandy were introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Ochs. The bride and groom introduced their bridesmaids and groomsmen by sharing a few endearing words about each member of the wedding party. Then the maid of honor, bride’s sisters, and best man delivered toasts and best wishes to the newly married couple. The dance began with the couple’s first song, “Tangled Up in You.” Their wedding day will be remembered
Ochs by the couple and their family and friends with fond memories that will last a lifetime and the beginning of a beautiful life together. Brandy, 36, is the daughter of Michael and Laytha Gnad of Hays, Kansas. She works as an instructional literacy coach at Florence Wilson Elementary School in Garden City and has been a teacher in the Garden City Public Schools since 2004. EJ, 36, is the son of JD Ochs of Caldwell, Kansas, and Alice Ochs of Topeka, Kansas. He is a sergeant for the Garden City Police Department and has been employed as a law enforcement officer by the City of Garden City since 2003. The couple met by fate in 1997 at Cedar Bluff Lake in Trego County. On the third date they shared their first kiss. When the groom was asked when they knew they loved each other, he said, “after our first real date.” Since that time, their love and friendship has grown stronger each day. When asked about her wedding day, the bride said, “It was the happiest day of my life and I am so excited to be married to my best friend and love of my life.” Following the wedding the bride and groom were whisked away on a honeymoon to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. After the honeymoon, Mr. and Mrs. Ochs will reside in their new home in Garden City, Kansas.
St. Dominic Catholic Church / Garden City / April Harmon Photography
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Matt Turner and Diana Ramirez were married at six-thirty in the evening on June 19th, 2016, at the Dodge City Country Club in Dodge City, surrounded by their nearest and dearest at a very special wedding that was put together in just a month’s time. On Valentine’s Day in 2016, Matt presented Diana with a cake that held an engagement ring. Soon after the engagement, the couple considered a beach destination wedding for 2017, but in an unfortunate turn of events, Matt’s step-father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Feeling a sense of urgency to celebrate the wedding sooner, Matt and Diana decided on a local wedding where all of their loved ones could all be present for their special day. In mid-May they decided to plan a wedding in just a month! So many friends and local vendors came through in a pinch for Matt and Diana. After booking the Dodge City Country Club, Diana was on a mission to find the perfect dress, which is never an easy task. Savannah, her 6-year-old daughter, would also need the perfect dress as her flower girl! Diana made an appointment for the two of them with Dani at Bridal N More, in Garden City, about an hour away from Dodge City. Within just a couple hours, Dani found her the dress and worked her magic to get it delivered in just two weeks! Diana showed a picture of a flower girl dress she had in mind for Savannah. Dani told her not to worry, but knew
Turner she would need to make it custom. When the gown arrived, Dani drove it to her seamstress in Scott City. Meanwhile, Diana contacted her local florist, Humble Flowers. She presented them with a photo of her inspiration bouquet, and it was effortlessly created. Her arrangement included pink carnations and peonies, white spray roses and hydrangeas. At the final fitting of Diana’s and Savannah’s dresses, only a day before the wedding, everyone held their breath! Both dresses fit perfectly, and to Diana’s surprise, Dani refused to charge her for Savannah’s dress, as it was her gift to her. The ceremony and reception went off without a hitch! Sasha Lozano, at D’Gala Wedding & Event Décor, provided all the right “rustic elegant” touches at the altar and in the dining room. The cake was created by Arturo Mendez, of Cakes by Arturo Mendez, who had also made Matt’s engagement cake for Diana. The gorgeous cake had a burlap, lace and pearl base that matched her bouquet. It was decorated with pink roses and greenery. The top tier, in vanilla, was adorned with the family silhouette; the bottom tier was chocolate and lavishly covered in rich cream cheese frosting. Vendors and friends went above and beyond to help make Matt and Diana’s wedding day perfect in such limited time—and on Father’s Day. The wedding and all of the work that went into it meant so much to the couple and their family.
Dodge City Country Club / Dodge City / Medina Photography
kansas weddings regi st er
Deutsch Jacob and Lexi Deutsch were married on March 12, 2016, at the Concordia Lutheran Church in Hoisington, Kansas. Both the bride and the groom were born and raised in Hoisington and hope to carry out the hometown tradition through another generation. The bride is the daughter of Brad and Shelly Demel and; the groom is the son of Randy and Debbie Deutsch; all of whom were raised and married in Hoisington. The bride, given away at the altar by her father, wore a beautiful Alvina Valenta ivory lace gown belted at the waist with gorgeous diamond crystals. Lexi completed the look with a reworked version of her mother’s veil worn in her 1985 wedding. The bride’s bouquet, by Vines and Designs of Great Bend, Kansas, contained ivory flowers with accents of purple and turquoise. Attending as maid of honor was the bride’s sister Abbi Demel. The rest of the wedding party consisted of other family and longtime friends. The bridesmaids wore a variety of teal dresses in a variety of styles they selected themselves. Their bouquets complemented the bridal bouquet and highlighted the purple accents in the room. A rowdy group of college football friends and family members completed the groom’s party. They all wore slate grey suits with different, coordinating vest colors. The groom wore a suit accented with ivory, groomsmen in eggplant, and ushers in teal.
Demel Following the ceremony, guests moved to the reception for drinks, dinner and dancing. The event center was decorated in shabby chic with whiskey barrels, lanterns, glass vases, and gorgeous florals designed by Cornerstone Interiors of Great Bend, Kansas. Dave Lewis, also known as “The Voice of the Wildcats,” was the master of ceremonies. The guests dined on a delicious, catered meal of roast beef and chicken breast with numerous sides. The bride’s sister and the groom’s college roommate offered toasts. Stories were told, secrets were spilled, and many laughs were had by all. The bride and her father shared a dance as did the groom and his mother. To top off the night, the Kansas State fight song played as everyone on the dance floor cheered for the purple and the white. On the eve of the wedding, the groom’s parents honored the couple with a rehearsal dinner where they served a traditional buffet barbeque. The woodsy feel of the décor made the courtyard of the hotel feel like a rustic cabin. Following dinner, guests enjoyed drinks, conversation and many stories about the couple. After the wedding festivities, family and friends headed home, and the bride and groom were whisked away to the Bahamas for seven days in paradise. The couple then returned to Great Bend, Kansas, which they now call home.
