Cara & Connor | Kansas City Engagement Session
I met Cara and Connor in Kansas City on a hot Sunday evening, but you’d never know it by looking at them! These two were all smiles, laughter, and effortless connection from the start. They made my job incredibly easy, bringing their playful energy and undeniable chemistry to every location we visited!
We kicked off their session at Union Station, strolling around the grand architecture before heading up to the Liberty War Memorial for those sweeping Kansas City views. From there, we wrapped up our evening at the Nelson Atkins Museum, catching the golden light as the sun dipped behind the horizon. The whole evening flew by, and I left feeling so inspired by their warmth and the genuine way they interact with each other!
How They Met
Cara and Connor’s story began back in college when they matched on Tinder, although, as Cara admits with a laugh, she thought Connor went to a different school when she swiped right! They spent eight months building a friendship online before finally meeting halfway between Lawrence and Atchison for their first date. The original lunch plans didn’t go as expected (the restaurant was closed!), but that didn’t matter! The day turned into hours of talking, laughing, and realizing they’d stumbled onto something special!
They officially started dating in October 2019 and over time, it became clear to both of them that this was the real deal! Connor says their relationship has always felt natural, like their lives were meant to be intertwined, while Cara describes having a gut feeling from the start that he was “the one!”
How He Asked
On December 14, 2024, Connor pulled off a proposal that was both romantic and perfectly “them.” He’d been quietly planning for weeks, even telling Cara in November that he was “going home to vote”, which was true, but also a cover for buying the ring! He made sure to ask her dad in person, and then teamed up with friends who are photographers to make sure the moment was documented perfectly.
Cara had her suspicions when Connor suggested dinner on the Plaza for a Saturday night since planning ahead isn’t usually his style. But instead of overthinking it, she decided to enjoy the day, even sneaking in an afternoon nap. That evening, they parked near the Bridge of Flags and strolled across, taking in the Plaza lights! When they reached the other side, Connor stalled just long enough for their friends to get into position, then dropped to one knee!
“It was such a blur but so exciting,” Cara recalls. “When I looked over, two of our friends had been hiding and taking pictures. After he proposed, he told me that my parents and brother, along with his parents and brother, were all waiting for us at O’Dowds. We met them there to celebrate, then went to dinner as one big group. I’ll never forget that night.”
Connor laughs when remembering the moment: “After looking at the photos, I realized I had the ring box sideways when I asked.” But that small detail only makes the memory even sweeter.
When they’re not planning their wedding, Cara and Connor love traveling, spending weekends at college football games, hosting friends in their backyard, and rewatching The Office or Parks and Recreation. Connor recently got an outdoor pizza oven that’s quickly become a favorite in their home.
It’s easy to see what they admire most about one another. Cara loves Connor’s thoughtfulness, patience, and unwavering support, while Connor adores Cara’s compassion, her ability to light up a room with laughter, and the nurturing way she cares for everyone around her!
Their wedding day is going to be an incredible celebration filled with the people they love most and after years of friends asking “when’s the wedding?”, the countdown is officially on!
Cara and Connor, thank you for letting me capture this season of your lives. Your Kansas City engagement session was pure joy from start to finish, and I can’t wait to celebrate with you both again on the big day!
