Mr. & Mrs. McCann | Loose Creek, Missouri Wedding

From the moment I arrived at the Westphalia Inn that morning, I knew this was going to be such a fun wedding day! Upstairs was absolutely buzzing with excitement as Katlyn and all of her bridesmaids got ready together. With such a large wedding party, there was never a quiet moment! Laughter echoed through the halls, girls were chatting from every corner of the room, and there was so much anticipation for what was ahead!

As the morning went on, it was finally time for Katlyn to slip into her wedding dress. One of my favorite parts of every wedding day is watching the reactions from the people who love the bride most. As soon as Katlyn’s mom saw her daughter dressed as a bride, she immediately became emotional. The smiles quickly turned into happy tears as she soaked in the moment. Even Katlyn’s hairstylist, who has become such a dear friend, couldn’t hold back her emotions after seeing her all dressed up! It was such a sweet reminder of just how loved Katlyn is.

Before revealing her bridal look to everyone else, Katlyn shared a private first look with her three maid of honors out on the patio of the Westphalia Inn. The second they turned around, cheers erupted and everyone was completely in awe of how beautiful she looked! But the surprises weren’t over just yet. Next came one of the most fun reveals of the morning! Katlyn stood at the top of the staircase while all of her bridesmaids and members of her Light Tribe waited downstairs with their backs turned. As she made her way down the stairs, everyone opened their eyes at once. The room instantly filled with applause, cheering, huge smiles, and even a few happy tears! It was such a joyful moment that perfectly set the tone for the rest of the day.

Before leaving the Westphalia Inn, we captured a few portraits of Katlyn with her bridesmaids before making our way to Kempker’s Back 40 for bridal party portraits.
Since Katlyn and Garet had decided to wait until the ceremony to see one another, we photographed the bridesmaids and groomsmen separately, carefully keeping the two of them from crossing paths. It always amazes me how much anticipation builds throughout the day when couples choose this route!

Before heading to the church, Katlyn shared one more incredibly special moment with her dad outside one of the beautiful barns at Kempker’s Back 40. As soon as he turned around and saw his little girl as a bride, emotions took over! The two shared the longest hug, smiling through tears as they soaked in such a once in a lifetime moment together. It was one of those memories I know they’ll both cherish forever!

From there, we traveled to the beautiful Catholic church in Loose Creek where family and friends eagerly waited for the ceremony to begin. Katlyn and Garet exchanged vows during a traditional Catholic Mass surrounded by the people who love them most. Before long, they were officially pronounced Mr. and Mrs. McCann, and the excitement throughout the church was contagious!!

After the ceremony, we photographed family portraits and bridal party portraits inside the church before sneaking in a few romantic portraits of the newlyweds together! Once we stepped outside, we were greeted by one of my favorite surprises of the day; Katlyn’s grandpa’s beautiful 1957 Chevy waiting for us. We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to capture a few timeless portraits with the pristine vintage car! They turned out to be some of my favorite images from the day and added such a classic touch to their wedding gallery.

We then made our way back to Kempker’s Back 40 for a few more bridal party and newlywed portraits. Although we weren’t there long, the property gave us so many beautiful backdrops that we were able to create a wonderful variety of images before heading to the reception.

The celebration continued at Bonnot’s Mill, where guests eagerly awaited the arrival of the newlyweds. As Katlyn and Garet were introduced into the reception, they couldn’t stop smiling! The excitement in the room was contagious!

Guests enjoyed a wonderful evening filled with heartfelt conversations, funny and sentimental toasts, and a delicious dinner before the dance floor officially opened. And once it opened…it stayed full! Friends and family packed the dance floor, celebrating the new Mr. and Mrs. McCann well into the evening.

Before the night came to an end, we snuck away one last time for sunset portraits. Although the sun stayed hidden behind the clouds, the river at Bonnot’s Mill created such a peaceful backdrop for the two of them. Sometimes you don’t need a colorful sunset when you have two people who look at each other the way Katlyn and Garet do.

It truly was such a beautiful day from beginning to end, filled with so much joy, laughter, and so many people who love these two dearly! Katlyn and Garet, thank you so much for trusting me to document such an important chapter of your lives. It was an absolute honor to celebrate alongside you both, and I hope every time you look back through these photos you’re reminded of just how loved you are. Wishing you both a lifetime filled with laughter, adventure, and countless happy memories together! Congratulations again, Mr. and Mrs. McCann!