Engaged: Carrie and Griffin

Meet Carrie and Griffin! 

They will tie the knot this December at the Gillioz Theatre and party the night away at 425 Downtown! 

1. How did the two of you meet and how long have you been together?

We've tried to remember when we first got together, sitting down and doing the whole time line thing and everything and have yet to figure it out, so we made up our own anniversary date, of June 11th, but halfway through the first year (we still to this day say happy anniversary every month) the 11th just landed on too many holidays, so we switched it to the the 12th of June. This year we took a small vacation to celebrate our fourth year together. So we'll be getting married around four and a half years together.

2. Tell us about one of your favorite dates!

This last valentines day. After Carrie finished work and I got out of school we went for dinner and Nonna's Italian Restaurant we had a great meal and reminisced about our trip to Italy. After dinner we went to the Gillioz (where we're have our wedding ceremony) and they had a whole little package put together for couples. They screened "When Harry met Sally", and gave us little packages that included, some champagne, a small box of chocolates, a rose, and I think a few other things. They also had a free s'mores bar, which included a two small open flames to roast the marshmallows upon, graham crackers, and chocolate fondue. They also had popcorn and drinks and the snack bar.

3. When did you know it was the real thing?

Although I had (and still do have) a huge wanderlust, it became real for me when I sat down and signed a year long lease with both of our names on it. Carrie says that's when she knew that I put her and wanting to be with her before my own desires of leaving this town far behind me in the rearview mirror.

4. Was the proposal a surprise? How did it happen?

A few months before our two-year anniversary we decided to take a summer vacation. With our love for travel and taste for Italian inspired cuisine, where better than to Italy? A week before our two-year anniversary we landed in Rome. For months and months before this I had repeatedly told Carrie that I would not be proposing for years to come, always asking why rush things? An hour or so before midnight on Jun 11th, we decided to leave our sub lent apartment and talk a stroll. On one of our previous excursions I had found the perfect place, Castel del Sant Angelo, Castle of the Holy Angel. The river that splits the city of Rome in two, the river Tiber, runs directly in front of the castle. A few minutes before midnight I found a gateway leading down to the river. At the banks of the river you could glance up and see the castle, each window alight with candles, and soft courtyard music playing in the background. On the stroke of midnight we raised from our seated position on the bank and I dropped to a knee. As I began my well rehearsed speech, "I have already asked your father and..." her hands quickly raised to her mouth in a surprised gasp and cried "ABSOLUTLY!"  

5. How do you envision your wedding day?

A unique yet traditional wedding. We have never wanted a princess type wedding, nor a courthouse one. A simple mix between traditions and our own personality. We hope to have romance of the life long commitment we'll be giving one another and the fun and atmosphere of the party to celebrate our union.

6. Are there any fun family traditions or special details that you are planning to incorporate?

Bride will be honoring her late mother by wearing her veil, also she has received the garter belt from the Grooms side of the family. 

7. Bride, what are you most looking forward to on your big day?

The dress. As of yet Griffin has not seen the dress and I'm extremely looking forward to seeing his face as he sees me in it.

8. Groom, what are you most looking forward to on the big day?

Kissing my wife for the first time.

Real Wedding: Krista and Gordon

Krista and Gordon were married earlier this summer in Springfield, Missouri. They are a couple that was so passionately in love that it was incredible to witness. Jessica Boever, their photographer, captured their giddy excitement to be married perfectly! Here are a few of my favorite images from their big day.

favorite :)

Krista and Gordon, wishing you all the best in the world! Congratulations! 

Engaged: Maegan and Calvin

Meet Maegan and Calvin! 

They are getting married next summer in Joplin! 

1. How did the two of you meet and how long have you been together?

In January we will have officially been together for eight years. Yes, we've been together since we were sixteen! We actually met at a district wide middle school dance. A mutual friend passed along our interest  for each other and we began "dating." Dating can be used loosely. I think we talked once on the phone after two weeks of dating, which was the extent of our relationship. Once the third Friday rolled around I had a friend leave a message on his answering machine to break up with him for me. We were in seventh grade! Totally acceptable at this age. His brother still remembers relaying the message for him to listen to the answering machine. I love that one day we'll share this story with our grandchildren. They probably won't even know what an answering machine is. 

2. Tell us about one of your favorite dates!

We would like to think of our favorite 'date' as when we and our friend Omar spent an entire month in Costa Rica in 2010. We've been on plenty of dates, concerts, and road trips but we had to rely on each other and learned a lot about each other there. We saw beautiful places and met amazing people. The most fun was when we went  river rafting, zip lining, toured a national park, rode horseback to a waterfall, slept in hostels and learned about the culture. 

3. When did you know it was the real thing?

When it became time to decide where to go to college, especially when Calvin had a baseball scout from a school in Alabama we really considered what moving and separating would be like. That's when it started becoming real. We didn't want to have put an unnecessary stress on our relationship if we didn't have to. 

4. Was the proposal a surprise? How did it happen?

The proposal was a surprise! I say this with enthusiasm because I'm very intuitive and usually ruin his surprises.  I was surprised because at no point did Calvin dictate our plans. On our seventh anniversary weekend we went to Kansas City and stayed near the Country Club Plaza like the previous year. Our night got off to a late start by waiting for the hotel to take us down to the plaza. We had dinner and went shopping around but had limited time since the shops were closing. Originally we were going to have the hotel pick us up but instead decided to walk out of fear of standing in the cold. As we were walking back to our hotel we were passing  J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain where we he stopped and kissed me and got down on one knee. I had no idea and it was absolutely perfect. 

5. How do you envision your wedding day?

We envision lots of love, laughter and tears. We love our family and friends and we're excited to share our special day with them. Many of our guests are just as excited as we are for us to get married. They have watched us and our love grow and supported us along the way. So, there will be lots of love and happy tears... and dancing!

7. Bride, what are you most looking forward to on your big day?

I am looking forward to seeing my groom. I cannot wait to see the look on his face when he sees me for the first time. I imagine we'll probably say hundred times we can't believe the day has actually come. 

8. Groom, what are you most looking forward to on the big day?

I am looking forward to the reception. I am going to be so nervous during the ceremony so I'll be ready to enjoy my wife, family and friends.