Kansas City wedding photographer | boudoir photographer | family & newborn photographer » Darbi G. Hebrank is Kansas City portrait, boudoir and wedding photographer located in the Kansas City area ( including Lee

My Facebook status update the evening I shot this engagement session sounded odd…for two reasons. This is it: “Taking Weston to Weston to shoot Lauren & Preston…(while her sisters babysit.)”

(Weston is my son, in case you didn’t know!!) Other than the linguistic oddity, I know it might seem strange that I was bringing my baby to a shoot. So let me explain. Lauren is the sister of one of my dear friends, Jamie. Jamie is expecting a baby herself in April and her baby fever didn’t end with her making one of her own. Jamie and their other sister, Emily, wanted to hang out with the coolest kid ever (until Jamie’s baby girl comes along, I suppose!) so I took baby to work! 😉 Weston LOVED them. And the puppies.

So yes, Lauren comes from a family of lovely sisters. She lives in the cute lil’ town of Weston, which is NOT where we got our own kid’s name, btw. Her fiance, Preston, proved to be such a mellow, sweet and go-with-it guy. It is clear how perfectly these two fit together. Preston currently works in landscape design and Lauren in accounting. I squealed when I found out her dream job… because, as surprising as it might seem, before I got the notion to be a magazine journalist (pre-photography days!!!), or settled for marketing and PR gigs while I got my biz up and running….I had a very different idea of what I wanted to be when I “grew up.” And Lauren shares in it… Like me, Lauren is drawn to solving things for the good of the world. And in this case, she would love to be like Detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order SVU. High five to that!!!! (And plus, Mariska Hargitay has AMAZING hair!!! haha)

So Preston & Lauren have given me another notch on the belt for Darbi G. couples who are high school sweethearts. She knew he was someone beyond special when she felt so at ease with him. He knew it after spending a float trip with her and having a dream where they were torn apart. He woke up and couldn’t bear the thought of living without such a loving, amazing person, that he literally proposed the next day. Of course, this threw Lauren’s detective skills for a loop. The same can be said for Preston’s original proposal plan after Lauren fell victim to a nasty virus that made it a tough sell to get her to leave their house for a romantic walk in Weston Bend State Park, where he planned on presenting her with the lifelong proposition.

Preston FINALLY got her to at least head to the barn out back behind Lauren’s house. He didn’t even make it to the barn before he poured his heart out to her and found himself on his knee with the ring in hand. He also found himself smothered in sloppy kisses.

Fear not…it wasn’t Lauren on the giving end of the slippery smooches, but her fiesty black lab, Jazz. The canine clearly approved so Lauren said yes. 😉

What I love about these two is how down-to-earth and easy to please they are. Get this…. their ideal date? Just some time in a park, dinner at PIZZA HUT (I always get made fun of when I say that it is my favorite pizza, but it truly is!!!), and watching movies curled up together at home. That is SO them. And they wanted an engagement session that also rang true to themselves.

So we began on the football field and grounds of the school where they first unearthed their relationship…and we ended at Lauren’s farm, where the ring pushed them to the next stage. And in September, these two will take me to a horse ranch for their wedding. WOOT!

 

Back to topShare itTweet itGet in touch
Leave some comment love!
Link to this post

  • Darbi's Mom - What a cute couple! Lauren is adorable! Love these shots you got of them Darbi. Beautiful job! Can’t wait to see their wedding pictures!ReplyCancel

(NOTE: as of Friday, Dec. 28, at 4 p.m. I am out of the office and will not be back until Wednesday, Jan. 2!!! Have a great time ringing in the New Year!)

 

So on to the fun stuff…It’s not every year that one of the 15 weddings I book falls in December. Winter weddings are not as common in the midwest for obvious weather reasons. The lower temps are actually kinda welcome compared to the ones that are so high that everyone is melting before the ceremony even starts.

