1. Real Weddings

A Romantic Bohemian Wedding at The Van Noy Mansion in Kansas City, Missouri

Kate Waldron (29 and an account manager at Blue Cross Blue Shield) and Chris Teuber (29 and general manager of the Riot Room and Electric City Product

Kate Waldron (29 and an account manager at Blue Cross Blue Shield) and Chris Teuber (29 and general manager of the Riot Room and Electric City Productions) met through mutual friends. Chris proposed in California on the beach at sunset. “I can’t remember what was said, but I remember shaking with excitement and crying over how beautiful the ring was,” Kate says. Having studied environmental studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kate wanted an environmental conscious ring. “I told him I would love anything he chose, but I would prefer not to have the main gem be a diamond,” she says. “Chris surprised me with a beautiful natural emerald with two smaller diamonds on the side and a gold band. I couldn't have been happier with his choice.” The couple originally planned to exchange vows on the front lawn of The Van Noy Mansion, but decided to get married in Kate's mother's hospital room who was battling cancer throughout Kate's engagement and wedding. “It was a beautiful ceremony despite the circumstances and location,” Kate says. They followed the ceremony with an outdoor reception at The Van Noy Mansion, where they had Oklahoma Joe’s BBQ food truck catering. “It offered all you could eat of the original Zman, chicken Zman, and portabella mushroom Zman, onion-rings, fries, potato salad, cole slaw and beans,” she says. “People were so happy with the food some were even able to take some togo.” As if that wasn’t good enough, they also had Dippin' Dots. “I always wanted Dippin Dots at my wedding for some reason and a groomsman was able to make it happen for us. It was all you can eat, banana split (my favorite), chocolate mint, rainbow ice and chocolate. People were thrilled about this because who doesn’t like Dippin Dots?” They used shades of green, white, pink and blue for their color palette, used tuberoses for the floral arrangements in honor of their last name, Teuber, and decorated with 500 handmade soy wax candles. Chris also spent five hours installing the string lights for the reception. But, at the end of the day, the couple wanted a wedding that would reflect their fun, off-the-beaten-path personalities and would allow guests to feel at home while still having the best time.

