Kansas city engagement photographer Kansas city wedding photographer 

And if you know someone who is getting engaged, refer them to me and if they book, you will get a $50 VISA GIFT CARD as a thank you. Wedding photographer

But we had to chat on the phone first…to make sure the fit was legit. And it was. I was overly flattered and stupefied to hear that she and her mom (JAckie Polacek) had been following my work for years (I’m originally from Omaha as well). Lots of blushing happened when I heard this. And my heart might have skipped a few beats. Because let’s be real: that’s pressure. They expressed high expectations and it was up to me to fulfill them. YES, this is the case for every wedding. No matter how many weddings I photograph, even though it’s “just a job,” I have to treat it with the respect and honor it deserves because for the couple who has hired me: it’s their best day ever. But even though every wedding comes with high stakes, this felt different for some reason. I was a bit more nervous.

Until I met Taylor in person. She and her best buddy Rachael came to my home office while Taylor was in KC visiting, and I don’t even remember talking about weddings or photography specifically. Normally consultations last about 45-60 minutes. But they were here for 3.5 hours!!!! They didn’t just talk about Taylor and Matt…they also obsessed over my cats and enjoyed stories about Weston, made me laugh with their own antics that only exist because they are soul sisters through and through. When they left, I felt like I was 10 years old again, saying farewell to friends after a slumber party. Their visit made me so much more excited for the wedding day because if Taylor has that good of taste in a BFF…then by golly, I knew her groom would blow me away as well.

SPOILER ALERT: That he did.

?So about the beginning of this power couple: they are yet another example of successful high schools sweethearts. ?They joke that Matt saw how fast Taylor was and fell hard. BUT…not before he had to chase her for a bit. Despite being so young and naive…they grew together as they matured. Taylor remembers when she realized Matt was the one and only; it began with a seed that was planted in high school theology class? when the teacher had students write down their definition of being in love. ?”My teacher’s definition was that being in love was a choice, day after day to sacrifice, commit and put the other person first. I didn’t understand that at all.?” ?She ?herself had defined it as the feeling you get when you don’t think ?you can live without the other person.

?But as time is known to do….it made Taylor wiser and more in tune with her feelings. ??A year or so into the relationship, it dawned on her that she finally understood her teacher’s definition. She says, “I would do anything for this man and even though it wasn’t always easy, I was going to choose him every day I woke up. And I knew without a doubt, he’d choose me.?”

Matt’s explanation is a whole lot simpler. He said from the moment he saw her, he just knew deep down that he’d marry her. Look who was right!! 

Taylor’s reasons for loving Matt were qualities I picked up within moments of meeting him. He was truly one of the sweetest, most handsome and FUNNIEST men I’ve ever gotten before my lens. Taylor is downright giddy around him still, or she rolls her eyes with love. It was like watching brand new over-the-top puppy love on steroids.

“Matt will always be able to make me laugh. He will always have my back. He will always fight for what he believes in. He makes me coffee every morning. He kisses me goodnight. He never makes me question myself or my choices. And as cliche as this sounds, he loves me for me?,” she says.

It’s clear what Matt digs in his forever-person as well. She is full of life, generous, fun and incredibly personable. “Tay is my best friend. She allows me to be the goofball that I am and calls me out on my bull. Basically she makes me a better man.,” he says.

And isn’t that the point of love? To mirror the best parts of each other? Well, they have that mastered. Plus the facts that they share dashing good looks, cool style and and ability to just look at one another and feel what the other one is feeling …. (or crack up)… make for a delectable chemistry in front of the camera.

?I really do luck out getting couples that don’t just treat me like hired help. But with Taylor & Matt’s family and friends…. my assistant Lindsay George and I truly felt at home….as if we could have been guests instead of the photographers. They were considerate of our needs and also such troopers since the humidity that day brought an epic amount of sweat to the forefront (and our foreheads….among all other body parts…) but they charged through it with a smile.

I truly could go on and on yammering about why this wedding was so awesome and why I want to be an adopted member of their families. I will post later what they sent me after they got their images as it might be the favorite thing I’ve ever gotten from clients. But for now, let’s focus on the other method of story-telling I’m known to use…. photos!