Concordia Lutheran Church / Hoisington / Beautiful Isolations
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Dukart 78
Mark Benefiel and Joy Dukart were wed on a perfectly beautiful Friday, June 17, 2016, at eight o’clock in the evening in Wichita, Kansas. The open air provided a natural complement to the couple’s wide, generous embrace of their new life with one another. The wedding took place on the Arkansas River, located right outside of Exploration Place. The decor was turquoise and purple, inspired by a peacock that was used on the wedding invitation. Joy and Mark decided to have a first look at each other, and the amazing spiral staircase that leads down to the dome theater was the perfect spot for an overhead view of their love for each other. With the sunset behind them, what stood out the most about Mark and Joy’s wedding day were their vows to each other. Mark said his vows first and told Joy that he would always dance with her. Joy shared that he made her feel like dancing again. He promised to sing to her and be there for her every step of the way as she told him that his love empowered her. Joy always appreciated the do-it-yourself approach to weddings and arranged her own florals. She chose thick, creamy white hydrangeas bundled together and accented with shiny
Benefiel brooches. Included in the bouquet was a tiny rhinestone poodle brooch her grandmother had given her when she was 10 years old. The poodle’s blue nose fulfilled the wedding adage of “old” and “blue.” The “borrowed” came from a good-luck ring, provided by her friend Liz. All previous brides that wore the band on their special day ended up living long, happy lives with their spouses. Mark and Joy’s blended families served as their wedding party. Joy’s three daughters, Dakota, Arianna and Samantha, and Mark’s three sons, Kyle, Sean and Graeson, were at their parents’ sides when they said their vows. The couple left the ceremony hand in hand, looking happier than ever. Loved ones cheered, clapped, and blew celebratory bubbles. A wonderful dessert bar, with red velvet cupcakes, carrot cake and chocolate mousse greeted everyone on the way to the reception, and almost everybody was up and dancing on the floor in no time. Smiles, laughter and tears of joy filled the room the entire evening. The love the couple shares is absolutely stunning. It’s always a beautiful thing when two great people can find one another.
Exploration Place / Wichita / Sara Rieth Photography
kansas weddings regi st er
Marks Katherine Rose Marks and Landon Michael Harp were married at five o’clock in the evening of September 19, 2015, at Creekside at Berryton in Berryton, Kansas. Officiating was Rollin Boothby, from the family of the groom. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Marks of Wichita. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Harp of Liberal. The bride and groom were married under a gazebo covered in cream-colored cabbage roses and baby’s breath sprinkled with yellow Craspedia. The arrangement was made locally by The Flower Basket of Topeka. Escorted to the altar by her father and given away by her parents, the bride wore a strapless, lacy gown with embellishments around the waist. The bride also wore a blue butterfly brooch in remembrance of her grandmother. The wedding party included the maid of honor Jade Greene, best man Jordan Jones and fourteen bridesmaids and groomsmen. The maid of honor and bridesmaids wore different shades of light blue. Their yellow and white bouquets accentuated their blue dresses. The best man and groomsmen wore grey tuxedos with light blue ties, complemented with a dainty yellow boutonniere.
Harp Following the ceremony, guests moved to the antique barn where the couple served an informal taco bar. The bride and groom cut a small cake of their own, while guests enjoyed an assortment of gourmet cupcakes. The maid of honor, best man, and both the bride’s and groom’s fathers made toasts. After dinner and toasts, the guests moved from the antique barn to an old Grange building where the reception continued with dancing. The bride and groom had their first dance under vintage twinkle lights and candlelight. The guests then enjoyed an open bar set up in a vintage concession stand outside by the barn. There were yard games, picnic tables, and a lively dance floor for the guests to enjoy during the reception. On the eve of the wedding, the groom’s parents hosted a rehearsal dinner in the Grange building at Creekside at Berryton where they served a gourmet dinner. Guests enjoyed a slideshow (created by the groom’s mother) of the couple throughout their relationship. Following their honeymoon to Hawaii, the couple returned home to Kearney, Missouri, where the groom continues his work as head miller and the bride continues her work as a teacher.
Creekside at Berryton / Berryton / Cork Creative Photography
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Leister 80
Casey Rae Leister and Zachary Allan Prester met in their high school art class. Almost eight years later, these high school sweethearts committed their lives to one another. They married at two-thirty in the afternoon on May 28, 2016, at the Masonic temple in Salina, Kansas. Casey and her bridal party spent the morning getting ready with brunch and mimosas at a local bed and breakfast in Salina. Zach and his groomsmen hung out at a family friend’s country cabin. Upon arrival at the Masonic Temple prior to the ceremony, Casey had a first look with her dad, step-dad, and brother. Zach chose not to see Casey before she walked down the aisle, so the pastor said a prayer for the couple as they stood and held hands back-to-back. The wedding ceremony was held in a beautiful theater on the fourth floor of the Masonic Temple. The aisle was lined with rose pedals and candles and a cathedral backdrop bordered the stage. During the ceremony, Zach and Casey exchanged personalized vows, and Casey’s sister sang Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” as the unity candle was lit. Following the ceremony, all 350 guests lined the grand
Prester stairway of the Masonic Temple to blow bubbles at the new bride and groom as they exited. Family pictures were taken on the stairway, and then the bridal party left on a party bus to take pictures at different locations around town, including Oakdale Park and downtown Salina. The bridesmaids wore long taupe dresses with a bling belt while the groomsmen wore black tuxes with taupe vests. The candle lighters wore long blush-pink dresses, which perfectly accented the blush, ivory, and white flowers. Guests arrived back at the Masonic temple at five-thirty in the evening for the wedding reception in the large dining hall. On the menu was a delicious Italian meal catered by Martinelli’s Little Italy and wedding cake and cupcakes made by Zach’s talented younger sister. The rest of the night was spent drinking, dancing, and taking fun pictures with props in a photo booth. A few days after the wedding, Zach and Casey embarked on their honeymoon in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, where they stayed at the Hard Rock Casino & Resort for one week. Upon returning, they moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where they began the next chapter in their lives together.