Rachel & Adam’s wedding was such a great experience. It  pushed me out of my “box” in a few different ways: the ceremony was inside a dark hall late in the day (sun sets very early in the winter!) and required the use of an on-camera flash, which I usually leave in my bag until the reception; some of the formals were done with just the use of one window as light; though it wasn’t as cold as it could be, the wind proved to be dastardly so we acted as quickly as we could in spurts to acquire a variety of portraits of the lovely bride and her handsome groom; the bride and groom really wanted to do a dramatic shot in a dark auditorium, and we did just that!  I couldn’t be happier with the way these images turn out for such a sweet couple.

Speaking of the couple…Rachel and Adam both live in Texas. Adam is in line to be an nurse anesthetist (that is one word that I can never pronounce, much less spell correctly without the dictionary!) and Rachel is currently a nurse in a pediatric ER. They met one another while working in the throes of the Surgical Trauma ICU. She describes him as “funny, smart & adorable.” He says Rachel is, “spunky, sexy and funny.” And I think both of them nailed the descriptions! 😉

Adam is soft-spoken, but his personality is not lacking. Although I hadn’t met him until his wedding day, I felt incredibly comfortable around him, and he definitely was a good sport and genuinely great groom and guy.

Rachel’s sense of humor is my cup of tea. She is so goofy and silly, but also playfully clever. She proved to be a source of many laughs after verbally playing out absurd hypothetical situations with me throughout the day.

Put these two together, and they are the kind of couple that smiles with their eyes at one another and then rubs noses and giggles…and you don’t gag, but instead, you feel envious because they look cute doing it. Yeah, you know the type. 😉

Their wedding party was a class act to boot. The ladies were helpful, talented (Rachel’s friend Ashley made the gorgeous veil & garter belt, as well as did the hair and makeup!!), good-humored and clearly would do anything for Rachel. The guys kept us on our toes. They were always looking for a good time… whether it be via handlebar mustaches, playing the piano in the hall as guests migrated to the reception, or killing time with a dice game on the floor.

Laughter was definitely abundant that crisp December day. (Rachel’s dad would have it no other way, right?? Such a funny, charming man!) Both sets of parents were so clearly proud of their “kids” who had found their other half. And the grandparents who were able to be there were riots, too. Rachel’s tried to avoid the camera but acquiesced to my persistence by kissing for me–see pic below!!…And they won the anniversary dance with a whopping 60 years of marriage under their belts!!. 😉 And Adam’s grandmother was eager to tell me she came all the way from Florida to see her precious grandson get married. I didn’t think she’d stop hugging him during the formal pictures. hahaha

I felt so loved just looking at and being around all the love! ha

Rachel’s mom told me that she was so pleased that Rachel held fast to her vision for the wedding, and that it played out nicely. I agree. The overall vibe was warm, cozy, intimate, soft and romantic. And the food was yummy. haha

{{{{Also, below, you will see a pic of a lil’ blonde boy sitting on the steps of the stage. A shout out to him because he stole my heart that day. Something about him reminds me so much of what my own son, Weston, will probably look like in 2 years. And the sweetest thing was when I took that photo of him on the steps, I then sat down on the stage to wait for the garter belt toss to begin. He looked at me, and then quietly stood up and scooted up a few steps to the top one, so he was sitting right next to me. He didn’t say a word. He just smiled. And he melted my heart. 🙂 }}}

Major props to the guests for dancing up a storm despite the rather warm temps of the ballroom…and for cracking me up with their version of Gangham style. See if you can spot the lad who stole the show. 😉 Sidenote: My husband just asked me yesterday, “What is this Gingham style thing?” I laughed out loud. I told him I can show him pics of someone doing it as soon as I blog this wedding.hahaha

When Ali and I were leaving, Adam sent us off with a warm fuzzy because he came out in the hall to bid us farewell again and to once again thank us for everything. I’m telling you–he is THAT nice. So thank you for that, Adam!!!

