Jessica Yahn Photography

Brittany + Shawn | St Peter Catholic Church + Scottish Rite Cathedral Wedding, Joplin MO

October 5, 2023

Brittany & Shawn’s wedding day was perfect and a great reminder of how I get to work with THE BEST couples! Both Shawn and Brittany are easy-going and full of joy. Their smiles are absolutely infectious so you can’t help but just want to be around them.

They wanted to spend the morning of their wedding relaxing with their wedding party. We arrived to the beautiful Scottish Rite Cathedral to find the group mingling together as the ladies finished their hair and makeup while the gentlemen played some pool. Their family and friends were all a lot of fun and made the morning pass quickly. Brittany was just finishing up her hair and makeup when her sweet son arrived to get dressed for the celebration. I really loved that Shawn and Brittany helped finish getting each other ready as well as getting Fin dressed. It was such a sweet moment between them and a beautiful way to break away from the traditional getting ready photos.

Soon, it was time to head to St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church for the ceremony. This is such a gorgeous church and has become one of my favorite Catholic Churches to photograph weddings. Shawn and Brittany continued sharing these moments by walking together down the aisle. It was a beautiful ceremony surrounded by their loved ones. They exchanged vows, rings, and received communion, before officially being pronounced husband and wife.

After a few more formal portraits at the church, we headed back to the Scottish Rite Cathedral for their cocktail hour and reception. I loved that because of breaking away from the traditional wedding day, they were able to join their guests and mingle for part of cocktail hour. They also wanted to share their first dance together privately so we snuck downstairs where they could share this moment together before welcoming their family & friends into the reception space. After greeting everyone and saying Thank You it was time to cut their cake before sending everyone to dinner. Everyone enjoyed dinner & dessert as they mingled. They kicked off the dance floor with a classic, the chicken dance. Everyone of all ages joined the couple on the dance floor with laughter as the rest of their celebration was kicked into gear for an evening of dancing and drinks. It was such a perfect day filled with love and joy.

Brittany & Shawn, Thank You again for allowing us to share in this important chapter of your story together! I am so blessed to know you. I cannot wait to see you next month for family photos and to continue watching your love story grow!

Lots of Love,
Jessica

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Morgen + Logan | Sycamore Creek Family Ranch, Branson MO Wedding

September 21, 2023

Morgen & Logan’s wedding day at Sycamore Creek was an absolute dream! It was such a gorgeous September day. The sun was shining and peeking thru the clouds, giving us a little peek of sunshine, yet without the outrageous heat of the Summer months. The girls finishing up hair and makeup at the Heartwood Barn, while the guys relaxed at the nearby Shiloh Ridge location. Morgen, Logan, as well as their family & friends were so joyful. We couldn’t help but have fun and smile right along with them the entire day.

After everyone finished getting dressed we shared some special first looks. Logan was up first sharing a moment with his mom. This isn’t one that we don’t get requested as often but I absolutely loved this sweet moment. Next it was turn Morgen’s turn to share a first look with her bridesmaids. This is always a fun one with great reactions. Morgen has some amazing hype girls around her. Next up was a special moment for Morgen to share with her dad and brother. These tough guys may have tried to hide it, but we all saw those tears coming thru.

Next up one was one of the best parts of the entire day. Morgen and Logan finally shared a first look with each other. Logan hadn’t even turned around yet and I could already see the emotion fighting to come thru just hearing her voice behind him. When he turned around it was all over though. Once he laid eyes on his stunning bride-to-be, any hope of composure was lost. They held onto each other sweetly before they made our way down to a bench for a quiet moment. With the sweet smell of lavender in the air, the couple shared their vows filled with love, as the butterflies (and maybe a few bees) flitted around. The happy couple soaked in some sunshine and a few last moments of quiet together before we gathered everyone to meet us. We spent some time getting photos of our sweet couple, their friends and their family. It was a fun time of what I like to refer to as organized chaos. You want to get these important photos – and still have fun while doing so!

Soon, guests began arriving and filling the ceremony area. The sun was shining down beautifully as the wedding party made their way down the aisle. And even though he had already spent time with her, Logan was once again filled with emotion as he watched his bride make her way towards him. Under the shade of the Sycamore Tree, Morgen & Logan shared their vows and exchanged rings. After completing their unity sand, the officiant pronounced them as married! Logan was more than ready to kiss his WIFE!

The couple dismissed the guests row by row, with quick hugs and promises to join them shortly for the reception. As soon as everyone was seated, Elevate Entertainment welcomed the wedding party into the barn. They brought everyone to laughter and then everyone cheered with happiness as we welcomed the newlyweds! The rest of the night was filled with dinner, speeches filled with love, and LOTS of dancing. It was such a beautiful evening and before we knew it, it was time to wave goodbye to our sweet couple!!

Morgen & Logan, Congratulations again! I am extremely thankful that you chose to share your perfect day and beautiful memories with us. I cannot wait to watch your story unfold!

Lots of Love,,
Jessica

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Abbie + Isaac’s Summer Wedding | Sparrow Lane, Willard MO

September 15, 2023

Abbie & Isaac started their wedding day getting ready with their family and friends. Both suites were full of laughter as everyone enjoyed this calm start to the day. Abbie had thought one of her 3 bridesmaids weren’t going to be able to attend, but while finishing her hair, she got the wonderful news that magic had happened. While running a little late, her friend would be able to arrive just in time! After Isaac and Abbie finished getting ready, we snuck off to the chapel where they could share their first look and exchange letters. This sweet moment was just the beginning of a beautiful day.

