Katie McDonald Photography

Erica was the quintessential traditional bride: she wore a long, beautiful mantilla veil, had a rosary wrapped into the stems of her red rose bouquet and her dress had the sweetest little embellished cap sleeves.  Vince was the quintessential traditional groom: he showed up on time, looked cute and tried to remain calm in the pseudo chaos that is an elaborate wedding!  : ) Erica
and Vince are just made for each other!  I have never seen a couple that evens each other out the way they do, they have something very special and it was evident not just on wedding day…but though their entire wedding planning experience.  They’re just soooo good together!!! They had a very traditional wedding with some very untraditional bits at the reception: they served ice cream instead of cake!!!  And not just any ice cream…since they’re such huge baseball fans (baseball was sort of the underlying theme of the day) they had little Cubs and Cardinals helmets as dishes for the make your own sundae bar!  To say it was a hit would be a grave understatement, people LOVED it!!!  Their guests also loved the live band, amazing food and  reat décor!  Erica and Vince hit their wedding right out of the park…baseball pun totally intended. : ) Here are some of my favs from their St Louis wedding….enjoy!!!

 

 

 

Have you ever met someone and you’re instantaneously bff’s? Well that’s how I felt with Emily and Mitch….and their families and bridal party!!! It was like I was at a friend’s wedding where I just also happened to be the photographer….it was amazing! I started with them at Emily’s hotel for hair and make-up and stayed with them until nearly the end of the  reception….oh did I mention that we also rode around in an awesome trolley and stopped for a drink at the Clipper in Ankeny? Ummmm, yeah…and the ‘totally awesome and super fun wedding award’ goes to….drum roll please, EMILY AND MITCH!!!!!! Their wedding was what all weddings try to be: the ideal mix of elegance and fun! Here are just a few of my gazillion favs from their wedding…. Enjoy!!!!!!

Reception: The Pinnacle Club

Flowers and Décor: The Perfect Wedding

Transportation: Des Moines Trolley Company

DJ: Select Entertainment

Videographer: Harding Videography

I’ve known Tammy forever….since before there was a Katie McDonald Photography….actually, even since before I was Katie McDonald!!! So when she called and said “I’m getting married, I wanna hire you to come to Orlando and be my photographer!” I couldn’t book my flight fast enough!  It was such an honor to be asked by a friend to be involved in their wedding, I really was delighted…..and a  weekend in sunny Orlando didn’t hurt either!!!  Tammy and Kevin’s wedding was wonderful, their venue had some amazing locations for us to shoot in and best of all how much they love each other came through in every shot!!!  I’m just so happy that Tammy has found her forever in Kevin!  Here are some of my favs from their wedding….enjoy!!!!

 

Samantha and Adam are planning a wedding that, frankly I’m super excited about!  They are going to get married at the Capitol which I think is sooooo special and fantastic!!! They are a really in love and super fun couple and that was so evident during their engagement session!  We started at Water Works Park for some “family” pictures with their awesome pup Buckley and then went downtown to shoot some more urban inspired shots with Adam in his uniform.  And if their best man (who acted as dog wrangler, groom entertainer and Samantha’s personal stylist) is any indication….the wedding party is going to be a blast!  I am just thrilled to be working with them!  Here are some of my favs from their session…..Enjoy!

Ceremony: St. John’s Lutheran Church

Reception: Forte

DJ: ABCDJ

Stephanie, Kori, their bridal party and their families are the coolest people I know!  I kid you not, I could not have had more fun at Stephanie and Kori’s wedding had I been a guest!! I’ve gotten to know Stephanie and her family pretty well over the last year.  We met for coffee a lot to discuss their wedding and they kept me updated as they got everything planned and so I really felt like part of the whole wedding, not just the pictures!!  Stephanie and Kori decided not to see each other before the ceremony…they wanted that first moment he saw her coming down the aisle to be magical, and it totally was!!!  Kori was so nervous before the ceremony that he actually looked at me and said “Oh, Katie….I think I might throw up!!!!”  He was ADORABLE!!!  But all those nerves melted away when he got a glimpse at how unbelievable Stephanie looked!  The ceremony was perfect!!!  They had the most fun I’ve ever seen a wedding party have during the limo ride to the reception!!!  And their reception was out of this world!!!  The toasts were heartfelt and creative and musical….yes, musical!!!  The best man (who had K<3 S painted into his hair, btw) sang his very unique toast!  Once the formalities were over their guests really let loose!!! Their reception was for sure the best party in Des Moines that night!!!  I had a really hard time narrowing down my favorites from this wedding because it was so fun and every one involved was seriously gorgeous!!!  Thanks Stephanie and Kori for letting me share your wedding with you, you’re awesome!!!  And to the bride’s parents: yes, I still want you to adopt me! ; )  Here are my favs from this awesome wedding…..enjoy!!!   