Masonic Temple / Salina / Beautiful Isolations
kansas weddings regi st er
Batterton
Hoopingarner
Chace W. Hoopingarner and Larissa L. Batterton married at four o’clock in the afternoon on September 27, 2015, in the Manter United Methodist Church in Manter, Kansas, with only their parents and grandparents attending. The officiant, Mary Courtney, presented the couple as Mr. & Mrs. Hoopingarner. The groom is the son of Frank Hoopingarner of Manter, Kansas, and Tina Hargrove of Elizabeth, Colorado. The bride is the daughter of Lynn and Lisa Batterton of Manter, Kansas. The couple celebrated their marriage with friends and family on September 10, 2016, at the Golf Club at Southwind in Garden City, Kansas. The couple re-affirmed their vows and blessed their rings at 4 o’clock in the afternoon on the golf course in front of an elegant water fountain. The beautiful day was slightly breezy, with temperatures in the low 80s. Attending as matron of honor was Mireya Stiles, and Aubree Bohl, Cesha Simpson, Shayna Hernandez, and Michelle Canny served as bridesmaids. The bridesmaids wore dark apple-red dresses and held bouquets of coral roses and baby’s breath that complemented the bride’s bouquet of roses, Gerbera daisies and a berry assortment. Chase Nickell served as the best
man, and Andy Simpson, Craig Figgins, Bud Dilley, and Tim Sourp served as groomsmen. The groomsmen were dressed in light heather-gray tuxedos with dark apple-red boutonnieres. Nevaeh, flower girl and daughter of the bride and groom, happily skipped up the aisle dropping her flower petals. The bride, escorted by her father, wore a stunning lace dress with a sweetheart neckline. The groom wore a dark gray tuxedo with a red vest. Following the celebration, everyone adjourned to the clubhouse for a gourmet smoked-brisket meal and reception. The clubhouse was decorated romantically with lights and candles. Vases of orchids and floating candles adorned each table and were created by the bride, her mother and mother-in-law. The reception featured a four-tiered cake topped off with a letter “H” and accented with a lace design and red Gerbera daisies. Following the cake cutting there was a dance, and the couple was able to sneak away for sunset pictures. The couple plans on taking their honeymoon in Costa Rica. They look forward to a week of relaxation on the beach and sight-seeing.
Golf Club at Southwind / Garden City / April Harmon Photography
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Chloe Elizabeth Riffel and Jeremy Michael Beneke were married at two o’clock in the afternoon of August 6, 2016, at College Avenue United Methodist Church in Manhattan, Kansas. Officiating was Pastor Devin Wendt from the couple’s home church, also in Manhattan, Crestview Christian Church. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gwyn Riffel of Manhattan. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Beneke of Bushton. Escorted to the altar by her father and given in marriage by her parents, the bride wore a timeless Maggie Sottero lace gown featuring a sweetheart neckline. The bride’s bouquet included white ranunculus, spray roses, dusty miller, seeded eucalyptus, white hydrangea, and sprigs of baby’s breath, creating a romantic and elegant display, arranged locally by Steve’s Floral. Attending as matron of honor was the bride’s sister, Alanna Vinyard, and as maid of honor, friend of the bride, Jill Wege. Bridesmaids included the bride’s sister, Heather Cooley, as well as friends Marcy Butler, Jenna Haas and Jill Patry. Their bouquets complemented the bridal bouquet, as did the boutonnieres, corsages, and altarpiece displayed at the church, also arranged by Steve’s Floral. Nicholas Beneke, brother of the groom, served as best man. The groomsmen included friends Ryan Stratmann, Matthew Clark, Cory Steinert, Ben Schoenberger and Troy Pfeifer. Also included in the wedding were nine of the bride and groom’s younger family members, including Baylee Beneke, niece of the groom, as flower
Beneke girl, and Wiley Riffel, nephew of the bride, as ring bearer. Following the ceremony, guests moved to the K-State Alumni Center where a social hour was held, including hors d’oeuvres, a signature drink, and a variety of pictures and activities for guests young and old to enjoy. The couple entered the reception using the venue’s grand staircase into a large ballroom adorned with gold Chiavari chairs, three different centerpieces artfully arranged by Steve’s Floral and multiple personal touches designed by the bride. The couple served a buffet dinner with meat and vegetarian options, as well as a 3-tier white cake with four flavor options to ensure all guests were able to eat, drink and be merry. Toasts were given by the father of the bride, the matron and maid of honor and the best man. As a surprise to the groom, the bride arranged for the wedding guitarist and family friend, Tyrus Morgan, to serenade him to “Final Frontier,” celebrating one of their favorite TV theme songs and joyful dance tunes. Tyrus also surprised this fun-loving couple with a medley of songs throughout the decades. Finally, the groomsmen and ushers serenaded the bride with “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling,” to round out the musical performances that accompanied the dance party provided by DJ Dave Lewis. Following their honeymoon trip to the French Polynesian islands, the couple returned to Manhattan to their DIY passion project, their first home together where they now live with their chocolate lab, Hanks.