And as always, my work wouldn’t be nearly as exciting without the efforts of the other notable vendors from the day:

FLORIST::::::::: Leia Brown
HAIR & MAKEUP stylists::::::: Shannon Alexander
WEDDING GOWN::::::: Bridal Traditions–Stella York
SUITS/TUXES::::: Bridal Traditions
CHURCH/OFFICIANT::::::: Mary Our Queen/Fr. Jeff Mollner
WEDDING PLANNER/COORDINATOR::::: Scott Conference Center’s Megan Van Zant
RECEPTION VENUE::::::: Scott Conference Center
BAKERY::::::: HyVee
CATERER:::::: Scott Conference Center (TOP 5 wedding dinners I’ve ever had!!!)
DJ/BAND:::::: DJ EZB- Brandon Stockton
VIDEOGRAPHER:::::: Tyler Johnson

So about the bride and groom….Even though I have known Julianne for several years because I’m pals with her awesome wedding-planning sister, Jennifer Pestinger of Belle & Bows. The entire Huber family is near and dear to my photographer heart. SUCH sweet, genuine people. And so freaking nice to my lens. And to give you an idea of how awesome Joan Reichmeier Huber & Dennis Huber are… they painted their front door to match the wedding palette…because back when Jennifer, their eldest daughter got married (I photographed that one too!), their door was a periwinkle color, as were the bridesmaid dresses. They just HAD to be fair! However, admittedly, I do not know her well. I knew she was sweet. And beautiful (because it’s just in her genes….). And incredibly patient and kind.

She lives in St. Louis, where she is a preschool special ed teacher, going for her Master’s in Behavioral Analysis. It was in the Gateway City that she met the man who showed her the Gateway to Ever After– at a karaoke bar. Phil had chummed himself into Julianne’s friend group via a mutual guy friend of theirs. A month later, the entire posse decided to do a road trip to Louisville, KY, and something clicked for them both. Julianne says she knew Phil was “the one” when she found herself hanging out with him for NINE!!! consecutive nights following their first date…and “I wasn’t even sick of him!”

And since then, he’s proven to be the most kind, caring and genuine guy to ever enter her life. I have to also mention his sense of humor here. He is definitely in my TOP 5 FUNNY GROOMS! His personality was so easy-going, so playful and so much fun. He’s also a romantic. I mean…this is what he had to say about how he knew SHE was the one he’d be with forever: “I knew Jules was the one during our first date when we took a picture at the Anheuser Busch Tour in St. Louis. She is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, inside and out, and I felt the happiest I’ve ever been in that moment standing next to her in that picture and knew I wanted to have her by my side the rest of my life.”

{And to take more pics that encapsulate those happy moments, right, Phil???? Well…pssssst: I got ya covered!} So how perfect that these two ended up back in L-ville, at yet another facility known for its adult beverages (the Four Roses bottling plant, which is credited for creating Phil’s favorite bourbon!), when they made their future official. Phil had set up a private tour, and halfway through, they got out of the car for (another!!) photo op near a lake.

Phil handed the camera to the tour guide, Julianne believing that it was to take their photo. Instead, the moment when he put a ring on Julianne’s “it,” is now documented! I could tell right away that Julianne and Philip balance one another out. It’s been a stressful year for these two with job changes, homeowner probs, grad school assignments and of course: wedding planning. But Julianne says, “Phil is able to keep me grounded and sane….No matter how stressed out I am or how tough my day has been, he knows exactly how to make me laugh.” See? He’s funny. Phil echoes Julianne’s sentiments in expressing just how crazy he is about her. “Julianne is the most beautiful, caring, and patient person I’ve ever met. I love that we have similar values in life, that we fit each other so well, and that she can have a conversation with anyone. I am most in love with her smile because it brightens my day and makes me happy that she is happy.”

You will totally know what he means once you see her smile for yourself. Again, it’s in her genes–her whole family could be models for the dentistry industry.