They had decided that they didn’t want a cocktail hour. They wanted to be able to go straight from their ceremony into mingling with their guests. So after the first look it was time to get some portraits done. We laughed and smiled our way thru their portraits. We were just finishing up portraits with their wedding party, when Abbie’s 3rd bridesmaid pulled up, in her dress and ready to go. She literally walked out of her car and straight into a portrait without complaining for a second! You could tell that their friends just wanted to be there to celebrate the happy couple! After finishing those final few photos with the wedding party it was time for family portraits. Sometimes this can be one of the hardest parts of the whole day but everyone was in high spirits and we knocked out these important photos with ease.

The ceremony was up next and it was absolutely perfect. Abbie’s brother officiated and told their story with so much love. I found myself tearing up multiple times. I can imagine that it was even more emotional for all of their family & friends who have watched them grow together as a couple. After sharing their story, the couple exchanged their vows, rings, and sealed it with a kiss!

Then it was the time they had been waiting for! From the moment we met at their engagement session, Abbie & Isaac talked about their dream wedding day. They wanted a relaxing & low-key day surrounded by all of their favorite people and filled with love. They wanted pizza and yard games. Their reception wasn’t going to be about dancing. They wanted the patio & courtyard at the venue filled with their loved ones, playing games and building memories – just as they had built their relationship over game nights. The evening was everything they had dreamed of. We may have headed inside briefly for dinner and speeches, but shortly everyone headed right back outside. The weather could not have been more perfect for the day they dreamed of. Guests enjoyed bouncing between the mobile bar and the many games scattered outside. They were playing all night right down until the very end when we did a quick run thru some sparklers. It was just perfect!!

Abbie & Isaac, Thank You so much for choosing to share your day with us. Spending the day with you and your favorite people was absolutely amazing. I am so blessed to know you both! Congratulations again and Best Wishes in beginning this next chapter of your story.

Lots of Love,
Jessica

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Kennedy + Geoffrey | Vantage Rooftop Wedding at Hotel Vandivort, Springfield MO

September 6, 2023

This post is seriously YEARS in the making, so bear with me. I first met Kennedy and Geoffry around 5 years ago when they were early in the wedding planning stages. We chatted at open houses at venues and bridal shows. We messaged back and forth for multiple years as they worked on planning their dream day. Unfortunately due to Covid their original “final plan” fell thru and wedding plans got put on hold for a little while.

While I was happy to hear back from Kennedy early this Summer – I was also heartbroken. She unexpectedly lost her dad at the beginning of the year. Having been thru this just a few short years ago losing my own, my heart was aching for her, Geoffry and their families. They decided that they weren’t going to keep putting this day on hold. They wanted to get married with their loved ones surrounding them, and the sooner the better. So once again, wedding planning began. What was once a large wedding was scaled into the most beautifully intimate micro wedding and full day of love surround them.

We started the day off at Hotel Vandivort where Kennedy and Geoffry were getting ready for this much-awaited day. It was finally time for these two to make it official. After hair and makeup were finished, Kennedy’s mom and her best friend helped her finish getting ready. The dress was no longer being stored away. It was finally time to put it on. After putting on shoes, jewelry and topping it off with her veil. I loved how they incorporated the rings from Kennedy’s grandparents as well as a special token in memory of her father to be with her as she walked down the aisle.

Then I headed next door to Vantage, where Geoffry waited excitedly with his parents and best man. He had the biggest smiles and you could tell that all he wanted to do was be able to call Kennedy his wife. Soon it was time to head upstairs to make it happen!

The ceremony took place on the rooftop at Vantage, overlooking downtown Springfield underneath an arbor built by Kennedy’s grandfather. It was a gorgeous day with the sun shining down. Their closest family and friends watched as Kennedy came down the aisle towards her groom. While I know there was also a hint of sadness to this moment, it was a beautiful moment filled with emotion. The ceremony was sweet as they shared vows, rings and a unity ceremony before officially being declared husband and wife.

The Bar inside looked just as gorgeous as always, with the sun shining down thru the skylight above. Everyone sat at the one long table, which was perfect representation that they are at long last, joined as one family. Everyone sat and ate a delicious lunch from The Order as toasts of love were shared to the newlyweds.

After lunch, everyone looked on as Kennedy and Geoffry shared their first dance as husband and wife. It was such a sweet moment. But tears flowed all around when afterward both shared dances with their moms. Soon it was time for some smiles and the couple cut into their two-tier cheesecake and continued to share drinks and laughter with their guests. Eventually it was time to end the main festivities, but all wasn’t lost. The group headed back upstairs to the gorgeous Master Suit at the hotel to relax, play games and just enjoy this celebration with their loved ones.

After everyone had rested and relaxed, dinner was eaten and then it was time for me to steal the newlyweds away for just a tiny bit longer. After waiting years for this day, not even an early wedding day was going to keep us from getting more of the portraits Kennedy had been dreaming of. So we headed outside and then back up to Vantage for a few more portraits, ending their perfect day as the sun set over downtown Springfield.

Kennedy and Geoffry, Thank You for choosing to share your day with me. I am absolutely honored that no matter how much time had passed and plans were changed that you continued to share this beautiful day with me. I’m so thankful to have been able to celebrate you with your favorite people and I cannot wait to see where your story takes you next.

Lots of Love,
Jessica

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Bethany + Cam | Springfield MO Maternity Photos

August 31, 2023

I can’t believe it has already been 3 years since I first met Bethany & Cam for their engagement session. I fell in love with them from the very beginning. Their wedding was a dream and they will forever be one of my absolute favorite couples.

I was so happy to get them back in front of my camera again. It was amazing to love on them both and celebrate this newest chapter in their story! You can’t help but smile and spend lots of time laughing when you are with them.

Bethany & Cam – Thank you for continuing to share your memories with me!! I cannot wait to watch you become parents and meet your sweet baby boy!

Lots of Love,
Jessica

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