K-State Alumni Center / Manhattan / Back Country Imagery
kansas weddings regi st er
Sutherland The Celebration and Blessing of the Marriage of Jennifer Dawn Sutherland and Liza Moraima Pacheco Bernier was celebrated at three o’clock in the afternoon of May 7, 2016, at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Mission, Kansas. The Reverend Dr. Kevin D. Huddleston served as celebrant. Liza is the daughter of Ada Bernier Muñoz and Urbián Pacheco Caraballo of Patillas, Puerto Rico. She earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico and an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State University. She is a senior process engineer at DuPont in Overland Park, Kansas. Jenny is the daughter of Brent and Peggy Sutherland of Resta-While, Kansas. She earned a B.A. from the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Urban Design and an M.A. from the University of Missouri School of Information Science. She is a Research Librarian at Polsinelli, PC in Kansas City, Missouri. Music was performed by Kenneth Walker, organist, Steve Leisering and Daniel Gerona, trumpeters, and Scott Schaefer, cantor and soloist. During the ceremony Theryn Spomer read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 and Carmen De Jesús read Colossians 3:12-17. Janet Carpenter and Joshua Ames were ushers. Amber Ames attended as brides’ maid, and Brian Bouzarth served as brides’ man. Jenny’s mother and the brides’ aunts entered the advanced to J.S. Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of All Desiring”. The brides progressed to John Stanley’s “Trumpet Voluntary.”
Bernier
Liza was escorted by her mother and wore a charming bespoke two button suit of dove grey raw silk with royal blue vest. Jenny was escorted by her father and wore an ivory natural waist tulle gown with a Queen Anne neckline, V-ruched bodice accented by a satin waistband with lace applique, lace back enclosed by satin buttons, and chapel length train. Jenny carried a bouquet of ranunculus, garden roses, thistle, and privet berry wrapped in royal blue ribbon to match Liza’s vest and adorned with a Wedgewood cameo borrowed from her beloved maternal grandmother, June Broyles. Liza wore a complementary corsage. Following the ceremony, the newlyweds and their guests gathered for a cocktail hour and reception at The Venue at Willow Creek. Before dinner, guests were treated to the couple’s first dance, a Spanish waltz to Tiempo De Vals proving that Jenny’s childhood dance lessons finally paid off. Dinner included penne pasta with light basil pesto, fresh mozzarella and pulled chicken, marinated pork chops, smashed potatoes, and grilled fresh asparagus. Music during dinner included Cuban jazz and Spanish guitar. Toasts were given by the brides’ maid, brides’ man, and Beth Cullum. Following dinner, guests enjoyed dancing, lawn games, and, after dusk, sparklers. The happy couple resides in Shawnee, Kansas with their two dogs, Diego and Gideon, and their cats, Talie and Sullivan.
The Venue at Willow Creek / Mission / Oh Snap! Photography
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Kylie Jo Shufflebarger and Michael Ian Mathews were married in an outdoor ceremony at six in the evening on September 3, 2016. They were both raised in small towns and met at a locally owned gym in Lawrence, Kansas. They found they shared a love for daily workouts, time with family, and the KU Jayhawks. Chrisman Manor’s rustic prairie landscape was perfectly located between both hometowns for the ceremony and reception. The couple loved many of the venue’s special elements, such as the bridal suite, elegant reception area with black chandeliers, outside veranda and quaint bar area for guests. The bride’s floor-length, lace dress had an underlayment of golden-rose fabric that matched the gowns of her seven bridesmaids. She also wore a pearl necklace given to her by the groom. The groom and groomsmen looked handsome in their navy suits. Country Floral and Spa of Eudora created beautiful arrangements in navy, ivory, shades of pink and gold. The groomsmen’s boutonnieres were pink calla lilies, and both the bride’s and bridesmaids’ bouquets held ivory and pink hydrangeas and pink calla lilies. Childhood friend of the groom, John Throckmorton, officiated
Mathews a heartfelt ceremony with a unity cross. The two ring bearers wore ivory shirts and khaki shorts and carried the couple’s new family Bible and a sign that said “God gave me you.” Rynette Reiling of Rynette Designs created the romantic atmosphere of the wedding and reception by using sheer linens and hanging florals and crystal from the arbor. Flower petals covering the ground provided a finishing touch. While pictures were taken after the ceremony, guests enjoyed a french fry bar, cocktails, and personalized Koozies. A barbecue meal was provided by Hog Wild Pit BBQ. Besides a wedding cake, the grandmother of the bride provided a large spread of cookies and cupcakes with a sign above that read “Made with Love by Grandma.” Music for the ceremony and reception and a fun photobooth were skillfully organized by Gary Myer’s DJ Mobile Service. After dancing, the couple exited with a sparkler sendoff, all captured by photographer Danielle Garza. The couples spent their honeymoon in Cancun, Mexico, and now have made their home in Lawrence, Kansas..
Chrisman Manor / Lawrence / Danielle Garza Photography
kansas weddings regi st er
Wilson At four-thirty in the afternoon on Friday, August 5th, Abigail Wilson and Josh Beckman gathered with their family and friends to start their very first day as husband and wife. The ceremony and reception was held at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, a church more than a hundred years old and full of incredible German stained-glass windows. Beautiful partly cloudy skies, a warm sun with a cool breeze blessed the day. The wedding colors of blush, navy and gold details were perfect for the summer day. Abby wore a gorgeous La Sposa gown that looked custom made for her. Her short veil covered her face for the beginning of the ceremony. Her shoes and her jewelry were blush, and even her perfume was of a blush tone. Her bridesmaids and mother helped prepare her for the biggest day of her life while Josh was hidden out of sight, preparing for the first time he’d see his bride. When Abby’s father saw her for the first time, he beamed with joy. He asked her to do a spin in her dress, and one couldn’t help but think that she probably did this for him when
Beckman she was a little girl playing dress-up. Abby looked beautiful and so elegant, no doubt making her father proud of the young woman she had become. A stunning path of pear trees was perfection for Josh and Abby’s first look at one another. She walked up behind him, and he turned and softly took her hand. Stunned by her beauty, he told her over and over how pretty she was and complimented her on her dress and even her accessories. They embraced for a moment before practicing their first kiss over and over again. What a keeper she found! The ceremony was a full Mass, and as the doors opened to welcome in Abby and her dad, she turned her head to look at him and smiled the biggest smile anyone had seen that day. As the couple danced their way into the reception hall, silliness and love filled the air with the dance music. The bright and light personalities of this couple sparkled as much as their wedding decor! Everyone in the hall radiated joy and happiness, and there was an overwhelming feeling of love. The wedding truly felt just as special and beautiful as it looked.
