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I’m so excited to share details of Sarah and David’s wedding, which I had the pleasure of capturing recently. I absolutely love their story, which they were so candid in telling at their wedding. Long story short, David pursued Sarah for what was probably an eternity in his book. The two of them worked together bartending in Lawrence, KS, so it didn’t surprise me that they chose an Abe and Jake’s wedding. Abe and Jake’s Landing has a great bar area, and with its gorgeous riverside views and historic detailing, I knew it was the perfect venue to start the next phase of Sarah and David’s love story.
Abe and Jake’s is such a great venue for events. It has these gorgeous brick walls and a modern industrial feel that doesn’t lose sight of its history as a late-1800s barbed wire factory. I’m obsessed with the natural lighting that comes in from massive overhead and river-facing windows. With all of the light and texture, I knew the photos would beautifully tell David and Sarah’s story.
One of the super cute things about Sarah and David is the many high fives they handed out throughout the day. Typically, the dad’s first look is an emotional moment, but Sarah’s dad had forewarned us he’s not a super emotional type of guy. I would disagree, though, because giving your daughter a high-five on her wedding day is one of the sweetest ways to say, “I love you and I’m proud of you.” I loved capturing this interaction!
Because of their bartending background, we planned Sarah and David’s first look at the bar at Abe and Jake’s. That overhead lighting and the dark, rich wood of the venue gave me a moody and dramatic look to work with.
I love that first look, when we see joy and tears and some of the most unforgettable interactions between the bride and groom. I swear, I always get teary eyed capturing these moments!
Sarah and David have some distinct loves that showed up in their decor. Every table was stacked with the couple’s personal book shelf: some was traditional literature, while other books were sports-related. David proposed to Sarah at a baseball game, and her gift to him was baseball cufflinks, so these details were so perfect for the couple.
At this point, I have to obsess over the flowers Sarah and David had at their Abe and Jake’s wedding. They brought in Alicia Fellman from Lucy Rose Flower Company, and I was blown away by her work. Alicia designed massive, breathtaking designs filled with sunflowers, rich hues from roses and fall flowers, Kansas grasses, and more. It was so stunning! Alicia’s work was so detailed and everything from the smallest boutonniere to the flowers that flanked the altar were extraordinary .
Sarah is also a huge Star Wars fan, so a friend custom created a lightsaber for her, which held her bouquet during the wedding. It was a detail I never wanted her to forget.
I cannot say this enough: that lighting at Abe and Jake’s is gorgeous. I love how joyful Sarah is for her entire wedding day. That natural lighting and those rich colors of the flowers gave me so much to work with, and it just enhances all of that joy. Sarah’s lighting up the room, isn’t she?
One of the other things I love about this venue is how beautifully photos can transfer to black and white for a timeless look. Though you don’t get those deep fall colors in black and white, the photos are still dreamy and a perfect complement to color photos.
And just like that, David got to kiss his bride and Mr. and Mrs. Johnston were formally introduced to their guests.
Because David and Sarah met bartending, the first thing the couple wanted to do after their wedding was go have a drink together. They spent some time at the Jayhawker at the Eldridge Hotel, enjoying their first cocktails as husband and wife.
Shooting in downtown Lawrence is always so much fun. Sarah and David are staples in the scene downtown, too, so it was the perfect place for shooting their wedding portraits.
There’s so much history and character in downtown Lawrence, so it was insanely easy to find a spot to capture sweet moments between the bride and groom. I love capturing my couples in the street in downtown Lawrence. It’s such a romantic spot for shooting!
I’m also so obsessed with downtown Lawrence’s urban feel. These historic brick buildings add a ton of visual interest in the background as I encourage my couples to be themselves so I can capture genuine moments against that urban setting. The photos always turn out so beautifully.
I also wanted to capture the happy husband and wife in front of the venue. Their Abe and Jake’s wedding was perfect for this Lawrence couple.
I’m almost at full capacity for 2022 weddings, but if you got engaged over the holiday, get in touch. I’d love to tell your story! I’m always so grateful for my couples and I cannot wait to meet you.
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