Anyway…enough yammering…let’s look at the ooh-and-ahh-worthy wedding… and Rachel & Adam, once again, thank you. I know you’re still on your honeymoon… but I hope this is a nice holiday surprise for you both! You closed out my 2012 weddings with an amazing ending…. And I am so glad that I met you both. Have a glorious New Year…I would say “Stay Warm” but I am pretty sure down in Texas, you’ll have a better shot of that than you would here in Kansas City. 😉

Back to topShare itTweet itGet in touch
Leave some comment love!
Link to this post

  • Darbi's Mom - Beautiful wedding! Gorgeous bride! And absolutely LOVE the two shots in the dark of the couple! Those are beautiful! Outstanding job Darbi!ReplyCancel

  • Adam & Rachel - AMAZING!!! The pictures turned out sooo beautiful! You have given us better pictures than we could have imagined to remind us of our special day. Thank you so much for everything.ReplyCancel

  • KateB - The black & white of the bride by the window is seriously stunning!!!!ReplyCancel

As Kansas City prepares for the first snowstorm of the year…actually…of TWO YEARS (ha!)… I thought I’d post photos from a warmer time… or maybe it’s just that I’m that behind.

This sunshiney family might look familiar as Danielle & Andrew’s wedding was my last of 2011. Danielle has always been such a genuine source of kindness and we stay in touch on Facebook. She and Andrew have a little girl named Peighton who is a healthy mix of both of them, both in looks and personality. And she is ornery and sweet and all things adorable. For their session, we took to a rural location. Danielle brought a tea set and an old suitcase. Peighton didn’t have any troubles working those props into the shoot.

Before the shoot, Danielle warned me she thought we wouldn’t get many “good ones.” This is often the fear of parents who have children between the 1 and 3 age. And for good reason as I’ve said before, that age group is the toughest to keep in front of the lens.

But Peighton, though rambunctious and on the go, proved to be one of the easiest toddlers I’ve ever worked with. Probably because she’s part ham. 😉

Enjoy some of my favorite images from this session in the countryside of good ol’ Missouri.

Back to topShare itTweet itGet in touch

Hey there, hi there, ho there! I am so pumped to unveil this wedding for a few different reasons. The most superficial one is I have ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS wanted a wedding with a grey & yellow color palette. And I am a fan of bird cage veils. CHECK AND CHECK on this one!

The deal is even sweeter because of the couple. Hayley & Josh are besties with a past Darbi G. couple as well as good pals of Neil’s and mine….Abby & Justin. So I have had the pleasure of hanging out with these two in the past. Hayley is at first reserved, whereas Josh is immediately a jokester. But put the two together, and Hayley’s sweet and fun personality shines. And she’s got amazingly good taste as a DIY bride as you’ll soon see.

The two met 11 years ago while working at a movie theater in Columbia, Mo., where they went to college. (GO, MIZZOU!!!) They were friends at first, but somewhat parted ways a few years later when they moved to different locations after they graduated. But in late 2005, they met up again at a concert in CoMo and sparks flew. Long distance was no obstacle for them and soon, Josh moved to St. Joseph to be closer to the girl he fell in love with.

Last December, Josh upped the ante on their relationship. Here is the proposal in his words…but in 3rd person. As you can see, he’s a witty one, that Josh. 😉

Hayley and Josh were in Mexico during the winter of 2011 to celebrate Hayley’s (24th) 30th birthday with four of their friends.  They were getting ready to meet everyone at the outdoor lobster house for dinner.  As soon as he was ready to leave, Josh smoothly strolled outside onto the patio to enjoy the beautiful weather.  Not long after, Hayley finished applying her makeup and joined Josh outside with the only expectation being that of a fresh and tasty lobster dinner.  Josh turned and looked at her and began speaking beautiful words only the two of them could understand, as they were words of love, or in Spanish… but really love and in English…

