A Playful Kansas City Wedding at The Magnolia Brookside

Weddings

Bride and groom hugging at The Magnolia Brookside.

Bride and groom kissing after saying "I do" at The Magnolia Brookside.

This gorgeous Kansas City Wedding at The Magnolia at Brookside was full of so many intimate and emotional moments! Shannon and Paul are such a fun and nerdy couple in the absolute best way. As soon as we bonded over tabletop RPGs, I was beyond excited to capture their special day! (If you’re a lover of video games, board games, books, or any other nerdy fandoms, let’s be friends!) Their love for each other was so evident, from their heart-felt personalized vows to their endless giggles. Keep reading to see all of the details of the Goldenstein’s wedding day!

Bride and groom about to have a first look while their best friends watch.

Bride giggling behind the groom before their first look at The Magnolia Brookside.

Groom taking in his bride during their first look.

Groom holding the brides hands during their first look.

Groom holding back tears as the bride kisses his hands at The Magnolia Brookside.

Intimate First Look with Friends at The Magnolia Brookside

Some moments are so special, they feel like the world stands still. For Shannon and Paul, their first look was one of those moments! It was Shannon’s idea to include their closest friends in this intimate exchange, but from the second Paul turned around, it was as if no one else was in the room. Shannon was giddy with excitement, while Paul’s emotions took over as he held back tears, kissed her hands, and simply took her in. Their friends watched quietly, sharing in their joy, and laughing gently when Shannon and Paul couldn’t help but giggle through their tears. As a photographer, it was incredible to witness two people so completely in the moment—eyes only for each other, love radiating in every glance and touch. It was a lovely moment to witness and such a unique idea to include their friends!

Bride and groom holding hands during wedding portraits.

Bride and groom rubbing noses during wedding portraits.

Bride and groom walking and laughing at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

Bride and groom walking down the steps at the Nelson.

Romantic Wedding Portraits

After their precious first look, we headed over to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for wedding portraits. I always love taking pictures of my couples here, but what made it even more special was that Shannon and Paul have a photo at The Nelson for every season! They have images from winter, spring, and summer, and now they have stunning photos for fall in their wedding attire! Their sunset session at The Magnolia Brookside was so dreamy and full of playful moments as well. They always had eyes for each other the entire day, making it so fun to capture their charisma!

Table scape decor at The Magnolia Brookside.

Beautiful decor for the sweetheart table at The Magnolia Brookside wedding reception.

The reception tables at The Magnolia Brookside filled with bright florals.

Simple Wedding Details at The Magnolia Brookside

I love how Shannon and Paul decorated their wedding at The Magnolia Brookside! It just goes to show how you don’t need tons of decor or extra frilly things to have a beautiful wedding. The energy brought on by their friends, family, and each other was more than enough for a radiant ceremony and reception. Shannon even designed all of their signage–how cool is that?! The vibrant florals matched their energy perfectly and the centerpieces were photos of the two of them over the years which were simple, yet so sweet!

Bride and groom kissing at the end of the aisle at their wedding ceremony at The Magnolia Brookside.

Perfect Vendors for The Magnolia Brookside

Venue: The Magnolia Brookside

Wedding Planning: Ava White Bird Planning

DJ: Platinum DJ

Hair and Makeup: Hair Strands of Ivory and Makeup Mind and Muse

Wedding Dress: Dress Essence of Australia from True Society

Suit: Michael’s Custom Made

Catering: Brancato’s Catering

Florist: Southern Stem w/ Magnolia

Invitations: Shannon the Bride!

Bridesmaid Dresses: Azazie

Cake: Yum Bakery

Newlyweds running out of The Magnolia Brookside while the wedding party cheers beside them.

Bride and groom exiting their wedding ceremony while the wedding party cheers.

Kind Words and Mini Interview with the Groom!

What was your favorite part of your wedding day?

“It’s impossible to pick a favorite part of the day, it was all so wonderful. The first look, the photo trip to the Nelson-Atkins, the vows, the first dance, the toasts. All incredible. Everyone made it so special. And maybe it’s because it was the only time we were alone that day, but the 10 minutes to ourselves after the ceremony particularly stands out in my mind.”

What would you advise other couples getting married about planning?

“As for advice, start planning earlier than you think you need to. Try to get done early. There will be things that you’ve missed that need to be done last minute.”

Short n Sweet Review

“Kelsey was incredible. A joy to work with and the pictures are wonderful. Directed photos are gorgeous and the candid ones are lovely. So happy to have had her record our special day.”

Newlyweds looking into each others eyes and smiling at The Magnolia Brookside.

Let’s Plan Your Kansas City Wedding Next!

As a wedding photographer, I love getting to know my couples. Capturing the playful energy, quirks, laughs, and tears during their wedding day makes my heart burst. The one thing you need to know about me is that I find my energy and inspiration through the people I photograph, and end up getting WAY too excited about your photos in the process. You can learn more about me here to see if we’d be a good fit! Contact me here to start planning your Kansas City wedding next! I can’t wait to meet you!