I’m pretty sure Hillary and Seth’s wedding was on my vision board when I was younger. Their upscale Kansas City wedding could be an entire Pinterest board, you guys! And to explain their gorgeous day, I have to give you a bit of backstory.

Seth and Hillary were blessed, not married

Hillary and Seth were married during the COVID-19 pandemic. Though they’ve technically been married for a bit — and they even have a baby at home! — they still wanted a formal blessing with their family and close friends. Hence this gorgeous wedding.

Hillary joked at one point that she had to have a formal wedding because she found a Carolina Herrera dress. Let me tell you, that dress was stunning. It looked like it was made for Hillary. But more on that later!

The couple got ready at The Truitt hotel in Kansas City, which is a gorgeous boutique hotel located near the Country Club Plaza and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. This hotel is so swanky! It is filled with beautiful decor that feels modern, yet vintage. I highly suggest you consider at least an overnight stay for an unforgettable experience.

Pre-wedding stylings

I’d honestly be lying if I said Hillary’s dress wasn’t seared into my brain for eternity. She found this beauty at the Little White Dress Bridal Shop in Denver, Colorado. This place looks to be quite the destination and a must-visit if you’re thinking about getting married.

I have to give a little shoutout to the rest of their team, too. Mikayla Perks styled Hillary’s hair, and Gina Holmberg did her makeup. What a team! Hillary is gorgeous anyway, but I’m not sure she could have been a more beautiful bride.

Seth chose Brooks Brothers for his suit, and I have to say, it was pretty impressive, too. I can’t tell you how many times my grooms have trouble finding suits that work for them. So many men end up with oversized or even undersized suits, which was why this stood out so much! Seth’s style was impeccable for his big day.

The couple’s first look just slayed me, too. I’m not sure there’s anything better than the first time a couple sees each other for their wedding. Those sweet moments can be tearful, joyful, overwhelming, and everything in between. These two were nothing but smiles.

Taking wedding party portraits at a Kansas City landmark

Because we were so close to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, it made sense to take their photos on its grounds. The weather was perfect and while the museum can get packed on a Saturday, my couples always tend to get tons of cheers when we shoot here.

The museum has a gorgeous 22-acre Sculpture Park that features beautiful flowering trees and evergreens, and rows of ginko trees. It’s such a peaceful place to explore, get lost in your thoughts, or celebrate a wedding!

The wedding

The celebration for this upscale Kansas City wedding took place at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. This beautiful church has been a staple in the Kansas City area since 1891. The church was even the location of the memorial for former Kansas City mayor, Charles Wheeler, who passed away in 2022.

The ceremony was so wonderful, too, and it was really the point of the entire day. Despite already being married, this was their opportunity to receive a formal blessing in the church in front of family and friends.

This church is over 130 years old, so it is heavily constructed with stone, high ceilings, and low lights that used to be lit with candle-powered chandeliers. Flashes aren’t typically allowed in churches like this, and there are usually rules that ensure the service isn’t interrupted by photographers or videographers. It’s important to know your photographer is comfortable working within those constraints in a historic church like this.

I’m pretty happy with what I was able to capture during the blessing. It’s important to a wedding story to be able to share this part of the story in the best way possible. I loved being able to capture the little smiles that happen throughout the ceremony.

After the ceremony

We went back to the Truitt when the ceremony was over to take advantage of this gorgeous setting for Hillary and Seth’s portraits. The Truitt was a dream come true for a photographer like me, because it has numerous locations with bold colors for moody photos, giant windows for incredible natural lighting, and so much visual interest to take advantage of.

We shot in nearly every room available to us at the Truitt because of how much was layered into this hotel. It was such a great spot for this upscale Kansas City wedding. I’m still so in love with what we were able to get in this gorgeous setting.

If you’re ever looking for a unique spot for a getaway or for stellar photos, I cannot recommend the Truitt enough. I’m blown away looking at these photos again.

The ultimate Kansas City reception

To wrap up their upscale Kansas City wedding, Hillary and Seth held their reception at Rye at the Kansas City Plaza. Rye was an amazing location for an intimate plated dinner. They really pulled out all of the stops with this reception, which featured the most incredible desserts from Rye’s talented pastry chefs.

It felt odd to be sitting and eating a plated dinner during the wedding, but this was huge for Hillary and Seth’s wedding team! We are there working all day and largely on our feet, but we are sometimes forgotten when it comes to dinnertime. It’s always a great idea to make sure your team has a special spot to eat. We try to eat while the bride and groom are finally getting a break during the festivities so we can capture the really important moments. So it means the world to us when couples are thinking ahead about us, too. Plus, I got to chat with their wedding coordinator, Lindsee Brandmueller from Hitched Planning + Floral, who was spectacular. I cannot recommend her enough if you’re looking for a planner!

I also don’t think I’ve added nearly enough photos of this little guy. That’s all.

I’m now booking for 2023 and 2024!

I have a handful of spots open for 2023. If you were one of the lucky ones who got engaged over the holidays, get in touch! I’d love to capture your love story. And yours doesn’t have to be an upscale Kansas City wedding. Believe me, I’m just as comfortable in cowboy boots as I am high heels. I can’t wait to talk to you!