St. Mark the Evangelist Church / Colwich / Sara Rieth Photography
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Jenn and Paul Timms were married on September 6th, 2016 right outside of her hometown of Topeka at the beautiful Creekside at Berryton. The couple dreamed of an outdoor wedding surrounded by their friends and family and knew they needed something large, flexible, and accommodating. Upon their visit to Creekside Jenn asked if she could explore the property a little more and fell madly in love with the venue, which offered so much more than owners Ron & Roxanne even realized. Jenn had a vision. Turning to Pinterest and Instagram, she planned the entire day herself. As she described every detail, everyone crossed their fingers and toes for no rain because it truly sounded like a dream come true. And a dream come true it was. The day unfolded perfectly. Guests were dropped off at the front entrance by shuttles on a warm, sunny afternoon. They sipped lemonade as they made their way up the long gravel road to the venue’s beautiful backwoods ceremony. As the acoustic music faded, an engine revved in the distance. Guests looked back to Jenn’s bridesmaids, who were making a grand entrance up the road and through the trees. Her maid of honor drove the bridesmaids, who piled in and hung from the sides while Jenn and her father hung off the back hatch in her 1967 Ford Bronco. The car stopped behind two barn doors, which hid the bride. Two chiffon curtains opened from two barn doors in the
Timms middle of the woods as Jenn’s father walked her down the flowerlined aisle and gave her away to Van Morrison’s “Tupelo Honey.” The wedding party fanned the altar on tree stumps to add to the whimsical touch. The groom and his men wore navy. The bridesmaids wore tops and skirts in blush. The ring bearer in navy and the flower girl in gold held hands and danced down the aisle like fairies. The bride wore a stunning gold Lazaro gown. After a prayer at the altar, Paul’s father wed the couple under a giant chandelier hanging from two trees that draped in the middle of the woods. Before kicking off the celebration, the wedding party and guests enjoyed pictures from both the handmade swings that hung from the giant oaks and played in the outdoor photo booth pieced together out of old barn doors, a vintage sofa, and a love sign made out of marquee lights, a sofa, and old barn doors. Guests snacked on grilled cheese bites dipped in tomato soup and sweet potato fries with marshmallow dip as they found their seats via personalized mason jars given from the bride and groom as thank yous. The night kicked off as the wedding party entered through the giant barn and out onto the dance floor set up between the trees. As the sun set, guests enjoyed barbeque, speeches, snow cones and dancing in a string-lighted reception under the stars.
Creekside at Berryton / Berryton / Sarah Joelle Photography
kansas weddings regi st er
Lounmala April Lounmala and Jimmy Turner were married at six o’clock in the evening of November 7, 2015, at Abode Venue in Wichita, Kansas. Officiating the ceremony was Vick Turner. Another Dimension provided music. The bride is the daughter of Bruce and Jenny Lounmala of Wichita. The groom is the son of Vance and Michiko Turner of Walton, Kentucky. Escorted to the altar by her father and given in marriage by her parents, the bride wore a beautiful white lace gown featuring an illusion neckline and embellished, eye-catching back detail. The bride’s bouquet was made of lovely hydrangeas intertwined with pink and coral roses, arranged locally at The Flower Factory. The bride was attended by her sister and maid of honor, Sasha Lounmala, and bridesmaids Diane Wang, Christine Doan and Janis Romawac, all friends of the bride. The bridesmaids wore coral chiffon dresses and held bouquets of white hydrangeas accented with pink rosebuds. Alexander Parker, friend of the groom, served as best man. John Turner, brother of the groom, John Sadowki and Lance Farias, friends of the groom, served as groomsmen. The groomsmen wore dark gray tuxedos with coral bow ties. Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed dinner, drinks
Turner and dancing. At the reception, the tables were set with blackand-white-striped table runners and vases filled with brightly assorted floral arrangements. The couple served a buffet-style dinner by Blue Moon Caterers and later cut into an elegant 4-tier cake and enjoyed a glass of champagne. Guests enjoyed different flavors of the tier cake made by Cake Affair. Heartfelt toasts were given by the maid of honor and the best man. Guests could also entertain themselves with a whimsical open style photo booth fit with fun props, provided by the Sunflower Photo Booth Company. The couple is able to forever enjoy memories of their special day captured by their cinematographers, Free Spirit Productions, and their photographer, Lola Jo Photography. Addison Grace Events coordinated the beautiful ceremony and reception. On the eve of the wedding, the bride’s parents honored the couple with a traditional Laotian wedding at their home, where they invited everyone to participate in a baci ceremony. The baci ceremony is a blessing that involves the tying of white cotton strings around the wrist of the bride and groom. Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed classic Laotian cuisine. The couple currently resides in Germany and recently welcomed a baby girl, Aliana Turner, born on September 1, 2016.
