Intimate Pilgrim Chapel Wedding

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Ceremony Venue: Pilgrim Chapel     Reception Venue & Catering: Brio Tuscan Grille     Photographer: Brianne Elizabeth Photography     Gown: Mia’s Bridal & Tailoring     Menswear: Macy’s     Maid-of-Honor Dress: Mia’s Bridal & Tailoring     Florist & Rentals: Hitched Planning & Floral     Hair: Jo Eller     Makeup: Ceara Layne Matsuda     Officiant: The Vow Exchange     Cake: Nothing Bundt Cakes     Welcome Event Venue: Pinstripes

Derek & Kara’s Love Story:

Derek and I met at the Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas. I was working as a Registered Nurse and he was in nursing school. One day his clinical group was assigned to my unit and he was specifically assigned to follow me around for the shift. One year after we met we started dating and the rest is history!

After dating for three years, the big moment arrived! Derek took me out to a new restaurant for dinner and when we arrived back home, he told me that I had to wait in our guest bedroom for a surprise. When he was finally ready for me, I opened the door and found a scavenger hunt that touched on memories of our relationship. The final stop of my scavenger hunt led me to our master bedroom which was covered in rose petals and soft candlelight. Derek dropped down on one knee and proposed with the most beautiful ring I had ever seen. My immediate reaction was, “Yes!”

We didn’t want to rush into wedding planning, so we decided to enjoy our engagement for two years before saying “I Do.” Our wedding day started with Derek and I having breakfast with our family and friends. After breakfast, we split off from one another to get ready for the day. The women enjoyed getting their hair and makeup done and our photographer arrived just in time to catch the finishing touches of our preparations. We decided to do a first look at the Intercontinental Hotel. After seeing each other, relieving some nerves, and being able to share a few quiet moments together, we jumped into a limo with the wedding party and headed to Nelson Atkins for more photos. Once photos were complete, we were whisked away to Pilgrim Chapel for the ceremony. After we exchanged rings and vows, the wedding party got back into the limo and headed to Loose Park. It was nice to enjoy some time as husband and wife with our closest friends. Our limo driver then took us to Brio so that our reception could begin. We enjoyed appetizers, dinner, and drinks with our guests followed by delicious cake! Our relaxed reception allowed us the opportunity to visit with all of our guests before and after dinner, something that was very important to us!

A Few Special Pieces:

We chose to do a sand ceremony during our wedding ceremony using an hourglass. Each anniversary we will turn over the hourglass to continue the blending of our lives together.

A touching moment for us was when our pastor mentioned the loved ones that couldn’t be in attendance to celebrate our special day. The Father of the Bride and Step-Father of the Groom had both passed way prior to our wedding, and it meant a lot to have them remembered.

The Groom’s Favorite Part of the Day

My favorite part of the wedding day was being able to stand up in front of all of our closest family and friends and marry the love of my life.

The Bride’s Favorite Part of the Day

My favorite moment of our wedding day was the hour spent alone with Derek immediately following the wedding ceremony. We had set aside an hour between the ceremony and reception for photos of just the two of us and it was nice to have time for us to reflect on our day.

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