Katelyn + Drew | A Dark & Moody Outdoor Patio Inspired Wedding at Capital Bluffs
I’m going to be honest that out of all the couples we worked with in 2022, I got to know Katelyn and Drew the best. Katelyn hired me to help her dream big on an amazingly unique vision she had - a dark and moody patio-inspired wedding. It was a concept neither of us had really seen before, which led us to countless conversations and meetings to make sure we got this one right. She and I also had a few mishaps along the way including the cancellation of their catering company less than two weeks before the wedding. Katelyn trusted me and my team to help her and Drew get to the finish line, which is one of the biggest honors ever.
But, let’s start with their love story. Katelyn and Drew were best friends in high school, but Katelyn did not see Drew romantically. She told me that Drew always had his eyes on her, but she always thought, “hey, we’re just friends.” The two went separate ways for college and work, keeping in touch but not as close as in high school. A few years later, the two reconnected, and this time, Katelyn had a change of heart, falling in love with Drew. The two dated, and they also welcomed their son (who is straight up adorable). Eventually, the two got engaged.
When it came to wedding planning, the couple wanted a venue to hold all of their closest friends and family. The also didn’t want to compromise on style or convenience. Capital Bluffs Event Center, a large barn-style venue located in Jefferson City, Missouri, was the ideal fit. I remember talking to Katelyn that she wanted the reception venue to be set and ready; she did not want to worry about a room flip or have her guests sit Oscar-style. This led her and Drew to getting married at Faith Lutheran Church in Jefferson City, the church where Katelyn grew up and where her older brother got married years before.
We asked Katelyn, “What made you choose to work with Plan it Terra? Why did that matter to you?”
“It felt like the best fit for what I am looking for! Your site was professional and the entire time I felt like you are caring for all the questions I asked.”
Katelyn and her bridesmaids began the day inside the bridal suite at Capital Bluffs. Katelyn had found Ayesha through Instagram, and we had connected her to one of our favorite hair stylists, Anna Clemens. The hair and makeup team did a fantastic job, and Katelyn looked stunning with her low, loose bun and boho style long sleeve bridal gown, which was altered by JM Couturiere. We loved the dark blue velvet gowns selected for the bridesmaids, most of which had their gowns altered by JM Couturiere, too.
Drew and the groomsmen hung out in the groom’s suite at Capital Bluffs, where they gathered to watch football over a few cans of Bush Light. While the men and women got dressed for the day, the photography team, led by Amber Koelling, photographed the reception space. Katelyn dreamed of a dark, moody patio-inspired wedding. To make this happen, we went through several revisions with the color palette and floral plan. We eventually landed on a greenery-forward design, which Bare Roots knocked out of the park. My favorite floral installation was the tall floral arrangements. We also hired US Rents It to provide draping to create a gazebo-like effect and, of course, additional string lights.
It was important to have a cigar bar for ther wedding, and this space was styled by Pretty Little Things. We utilized leather furniture, barrels, and plenty of wood details to make this space a bit more masculine. Of course, we brought the draping and lighting outside, too. Katelyn also had Forget Not Paper create handcrafted signage for her event, and we are obsessed with the dark green and handwritten styling of the pieces.
Before Katelyn and Drew saw each other fully dressed for the day, Drew worked on handwriting his vows. In the meantime, Katelyn’s mother helped her get dressed and showed off her wedding day look to her bridesmaids. The ladies looked so stunning. Eventually, Katelyn and Drew saw each other for the first time near the Katy Trail; Drew’s facial expression of surprise and delight can make anyone’s heart swoon. Katelyn is so beautiful, and this couple is just so sweet and darling. After the first look, the two read their personal vows to each other.
Later in the afternoon, the couple hopped on the green trolley from the Trolley Company with their bridal party and headed to downtown Jefferson City for portraits. This October wedding was sunny but very breezy! The portraits taken at the Govenor’’s Garden came out so well despite the less-than-ideal conditions.
After photos, it was time for the group to head to the church for the ceremony. The wedding party rocked out to music in a classroom while Katelyn did a first look with her father, who was teary-eyed seeing his only daughter ready to get married. Before we knew it, our team got everyone lined up for the ceremony. It was a very sweet, thoughtful ceremony, but we knew this group was ready to celebrate. Our crew helped escort guests out of the church while Katelyn and Drew took photos with their families. Amber Koelling was able to capture the Matron of Honor and Best Man sign the marriage license before departing to the reception.
Katelyn and Drew made a casual grand entrance without their bridal party, where they started off the evening with a quick thank you to all of their guests. Once seated, Peachtree began a plated meal service, and let me tell you, the food was amazing! This catering company is our team’s favorite, and they came in clutch for us less than two weeks prior to this wedding due to a cancellation with the previous company hired by Katelyn and Drew. While dinner happened, Amber took the couple outside for additional portraits, including photos of the two inside her dad’s vintage blue car.
The rest of the evening included speeches and first dances, which led to the dance floor opening up to The Dave Baker Band. After a couple hours of play, the music transition to DJ Missy from Complete. This group knew how to throw down and have a great time! At the end of the night, our team helped line up guests outside for a sparkler exit while Katelyn and Drew had a private last dance to Taylor Swift’s “Lover.” Once finished, the two made their way to their exit vehicle and left for the evening!
Katelyn hired us for Event Management and Design support. With this dual service, we helped create mood boards, fine-tuning the design story, sourcing vendors, attending planning meetings, creating layouts, collaborating on a timeline, confirming details with vendors, setting up the venue, overseeing the wedding day, and so much more.
If you’re looking for a luxury wedding planner based in Missouri that is focused on heart-centered and personalized services, please contact me and my team- we would love to work with you! Check out our blog to get a better sense of our approach to wedding planning & our style, and follow us on Instagram! We love to exceed any expectations you have for your day.
Ceremony Venue: Faith Lutheran Church || Reception Venue: Capital Bluffs Event Venue || Event Management + Design: Plan it Terra led by Terra || Floral Designer: Bare Roots LLC || Photography: Amber Koelling Photography || Catering: Peachtree Catering || Transportation: The Trolley Co. || Bridal Alterations: JM Couturiere || Bridal Makeup: Makeup by Ayesha Baig || Bridal Hair: Anna Clemens || Desserts: Nothing Bundt Cakes || Vintage Rentals: Pretty Little Things || Rentals: A1 Party & Events || Lighting, Rentals, and Draping: US Rents It || Videographer: John Pattyson Videography || DJ: Complete Weddings STL || Band: The Dave Baker Band || Custom Invitations & Signage: Forget Not Paper
Hey, I’m Terra!
Born and raised in Missouri, I’m a grateful wife and dog mom to my rescue pups, Hildi & Lola. I’m a true believer in the pursuit of bold dreams, learning from mistakes, and staying curious.
I'm a girl that lives in her Chacos during the summer, and I'm typically always wearing lipstick. Yes, red is my preference! When I'm not helping engaged couples plan weddings, you'll find me on stage teaching Jazzercise classes. Needless to say, creating engaging experiences that leave people feeling good afterwards is my passion. Seriously!
I’ve created this blog and my wedding packages to empower you to plan an awesome wedding day and put all of the stress and obligations straight into the dumpster! Now that sounds like a party.