Abode Venue / Wichita / Lola Jo Photo
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Sommerfeld
It was a scene from a fairytale when Kimberly Ann Klocke and Joshua Franklin Sommerfeld were married on the evening of April 9, 2016, at Fulton Valley Farms, nestled along the countryside of Towanda, Kansas. The bride is the daughter of Arlan and Connie Klocke of Wichita. The groom is the son of Wayne and Jennifer Sommerfeld of Newton. The ceremony took place atop a grassy hill overlooking a wispy line of budding trees where an arbor stood gracefully full of flowers. Both her father and the groom’s grandfather escorted the bride down the dirt road in a white Cinderella carriage pulled by two beautiful black Percheron draft horses. The bride was radiant as she walked down the aisle in a white charmeuse beaded gown accessorized with her favorite cowgirl boots. The bride’s bouquet, arranged by The Flower Factory, blossomed with white roses, blue orchids and farm-grown peacock feathers compliments of the groom’s parents. Officiating the ceremony was Jared Verwiel. Sister of the bride, Kaylen Klocke, was the matron of honor, and lifetime friend Justin Claassen was the best man. The groomsmen, feeling relaxed in their vintage vests, jeans, and boots, were both brothers and friends of the bride and groom. Alongside the matron of honor were six bridesmaids who stunned in teal dresses and cowgirl boots; they, too, were sisters, cousins and friends of the bride and groom. Following the ceremony, the guests moved into a round top
barn beautifully lit for a cocktail hour that included drinks, snacks and reindeer petting. The barn was decorated with a vintage country simplicity that included wine bottle centerpieces filled with peacock feathers, burlap and rustic wood detail, and an open dance floor for some good ole two stepping. The reception then kicked off with entertainment provided by the wedding party. Each bridesmaid and groomsman put their own twist on a dance to cheerfully engage the guests for the bride and groom’s grand entrance. With excitement and laughter the guests were then served delicious barbeque brisket and chicken catered by Dickey’s BBQ. The matron of honor delighted everyone when her toast to the newlyweds turned into a medley of classic songs with lyrics that complimented the bride and groom. Tears of joy were shared among the many toasts made by family and friends. The bride and groom cut a four-tiered cake detailed with burlap lace and teal flowers; the guests enjoyed a wide variety of cake flavors and a s’mores bar. As the sun started to set, the bride and groom snuck away to share a few sunset photos in the field before dancing the night away with their loved ones. Following their fairytale wedding, the groom surprised his sweetheart with a honeymoon to Table Rock Lake, where they spent a few days in a cozy tucked away cabin. They returned home to Wichita where they continue to run their business and travel the world together.
Fulton Valley Farms / Towanda / Valerie Shannon Photography
kansas weddings regi st er
Martin The official formation of “Team Hanson” began on Saturday, July 16, 2016, at two-thirty in the afternoon at St. Isidore’s Catholic Church in Manhattan when Annie Martin, former member of the University of Oklahoma track team, wed Zach Hanson, former K-State football standout and graduate assistant coach. Over three hundred members of the couple’s family and friends were present to celebrate. Annie is the daughter of Brian and Lori Martin of Clay Center, Kansas, and Zach is the son of Sandy and Earl Hanson of Healdsburg, California. Special guests of honor included Mary Ann Martin and Charlene Smith, grandmothers of the bride; Mr. and Mrs. Terry Dammarell, grandparents of the groom; and Barry Switzer and Bill Snyder, coaches and mentors of the couple. That beautiful sunny afternoon Annie was escorted by her father down a monogrammed aisle runner in a custom-designed cathedrallength dress. They were preceded by flower girl Amiya Berard and “bling” bearer Lexi Hill while train bearers Jenna and Alyssa Carnine carried Annie’s train. Annie carried a beautiful cascading bouquet of cream-colored peonies and roses, and the little girls were adorned in candlelight dresses and veils to mirror the bride. At the altar, the bride was joined by her groom and the “Team Hanson Bridal Party,” which consisted of Annie’s sisters, Laurel and Allie, serving as matron and maid of honor; Zach’s brother, Matt, who served as best man; and twenty teammates and friends of the
Hanson couple. The ladies of the bridal party wore stunning black taffeta ball gowns with a pearl neckline, and the gentlemen were outfitted in classic black tuxedos. Bouquets and boutonnieres of cream peonies and roses punctuated the bridal party’s formal attire. Father Robert Barry directed the mass while Kailey Carnine, Frank Schmeidler and Jim Johnson provided a beautiful musical backdrop for the ceremony featuring vocal and trumpet solos. Juliana Smith and Shelby Hillman, friends of the bride, read from scripture. The couple departed the ceremony through a bubble tunnel of friends and family cheering for the newly formed “Team Hanson.” Colbert Hills Golf Course, set in the beautiful Flint Hills of Manhattan, served as the perfect backdrop for a reception filled with cocktails, dinner and dancing. The celebration started with a special “game day style” introduction of the bridal party led by “Voice of the Wildcats,” Mr. Wyatt Thompson. Guests enjoyed autographing the “Team Hanson” jerseys, worn by the couple in their engagement photos, which served as the guest book for the affair. Following the ceremony, “Team Hanson” returned home just in time to celebrate their honeymoon at pre-season football camp for the University of North Carolina football team. Annie serves as the Director of On-Campus Recruiting for the Tar Heels, and Zach serves as special teams graduate assistant. The happy couple plans to take a trip to Hawaii after football season to celebrate the forthcoming nuptials of Zach’s brother, Matt, in Maui.
Colbert Hills Golf Course / Manhattan / Jeff Moore Photography
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Spencer Dylan Wight Evans and Chelsea Talla Spencer were married at half past two on August 3, 2013, at Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Manhattan, Kansas. The bride is the daughter of David Spencer and the late Dr. Margaret Clark of Chickasha, Oklahoma, and the groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Evans of Lebo, Kansas. The bride wore a Michael Nolte gown of silk satin embellished with Swarovski crystals and seed pearls throughout the bodice and the court-length train. The bride’s assortment of white flowers in her bouquet was adorned with an antique brooch passed down from her great-grandmother. The eight bridesmaids wore gowns of tissue taffeta in toast and carried bouquets of apricot and lavender roses. The bride and groom, who had long awaited their nuptials after being together for seven years, were thrilled to entertain nearly 1,000 guests. Friends were seated in the church as well as across the street where guests watched the ceremony streaming live on large projectors. After the ceremony, Dylan and Chelsea exited the church to a sea of friends and family with a shower of fresh rose petals.
