A Few of My Favorite Frames: 2021 Weddings in Review | Manhattan, Kansas Wedding Photographer

When I set out to photograph a wedding, I’m looking to find images that are quirky, timeless, and beautiful. To me, beauty is almost everywhere and light can be found or made (with the help of flashes), but personality and honesty can often feel vulnerable and risky to attain, but this year I prioritized those things, because to me—there’s nothing more timeless than capturing honest moments and connection. Also, I believe everyone’s got a got heaping of quirkiness in them, and it’s my personal joy and goal to seek it out. You’re all welcome.

It’s been a long time since I’ve done a wedding review, and I’m both nervous and excited to share it with you. I’ve added a handful a favorites from every wedding I photographed, complete with yearbook style captions for each photo. If you make it to the end of the post, you’ll need to high five whoever is next to you, because it’s a real doozy of a lengthy post, but in my opinion, it’s totally worth it to celebrate these eight couples who I got to photograph on a huge milestone of a day.

I recommend putting on some music, making a cup of tea while you take a leisurely scroll through a few of my favorite wedding day frames from 2021.

Amanda and Tyler

These two were the best freaking way to kick off 2021 weddings. They’re full of personality and quirkiness, and I left their wedding wanting to be my best self, because of who they were. Their ceremony and reception was held on private property on Wabaunsee Lake, and it was an all-hands-on-deck kind of a event where family and friends contributed skills and talents to make it happen.

1. Amanda and Tyler share their first look outside of a log-style home. She was clearly a big fan of his suspenders he was more than happy to flaunt.

2. & 3. Being close and being lovey dovey. We took a few moments after their first look to be artsy and pretty for some top notch documentation.

4. Tyler, a diligent groom, holds his future wife’s bouquet as she assists her grandmother.

5. Amanda, then Tyler, indulging a photographer’s artsy whims.

6. A guest, waiting.

7. A bride and groom become a husband and wife, as a chair sits with a cell phone livestreaming the event.

8. Tyler, a new groom, walks down the aisle with Amanda, his new wife, after spontaneously picking up the livestreaming device after beng excuse.

9. Amanda spends time with her grandmother.

10. Two love birds gettting kissy by daffodils.

11. & 12. Married hands and a balsa wood bouquet.

13. Romantically, Tyler and Amanda embrace by a building.

Melissa & Joel

In May of 2021, Melissa and Joel had a micro wedding ceremony on family property near Junction City, Kansas, and even though their guest list was kept small and intimate, it still meant their day was able to be wrought with meaning. They brought togehter not just their selves, but their families, each bringing their sons to their union, to create a precious, larger, beautifully knit family.

1. A ring on a grill.

2. Sharing a first look as bride and groom in a small grove of trees. Oh the happiness.

3. Joel, standing with his son, as he watches Melissa coming down the pathway to him, escorted by her son.

4. Two people, exchanging vows under a giant oak(?) tree.

5. The groom’s emotional son, hugs his future stepmom, and shortly after, the bride and groom exchanged rings with their respective sons nearby.

6. Mother and grandma, happily embrace after the ceremony.

7 & 8. Two sons, now brothers, waiting to switch to shorts and t-shirts, as their parents make a getaway in a hot rod for photos.

9. Melissa, standing in both the sun and poison ivy, while a photographer worries.

10. A newlywed couple, knowingly walking very near or in poison ivy, while the photographer continues to worry.

11. A newlywed couple, knowingly walking around poison ivy, smiling, then, doing the same, on the family dirt bike trails. Not pictured: the side-by-side taken to get to the photo location, driven by the bride herself or the brief foot rinse the followed the walk through questionable plants.

Cierra & Nathan

In August of 2021, Cierra and Nathan had their first formal wedding and proper celebration. They’d already been married for a while and shared their sweet son, but they chose that day to get fancy and be awesome with all of their nearest and dearest in attendance.

1. Cierra spending quality time with her son before her wedding.

2. Bridesmaids watching Cierra as she discovers her son while being made ready.

3. Windy, Cierra twirls.

4. Silhouetted and waiting to see her groom, Cierra waits.

5. Nathan spinning his bride.

6. Connected and breezy, Nathan and Cierra get romantic.

7. Nathan, a busy groom, takes a call then poses with his groomsmen.

8. A son watching a wedding party.

9. A sunny ceremony on a rooftop at the Cyrus Hotel.

10. Two young marrieds, dancing and laughing.

11. Tow young marrieds, looking daaaaang good.

12. See above.

Amber and Preston

It came as a surprise to me on Amber and Preston’s wedding day to learn that the two had been together for something like six… or eight?!  years? I can’t remember. Amber, Preston, forgive me. So naturally, with that came a sure sense of camaraderie and assurance between the two of them, and their whole wedding day was like something of a warm hug. Smiles were wide and tears flowed often, because sentiment was certainly not at a lack.

