This Past Year — In Summary

Come this time each year, reflecting back on the last twelve months is one of my favorite practices. To regather memories; to retrace journeys; to rekindle emotions. To see the faces of friends and the remnants of stories that have so positively affected me. It's a good reminder that the work, the clients, the travels, and the resulting success we see are all gifts. Sure, we work hard; but at the end of the day, the last year – and life, at it's core – is one great big gift.

It's interesting how the effect of memories and images, after having been weathered by time and circumstances, can change so drastically. How a seemingly meaningless portrait of your spouse, over the course of a few years, comes to mean the world to you simply because of what those years have held. How a grainy black-and-white picture of a dance with your grandpa now is a most prized possession. How so many of the ordinary moments become, when we look at them from just a slightly different stance, hallowed.

Around eighteen months ago now, Stephen Shireman officially joined me as my counterpart under the Waldron name. This was our first full year together, and it's been great to be able to expand the goals and the reach that Waldron stands for: to use our talents and our time in a way that affects positivity and ultimately builds relationships. Because after all, the more of those aforementioned 'ordinary momoents' we can document, the luckier we feel to have played a small part and to have been gifted the time, experiences, and relationships in exchange.

Below are a few of the folks – and their respective stories and places – alongside whom we walked this past year. It was a greatly enjoyable one. Both Stephen & I are grateful for the past year and hopeful for the coming one. Happiest of New Years, friends! – Rusty

Prateek & Morgan

Prateek and Morgan's wedding was, and will likely forever remain, one of the most stunning, most colorful, most enjoyable, most memorable gatherings we've seen. Truly.

It was a multiple day celebration into which we were welcomed as family and treated as old friends. It was uniquely personal and classically charming; the food was outrageous and delicious (read: the MOST outrageous and ABSOLUTELY delicious); the culture was rich and the scenery was striking; everything was put together so, so well. These are the types of folks, and from a professional standpoint the type of wedding, for which folks like us hope and pray.

Here are just a handful of frames from the two days during which we accompanied these friends of ours––and, if you fancy, go back and look at their Rocky Mountain engagement portraits, which kicked this entire deal off in extraordinary fashion.

Planning & coordination: Kelly Clark, Life Styled Events
Wedding day ceremony & reception:
Lone Oak Barn

Nick & Natalie

Nick & Natalie brought together roots from Chicago, Nashville, and the midwest, and tied everything together right here in Kansas City in a seemingly effortless combination of class and timelessness. Weather was ideal, personal touches were spot on, and just to throw the whole thing straight over the top, they had fresh donuts delivered directly to their dance party. Good gracious.

The whole thing looked like this.

Coordination: Kim Ho
Floral:
Botanica
Ceremony:
St. John's UMC
Reception & Dinner:
The Intercontinental Hotel
Cake:
Natasha's Mulberry & Mott
Music & Entertainment:
Mike Watkins, Elite Sounds
Donuts:
The Doughnut Lounge

Will & Andrea

We work alongside filmmakers often on wedding day. And Caleb Johansen of Cork Creative is hands down one of our absolute favorites. Here's the incredible work he put together of the day's events.


Similarly, several folks aside from Will, Andrea and their families are due some credit for the way the day looked, sounded, and unfolded; they are:

Consultant: Lisa Forbes, Simple Elegance
Bridal Gown: The Gown Gallery
Bridesmaids' Attire: BHLDN by Anthropologie
Menswear: Generation Tux
Florist: 
Craig Sole
Ceremony:
Village Presbyterian
Reception:
The Guild
Dinner: Californos
Cake: 
Dolce Bakery
Rentals: Ultrapom and Celebrations
Music & Entertainment:
Jukeboxx Media
Photo Booth: Banana Who
Getaway Car: 
Pech Limo

A handful of Will & Andrea's engagement portraits can be seen
right here.

Spectacle

While being a bit off speed of our typical work – and our typical journal post – these photographs highlight a fantastic event put on by folks of whom we're just the fondest. Spectacle is the newest fundraiser for the Children's Center for the Visually Impaired. It's quite an event and quite an experience; an open fire grilling extraordinaire featuring the city's best chefs with Argentinian and Uruguayan vibes.

Sound cool? Learn more about this year's Spectacle right here.

(The pictures below are of the preparatory event CCVI put on this spring to show off a bit of what's to be expected of the main event, June 29.)

Andrew & Chandler

Ceremony & Reception: The President
Coordination: Lisa Forbes,
Simple Elegance
Associate Photographer: Stephen Shireman
Film:
Luxe Studios
Chandler's Gown:
Stephanie's Bridal
Andrew's Tuxedo:
Jos. A Bank
Chandler's Hair & Makeup:
Alexia Wambua & Denice Martincich
Andrew's Preparations:
The Gents Place
Floral:
Floral Accents
Cake:
Whole Foods
Gelato:
Paciugo
Music & Entertainment:
Michael Beers Band

A handful of Andrew & Chandler's engagement portraits can be viewed here.