Bagpipes and Candy Bars: Lauren Towns and Patrick Sweet
- Photos by Love Tree Studios
+24 Bagpipes and Candy Bars: Lauren Towns and Patrick Sweet
Lauren Towns and Patrick Sweet tie the knot with all the bells and whistles.
Marriage is a beautiful thing. It’s more than just the dress or the flowers; it involves the one time in your life that you experience the love of others in such a tremendous way. It’s the joy of everyone you love coming together to celebrate the miracle of becoming one. We were reminded afresh of the beauty of marriage at the wedding of Lauren Towns and Patrick Sweet.
The wedding and reception took place at the Country Club of Missouri. We were greeted by ushers and seated. The program was carefully crafted by the bride to appear like a newspaper. It included information about their prized pup, Leo, the beloved wedding party, how the couple met, and their divided loyalty to MU and KU. It was a great way to share their stories on their special day.
As the processional began, I enjoyed watching friends and family buzz with excitement. They all turned as the family made their way down the aisle, followed by the wedding party. Lauren had carefully orchestrated a wedding that mixed traditional elements with a clean, modern theme. The groomsmen wore tuxes with monogrammed pocket handkerchiefs, and they escorted the bridesmaids, each wearing an elegantly tailored black dress. Two ring bearers followed behind, along with two flower girls. The time arrived for the bride to make her way down aisle with her father, and she could not have looked more beautiful.
Her blonde locks were in a beautiful up-do, styled by The Strand. A local gem called Confident Beauti by Erica did the bride’s makeup, and it was impeccable. The bride and her bridesmaids carried the dreamiest of bouquets.
And the dress — oh my! She wore a fit-and-flare satin gown with a sweetheart neckline, whimsical layers on the skirt, and a court train. Simply gorgeous! This Stella York gown was purchased at Belle Vogue Bridal, in Kansas City.
Patrick and Lauren were greeted by a dear family friend, who officiated their wedding. Her words of love and encouragement made the wedding ceremony so special. The ceremony was short and sweet, and their first kiss filled with excitement.
After the ceremony, we were invited to a cocktail hour on the patio. While we began to drink the night away, the wedding party drove off in golf carts to have their photos taken on the course by Love Tree Studios, whom we absolutely adore. We are beyond grateful for all the photos they provided for this article. We met all three photographers from Love Tree and cherished the idea that they could be in different locations throughout the day to capture all of the special moments. They truly did not miss a moment of the beauty!
Lauren and Patrick’s cart was decked out with a “Just Married” banner, and the two were reunited with their 2-year-old Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Leo, for a few photos. He looked adorable with a black- and white-striped bow tie to coordinate.
While the bridal party snuck away for pictures, we took a sneak peak of the reception venue. We were in awe! Jana Gebhardt, owner of Studio J, along with Katie Wilkins, owner of KBW Florals, did an incredible job orchestrating the big day.
Jana was instrumental in helping create the look and feel of the room. Studio J provided the tablecloths, the German glittered wedding décor, and the coordination of the candy bar with unique candy jars arranged on a striped roundtable.
Studio J and KBW Floral Design met at the event center and worked beautifully together to transform the room into the bride’s vision. The florist and bride share a love for pink peonies that were heavily featured in the floral design. We are excited to welcome this florist to our local wedding vendor list!
One of our favorite wedding vendors painted the night away. Cindy Scott, with TooRooster Artistry, is an extremely talented artist and specializes in painting events as they occur. She captured every detail of the room on a canvas before the bride and groom made their getaway.
Wedding desserts are always the highlight, and this wedding did not disappoint. Paula Burger beautifully designed the wedding cake and groom’s cake for this special day. We jumped for joy when we saw Peggy Jean’s Pies. The sweetest treat of all was the candy, provided by The Candy Factory. Our sweet tooth was fully satisfied.
Many of the decorations were DIY projects created by the bride and her mother, including the wedding signs, the table lanterns, and the sparkler table.
We were a little lost in the beauty of it all when we heard bagpipes playing just outside the reception area. We quickly rushed outdoors to see a bagpiper leading the bride, groom, and bridal party to the reception area. We were touched that the bride included this family tradition.
Byler Media was there to video their wedding; they are known to follow a wedding’s timeline to a T and were instrumental in helping everything go smoothly. They are a great team to work with!
We were quickly ushered indoors, where we enjoyed meeting guests. Monogrammed steak menus decorated our plates. The bridal party was introduced, and the father of the bride gave his blessing speech. I could not contain my tears. The dinner was delicious, and we had the scrumptious cake to follow.
The Patrick Lentz Band kicked off the evening with some incredibly fun music and opened the dance floor to all of the guests. The dance floor was packed.
On the drive home, we reflected about what had made the evening so beautiful, and we realized the most beautiful part was the love and support seen that night. Sometimes, we can crash so many weddings that we get lost in all of the wedding intricacies. The truth is, once the band leaves and the cake is eaten, you are left with a community of people who love you and are ready to support your journey as husband and wife. To Lauren and Patrick, we want to wish you years of love, joy, and laughter.
Resources
Hairstyling
The Strand Salon and Spa
573-875-3008
Makeup
Confident Beauti by Erica
573-489-8055
Wedding Dress
Belle Vogue Bridal
913-317-8981
Photographer
Love Tree Studios
573-673-2322
Reception
Country Club of Missouri
573-449-7201
Desserts
Peggy Jean’s Pies
573-447-7437
Wedding Cakes
Paula Burger
573-825-0656
Candy Bar
The Candy Factory
573-443-8222
Officiant
Judi Schnoonover
573-356-8742
Band
Patrick Lentz Band
913-568-4881
Bagpiper
Gail Fitzgerald
573-808-4895
Guitarist
Ryan Marquardt
Videographer
Byler Media
573-303-1602
Rental Company
Amerevent
314-255-2882
Flowers
KBW Floral Design
573-819-3185
Painter
TooRooster Artistry
573-356-3401
Decoration
Jana Gebhardt, Studio J
573-445-5554
Tux Attire
Generation Tux
844-726-4889