Wedding Day

The Glasshouse at River Oaks

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

Adam and I met in the Fall of 2020. We lived in the same dorm our freshman year of college and met through mutual friends. We don’t remember the exact moment we met, but our first memory of each other is when Adam was recruited to open my dorm window (I wasn’t strong enough). That’s not to say it was love at first sight and the rest was history—we were both in relationships at the time.		Over the course of freshman year, we hung out often in groups—whether in our breakfast club at the caf, in Emma and Kaylee’s dorm room, or at Yard Bar. We bonded over music, TV shows, food, and birthdays (we’re only five days apart). Still just friends!		When we came back to school for sophomore year, we both found ourselves single. We also lived just two doors down from each other, and our friendship grew a ton that first semester. I was going to ask him to my formal, but he already had plans to see The Front Bottoms in St. Louis. Knowing two whole songs, of course Kaylee (the best 3rd wheel) and I had to join. Our first trip together!! We’ve been to three more of their concerts since then, and now I can say I know all their songs. One late night sitting on my town house kitchen floor, we planned our second trip with Kaylee to Chicago and Indiana Dunes National Park that October. That trip was so much fun—full of hiking, movies, new experiences, and nightly debriefs between me and Kaylee about whether we thought it was just a friendship or something more.		That December, Adam invited me to his date party. It was a super fun night of being quite literally zip-tied together, and I'd consider this the turning point of becoming more than friends. We went on our first "date" that same week: the Chick-fil-A drive through and a movie. The night before we left for Winter break, we stayed up talking and hanging out until 4 am, despite Adam's final the next day (Which went great).		When we got back from break, we enjoyed Einstein’s dates on campus every Tuesday and Thursday, movie nights every Wednesday, and hanging out every weekend. On March 5th, 2022, we went out to dinner and Adam asked me to officially be his girlfriend.Adam changed his plans to go back to St. Louis that summer, because being apart was not the move. We've lived close ever since. We spent the summer together in KC, had lots of fun, and went on a trip to Colorado filled with amazing hikes and a lovely hospital stay when Adam got MRSA. This was a bonding experience to say the least, but we knew from then on that we were a great team and could handle anything.		The following years were filled with great memories, both together and with friends—between concerts, hiking trips, movie nights, game nights, pickleball, holidays with each other's families, and exploring KC. We knew early on this was a forever kind of thing.		In August 2025, we went on a trip to Las Vegas, Zion National Park, and Bryce Canyon National Park with Adam’s family. Best trip ever!! On August 4th, we went out to dinner just the two of us. Fun fact: I had gotten sunblock in my eye hours before and had just gained the ability to keep it open for an extended period of time as we drove to dinner. Afterward, Adam took me to a "lesser-known lookout he found on Reddit." We trekked up a super sandy mountain (me in a dress and sandals) and watched the sunset. That’s when Adam popped the question and a bystander turned out to be our photographer! We returned to a decked out condo and spent the evening celebrating with family and making many FaceTime calls.		We are so blessed to have found each other and to have the best people to celebrate with! See you May 24th!

Our Story

Photos

Kaylee Marler

Kyle McEnery

Sydney Schnarr

Scott Leeker

Emma O'Connor

William Schalley

Emily Grither

Rishi Inja

Jessica Bodmer

Nicholas Muldoon

Sarah Hughes

Jacob Alu

Kathryn Leeker

Dominic Haggard

Wedding Party

A block of hotel rooms has been reserved at this hotel. You may use the link to book.

Comfort Suites Grandview - Kansas City

Although unable to secure a courtesy block for our dates, they do have room availability. I would recommend booking early. Please message Carrie at <a href="mailto:firstmateadventures@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">firstmateadventures@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;or 314-308-7059, who is&nbsp;happy to handle the bookings and can offer you a better rate than if you book&nbsp;direct!

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Kansas City-Grandview

This is the closest airport, located about 40 minutes from the venue.

Kansas City International Airport

Travel

Coffee ShopsMessenger Coffee – Trendy three-story café with rooftop seating and pastries.Oddly Correct – Artsy specialty coffee with some delicious flavors. We used to run here when we lived at Rockhurst.Blackhole Bakery – OUR FAV! Small bakery known for unique mochi donuts and creative pastries. They don't have seating but you won't regret trying it. Breakfast &amp; BrunchHomegrown – Cozy spot for breakfast made with fresh, local ingredients. Had our first real date here!Seven Swans Creperie KC– So cute. Delicious crepes and coffee.Waldo Café – Classic neighborhood diner vibes. Very affordable and they give you a free cinnamon roll as an app. We're frequent flyers. Sweet TreatSilas &amp; Maddy’s – Old-school KC favorite with giant scoops. Located in Olathe. Elaina grew up on this place.High Hopes Ice Cream – Nostalgic neighborhood shop with unique flavors. We used to walk here a lot too. SO GOOD! Get the salt on top.Betty Rae’s – Creative small-batch ice cream with fun, seasonal twists. Famous to KC.Andy’s Frozen Custard – Drive-thru or walk-up frozen custard spot known for its rich concretes and sundaes. Chappell Roan–approved. Happy HourBrookside Barrio – Favorite spot for a patio marg. Great weekday happy hour and queso &lt;3Brooksider- Our friend group go-to for happy hour, patio dinner, or watching a game. They have Adam's favorite wings and Elaina's favorite buffalo chicken wrap. EatsQ39 – Modern Kansas City BBQ with chef-driven dishes. SO good. Adam's second favorite wings. He also used to work here!Joe’s KC BBQ – Iconic BBQ joint in a gas station in KC, or there is also an Olathe location.Pigwich – Casual spot with inventive sandwiches made from local meats. So good and in River Market! Attractions &amp; LandmarksUnion Station – A stunning, historic train station featuring exhibits, events, and beautiful architecture. Will’s fav!Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art – A world-class art museum known for its iconic shuttlecock sculptures. Free admission!The Plaza – Outdoor shopping and dining district with charming Spanish-style architecture and fountains.River Market – A lively neighborhood filled with local restaurants, coffee shops, and the weekend farmers market.KC Current Stadium – The new women’s professional soccer stadium (girl power!!!). Worth a visit if there’s a game — check the schedule! For the KidsScience City – A fun, hands-on science museum inside Union Station with tons of interactive exhibits.Kansas City Zoo &amp; Aquarium – A family favorite featuring animals from around the world, plus a brand-new aquarium!Worlds of Fun – Kansas City’s classic amusement park with roller coasters, water rides, and family attractions.LEGOLAND Discovery Center – A colorful indoor LEGO world with rides, a 4D cinema, and plenty of building fun. Parks &amp; OutdoorsLoose Park – Beautiful rose gardens, trails, and picnic spots. We've gone on many many walks here.Shawnee Mission Park – Expansive park with trails, a lake, and scenic views. They offer pedal boat rentals.Great Wolf Lodge – Indoor waterpark resort (especially fun for families). Drinks &amp; NightlifeBoulevard Brewery – KC’s biggest and best-known craft brewery with awesome tours, tastings, and a rooftop beer hall.Westport – A laid-back, historic bar district perfect for a casual night out. Grab a drink and pizza at Kelly’s Irish Pub, listen to live music at Tin Roof, or just wander between patios.Power &amp; Light District – Downtown’s go-to nightlife spot with dueling pianos at Howl at the Moon, dancing at Shark Bar, and plenty of energy all weekend long.Up-Down – A bar packed with vintage arcade games, skee-ball, and pinball — plus pizza by the slice and rooftop views.

Elaina & Adam

Elaina & Adam

Wedding Party