River Market Wedding

Get the Look

Ceremony & Reception Venue: River Market Event Space     Photographer: Brianne Elizabeth Photography     Gown: Madison James     Menswear: Men’s Wearhouse     Bridesmaid Dresses: Weddington Way     Hair: Parlor KC     Makeup: Mandy McKenna     Invitation Prints: Thomas Printers     Caterer: Jack Stack Barbecue     Florist: http://www.rivermarketeventplace.com     DJ: Elite Sounds Entertainment Group     Rentals: Ultrapom Event Rentals     Cake: Classic Cakes & More     Photobooth: Airstream Lounge KC     Videography: Rainy Day Productions

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Matt & Cara’s Love Story: I met Cara in the Fall of 2011. I was back for homecoming at Iowa State while she was still a student. We met through mutual friends, which is interesting in retrospect since we had both been at Iowa State at the same time for three years with similar friends but had never met before. We really hit it off that first day. We discussed seeing each other more but it was a logistic challenge since I lived in Kansas City. In the end, we wound up not seeing much of each other for over a year.  On the night of September 24th, 2012, I was back at Iowa State for a work recruitment trip. Something about being back made me feel nostalgic and I got thinking about “that girl” that I had met one year earlier. I had just opened my laptop and navigated to Cara’s Facebook page when all of a sudden she messaged me… completely out of the blue. I knew right then and there that I needed to keep in touch with her. We ended up chatting for several hours that night and then kept talking over the next few weeks. Eventually, she agreed to come down to Kansas City and go on a date with me. After that, everything fell into place. She started coming down to visit me on the weekends and I drove up to be with her in Iowa. I eventually convinced her that she should come and live in Kansas City. We found her an apartment and for the next year we dated as happy young professionals living in the city.  I had always wanted to go back to graduate school, and in the fall of 2013, I told Cara that I wanted to start applying. In hindsight, this was pretty selfish, but I asked her to come with me. I was accepted to the Polymer Science program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and in the Summer of 2014, we began preparing to move. Just before we hit the road, we made another life-changing decision. We adopted a puppy from a local shelter. We named him KC and no story about us would be complete without him. We then made the move halfway across the country to Amherst, Massachusetts and I knew that any girl that would move that far away from her family and friends was a keeper.  After living in Massachusetts for over a year, we planned a getaway in Cape May, New Jersey over Labor Day weekend. It was the perfect opportunity to surprise Cara with a proposal. Why Cape May you may ask? Well, Cara wanted to go to Diamond Beach where she could sit in the sand and search for rocks. Yes, rocks. Cape May is known for its beautiful pebble beaches and great sunsets. So that weekend we dug and dug for rocks. All weekend long she kept asking me to find me the most perfect round rock diamond. Needless to say, the setup couldn’t have been any better. On our last night there, while digging for yet more rocks, during a Labor Day flag ceremony on the beach, I turned to her and said “Cara, Cara I found you the most roundest, and perfect Cape May diamond! But first I have a question to ask you!” At which point, I got down on one knee. She squealed, “There are so many people!” Then she started crying, said “yes,” and then had to remind me to put the ring on  her finger. A Few Special Pieces: My mom gave me a very special gift the night before we got married. For ten years she had saved my grandmother’s jewelry box that I played with as a child. Inside the box she put her diamond solitaire necklace that my dad gave to her on their anniversary. I thought she was letting me borrow it for the wedding day, but instead, my parents had decided they wanted me to have it after all these years. It was the sweetest and most special gift. The Groom’s Favorite Part of the Day My favorite part of our wedding day was the first look. When we got to the pool, I was told that I was supposed to walk out to her. So I stared at the ground and tried not to fall in the pool as somebody led me to her. She was absolutely breathtaking. That is when the wedding day became real for me. It was the perfect beginning to an incredible day. The Bride’s Favorite Part of the Day My favorite moment (other than marrying Matt) was when my dad gave his speech. I was so nervous and excited for him to stand up in front of the guests and talk about his only daughter. He gave one of the sweetest speeches I have ever heard. In his speech, he mentioned that he finally got the son that he never had.