Evans They drove away and on a tour through Aggieville in a 1956 Cadillac convertible owned by the father of the groom. The groom’s parents hosted a reception at the Alumni Center, where guests were seated both inside and in a tented pavilion. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages were plentiful before a dinner of filet and stuffed chicken breast, which was catered and served by Brancatos of Kansas City. The cake was designed by Geralyn Krause of Waverly, Kansas. Soft lace linens in toast accented by flowers in shades of gold, lavender, chartreuse, and apricot enhanced the dinner dance where Atlantic Express invited guests of all ages to the dance floor. Following the dance was an after party where local specialties of ice cream, pizza and doughnuts were served. The wedding coordinator was Michael J. Nolte; Tyler Wirken was the photographer, and Steve’s Floral of Manhattan, Kansas, designed the floral arrangements. Before leaving for a honeymoon in New York City, the bride and groom welcomed their guests at a farewell brunch on Sunday morning. The couple now resides in Lebo where Dylan works for the family business and Chelsea for Emporia Public Schools.
Seven Dolors Catholic Church / Manhattan / Wirken Photography
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On April 23, 2016, Britney Speer and Bradley Mace were married at Son Wray Ranch in Newton, Kansas. Britney is the daughter of Mike and Melissa Speer of Wichita, Kansas. Bradley is the son of Floyd and Sharon Mace of Norwich, Kansas. The bridal party included maid of honor Tysana Devore; bridesmaids Brooke Mace, Sara Nuzum, Katie Monsen and Morgan Daly. Best man was Brandon Mace, and groomsmen were Ben Werner, Bobby Birkhead, Ben Henson and Randall Daly. The ceremony took place outdoors and was officiated by Pastor Kelly Randolf. Two hundred twenty-five guests watched Britney and Bradley say their vows under a sunflower-draped arch. The bride walked down the aisle to “A Thousand Years,” played by Musical Elegance. Friend Sydnie Randolph sang “How Great Thou Art,” and the groom’s siblings Brooke and Brandon sang “Love Is Not a Fight” by Warren Barfield. The bride wore a white “Nadia” gown by Maggie Sottero, accented by a crystal and pearl belt. Her bridesmaids wore cobalt blue from Alfred Angelo. The bride’s hair and makeup were perfected by Ashley at Mary Kate and Company in Wichita, Kansas. The groom and his men wore gray tuxedos from Skeffington’s formal wear. The entire bridal party was outfitted by Dress Gallery in Wichita, Kansas. Sunflowers and rustic items decorated the ceremony and reception, including syrup bottles the bride collected from her
Mace workplace, Scooter’s Coffee House. Wood rounds and sunflowers dotted the tables, and a highlight was the coffee bar including a sign that said, “Love is brewing, get it while it’s hot.” There was a s’mores bar provided by The Table Guys of Wichita, Kansas, who also provided linens, tables, and chairs. Wichita Cake Creations provided the cake and sunflower cupcakes. The Kansas-inspired florals were provided by The Flower Factory. The couple did their first dance swing-style to “Forever and Ever Amen” by Randy Travis, and the crowd danced to music provided by The Dance Man DJ. Dinner was served by When Pigs Fly Catering. Photographer Tonya Tomory at Expressions Exposed captured the day along with videographer David Wolfe. The bride recalls a tender moment during the emotional ceremony: “I wrote a note for each of my bridesmaids to give him as they walked down the aisle. The notes were simple, but he was definitely in tears before I was even walking down. He got me a new Bible with my new name engraved on it and put together a scrapbook album of our memories before our wedding.” “It was the best day I could have ever asked for. It was my dream wedding to a more than perfect guy.” After the wedding, the couple honeymooned at Couples Resort in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, where they climbed a waterfall, shopped, danced under the stars, and the groom lost his ring in the ocean.
Son Wray Ranch / Newton / Expressions Exposed
kansas weddings regi st er
Voth
Moataane
Janelle Voth and Denise Moataane were married at five o’clock in the afternoon of October 29th, 2016, in Carey Park Home Builders Shelter in Hutchinson, Kansas. Dinner and dancing following the ceremony. Their entrance and exit songs were instrumental renditions of Norah Jones’ “Don’t Know Why” and “Come Away with Me.” The newlyweds’ first dance was “Wanted” by Hunter Hayes. Denise will take Janelle’s last name after the wedding. They met on a blind date on October 18th, 2008, and knew they were meant to be together forever. Denise asked Janelle to marry her on New Year’s Eve 2008. They decided to wait to get married until that wedding would be fully recognized in Kansas. After the Supreme Court decision on June 26, 2015, their hopes became reality. They began planning the day they had dreamed of. Janelle looked breathtaking in a timeless and chic-casual wedding dress with an empire bodice, lace cap sleeves and an open back. Her matte mesh dress with side drape mesh skirt was accented with a cascade to add dimension and create a long and soft silhouette. Janelle carried a bouquet of red roses and eucalyptus
with a cascading spray accented with crystals and pearls. The attendants wore an elegant red dress, and all attendants wore black Converse shoes. Denise wore black slacks, vest and tie. She also wore San Francisco 49ers shoes and cufflinks. Hala, Denise’s son, wore a white dress shirt with black suspenders and bow tie. Denise’s grandson, Ja’Ceon, was the ring bearer. He wore a white shirt, black pants, black suspenders and bow tie. For the ceremony, Janelle’s daughters, Alexandra Pooler and Samantha Voth, stood beside their mother as attendants; Denise’s son, Hala, and her daughter, Meleane, stood at her side. The kids said it best: two families became one that day. Stony Wilson of Kansas Music Services played a mix of music from the ’80s through today. Carolyn and Michael Durbin of Truthful Eye Photography did the photography; Angela O’Gorman, Denise’s sister, officiated the ceremony, and No Problimo provided limousine service. Denise and Janelle honeymooned in Branson, Missouri, at a log cabin at Notch Estates. After returning from the honeymoon, they will go back to work at Hutchinson Community College.
