Erin and Cole's Kansas City winter wedding took place back in January. It was fairly cold, but not unbearable for the middle of winter in the Midwest. One of the things that made their wedding so special for us is that we had met them back in 2015 when we shot a wedding for two of their best friends, Cody and Felicia. Not only was it great getting to know Erin and Cole better after being briefly acquainted a few years back, but it was also really fun to get to celebrate with Cody and Felicia again! I love it when we get to see our couples again at their friends' weddings.

Erin got ready at an Airbnb on the West Side of downtown Kansas City. With white walls, lots of light, and those rustic wood floors, it was the perfect location for shooting the bridal prep! Cole got ready at their home in Kansas City, Kansas. I also love when we're able to capture that setting as it offers such a personal touch to the way that the story begins to unfold. We shot their wedding party photos at Loose Park (that place never disappoints), and though it was pretty frigid out, we got some great shots of their entire party and of the two of them (we did finish up shooting the girls in the Kansas City Trolley that they had rented, but with the warmth and the wooden interior of the trolley, it worked perfectly). They also had found this great parking garage near the Plaza that offered a fantastic backdrop for photos. Probably the most fun was had when their entire wedding party, along with some close friends and significant others, jumped on the trolley and headed to a bar where they enjoyed a few drinks and a toast before their reception! We've had wedding parties do this often and have actually encouraged it, especially when running ahead of schedule. There's something great about taking a break from the day with your closest friends, not worrying about photos or speeches, or dances, and just relaxing and having a moment away from the logistics of the day. You and your wedding party can use this as a time to get out of your head and relax and we use it to capture some great candid wedding day photos. So, if you're looking for another photo location, or you're just running ahead of schedule (yes, it does happen from time to time :), think about dropping into a local bar and taking a minute... you won't regret it!

We had a great day with Erin and Cole and their crew!

You can follow this link to see their engagement session in Kansas City's River Market: Erin + Cole - Nagel Portraits - Wedding Photography - Kansas City, Missouri