Nautical Striped Kansas Wedding

If you tell me there’s a wedding that ends the night with a panda piñata raffle, then don’t be surprised when I start fidgeting in my seat from anticipation. Today’s wedding from Steven Michael Photo and Hitched Weddings and Events blends stripes, navy, polka dots, and modern elements for a perfect marriage of nautical wedding inspiration.

From the bride, Emily: I don’t believe we ever had a specific “style” in mind when planning, but we definitely wanted it to feel like an extension of us – casual, a little quirky, and comfortable. We wanted to put a spin on traditional wedding elements, while keeping it classic. Since I work at the local art museum, I seemed to lean towards an aesthetic that was more modern, such as bold patterns, clean lines, no-fuss flowers, and unexpected elements like the Panda piñata. Above all things, we wanted an opportunity to share music and good food with our guests in a city we love, Kansas City.

We didn’t have a specific theme in mind, but navy, grey and pops of green dominated the color palette. I wanted it to feel clean and fresh. I honestly hadn’t settled on a theme or colors until I became obsessed with a pair of J.Crew navy and white striped shoes. I knew they would be perfect to wear for the wedding and they inspired me to include a striped ribbon on my bouquet. My husband’s bow tie (and socks, actually) also matched! I liked mix and matching patterns, so we incorporated stripes, pin-dots, even plaid, and grey chevron in subtle ways. I think patterns add visual interest and anew twist to traditional wedding elements.

My DIY projects were more “DIWF” (do it with friends). I sought help from my creative friends at the museum I work at, as well as other graphic designers in our friend group to help us with many of the details. I helped design the large name card stand, which also included an element for visitors to write notes on old library cards and put them in old book cover pockets, which were affixed on the stand. My only DIY moment was making ribbon wands with my bridesmaid. My husband actually helped us solve how to keep the ribbons on the dowel rod – cable ties!

Any advice for brides planning their weddings now? While blogs and Pinterest are exceptional for sharing ideas and for narrowing a wedding vision, it is incredibly easy for brides (I’m guilty) to become obsessed with every detail and feeling the need to incorporate every “trendy” thing they see online. Discuss with your fiancé his priorities for the wedding day and have a shared understanding of what is important as a couple, and you’ll be less likely to fuss about the small stuff.

See Also

Monogram Magic In This Textural & Earthy Wedding With Elevated North Carolina Flair

Many brides told me to step back during the reception and observe all of the activity, and I never knew the value of being present in the moment until our wedding. It’s really easy to get caught in the whirlwind of saying hello to everyone, but pausing to take-in the ephemeral moments and details (how your fiancé smiles, what the air feels like, watching your dad talk to your friends, seeing people’s reactions to the food and dancing to music) this is what made our wedding so memorable.

Lastly, if your budget allows, I highly recommend hiring trustworthy coordinators who align with your style and personality. Jessica and Amy from Hitched Weddings & Events were amazing to work with. They were incredibly professional and made the wedding day go so smooth. We didn’t have to worry about a thing! Plus, their creative flowers and unexpected fresh designs made our wedding so pretty and fun.

Wedding Music:
Ceremonial music curated by Victoria Chamberlin, my incredibly talented friend and musician. She performed the oboe as an accompaniment to the organ. I didn’t want traditional wedding hymnals, so she helped me select some beautiful organ music not normally played at weddings.
Prelude: Sleepers, Awake!, J.S. Bach; Air from Water Music, G.F. Handel
Unity Candle: Concerto for oboe in d minor, Mvt 2, Tomaso Albinoni
Processional: Nimrod from Enigma Variations, Edward Elgar
Recessional: Hornpipe from Water Music, G.F. Handel
Dinner Music: Decemberists, Mates of State, Arcade Fire, Beach House, Band of Horses, Empire of the Sun, Chairlift, Grimes, Junior Senior
First Dance: “No One is Gonna Love You,” Band of Horses

Wedding Location: Kansas City, MO / Wedding Photographer: Steven Michael Photo / Wedding Flowers and Day-Of Coordination: Hitched Weddings and Events / Ceremony Venue: Country Club Christian Church / Reception Venue: Terrace on Grand / Wedding Dress: Pronovias La Sposa “Dibujo” via Bridal Extraordinaire / Wedding Shoes: J. Crew / Jewelry: Kate Spade / Hair: Jenny Mitchell of Hairpins Salon / Makeup: Meredith Ware of Ware Hair & Makeup / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Ann Taylor / Bridesmaids’ Gloves: Greatlookz / Bridesmaids’ Shoe Clips: Up a Tree Cup a Tee Co. / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss / Groom’s Tie: Tie Bar / Groom’s Socks: J. Crew / Wedding Caterer: TASTE Catering / Wedding Cake: chefshop / DJ: Craig Loftis of Elite Sounds Entertainment / Chevron Runners: Ultrapom / Wedding Invitations: Lisa Nichole Designs / Name Cards and Table Numbers: Kelsey Murietta, Flossy Stylish Designs / Guest Book Poster: Danielle Dragan / Transportation: Horizon Limousine