Carey Park / Hutchinson / Truthful Eye Photography
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On July 12, 2015 at 3 o’clock in the afternoon Melissa Sanchez and Justin Martirosian said “I Do.” The wedding took place on a hot summer afternoon at the Blue Earth Plaza Park in Manhattan, Kansas. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Sanchez of Wakefield Kansas. The groom is the son of Mr. Heikas Martirosian of Troy, Mr. and Mrs. Melinda Martirosian of Auburn, Washington. The altar was set by the fireplace where Justin proposed to Melissa just seven months earlier. Melissa’s father escorted her to the wedding in an 1830’s horse drawn carriage, a family heirloom, restored by Ken for her special day. Her father then walked her down the aisle and her parents gave her away in marriage. Officiated by Chaplain Benjamin Coulter of the 82nd Engineer Battalion. The bride wore a beautiful vintage inspired gown with gorgeous brocade lace and a hint of sparkle. The arrangement of succulents, blushing pink roses, hypericum berries and soft greenery made for a unique and romantic touch in the bride’s bouquet. The wedding party included the matron of honor Caitlyn Raysin, bridesmaid Jennifer Newell, best man John Noll, and groomsman Luke Murchison. The matron of honor and bridesmaid wore matching strapless charcoal dresses accented with a rhinestone broach and blush ribbon at the waist. The best man and groomsman wore suits with grey bowties and vests, complemented with a succulent boutonniere.
Martirosian Following the ceremony, guests moved to the Hilton Hotel across the street for a cocktail hour while the bridal party took pictures throughout the city of Manhattan. Guests were then moved into the ballroom where tables had been decorated with flickering lanterns and whimsical succulents. The grand entrance was made through a saber arch, a military tradition. A light chicken dinner was served preceding toasts by the matron of honor, best man, and father of the bride; traditional dances; and the cutting of the cake. Napkins were necessary after the bride and groom “missed” each other’s mouths. The DJ (provided by Complete Weddings + Events in Manhattan) helped kick the fun off with an evening filled with dancing, singing, and laughing. There was not a dull moment on the dance floor. Much to the bride’s surprise, during the garter toss, the friends of the groom serenaded her with the Righteous Brothers’, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’.” The dancing continued into the late hours of the night, ensuring a memorable evening for all. On the eve of the wedding, the groom’s parents hosted the rehearsal dinner at one of the couple’s favorite restaurants, “Mr. K’s.” After the rehearsal dinner, all friends and family that were in town were invited to attend Justin’s promotion to Captain in the United States Army. As of yet the bride and groom have not taken a honeymoon, but there are plans for a trip to somewhere tropical.
Hilton Hotel / Manhattan / Grant Watkins Photography
kansas weddings regi st er
Williams Jordan Michelle Williams and Chance Lee Blatchford were married at six o’clock in the evening of May 2nd, 2015, at The Barns at Timber Creek in Winfield, Kansas. Officiating was Jordan’s uncle, Dr. Jerry Old. The bride is the daughter of Kevin and Teri Williams of Arkansas City, Kansas. The groom is the son of the late Martin Blatchford, and of Jeff (stepfather) and Jennifer Blatchford of Arkansas City, Kansas. At the altar was a beautiful vintage ivory buffet table arranged with blush pink hydrangeas. The location was perfect for this country-chic wedding, and the day couldn’t have been more perfect. The bride was wearing a stunning mermaid-style gown featuring a sweetheart neckline that went perfectly with the bouquet of hydrangeas and peonies chose locally at Timber Creek Floral. Attending as matron of honor was Kylee Viola, sister of the bride. As maid of honor was Katie Williams, sister of the bride. As bridesmaids were Kalena Barker, Megan Myers and Hadley O’Toole, all friends of the bride. They wore a soft pink strapless gowns with a gold necklace and stud earrings. Court Blatchford, brother of the groom, served as the best man. James Harper, friend of the groom, and Braden Blatchford, brother of the groom, served as groomsmen. Three ring bearers accompanied the wedding party, Nash Viola, Tayten Blatchford and Tucker Blatchford, all nephews of the couple. The flower
Blatchford girl was the bride’s grandmother, Linda DeMart. Because her grandmother is one of her best friends, Jordan wanted her to have a special place in the big day. The ceremony was perfect; a light wind and amazing temperatures set the scene for a romantic evening. Following the ceremony, the couple, the wedding party and the guests made their way to an old stone barn where dinner and dancing awaited them. The kids enjoyed games while the adults enjoyed a chilled Arnold Palmer (iced tea and lemonade). Tables were accented with gold candles and deer antlers, and an antique chandelier hung flawlessly from a tree above the head table. The couple served a gourmet barbecue dinner prior to dancing the night away. Multiple cakes served four different flavors to the guests. The beautiful toasts were given by the matron of honor, maid of honor and best man. The dances began and the couple shared their first dance as a married couple under the stars while dancing to “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran. The couple ended the night with full hearts and a day that could not have been more wonderful. Following the honeymoon in Jamaica, the couple returned home to Arkansas City where the groom continues his work as a full-time farmer and a seed dealer for NuTech Seed, and the bride continues her work as a dental hygienist at Watkins Family Dental.
The Barns at Timber Creek / Winfield / Elephant Juice Photography
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