This past weekend I finally got to photograph Katie & Cole’s elegant Union Station wedding celebration! I had been eagerly awaiting this day not because it was postponed (Katie was always going to be a June 2022 bride), but because I was just so excited for this couple and their wedding day!
Katie and I first met when she was a bridesmaid for Kat in 2019. Kat & Drake’s wedding party will forever be one of my favorite crews that I’ve had the pleasure to work with. It’s a known scientific fact that awesome couples surround themselves with awesome friends, so it’s no surprise that Kat & Drake’s wedding party was, well, awesome. Getting to reconnect with Kat & Drake – this time as bridesmaid & guest rather than bride & groom! – was such a beautiful part of Katie & Cole’s wedding day.
When Katie and Cole got engaged, I crossed my fingers that she would reach out to me. And then I did the biggest happy dance when she became a fellow BPP Bride! And Katie is 100% my kind of bride. Her style and attention to detail are exactly the kind of aesthetic that inspires me and my photography. From her subtle and elegant color palette to her show-stopping gown – complete with detachable train! – to her classic venue choice, I could photograph this wedding again and again and I’d never get tired!
One of my favorite parts of the day was when Katie & Cole shared their first look. The two had written letters to each other and wanted to read them just before seeing each other. So I brought them into their ceremony space to exchange their letters back-to-back in the very place where they’d be exchanging their vows in mere hours. After they each read their letters (and I wiped away my own tears!) the two turned around to see each other for the first time! In that moment, Katie told me that all the stress from the morning melted away and she was re-centered by Cole’s calming presence. This is one of the things I love most about sharing a first look on your wedding day! It helps remind you of the real reason for all this planning: marrying the love of your life!
As perfectly planned as Katie & Cole’s wedding day was, there was one thing they couldn’t control: the weather. In the days leading up to the big day the couple, coordinator, and I were all watching the forecast like hawks trying to predict what was going to happen! It seemed like every hour the forecast was shifting. For awhile we had hope that it wouldn’t rain at all. But ultimately it did.
But Katie & Cole stayed calm and collected throughout the uncertainty. They purchased adorable umbrellas for the entire wedding party and themselves, and trusted my decision for backup portrait locations should we need them. Luckily, the rain held off just enough for us to capture gorgeous portraits at our original spot, the Nelson-Atkins Museum. And honestly, isn’t there something so romantic about (a little tiny bit of) rain on a wedding day? It’s good luck after all!
Mother Nature may have thrown a curve ball at Katie & Cole on their wedding day, but she made up for it by giving them the most beautiful golden hour for their final portraits of the day. After their ceremony inside the Union Station grand hall, we snuck Katie & Cole outside for this little portrait time. Golden hour portraits are the best portraits! And I’m not just saying that because the lighting is incredible. This special part of the day is also a chance for you and your brand new spouse to spend some alone time on your wedding day! By this point in the evening, all the jitters are gone and you finally just get to enjoy the day! Your wedding day will fly by, so carving out these little moments to step back and take it all in are so important!
After golden hour portraits, it was time to hit the dance floor! Katie & Cole’s band kept the energy high and the dance floor packed all night long until the couple’s sparkler exit. As you scroll through this (not so small) sneak peek from Katie & Cole’s wedding day, you’ll see why this day was so much fun to capture. Cheers to Katie & Cole!
A HUGE thank you to the team that made this day spectacular!
venue: Union Station
coordination: Pretty + Planned
videography: Lumen Studios
hair & makeup: Paradise Beauty
floral design: Blooms by Breck
catering: Brancato’s Catering
dessert: Dolce Bakery
transportation: Showtime Transportation
bridal attire: Bridal Extraordinaire
menswear: Dan Dan the Tailor Man
rentals & decor: Platinum XP | Krystal Creations
entertainment: 2 Proud 2 Beg Band
2nd photographer: Esperanza Dunning
Cheers to Katie & Cole!
Can’t get enough of these lovebirds? Check out their engagement session!
Bailey, you are so talented. Having you at my wedding was the best decision we could have made, and I’m so thankful Katie and Cole chose to have you at theirs as well. You knocked it out of the park yet again. We love you so so much!