Having studied environmental studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kate wanted an environmental conscious ring. “I told him I would love anything he chose, but I would prefer not to have the main gem be a diamond,” she says. “Chris surprised me with a beautiful natural emerald with two smaller diamonds on the side and a gold band. I couldn't have been happier with his choice.”
“My wedding dress was the most important thing to me,” Kate says. “I wanted to really make it my own and incorporate my mom’s lace from her wedding dress. My mom was battling cancer throughout my entire engagement and wedding so having her lace on my dress was very essential so I knew a part of her was with me the whole day.” Kate bought her dress five sizes too big and on clearance at BHLDN. She worked with Janay A to custom design it into what she wanted. “I loved the vertical lace,” Kate says. “It turned out exactly the way I wanted it to.”
“I absolutely loved my shoes, or should I say boots,” Kate says. “They were from Free People. I wanted to make sure I bought some awesome boho-style, comfortable, wear-again boots. I knew I would be outside so I could not do a stiletto and flats were out of the question since I’m 5’3” and my husband is 6’3”.”
The brides, bridesmaids and flower girls wore matching gold sun earrings from World Market online. “I thought this would be a nice symbol of our friendships and relationships if we all matched in this way,” Kate says.
“My favorite accessory was a handkerchief that I tied around my bouquet,” Kate says. “This handkerchief was hand sown by my mother with a clover and opal attached to it. The clover represents our Irish heritage and the opal was a gift my dad gave to her on their first anniversary, signifying everlasting love.”
The bridesmaids wore strapless floor-length blush dresses and the groomsmen wore blue suits and ties for a fun, colorful look.
“I wanted something flowy, fun, but elegant and budget friendly,” Kate says. “I was looking for any color in the pink spectrum and that’s when I found these beautiful peachy pink dresses from Lulus.com for only $75.”
“The main flower was a tuberose,” Kate says. “My last name is now Teuber. I chose this flower hence the name. Tuberoses smell amazing also.” The bride and bridesmaids carried tuberoses, queen ann’s lace, bells of Ireland, freesias, poppies, delphinium, dill weed and eucalyptus leaves. Kate’s dear friend John Eisele—who owns Westport Floral—did all of her flowers.
The groom wore a blue suit from H&M with a blue and white polka dotted bow tie.
The groomsmen wore blue H&M suits with blue and white polka dot ties while the groom wore a bow tie.
“The main flower was a tuberose,” Kate says. “My last name is now Teuber. I chose this flower hence the name. Tuberoses smell amazing also.” The groom wore a simple tuberose boutonniere.
“I wanted something nice and elegant, but also fun and relaxed,” Kate says. “And with all the antique decor, stained glass windows and balconies, I knew pictures would turn out amazing.”
“I wanted something nice and elegant, but also fun and relaxed,” Kate says. “And with all the antique decor, stained glass windows and balconies, I knew pictures would turn out amazing.”
Kate’s nieces were the flower girls at the wedding. “Their mother had a friend make their dresses to match mine,” Kate says. “They were the prettiest little things I have ever seen.”
The flower girls wore their hair twisted back in braids and adorned with a tuberose and queen ann’s lace.
“We had planned to marry on the front lawn of The Van Noy Mansion,” Kate says. “But since my mother was too ill to make our wedding, we did a last minute change up and married in my mom’s hospital room. It was a beautiful ceremony despite the circumstances and location.” Kate’s mother was battling cancer throughout Kate’s entire engagement and wedding.
Kate and Chris originally planned to exchange vows on the front lawn of The Van Noy Mansion, but decided to get married in Kate's mother's hospital room who was battling cancer throughout Kate's engagement and wedding.
The flower girls carried baskets wrapped in white cloth.
“We had planned to marry on the front lawn of The Van Noy Mansion,” Kate says. “But since my mother was too ill to make our wedding, we did a last minute change up and married in my mom’s hospital room. It was a beautiful ceremony despite the circumstances and location.” Kate’s mother was battling cancer throughout Kate’s entire engagement and wedding.
“I wanted something nice and elegant, but also fun and relaxed,” Kate says. “The Van Noy Mansion was the first and last place we looked at because it was beautiful and was able to accommodate all the things we needed. This place was beautiful and cozy. It felt like you were having an indoor and backyard wedding at your parents’ house almost.”
Chris proposed to Kate on a beach at sunset in California.
The reception dinner was catered by Oklahoma Joe’s. “We were their first catered event by their food truck,” Kate says. “It took a lot of convincing to get them to do our wedding but when they met us they couldn't say no. And the price was very affordable since we were their trial run. It offered all you could eat of the original Zman, chicken Zman, and portabella mushroom Zman, onion-rings, fries, potato salad, cole slaw and beans. People were so happy with the food some were even able to take some togo.”
Floral and striped paper straws were displayed in a rustic, vintage creamer.
The couple had adorable wooden silverware that said things like, “Yum and Only,” “Forkever” and “At First Bite.” The silverware included spoons for all-you-can-eat Dippin’ Dots. “People were thrilled about this,” Kate says. “Because who doesn’t like Dippin Dots?”
Kate loved her antique-looking paper fans for her outdoor wedding.
“My decor was about 500 handmade—by myself and my bridesmaids—soy wax candles made in recycled jars for the outside tables,” Kate says.
The couple’s friend Cait—owner of Cait’s Yummy Cakes—baked a signature, organic Berry Chantilly naked-style cake with berry drizzle. “It’s all organic yellow cake with a secret ingredient, whipped icing and three in-season berries,” Kate says. “We had strawberries, blueberries and raspberries.”
“The amazing lights were done by my husband and a groomsman,” Kate says. “IT look them five hours to set up, but he did it just for me because he knew how much it meant to me.”
“I think the wedding as a whole really reflected us as a couple,” Kate says. “We wanted people to feel comfortable and at home while having the best time possible. We are wild, fun, off-the-beaten-path type of couple so that’s how we did our wedding.”
“The entertainment at our wedding was extraordinary,” Kate says. “We are blessed enough to be surrounded by extremely talented friends. Therefore, our friends were the entertainment.” The main band was called Wonderfuzz, which are friends of the couple. Then, one of the bridesmaids, who sings for Flyleaf and was a former singer for Vedera, sang some of Kate’s favorite songs. “My guests jaw dropped at the talent that was there.”