May 24, 2016 /

Kelli & Jesse’s Timeless Spring Wedding at The Elms

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It’s so hard for us to believe that this sweet couple’s first anniversary is already here. It seems like just yesterday that we did their engagement session during the Royals’ first World Series Run in 2014! And then all of a sudden it was May, and their wedding day was here! And now it’s already been a year – that’s crazy!! To celebrate their first anniversary, we’re taking a look back at Kelli and Jesse’s timeless spring wedding at The Elms in Excelsior Springs. When they were planning their wedding day, Kelli and Jesse kept a few things in mind while they were choosing their venue and vendors: they wanted everything to be in one place to make it easy for guests, and they wanted everything about their Kansas City wedding to be classic, so that when they look back on it in 30 years it’s just as classy as the day they got married. We think they definitely succeeded in both of those goals!

Wedding Preparations

When it comes to wedding days, The Elms is great at spoiling its brides. Kelli and the ladies were able to get ready in the infamous Truman Suite at the historic hotel. Although she brought in her own hair stylist, Kelli also got her make-up done at The Elm’s gorgeous spa. If you’ve never been, be sure to check it out! It’s worth the drive! While Kelli and the ladies were enjoying their morning in their suite, Jesse and the groomsmen were getting ready in a suite at the opposite side of the hotel. Kelli’s bridesmaids wore beautiful coral floor length gowns. They carried smaller versions of Kelli’s bridal bouquet that incorporated hydrangea, roses, and peonies. Jesse and his groomsmen went with classic gray suits with ties and pocket squares that matched the bridesmaids gowns.

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

Wedding Ceremony

Although The Elms has two beautiful ballrooms available for wedding ceremonies, Kelli and Jesse chose to get married outside under their gazebo, surrounded by enormous beautiful trees and flowers, and of course their friends and family. The walk down the aisle to the gazebo is always a long one, but since Kelli and Jesse chose to not do a first look, it seemed like the anticipation in the air was even higher than normal. Instead of lighting a unity candle or doing a sand ceremony, Kelli and Jesse chose to plan a “shrub” with dirt from both of their family farms that they grew up on.

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

Visit www.rivasmediaphotography.com to view more images from RMP!

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

Bridal Party Portraits

After the wedding ceremony while guests enjoyed cocktail hour we were able to spend a few minutes with the wedding party for wedding party photos around the grounds of the hotel. Once we were finished with the wedding party we kept Kelli and Jesse back for just a few more intimate portraits of the two of them. Kyle chose to use one of the more under-utilized parts of the property: a gorgeous stone-staircase all the way in the back that you never see. We love how these turned out!

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

Reception

Kelli and Jesse’s reception took place in the Grand Ballroom at The Elms. With pink, gold, and white details everywhere the décor blended in perfectly with the room surrounding them. Right after their reception started it started pouring outside! We were originally supposed to do a few sunset photos with Kelli and Jesse after dinner, but because of the rain we had to push them back. As the night was getting close to ending and the rain was not letting up, Kelli and Jesse decided to be adventurous and went out into the rain with us for a few end-of-the-evening photos. We’re so glad that they made that decision, because the images turned out absolutely fabulous! If you’ve been in our studio you already know that we’ve had one of these printed as an acrylic. We still love it to this day!

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

 

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

spring wedding at the elms - kansas city wedding photography

Congratulations again Kelli and Jesse, and happy anniversary!!

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To book us for your upcoming engagement session or wedding, please visit our contact page to send us a message. We can't wait to hear about your big day! Having a destination wedding? We LOVE to travel and have the perfect wedding photography package for you. We would LOVE to hear about your adventure!

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