If you would like to have a small intimate wedding in the middle of Kansas City and have the feeling you are in the countryside of New England or Great Britain, I have a secret spot for you.
A Hidden Bed and Breakfast near the Plaza
Southmoreland on the Plaza is a bed and breakfast right in the heart of Kansas City. Walking distance from the Plaza and the Nelson-Atkins, this venue is situated in a nice part of midtown KC, and thanks to a beautiful garden, it does not feel like you are in the middle of a massive city. It is easy to imagine you are in a more exotic calm and relaxing place. Southmoreland on the Plaza has a special charm that only older homes have. It is an original venue perfect for intimate weddings. With its charming common space and 14 uniquely decorated bedrooms, it makes for a one-of-a-kind experience. Every corner of the house is decorated with such taste and personality, balanced, warm, and filled with distinctive artwork.
Andie and Noah’s special day at Southmoreland on the Plaza
Wondering what a real wedding would look like in that special place? Let me introduce Andie and Noah! After being together for many years, they decided to get married with a close group of friends and family. Because they have known each other for so long, it felt like one big family reunion where everyone already knew each other well. I have to stop and think which parents belong to Noah and which belong to Andie when I look at the photos as the 4 of them already adopted the other as their own!
A slow wedding, on purpose
Andie and Noah wanted a small wedding where being slow was the point, to not feel rushed by a timeline. They wanted a ceremony in the garden that felt intimate. Right in the middle of Kansas City, it is very unique. They wanted to take the time to sit at a long and big dinner table where they could talk and enjoy their guests. They wanted the guests to be able to sleep on site so they could enjoy each other without feeling rushed by a venue shutting down.
To me it felt like a big family dinner and celebration quietly celebrating a love story that has been known to everyone for decades. By the end of the day I had stopped being the photographer and started feeling like a guest they were glad to see.
A different celebration six months later
Andie and Noah loved their day so much that six months later they held a second celebration at Boulevard Brewing Company for a wider circle of guests. Think of it as a different way to celebrate. At Southmoreland on the Plaza, they wanted to be with their most intimate people, take the time to talk and be present with them. The next one is more about having a good party. If you want to see, it is here.
Why I love this kind of wedding
Those kinds of weddings resonate with me. They speak to my French heritage: long dinners where we enjoy sharing food and good laughs. Those weddings are smaller, slower, more intentional. Chosen by couples who care about the day enough to design it around presence rather than spectacle. My own wedding with Beth was like that, a quiet backdeck ceremony at my house with the people who mattered. It fits my documentary approach. I can be a quiet part of that special social connection.
If you are planning an intimate wedding or a quiet celebration with the people who matter most, this is the kind of day I love to document. Not every wedding needs to be big to be meaningful.
If yours is the quieter kind, I would like to hear about it. → Reach out!
