By Kathleen Swift

Photos by Bokeh

“It all started with a bowl of chips and salsa,” said Kaitlin Farley. “Isn’t that where all love stories start?”

“Our love story began in February 2018, at Cactus Grill in Kansas City at a small table in the corner of the restaurant,” said Spencer Farley. “A few drinks later, no food ordered and only a handful of chips consumed, the first of many dates concluded. That’s right, Kaitlin did not eat a single chip while we talked, and we hung out for almost two hours.”

Through numerous dates, they celebrated their growing love with road trips and spending their first Christmas together. Fast forward to December 2019, and as their second Christmas together approached, the couple planned an evening with friends enjoying festive cocktails and a post-dinner trip to view Christmas lights in Kansas City and a visit to the mayor’s Christmas tree.

“We were taking pictures in front of the tree,” said Kaitlin, “and when I turned around, there was Spencer on one knee asking me to marry him! I had no idea he was going to ask me that evening. I was crying and was so happy.”

They planned their wedding and sent out save-the-date cards just two weeks before the pandemic lockdown began.

“Our wedding plans changed at that point,” said Spencer, “but we had great support from our family and our friends, and we had each other. We decided to go ahead with our wedding as we had planned, but we had to decrease our invitation list by 60 percent. But, at the end of the day, we had a beautiful wedding and a great time.”

The couple held their wedding at Hidden Grace venue just outside of Neosho, Missouri. The venue, owned by Spencer’s parents, was just what the couple needed.

“I fell in love with the rustic barn,” said Kaitlin, “and the outdoor chapel pergola surrounded by oak trees and near the pond was the perfect setting. We had large displays of flowers in the pergola, which was the main focus for our ceremony.”

The couple arrived at Hidden Grace in a bus with their wedding party after a first-look photo session at Crystal Bridges in Arkansas.

“My first thought,” said Spencer, “was wow, she looks gorgeous!

“We were married on August 22, 2020, and we got lucky with the weather. It was about 80 degrees with a light breeze. The chapel pergola was shaded and at 6:30, the light was just right. It was a golden hour.”

Spencer and Kaitlin kept their ceremony “simple, short and sweet,” said Kaitlin.

“As Kaitlin came down the aisle,” said Spencer, “everything came together. I had a flash of the future. I saw our two families coming together and saw our life beginning together.”

Following the outdoor ceremony, the couple invited their guests to the reception indoors, where masks were available along with hand sanitizer. Tables were separated and people were able to sit with those they were comfortable being near. The couple first danced to “Better Together” by Luke Combs. A highlight was the song Kaitlin’s dad, Mike, wrote and sang to the couple as his toast. Following the reception, the couple and their guests enjoyed a magnificent fireworks show.

“Spencer has a sense of humor that keeps me laughing, and he is the best friend,” said Kaitlin.

“I love Kaitlin’s patience and knowing that she is always there for me,” said Spencer.

As Spencer and Kaitlin move forward with their life together, they know that even during a pandemic and its challenges, their love will see them through.

 

The Details

Venue:
Hidden Grace

Wedding Planner:
Brittany Bloom Events and Design

Floral:
Jules Design Event Florals

DJ and Photo Booth:
Live Events Missouri

Bar:
Little White Travelin’ Trough Co.

Food:
Great Western Dining