 

 

Casi and Matt are adorable, like really, really adorable.  When I met with them the first time I felt like I was sitting across from a couple I cut out of a J.Crew catalog and taped to the booth at Panera!!  Casi was hard at work crafting save-the-date props for their session up until the night before and all her hard work totally paid off!  She worked that glue gun like a pro and so her props were simply adorable, just like them!!!  I am so excited for their Simon Estes wedding next September!!!  If they look this good in regular clothes (albeit perfectly styled regular clothes) I cannot imagine how gorgeous they will look in their wedding attire!!!  Here are some of my favs from their session….enjoy!!!

When I got into my car after my first meeting with Nicole and Matt I kept saying to myself (yes out loud, because I totally do that) over and over ‘Oh I hope they book me, oh I hope they book me!!!!’  I adored them from the get-go….they just seemed super fun and all kinds of awesome! And I quickly figured out during their engagement session that not only are they for sure all kinds of awesome… but they’re also funny, like REALLY funny!!!  We started out at Water Works Park for some fall foliage then headed downtown for some neat urban-ness!!  We were even able to end the session in a way that was totally ‘Nicole and Matt’!!! We used the building where they first met as a backdrop while Nicole wore her beloved Lady Gaga t-shirt!!!  I’m not sure I can wait until April for their wedding, I’m super pumped about it because it’s gonna be a blast!!!  Thanks guys for making work seem like anything but work!!!  Here are a few of my favs from their session…enjoy!!!!

I believe in fate.  I believe in soul mates.  Carmen and Jamie are soul mates that fate brought together…they met on a blind date!!!  Now if that’s not fate, I don’t know what is!  They are planning a fab spring wedding at one of my favorite venues, The Scottish Rite!!!  You guys were awesome to work with and I can’t wait ‘till wedding day!!!! Here are some of my favs from their engagement session….enjoy!!!!

Ceremony and Reception- Vittoria Lodge

Cake and Cupcakes- The Bake Shoppe

DJ- Select Entertainment

Molly and Matt love their families almost as much as they love each other!!!! I don’t think that I have ever seen a wedding that was more family oriented!  From Molly bringing her niece to her first meeting with Matt to Matt’s parents’ hilarious skit…it was very family-centric!!!  What a better way to spend your wedding day than sharing your love with your family!!!  Even though it was unseasonably cold, we were able to use the amazing green spaces outside Vittoria Lodge for some great pictures!  Congrats again Molly and Matt!!!  From now on I will always think of you and your unique wedding when I see M&M’s!!!! : ) Here are some of my favs from their special day…..enjoy!!!!  

Church: Oakwood United Methodist Church

Reception: Toad Valley Golf Course

Flowers: Hy-Vee Pleasant Hill

Brandy is a super sweet, tid-bit shy, jeans and t-shirts kinda girl….so the whole wedding thing…with everyone’s eyes on her, overwhelmed her a little.  On wedding day she was soooo nervous….until she saw Scott for the first time.  After she saw him you could see her stress start to melt away.  That’s one of the signs of a great couple: that you can calm each other down or lift each other up….and Brandy and Scott certainly are a great couple!!!!  And for a t-shirt and jeans gal, Brandy BROUGHT IT on wedding day!!!  Everyone was just in awe of how beautiful and glamorous she was!!!  I loved working with Brandy and Scott, their families (especially her adorable niece) and the whole crew at Toad Valley!  Thanks Brandy and Scott for allowing me to be a part of your special day!!! Here are some of my favs from their day!!!  Enjoy!