1. Preston, beside himself, realizing his soon-to-be wife gifted him a card identical to the one he chose for her. #meanttobe

2. A wedding day watch, with a groom’s boutenierre, next to two wedding rings on the couple’s dried flower centerpiece.

3. Amber’s mother secures her wedding dress.

4. Preston and Amber, delighted, seeing each other as bride and groom for the first time, briefly before their ceremony.

5. Embracing and forehead kissing, just the way their photographer likes it.

6. Flowers picked and dried from their family property, filling centerpieces, and adorning the space in the balcony.

7. A new husband holds his new wife’s signature cocktail as she bustles off camera.

8. A small brass band enters guests with ragtime tunes during cocktail hour.

9. The father of the bride welcomes the guests with a hearty speech.

10. Preston’s mom, a babe, celebrates the occasion with her son and a dance.

11. The newest married couple in town sneaks away for perfect sunset photos and somehow even more perfect laughs.

12. With light and love, the husband and wife dance, surrounded by their guests.

Erin & Justin

Some weddings almost fall into my lap, and this wedding was one of them! Due to unforeseen reasons related to the pandemic, I booked Erin and Justin’s wedding the Monday before their Friday wedding. It was a bit of a whirlwind, but a freaking ray of sunshine shone right through it, folks. That sunshine was Erin, who exuded, seeped… musked? joy! This woman was wildly and deeply happy, and I got swept up in her delight at marrying Justin.

1. A bride’s dress, in her venue’s wine cellar, per her request.

2. Ring’s nestled with the groom’s work attire, as the bride is dressed by her aunt.

3. Women who love Erin, seeing her as a bride for the first time.

4. Justin adjusts his tie while getting ready.

5. Erin and Justin see each other for the first time as bride and groom, and are, obviously, super psyched about it.

6. Oh you know, just a pretty first look moment.

7. Children, friends, and siblings cheer on the kissy couple.

8. A ceremony site ready, and the love of hand-holding guests watching love unfold.

9. Joy, more joy, post-nuptials.

10. Everyday, they’re bustlin, the dress that is.

11. A fist-pumping bride kisses her groom at the end of their first dance.

12. Funky balcony views of dancing guests.

Heather and Kelvin

It’s not every day I get to photograph someone as close to me as my friend Heather, so having the opportunity to be the key point of photography documentation on her day was a somewhat nerve-wracking honor. Is it stressful to photograph the event of someone so close? Absolutely! But I’m insanely glad that I got to be in control of the moment/beauty/happy-capturing. See their full blog post here.

1. Kelvin buttons his burgundy vest.

2. A groom ready, as a bride spritzes.

3. His and hers, wedding day details.

4. The bride’s sister sprays starch on the bride’s gown, jubilee unfolds.

5. He sees her, and it’s freaking great.

6. They stroll, posed, down the steps of the State House.

7. My fiercely radiant friend, as a bride.

8. A wedding party group side-hugs the bride and groom.

9. A bride and groom laugh at the hilarious joke their photographer made.

10. The bride’s brother wipes her happy tears, protects her makeup.

11. Kelvin, pleased, watches his best man his a speech.

12. A very happy father dances with his first born daughter, a new bride.

13. A bride and groom sneak a kiss in a elevator, as some bridesmaids obliviously ride adjacent.

Ashleah and Ian

Being an enneagram 4, I have a strong desire to see and create beauty, and I value creativity and originality, and Ashleah and Ian’s wedding hit all of those buttons for me, making me one happy photographer as I captured their love, and also their *very* good, creative-artsy wedding aesthestic. I am certain that the day was entirely *them*. See the full blog post from their wedding day here.

1. Ashleah’s dress hangs in a fall scene while she puts on her wedding day earrings.

2. Groom, groomsmen walking in slow motion.

3. Many loving hands, buttoning up the bride.

4. Him seeing her as his bride, pleased as punch about it.

5. Clearing adorable bridesmaids foot-popping, next to macarons that mustn’t be forgotten.

6. Generations staying warm before an outdoor fall ceremony.

7. The newlyweds leave their ceremony, with hands fasted together.

8. Two people in love, sitting on a sunset swing.

9. “ “, almost kissing by a field.

10. <3

11. A candid cocktail hour capture.

12. Dancing with delight, the husband and wife celebrate.

Lindsay and David

This year, David and Lindsay got married on Halloween, and in a truly elegant and low key fashion, they hinted at the theme of the day but managed to ultimately have some intimate, tasteful beauty. Their ceremony was micro, and their reception was intimate, meaning connection with their the people they love most was highly prioritized. With perfect October weather, everyone celebrated. See the full blog post from their wedding day here.

1. Lindsay has some bridal photo moments, as her and David’s rings are nestled on a pumpkin.

2. David’s family helps him prepare.

3. Lindsay and David laugh amongst fall foilage.

4. See above.

5. A smaller family member snacks on a yellow starburst as Grandpa looks on.

6. Lindsay walks to her groom, towards their wedding ceremony.

7. Laughing, Lindsay places a wedding ring on David’s finger.

8. Happy and married, the bride and groom leave their ceremony.

9. Show stoppers, cheesecake pieces are illuminated and waiting consumption.

10. Striking sunset moments with the bride and groom, as October light rightfully shows off.

11. See above.

12. See number 10.

13. A final frame, to end their night, and to end my wedding season.

You have officially earned that high five. Grab some hand sanitizer, and go for it.

You did it. We did it.

As the slow season approaches and we nestle into winter, I am, with hopeful expectation, looking forward to what’s to come in 2022 with weddings… and beyond!

See you after the new year, friends!

Interested in booking photography services? Contact me here.