 During this magnificent expression of words, Josh began to kneel and Hayley exclaimed, “Be careful and don’t hurt yourself!”, because there was an aisle of gravel below his knees.  Except for a slight laugh, he was not deterred from his mission that was about to conclude.  As their stomach’s harmonized in the background like a school of singing dolphins, Josh placed the ring onto Hayley’s finger, and they sealed the deal with a kiss and an embrace.  At this point, they were ready to go eat, and they shut the patio door behind them, only to realize that the front door was closed and locked with the keys still in the suite.  But don’t worry, the room did not remain locked forever (Josh had the lock romantically sawed off and replaced, so as to not ruin the evening).  The two enjoyed their lobster dinner with friends, one loud scream, a couple of gasps, one clap, and a crazy firey alcoholic dessert coffee drink.

 

Today, they still live in St. Jo, working at the same company but doing very different things. Hayley is saving lives of animals as she helps produce vaccines for our furry friends. Josh is in sales, but he is pursuing a paralegal degree.

So let’s chat about their wedding. Their GREY & YELLOW wedding. The setting was marvelous. I’d always heard about THE ELMS in Excelsior Springs being amazing following their renovations in recent years. The hotel is rich with history (one that includes TWO FIRES in its early years, and enough spirit and perseverance in the small town to see to it that a THIRD hotel was built.) The current facade has stood tall since 1912 and is glorious and charming and allegedly haunted with friendly ghosts. 😉 Unfortunately for those seeking a thrill of the spiritual nature, the ghosts didn’t get invitations to the wedding, and they were polite enough to not crash the event.

For being a mid-November wedding, Hayley & Josh were treated to unseasonable warmth, which only egged on the good cheer from the boisterous wedding party. Good light followed us wherever we went. Ali Gripp and I were smitten with the setting and the decorations and the people!! WOOT.

A few special touches that stood out:

  • Hayley’s shoes. And Josh’s shoes. They embraced the bold sunny hue and their feet were so very cheerful looking. 😉
  • The ring bearer and flower girl were styling and smiling all day. and they  hammed it up for the camera. It was also fun seeing the ringbearer-turned-usher who had starred at Abby & Justin’s wedding and now had a different role for Hayley & Josh. 🙂
  • Most of the decorations were hung by the guys! They did such a good job. Even if a few of the paper balls were less-than-round…(and one fell on my head!) hahaha
  • Their ceremony was officiated by one of their good friends who had never done one before. He nailed it… Tyson was exuberant, personal and charismatic in  his presentation of the couple. Instead of lighting a unity candle, the two did something I’ve never seen before. There was a wooden box on a table during the ceremony that was home to a bottle of wine. The ringbearers brandished two cups and love letters that the bride and groom had written to one another. Hayley & Josh placed the goods into the box, and locked it…to be opened on their first anniversary! How cool is that!? Gives me chills.
  • On a somewhat comical note, before the ceremony, Hayley and I were chatting about how things were going smoothly but she was a bit nervous that trend wouldn’t continue. I told her that even things that go wrong somehow work out. As an example, I relayed how at Neil’s and my own wedding, our minister got deathly ill 2 hours before we got married. I had written the ceremony and on top of being concerned for his health, I was flustered beyond belief that we’d have to find someone else who could pull off the non-textbook affair. Another minister showed up, and amazingly, he did SUCH a great job filling in that no one was the wiser. Well… nothing DID go wrong for Hayley & Josh, but in a slightly ironic twist… another wedding that was at the Elms experienced the same thing Neil and I did: their officiant didn’t show. So guess what… Tyson played hero and padded his officiating resumĂŠ even more as he took on the 2nd wedding ever, right after the 1st. Applause!
  • The centerpieces on the tables were jars of cookies. That’s right. YUMMY COOKIES. 600 total were made for the wedding…and they were made by Josh’s mom!!! The peanut butter chocolate ones were quite possibly the tastiest cookies I’ve ever had. Props to her for her  hard work!!!
  • Flavored popcorn was provided for guests to snack on as the night wore on. Cheddar, BBQ and pumpkin pie flavors, at that!
  • The whole day was so perfectly lovely….warm…embracing…and inviting. I hope these images do it justice….

