Mr. & Mrs. Careaga | The Millbottom | Jefferson City, Missouri Wedding

October 3rd, 2026, was one for the books! From a vintage car show and the most unique wedding details to heartfelt family moments, gorgeous golden hour portraits, and one unforgettable dance floor, Kendyll and Nikolai’s wedding day was truly unlike any other I’ve photographed!

I arrived that morning to beautiful sunshine and clear skies, the perfect start to what would be an incredible day celebrating these two! My morning began at The Millbottom in Jefferson City, Missouri, where I got to photograph their reception space before all the festivities began. And let me tell you, I knew right away this was going to be a fun one! Nikolai has a huge love for vintage cars and all things automotive, and these two found the coolest ways to incorporate that passion into their wedding day. Instead of a traditional guest book, guests were invited to sign the hood of a vintage car! The floral centerpieces were arranged in little gas and oil cans, and each guest had a personalized place card resembling a license plate to help them find their seat. And the best part? Every single guest received their very own Matchbox car! How fun is that?

They even planned an entire vintage car show for their cocktail hour, complete with custom trophies that Kendyll and Nikolai would award to their favorite cars! It was so evident how much thought and time Nikolai had poured into all these little details. Everything felt so personal and intentional, and I loved that they weren’t afraid to do something a little different! After photographing weddings for so many years, it’s always fun to experience something I’ve never seen before, and this day was full of those moments!

After photographing all the details, it was time to catch up with the bride! One thing I noticed almost immediately about Kendyll was just how calm and intentional she was. She was all smiles as the finishing touches were being made to her hair and makeup, soaking in the morning with the people closest to her. Before getting into her gown, we took a few sweet portraits of Kendyll with her mom and then with her bridesmaids in their adorable matching robes. I always love capturing these little moments before everything gets underway! When it was finally time for Kendyll to step into her wedding gown, the emotions started flowing. Her mom couldn’t help but tear up as she watched her daughter transform into a beautiful bride! It was one of those moments where you could just feel how much love was in the room.

Meanwhile, Nikolai was getting ready with the help of both of his parents! With a few finishing touches and his mom carefully placing his boutonniere into his pocket, he was ready to go in no time. You could tell he was excited for everything the day had in store! Back with the girls, it was time for Kendyll’s big reveal!
Her bridesmaids gathered together, eagerly waiting to see her in her wedding gown for the first time. And when they finally turned around, the room erupted in the happiest cheers! Kendyll couldn’t help but tear up as her girls celebrated her!! It was such a sweet moment! Next up was her dad. And goodness, this one got me! The moment he saw his little girl standing there as a bride, he was overcome with emotion. Kendyll was tearing up right along with him, and it was such a beautiful reminder of just how special these moments are for the people who have loved you your entire life!

Once everyone was dressed and ready, we made our way to St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Jefferson City for the ceremony. Surrounded by their closest family and friends, Kendyll and Nikolai shared in a beautiful traditional Catholic Mass. There is something so timeless about a church ceremony, especially in a place that already holds so much family history. And before we knew it, these two were officially pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Careaga! They made their way back up the aisle as newlyweds, and the celebrations were officially underway! After the ceremony, we gathered everyone for family portraits, but there was one particular photo that made this part of the day extra special. Nikolai’s parents had actually gotten married at St. Peter’s Catholic Church many years before! To honor that sweet connection, we recreated one of the bridesmaid portraits from his mom’s wedding day, this time with Kendyll and her girls. I absolutely love when couples find ways to bring a little family history into their wedding day. It’s those meaningful touches that make photographs even more special years down the road.

Once we wrapped up at the church, it was time for one of the things I had been looking forward to all day!
A vintage 1950s Chevy Bel Air! Kendyll and Nikolai had the opportunity to drive this beautiful classic car, and of course, we had to take advantage of it for some portraits outside the church. It was the perfect addition to their day and couldn’t have been more fitting for Nikolai’s love of old cars! From there, we headed just across the street to the Missouri State Capitol for bridal party portraits. And this crew was so much fun! We spent some time outside with their wedding party before making a last minute dash inside the Capitol for some portraits of the newlyweds. And when I say a dash, I mean it! We had less than 15 minutes before the building closed for the evening, so we were quite literally running around trying to squeeze in as many beautiful spots as we possibly could! But it worth it! The moody light and beautiful architecture made for some of my favorite indoor portraits of the day.

