A White and Blush Wedding at Melrose Abbey | Makenzie and Jaison

A September Wedding Full of Love, Surprises, and Happy Tears

Some weddings have a story that stays with you long after the last photo is delivered, and Makenzie and Jaison’s September wedding at Melrose Abbey is absolutely one of those. A beautiful white and blush palette, a stunning Gothic inspired venue, and a day packed with genuine emotion, joyful surprises, and the kind of celebratory energy that fills an entire room made this one of the most memorable weddings I have ever had the privilege of photographing.

And the story behind this day? It is truly one of a kind. Makenzie and Jaison shared their very first kiss on New Year’s Eve, so they had always planned to get married on New Year’s Eve 2025 to honor that special date. But during the planning process they found out they were expecting, and in the most beautiful and love filled way possible, everything changed. Vendors rallied, dates shifted, and their September wedding became something even more meaningful than they had originally imagined. If you are still searching for your perfect Kansas City venue, you can explore my complete guide to 50+ Best Kansas City Wedding Venues to find the space that feels made for your story.

About Melrose Abbey

Melrose Abbey is one of the most extraordinary and unique wedding venues in all of Kansas City, and there is truly nothing else like it in the metro. With its stunning Gothic inspired stone architecture, dramatic soaring ceilings, and an atmosphere that feels like something straight out of a fairytale, this venue creates a backdrop that is breathtaking from every single angle. It is the kind of place that stops you in your tracks the moment you arrive.

For couples who want their wedding to feel genuinely extraordinary and completely unlike anything their guests have experienced before, Melrose Abbey delivers in every possible way. The dramatic architecture and rich interior details make it an absolute dream to photograph, and the venue’s intimate scale creates a warmth and personal feeling that balances the grandeur beautifully. Every portrait opportunity here feels cinematic, emotional, and completely one of a kind.

Makenzie and Jaison’s Wedding Day Story

Makenzie and Jaison chose to share a first look before the ceremony, and it was such a beautiful and tender moment. Knowing everything this couple had navigated to get to this day made seeing them come together in that quiet moment feel even more precious and meaningful. The joy and relief and love on both of their faces was something I will never forget.

The ceremony inside Melrose Abbey was breathtaking. The white and blush palette looked absolutely stunning against the dramatic stone architecture and the intimate gathering of their closest friends and family created an emotional and deeply personal atmosphere throughout. These were the people who had shown up for Makenzie and Jaison through every twist and turn of their planning journey, and you could feel that love in every single moment.

After the ceremony we took full advantage of Melrose Abbey’s incredible architecture for portraits, and every single location delivered something dramatic and gorgeous. Having a second shooter on a wedding day with this much happening is something I genuinely believe in, and if you are curious about why, my guide on The Benefits of Having a Second Shooter is worth a read before you finalize your photography package.

Then came the reception. And oh, the reception.

Right after the grand entrance, Makenzie and Jaison gathered their guests and did something that left the entire room in absolute joyful chaos. They announced their pregnancy, and if that was not enough, they surprised everyone in the room including the close friends and family who already knew they were expecting with a gender reveal projected on screen through a sweet home video. A boy. The room absolutely erupted. Cheers, happy tears, laughter, and so much love poured into every corner of that space. It was one of the most genuinely emotional and celebratory moments I have ever witnessed at a wedding and my camera could not keep up with all the beautiful reactions happening all at once.

The rest of the evening was pure joy from start to finish. The energy in that room was electric and everyone was riding the high of the most wonderful surprise. Makenzie and Jaison, your guests are going to be talking about that moment for the rest of their lives.

After the wedding, if you are thinking about the best way to share your gallery with all of the wonderful people who were in that room, my guide on How to Share Your Wedding Photos with Guests has everything you need to know.

Kansas City Wedding Photographer

Hi, I’m Cassidy Drury, a wedding photographer in Kansas City with over a decade behind the camera and a deep love for weddings that feel real, joyful, and completely personal. I have been photographing weddings since 2020 and my whole approach is centered on helping couples feel relaxed and completely themselves so that your photos bring you right back to exactly how your day felt, every single time you look at them.

I absolutely love photographing weddings at Melrose Abbey because this venue gives us something truly special to work with. The architecture is dramatic and stunning, the atmosphere is romantic and intimate, and the combination of those two things creates portraits that feel genuinely extraordinary. Weddings like Makenzie and Jaison’s remind me that the best wedding days are the ones that are rooted in real love and real life, and I would not trade this job for anything.

Planning a Wedding at Melrose Abbey?

If you are dreaming of your own wedding at Melrose Abbey or anywhere else across the Kansas City metro, I would absolutely love to hear about it. You can explore more of my work in my wedding portfolio, learn more about packages and pricing, and when you are ready to check your date, reach out here. I would be so honored to be part of your story. 🤍

Vendor Credits

• Venue: Melrose Abbey
• Planning: Little Luxe Events
• Hair: Lane Hair
• DJ: Fernando Productions KC
• Catering: Cupini’s
• Florals: Deb Autry
• Desserts: Sweet Petites KC