When they aren’t trying to hit homeruns out of life’s lil’ curveballs, they can be found working out together at Title Boxing Club, going on tasteful adventures to new restaurants, cooking/prepping meals, hanging out with their pals, and exploring the city they love. Also, special shout out to Thomas Martin for his rendition of TENNESSEE WHISKEY. I am not exaggerating. My 2nd shooter, Jennifer Zugelder, and I were transfixed…we had giddy smiles on our faces and incessant goosebumps. It might have been one of my favorite wedding moments in the decade I’ve been doing this. His voice. His passion for his art. you could feel it from your tingly spine down to your swaying feet. I want his CD — if he should ever record.

So was that enough blabbing? Well then. Let’s get on with their fresh, fun and romantically pineapple-y late spring wedding. Here is a rundown of some of the key players that made this day top-notch! As always: feel free to use any of these pics for your profile or cover image, but if there isn’t a watermark visible, you must credit Darbi G. Photography in the caption. And you may not alter the photo processing in anyway, so please do not add any filters, regardless of where you’re sharing the image. This changes the artistic integrity and is a misrepresentation of my work. Thank you so much!

::::? WEDDING PLANNER/COORDINATOR? ??::::: Belle & Bows

:::::? ?HAIR & MAKEUP stylists ?::::: ?@Oomph Salon KC

:::::? WEDDING GOWN :::::? The Gown Gallery, Lazaro

:::::? ?BRIDESMAID DRESS DESIGNER(S)? ?:::::? ? Hayley Paige

:::::? ?CHURCH/OFFICIANT? :::::? Our Lady of Sorrows, Fr. Richard Storey, Fr. Richard Hadel

:::::RECEPTION VENUE ::::: Hallbrook Country Club 

:::::FLORIST::::: Bella Chic Floral

:::::? ?BAKERY? ?::::: Carolyn Holton

:::::? ?CATERER? ?::::: Hallbrook Country Club

:::::? ?MALE ATTIRE ::::: Men’s Wearhouse

:::::? BAND ::::: Private Stock

:::::SOLO BALLAD ::::: Thomas Martin

Now on to the couple. The stunning, fun, silly and sweet couple. This is the couple whom I poached, lol. I met Michelle & her mom at the bridal fair, and we talked for awhile. I fell in love with them…and I knew they were meant to be mine (MuAHHAHAHA) lol And sure enough! DING!

Anyway, so on to love:::::
Michelle said she knew Colt was THE one because: “I can’t imagine living my life without him. He makes me laugh everyday and I love who he is; his values, virtues and principles is something rare and amazing that I value. He’s my person and I want to support his dreams and goals.”

Colt professes about Michelle’s beauty when asked why he is head over heels in love with her. He also loves that “She wants very simple but meaningful things, such as a hug, a kiss or just being in the same room can make the difference in her day. She just wants to see the people she cares about. I can remember several rough days she has had and all she needed to feel better was some time with me and maybe her dog. She thinks my ridiculousness is funny at times also.”

Bottom line: they are keepers for one another. HANDS DOWN.

And their wedding…lovely to the core. From the lighting to the colors to the venue to the florals (by Shelley Rundberg Couture Wedding Flowers). SCRUMPTIOUS!

And shout out to Bailey Pianalto for being my assistant!

Vendors, guests, friends etc: feel free to use as profile or cover pics, or share on your page…tag others, or LIKE/COMMENT on your faves…but please tag me

OTHER VENDORS:
STYLISTS: @Stephanie Frey-BlushTones KC . @Melanie Adele Williams Artist
GOWN: @Emily Hart Bridal
BRIDESMAID DRESSES: Natalie M of @House of Yoo
RESS DESIGNER(S)
Natalie M. House of Yoo
BAKERY
Jan Southwick O’Rourke
CATERER: Taylor Made Catering
TUXES: Tip Top Tux – Overland Park, Hawthorne Plaza
DJ: @Platinum Productions

WARNING: I had all the pics =IN ORDER…but they won’t stay that way once I upload to this blog…so for the time being, they will be a bit out of order, and I’m sorry. 

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