Photos from Kris and Maria’s Kansas City fall wedding at the Schwinn Farm Barn in Leavenworth, KS by Kansas City wedding photographer Jerry Wang Photography.
Title | Our Story
Tell us how you first met? Who what when where why? Give us the dirty details
We met at Mizzou in 2007. Kris lived in a house with 3 roommates off campus. Maria’s roommate and friends came over to our house frequently, and eventually she joined them. We got along really well because our sense of humor is pretty much exactly the same. We started IMing each other, visiting each other, and making plans for clearly friendly things like going to bookstores and going to buffets. Between 2007 and 2008, we both started and ended other relationships. Then in 2008, Kris drove Maria to get her car after her roommate got into an accident with it…not long after that, we were dating. Kris walked to Maria’s dorm with cookies and snacks pretty much every night, and we talked on a bench for hours. That summer we decided to start dating, and we’ve been together ever since. From 2010 to 2012, we lived apart while Kris went to grad school at MU, but we’ve been living together in KC since 2013.
When did you know he / she was the one? Was there something he / she did?
Kris: Oh man…well, I kind of thought it before we started dating. After a couple of not-so-great relationships, I realized how well I got along with Maria. No matter how often we saw each other, I just wanted to be around her. I always felt comfortable to be who I was around her, and I never had to hide anything from her. When we started dating, she didn’t try to change who I was. She was really the only one who didn’t seem to care that much about my flaws. Four months into our relationship, we were in separate cities on New Year’s Eve, and I remember telling my friends that I wanted to tell her I love her. So I guess I knew for awhile before we started dating…there was just nothing I didn’t love about being with her.
Maria: There wasn’t really a super specific moment, but I had a huge crush on Kris from almost the first time we met. He was dating another girl and all I could think about was how cute he was and that I wanted to be dating him! Eventually that happened, but he’s always been so thoughtful and caring. He’s such a true, genuine person I couldn’t not fall in love with him. I just fell in love with his sense of humor and we just sort of clicked whenever we were hanging out together. It wasn’t ever forced. Our relationship came so natural. He was so helpful and supportive during a rough couple months of my life in college, I knew that once he stuck around and didn’t bail, he was the person I was meant to be with.
What is the most memorable date you’ve ever had?
Valentine’s Day 2014, easily. We went to Bravo in Zona Rosa. We didn’t really have much money at the time, so going out for a dinner like that didn’t happen often. We wound up being sat at this booth pretty much in an area by ourselves, and our waiter couldn’t have been better. We had a couple of drinks and couldn’t stop talking about how we landed the booth. With the lighting and our waiter, we just kinda felt fancy for once, I guess. The food was amazing, and then we went for dessert…We shared a pecan pie that’s still easily one of the best desserts we’ve ever had. We were so happy when we left, and we talked the entire way home about the amazing time we had there.
Tell us about the proposal (did you see it coming, how long was it in the planning? How did you feel? Nervous, excited, freaking out?)
Kris: I was saving money for an engagement ring ever since moving to KC. We went to the Lake with my family in August 2014, and after Maria went to bed, I talked to my parents about it. Soon after that, I went to a jeweler and spent about 3 hours picking out a band and a diamond. Maria’s best friend knew the whole time and didn’t say a word. I was excited as could be. I sneaked the ring into the apartment by putting it in an electric razor box, and somehow Maria bought my excuse–“I just uhh wanted to bring this in.” I was sort of freaking out trying to come up with a good plan to ask her, and one day I realized: We loved walking the dog at Stocksdale in Liberty, so I’d just walk with her until we get to a secluded part of the trail. Then I’d pretend to stop for something, tell her to go on for a second, pull the ring out, tell her she had to see what I found, and boom. Ask the question. (I somehow picked a day where they had some trail biking event going on, but it worked out anyway)
Maria: I literally had no idea about any of it! I can’t believe he hid it so well! We both knew that we eventually wanted to get married, but we were in the process of moving to a different part of Kansas City and I thought, well, he’ll probably propose to me sometime after we move. Then Sunday morning he was really pumped for us to get up go hiking at 8am! I am NOT a morning person (and he knows that) so I was very confused why we had to get there so early! Either way, when we were half way through the trails he stated that he was going to “find a good walking stick” and that he would catch up to me. I walked on with the dog and then he said, “come look at what I found!” When I came around the corner he was on one knee with the ring out in a box and I froze! Our dog ran up and started licking him in the face while he was on one knee, which was pretty funny, but it took me about 5 seconds to process what exactly was happening! I kept saying, “oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!” I honestly don’t even remember him saying “will you marry me?” because I was so shocked and surprised how he had picked out a ring and done all of this without me ever knowing! I just couldn’t believe it! He picked out the perfect ring for me and it means so much more that he picked it out all by himself. It’s every thing I’ve ever wanted! I just can’t believe he pulled off such a good surprise right under my nose!
Tell us the one thing you love most about each other.
Kris: She keeps me balanced and accepts my flaws. When I’m being too hard on myself or worrying about something silly, she brings me back to earth. When I’m overwhelmed, she calms me down. I’d be a stressed out wreck without her.
Maria: He makes me laugh every day. He takes care of me and has such a good heart and soul. I can be completely who I am around him without any reservations and it’s such a freeing experience to be with someone who accepts all of you completely.
If you feel comfortable, share with us something silly or quirky the other person does.
Kris: The sound she makes when she sees cute animals gets me every time. I show her pictures of puppies and kittens just to hear her reaction.
Maria: At night when we’re laying in bed, sometimes he’ll just be looking on his phone and laugh to himself so hard at something on the internet that he shakes the bed and then it makes me laugh because he’s laughing so hard at some ridiculous meme on reddit or something.
Describe the theme or décor for your wedding.
It’s an outdoor wedding ceremony with a barn reception. There is sort of an outdoorsy fall, bohemian, vintage vibe to the wedding. I’m wearing a flower crown instead of a veil and we’re using books as part of centerpieces. We’re using all Beatles songs during our wedding ceremony, so it’s got that kind of vibe to it.
Vendor List |
Photography | Jerry Wang Photography
Ring | Meierotto’s Jewelers
Florist | ACES Cakes
Ceremony Venue | Schwinn Produce Farm
Reception Venue | Schwinn Produce Farm
DJ / Entertainment | Josh Thompson (friend)
Catering | ACES Cakes
Cake | ACES Cakes
Dress Designer | Hayley Paige
Dress Salon | Gown Gallery
Bridesmaid Dresses |David’s Bridal
Groom and Groomsmen Attire | Men’s Wearhouse
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