Once we were back outside, we slowed things down a little and spent some more time photographing just the two of them. And can I just say how adorable these two are together? The way Nikolai looks at Kendyll is the sweetest thing. He has such loving eyes for her, and he knows exactly how to keep her laughing. Their personalities complement one another so beautifully, and photographing them together was such a joy!

After portraits, we headed back to The Millbottom, where the party was already getting started! Outside, the parking lot had been transformed into a vintage car show, with beautiful classic vehicles lined up for guests to walk around and admire. Guests were mingling, catching up with friends and family, checking out all the cars, and enjoying the gorgeous October weather. The Mizzou game was even playing on a television outside, which felt like such a fun Missouri touch to the afternoon! It was such a relaxed and unique atmosphere, and I loved watching everyone enjoy something that meant so much to the couple. Of course, no car show would be complete without a few awards! Kendyll and Nikolai got to choose their favorite cars and present the custom trophies they had made for the occasion. Such a fun way to make their guests part of the celebration! Once the car show wrapped up, everyone made their way inside for the reception.

The maid of honor and best man shared heartfelt toasts, guests enjoyed a lovely dinner, and the room was filled with laughter and conversation. But before the evening festivities really kicked off, the bride & groom had one more thing on their photography wish list! Golden Hour portraits with a Chevy Bel Air! If there was one part of the day I had been counting down to, it was this! I had been looking forward to these photos all day and, Kendyll and Nikolai did not disappoint!

We slipped away from the reception just as the evening light was getting that beautiful golden glow! With the sun filtering through the trees, a bridge in the background, and that gorgeous vintage Chevy, everything came together so perfectly. It felt like something straight out of an old movie! We had so much fun creating portraits around the car, capturing all those little in between moments, and letting Kendyll and Nikolai just enjoy being newlyweds! And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, we moved the car into the middle of the street with the Missouri State Capitol perfectly framed in the background.Talk about a photo opportunity! A classic car, a beautiful couple, and the Capitol behind them. It was such a cool way to bring together Nikolai’s love for cars and the city where these two said their vows. These are the kinds of wedding portraits I absolutely live for!

Back inside The Millbottom, it was finally time to hit the dance floor!
Kendyll and Nikolai shared their first dance as husband and wife, followed by the traditional parent dances. After a day full of meaningful moments, it was so sweet watching them soak in those first dances with the people they love most. But what happened next was something I can honestly say I’ve never experienced at a wedding before! To kick off the party, their flower boy took the microphone and sang the national anthem! Yes, you read that right! Kendyll and Nikolai held up an American flag as guests stood with their hands over their hearts, joining in for the national anthem. Everyone took the moment so seriously, and it was such a unique way to bring the entire room together. And then, in a complete change of pace..

The music switched to AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck,” and the dance floor came alive as guests jumped into the drinking game! It was hilarious, unexpected, and completely fitting for a wedding that had been full of surprises from the very beginning. And just when I thought I’d seen it all, Kendyll and Nikolai had one more fun moment up their sleeves! With LMFAO’s “Shots” playing in the background, the newlyweds started dishing out shots to their guests in the coolest way! The energy was through the roof, everyone was having the best time, and it was the perfect way to wrap up my evening with these two!

Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Careaga! What A Day! From the heartfelt moments with their parents and the beautiful ceremony at St. Peter’s to the vintage car show, golden hour portraits, and one unforgettable reception, Kendyll and Nikolai truly made this day their own! And that’s what I loved most about it. There were so many unique details and unexpected moments, but every single one reflected a little piece of who they are. Nothing felt like it was done simply because it was tradition or because it was what everyone else was doing. They created a wedding day that was personal, meaningful, and genuinely fun for everyone who got to be part of it! After all these years of photographing weddings, I can truly say this was a first for me in so many ways, and I had the best time documenting every bit of it!

Kendyll and Nikolai, thank you so much for trusting me to capture such a special chapter in your lives! I loved getting to celebrate alongside you, meet the people who mean the most to you, and document all the little moments that made October 3rd so memorable! The way you two laugh together, the way Nikolai looks at Kendyll, and the joy you bring out in one another are such sweet things to witness. I have no doubt you two have so many wonderful adventures ahead of you as husband and wife! Congratulations again, Mr. and Mrs. Careaga!