Mr. & Mrs. Kelly | Kimball Ballroom | Columbia, Missouri Wedding -

Lani and Patrick married on New Years Eve with a day full of celebration and elegance. When we met with Lani and Pat last year, we knew their day would be extraordinary. The way they spoke of their day with such excitement and so many ideas, it was easy to envision the elegant winter wedding they were dreaming up! Lani has such a sense of style, so we knew early on the day would be filled with intricate and meaningful details. After their May engagement session, we were counting down the days for the wedding!

When we arrived to Senior Hall on Stephen’s campus the morning of the wedding, the rooms were buzzing with excitement as the bride and bridesmaids prepared for the day on one side and the groom and his groomsmen stayed in a nearby room. We went right to work photographing all of the beautiful bridal details hand selected by Lani. Their wedding day color pallet was one we absolutely loved and couldn’t get enough of! Rich shades of red and maroon filled the delicate bouquet and neutral colored roses and stems of different greenery complimented the vibrant bouquet. Everything about their day was dripping in elegance. From her gorgeous Mori Lee wedding gown, the sparkling Kate Spade Ked shoes, her beautiful cathedral length veil, and all the little details in between made their day come together perfectly. Senior Hall creates a wonderful backdrop for details and getting ready portraits. We love any chance we get to photograph there. The space offers so much variety, you can always create a completely different look with each wedding.

We always encourage couples to write letters to one another on the wedding day. It’s such a sweet sentiment to write out all of the overwhelming feelings that lead up to the day you say “I Do!” We love the intimate moment when brides and grooms read the love letters on the wedding day. As Lani sat near the window reading the handwritten letter from her groom, tears streamed down her cheek and a smile would grace her face every few words she read. It’s the emotional, genuine, and raw moments like those we adore the most.

As the morning passed on and we entered the afternoon, it was time to get Lani in her gown. Her mom and bridesmaids helped her slip into the gown. She looked absolutely flawless as she stood anxiously waiting for the dress to be fastened. Lani finished her bridal look with teardrop shaped diamond earrings and a cathedral length veil. Lani was all smiles as all of her bridesmaids circled around her to help fluff out the train of the dress. This is the surreal moment that often hits! It’s almost time! Before sharing a first look with her groom, Lani wanted to do a reveal with her dad. What a special moment it was to watch as Dale turned around to see his daughter as a bride. He wrapped Lani up in the biggest hug and tried not to cry. This was one of our favorite moments of the day.

It was finally time for Lani and Pat to share their first look. Though things were running a bit behind and the weather was not in our favor at all with the dreary mist, their first look couldn’t have gone more perfectly. We placed Pat under the porch at Senior Hall to keep him out of the rain. Lani effortlessly glided towards Pat and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around quickly with the biggest grin on his face. The two embraced and Lani teared up. These two are just adorable and shared the sweetest first look! Their bridesmaids and groomsmen watched from inside and gave thumbs up from the window.

We think it’s safe to say this moment shared with Pat helped melt away some of the nerves for these two. We always tell our couples not to stress the small things on the wedding day. We knew going into the day that the weather was going to be an issue. It was cold, it was wet, and very dark. But the important thing is that Lani and Pat were able to share sweet and special moments with one another outside despite all of that! It may have been raining outside, but under the cover of the porch, we were able to photograph all of the bride and groom portraits! We worked quickly because of the chilly temperatures.

We love the interior at Senior Hall! We knew it would be the perfect place to take all of the bridal party portraits. Plus it was nice and warm so that made it even more appealing. Lani and Pat have a lot of special people in their life, so their bridal party was a large one! Everyone looked so pretty and sharp on the wedding day. The maroon dresses were meant to be photographed indoors. They perfectly complimented the decor of the room. Everyone laughed and joked with one another as the afternoon passed on. Before we knew it, it was time to head to the church for the ceremony.

Lani and Pat tied the knot at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Columbia. They shared in a traditional ceremony with their closest family and friends in attendance. The priest delivered a sweet message with some humor thrown in here and there. Lani and Pat recited vows and exchanged rings before being pronounced husband and wife. As the two shared a kiss, everyone cheered and applauded the new Mr. and Mrs. Kelly! Lani and Pat were smiling from ear to ear as they made their way back down the aisle.

A reception followed at Kimball Ballroom and let me tell you, the venue was decorated so elegantly, it looked like something out of a fairytale. You could see that Lani added her personal touch to every aspect of the room. It looked absolutely amazing! Tables were draped in black table clothes and tapered candles made everything come to life. The entire venue had a romantic ambiance with the flickering candle light. Sequin Gold accents and greenery added elegance to the room. A beautiful wedding cake sat center stage in the venue. Every direction you looked had something to admire. It was cool to see everything Lani and Pat had been dreaming up come into fruition. The room was the perfect backdrop for an elegant New Years Eve Wedding! Lani and Pat entered the space and looked so happy! We spent a little time with them to take a few bride and groom portraits! These two knocked it out of the park.

The reception began later that evening and guest enjoyed a night filled with dancing and fun! To end the evening, guests gathered outside on a nearby sidewalk to sendoff the happy couple with a sparkler exit! Everyone lined up and Lani and Pat ran through the middle. It was the perfect way to end a New Years Eve Wedding! We loved this last 2018 wedding. It definitely went out with a bang!

We have adored working with Lani and Pat. She has such a sweet demeanor and Pat is so laid back. Lani found her forever in Patrick because they perfectly balance one another out! We knew from day one, these two were something special! Thank you so much for allowing us to be part of your day! It was perfect in every single way. We wish you two the absolute best and know you will share many, many years together! We have loved getting to know you both as a couple throughout this special season. Enjoy newlywed life Mr. and Mrs. Kelly!

Enjoy some of our favorites from their NYE winter wedding! There were so many photos we loved, it was hard to narrow it down for this blog post! We think that’s a pretty good problem to have!