Hayley & Josh–here’s to your first holiday season as husband and wife…and here’s to a just as warm, embracing and lovely ever after! Xo

 

Back to topShare itTweet itGet in touch
Leave some comment love!
Link to this post

  • Rebecca - I love the pair of vertical black and white portraits of her sitting by the window. Lovely! Also, the one of them post-ceremony where she’s grabbing his tie and they’re about to kiss…beautiful light and great moment!ReplyCancel

  • Josh Renaud - You did an incredible job as always. I have never seen the quality of shots and the product look as amazing as you have done with all of your pictures, not just ours. However, I do have a personal attachment and affinity for ours… Again, you do a wonderful job, and you are a blast to work with – both professional and a lot of fun! Thank you (and Ali!) for capturing all of these moments on camera and making them even more unforgetable for us!ReplyCancel

  • Abby - Ditto to everything Josh said. I teared up a little at the first glance picture where Hayley is crying, what a beautiful moment! And Elliot is so adorable! Also, thank you for reminding me how beautiful I am when I cry 🙂 Love You!ReplyCancel

  • Debera Renaud - Your work is the very best I have ever seen, Darbi, and your talent shows in every photo. Viewing these, you truly captured every magical moment of Hayley and Josh’s wedding, and I cannot thank you enough. Can’t wait to see all of them now! And Hayley warned me I’d need a kleenex to view these, but I wish she would’ve said to grab the whole box!
    Debbie Renaud (Mother of the Groom)
    P.S. I was ever so pleased with the engagement photos you took of Hayley & Josh that I over-ordered to my husband’s dismay. I probably shouldn’t share these with him! 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Kate B - What a stunning bride! You took some amazing portraits of her and some great post-wedding b&g shots. Lucky couple!!ReplyCancel

  • Bethany - Ugh, gorgeous and playful all in one! AMAZING!ReplyCancel

Once again, my job took me to Mexico. Missouri. Yep. Not quite bikini-land…. (not that I wear bikinis…ahem.) But anywho…

Lots about this wedding is worthy of noting. Here are just a few things off the top of my head:

That is where I was for the first part of Laura & Nic’s wedding. For being early November, we sure were lucky to land weather that was so beautiful. Although many of the trees had started looking closer to “winterly” (totally should be a word, no?), there were still patches of warm tones wherever we looked. I met Laura’s mom first as I came into the church. She greeted me with a smile and a request. She wanted a photo take of Laura and Nic that emulated one she herself had taken on her wedding day with Laura’s dad, at the very same church. You will see the results below… next to the original photo in a frame.

I recognized several faces in Laura’s bridal party because this is another wedding that has come from a line of referrals from one of my original Darbi G favorite couples… Katie & Brandon. (Katie was supposed to be a bridesmaid in this wedding, but then she and Brandon went and got pregnant… her due date fell a few days after the wedding.) But as the lil’ boy named Brady who has since joined us on Earth would have it, he stayed in long enough for Katie to be there for one of her closest friends.Score!

Tradition usually keeps the bride from showing or talking about her wedding dress to the groom so as to heighten the surprise of seeing it for the first time ON her. Nic wanted to do something from the other side too, so he picked out his suit and tie and never sought Laura’s input beforehand. So she was looking forward to seeing what he picked out, ALMOST as much as he was anxious to see her gown. (And note: Nic had virtually guessed to the tee what Laura’s dress would look like…from silhouette to embellishments. I guess when you know someone really well…you’re able to pick out their wedding dress!? Haha)

I have a soft spot for two things at weddings, which is why you’ll see them in most of my posts: cute, well-behaved flower girls and ring bearers, and dad/daughter moments that make you want to cry. BOTH were present at this wedding. HOORAY!

