We spent a beautiful summer evening with the most darling couple in Kansas City last week! Jessica and Brandon are cute as can be, oh so in love, and it’s evident when you scroll through their images. We enjoyed traveling around Kansas City to capture their session. Jessica let us know that they wanted to include an ice cream shop as one of our stops along the way and we couldn’t have been any more excited. It was obvious their love for each other is strong, but I would say their love for ice cream is equally important. They were so giddy with excitement when we entered Betty Rae’s Ice Cream in the River Market area. This location was nestled in a cute downtown area with so much character. We loved strolling around the downtown streets as these two devoured their sweet treats. Jessica and Brandon are completely consumed with one another! They get lost in each others eyes and they can’t stop giggling. No matter where we went, they were hand in hand laughing and giggling the majority of the time. It’s so refreshing to see a couple so in love!
Jessica and Brandon call Kansas City home and plan to stay in the city they love forever. It only made sense to stop at location that overlooks the beautiful Kanas City skyline. The views were breathtaking, the light was perfect, and with a couple madly in love as the focal point, you know magic will happen! We chased the light all evening while documenting Jess and Bran. As the day began to fall into night, we ended our time with them at Loose Park. The sun set pretty quickly and we stepped a bit outside of our comfort zone and finished the session at night. Normally we would end the session just before sunset. However, we were pleasantly surprised just how beautiful the night time shots were. Jessica and Brandon are an absolute delight to work with. We cannot wait to celebrate their love story in November as their closest family and friends gather to see their I Do’s!
Their Love Story
Jessica and Brandon met in high school when she was dating one of his best friends. Don’t worry, Brandon and this guy are still friends to this day and that friend is a groomsman in the upcoming wedding! Fast forward seven years, Jessica and Brandon would reconnect while working together at Applebee’s. They worked together for months before Jessica realized that Brandon was friends with her ex. Brandon worked in he kitchen, and Jessica was a server. If you ask anyone who has worked in a restaurant- the cooks aren’t really the type you wanna get involved with… they aren’t people you would typically call “husband material”… That definitely didn’t stop Jessica from sneaking a few looks through the expo window. Finally one day, after admiring Brandon from afar, she built up the courage to ask him for his snapchat name.
Jessica and Brandon would finally go on their first date on November 2nd, hence the wedding date! They had been texting and snap chatting nonstop for awhile and Jessica was looking the perfect excuse to use her BOGO coupon to Orange Leaf. Jessica will never forget how excited Brandon was when she asked him if he liked frozen yogurt. The date was set and the two would meet at Orange Leaf about two hours before closing time. They were so deeply involved in their conversation, that they would shut the place down! They hardly noticed the employee mopping around them. When the lights were shut off, Bran mentioned craving Country Kitchen. Jessica and Brandon traveled to the 24/7 restaurant to continue the night. Jessica remembers thinking at one point in their conversation that night “man, this boy is going to break my heart…” Luckily for Jessica she was wrong, and that boy she got lost in conversation with on night one is still here today. Jessica and Brandon fell for one another hard and fast.
Jessica doesn’t necessarily believe in “love at first sight” but she thinks that Brandon is pretty darn close to it! From the beginning, Brandon was such a gentleman and genuinely cared about her. The first time Jessica told Brandon she loved him was a complete accident. They were both at work all day and had plans to hang out that night at her house after work. After a long day at work, they loved to order pizza and binge watch full house episodes on dvd. Jessica ended up going home from work early because she was sick. She remembers feeling absolutely miserable for hours due to a stomach bug. As much as she was looking forward to their night together, Jessica texted Brandon and told him not to come over when he got off since she was sick. What newly dating woman wants her man to see her like that!? Nevertheless, Brandon persisted and still came over anyways with flowers and a tub of her favorite ice cream. After Jessica came out of the bathroom, she wrapped her arms around him and said “I love you so much.” Even though Jessica meant it with all of her heart, it completely slipped out of her mouth. Luckily, it didn’t freak Brandon out and he didn’t go running out of her front door. He gently swept the hair out of her face and said “I love you more!” What a pure example of “for better or worse, in sickness and in health.”
The Proposal
Within about five months into their relationship, Jessica and Brandon both knew that they were in it for the long haul. They were both about to graduate college and begin their lives, so timing was perfect and everything was falling into place. Jessica and Brandon knew that they wanted to get married on November 2nd since it would be the anniversary of their first date. They knew of a gorgeous venue in Warrensburg that they both had in mind for their future wedding. Even though they weren’t yet engaged, Jessica and Brandon decided to meet with the venue owner for a tour. During that “tour” Brandon took Jessica’s hand and lead her outside. He walked Jessica down the aisle towards the arbor where their future ceremony would take place. When they reached the arbor, Brandon said to Jessica, “well, I guess there’s just one thing left to do.” He dropped down on one knee, and asked Jessica if she would spend forever with him. If this isn’t such a romantic way to propose, we don’t know what is! Props to Brandon for pulling off the sweetest proposal and completely shocking Jessica.
It’s obvious that these two perfectly fit into one anthers lives! Brandon and Jessica have such an adorable story and we cannot wait for that story to continue on November 2nd. Congratulations again you two! We will be counting down the days until your wedding day. Enjoy some of our favorites from their fun Kanas City Engagement Session.
