Photo: Sharaya Mauck Photorgraphy
When Megan and Adam began planning their March 2013 nuptials, they knew they wanted their wedding to feel deeply personal, romantic, and inviting — but most importantly, they wanted it to be lots of fun. It's fitting, then, that the Kansas City couple, who met at a party in 2009 and have been inseparable ever since, got engaged over a gorgeous lakeside fireworks display on the Fourth of July. Just as their annual friends-and-family cookout was picking up steam, Adam, 29, stole Megan, 26 away to a private bench on the water. As the fireworks began to light up the sky, Adam got down on one knee and proposed. It was so dark that night, Megan said, that she didn't even know what her ring looked like until she got inside — and started screaming with joy!
Nine months later, the two tied the knot at a quaint country chapel in Parkville, Missouri, a suburb of Kansas City, followed by a reception at a historic plantation. Every detail of the candlelit ceremony and reception was beautiful, but we're still dreaming about her amazing, citrus-hued flowers in a riot of yellow, orange, and green shades. Take a look at this sweet, springy Midwestern wedding below!
Photo: Sharaya Mauck Photorgraphy
Megan and Adam worked with Adam's cousin, Amber, to hand-make their wedding invitations and paper goods. "She also helped us print a design for a large poster-sized print that told our love story in a timeline," Megan says. "It's now hanging at our house and we love seeing it!"
Megan fell in love with the feminine details on her Enzoani trumpet lace gown, like the button-up back, sweetheart neckline, and extra-long train. She paired it with a simple lace veil, sparkly silver flats, and a beautiful, colorful bouquet, tied with twine and adorned with her grandmother's engagement ring.
Photo: Sharaya Mauck Photorgraphy
Megan's charcoal, one-shouldered bridesmaid's dresses were a big hit — the flattering cut and ruching looked great on every girl, and hidden pockets made it easy to stash their phones during the ceremony. On the guys, boutonnieres of colorful billy balls popped against dark suits.
Photo: Sharaya Mauck Photorgraphy
At their traditional chapel ceremony, Megan and Adam exchanged vows in front of a handmade cross made of twigs and hydrangeas. "Everything else was kept to a minimalistic simplicity, with candles surrounding the whole room and blanketing the altar," Megan says. "It was beautiful!"
Photo: Sharaya Mauck Photorgraphy
Megan and Adam loved the historic, quaint feel of Hawthorne House, an 11-acre estate just minutes from Kansas City, complete with chapel, manicured grounds, and a soaring, whitewashed reception room. "High rafters, lots of light and a super-romantic feel made it an easy choice for us!" Megan says.
Photo: Sharaya Mauck Photorgraphy
Megan and Adam met Hawthorne House's high ceilings with tall, modern centerpieces featuring curly willow, twigs, hydrangeas, and small hanging lanterns, which looked extra-dramatic against black tablecloths. The couple left meaningful, personalized thank you notes on each guest's place setting to greet them as they arrived.
Instead of table numbers, each table was topped with a frame containing a well-known song quote. After a meal of Southern-style comfort food and plenty of dancing, the DJ dismissed each table at the end of the night by playing its song!
Photo: Sharaya Mauck Photorgraphy
Megan and Adam wanted their cake to feel homemade, so they stuck with a simple white cake made with coconut milk and topped with buttercream. They displayed it on a tree-stump cake stand from Etsy and finished it with two yellow lovebird cake toppers.
Photo: Sharaya Mauck Photorgraphy
The couple's first dance, to "Forever Like That" by Ben Rector, was beautiful, but their favorite moments from the night were the speeches from Adam's two — yes, two! — best men and Megan's sister. "They worked in several hilarious stories, but just hearing the way they felt about us and the love they have for us was overwhelming," Megan says. In the year since their wedding, the two have honeymooned in Antigua and started decorating their home together, but most of all they've just been grateful for all the free time they have now that the planning's over!
Ceremony & Reception Venue: Hawthorne House || Wedding Coordinator: Lindsay Howe of Simple Elegance || Gown: Enzoani || Shoes: Makeup: J.Crew || Hair: Abby of Par Exsalonce || Makeup: Mandy McKenna || Bridesmaids' Dresses: Nordstrom || Rings: Shane Co. || Groom and Groomsmen's Attire: Tip Top Tux || Invitations & Paper Goods: Amber Shumacher || Florist: Rhae Adams || Ceremony Music: Sheree Peterson Lutz and Allison Peterson || Reception Music: Howe Weddings and Events || Cake: Iced Art || Photographer: Sharaya Mauck Photography