Laura’s bridal shoes were nowhere near flats. So while she was traipsing around in a park for portraits with her honey, her feet were killing her. But she never complained. HOWEVER, when we were finished, two of her bridesmaids who had returned to the trolley (which was a good two blocks away from where we were shooting), hollered for Laura to stay put and they brought her flip flops so she could walk, pain-free. And the best part…they had kicked their own shoes off their sore feet to do it…so they had run on the chilly cement barefoot to where Laura stood.

Laura, like Nic, is a pharmacist. So you’d think she is a left-brained individual. But clearly, she pulls from both sides of the soft-tissued organ. She designed and made the programs, some of the table centerpieces, the table number signs for the tables at the reception, the kids bags, the escort cards, and the decorations for the rehearsal dinner centerpieces. Craftiness runs in the family… her dad made the wooden boxes for the escort cards, and her mom and her made canned homemade blackberry jam for favors (my husband LOVES it, btw, Laura!!!) and she sealed them off with homemade labels. The canned favors hold a special place in her heart as her grandma was a canner, so they were a tribute to her memory.

The reception was held at Holiday Inn Expo Center in Columbia, Mo. I had approached Laura’s dad, who was talking to the coordinator at the venue (her name was Rain!!), and he stopped his conversation with her to ask me to take a pic of the two of them. He said that she and her team were a notch above the rest and that the wedding couldn’t have been as great if it weren’t for her. I couldn’t have smiled more if he had said something just as kind about me because Rain, who was very pregnant, looked so overwhelmed with appreciation for the appreciation that I nearly cried.

During the reception while everyone, including the bride and groom, was supposed to be eating dinner, Laura put her own hunger on hold while she made sure the guests who ordered special request dinners (such as gluten-free) were taken care of.

One of the last pics in the reception bunch shows Laura & Nic’s fraternity singing to her. That was cool to experience! (And no, it wasn’t “You’ve Lost that Loving Feeling.” Haha)

So in conclusion, my dear blog readers… Laura & Nic are married…and are adorable. And kind. And personable. And fun. And their wedding was all of that and more. Laura & Nic–I wish you both a GREAT holiday season and a happy New Year as husband and wife, Kansas City transplants and new full-time pharmacists! xo

Now here’s your story…in pictures.

 

Back to topShare itTweet itGet in touch
Leave some comment love!
Link to this post

  • Brady's momma - Amazing as always Darbi!!! So glad I was there but your pictures would have made me feel like I was there even if I wouldn’t have been able to! 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Abby - The purple colors are so gorgeous! I am also in love with the then and now bride & groom picture. And the little girl crying at the ceremony made me shed a tear. The pictures are so lovely.ReplyCancel

  • Alisha Glasgow - WOW! Darbi- your work is amazing! I knew when Laura had told me you were photographing her wedding it would be a treat…..as I was really looking forward to your blog and pictures! Laura is my cousin and her wedding was beautiful as was the entire day and many or should I all of the moments you captured. After reading your blog and seeing your pictures of our good friends, Lacey and Wes Hahn, wedding day I knew Laura’s would be awesome too! Great work and I look forward to seeing more of your tremendous work and interesting blogs…… God bless!ReplyCancel

  • Laura Rinella - Darbi…..We love the blog and all of the pictures you have posted so far. You have captured our special day perfectly and I can’t wait to see the rest of the pictures! Amazing:)ReplyCancel

  • Darbi's Mom - Love, Love, Love! Beautiful wedding! The bride and groom are so darn cute! Simply love the colors – perfect for fall. And the little flower girl and ring bearer-adorable! My favs are the entire wedding party standing over the road/walkway with trees on both sides, and the one of the bride and groom in the field, or whatever you call it. Darbi, you did a beautiful job! I’m sure the happy couple won’t be able to pick their favorites!ReplyCancel

<< Older posts Newer posts >>