Sarah + Zach’s Juniper Gardens Hillside Wedding | June 28, 2025 in Fair Grove, MO

Let me tell you about one HELL of a day.

Rain threatened me all fucking morning. Someone, somewhere once told me that it’s a sign of good luck if it rains on your wedding day. That’s great and all, but for an outside reception, not ideal. I didn’t want soggy and grumpy guests on my hands. The good news is the rain held off just long enough for the first look, private vows, and ceremony at Juniper Gardens Hillside over in Fair Grove, Missouri. Was I already sweating from the humidity and nerves? Well. Yes. But I didn’t want to add rain on top of that. That’s a dampness that you just can’t shake on the dance floor. Anyway. What unfolded pre and post-rain was one of the most vibrant, joyful, and beautifully orchestrated (pun-intended; you’ll see why later) weddings I’ve ever had the honor of photographing as a Springfield, MO wedding photographer.

Reunion After Lake Springfield Engagement Photos

Some of you may remember Sarah and Zach’s engagement session a while back at Lake Springfield, where they showed up in Zach’s recently restored El Camino, giddy and full of love. Well! Flash forward to June 28th, and we’ve got rain, charm, wildflower bouquets, and Moose the lab as the ring bearer. (I swear Moose had his moment in the spotlight and nailed it.)

The Rain-Stopper First Look, Private Vows, & Ceremony

The sky? Gloomy as fuck. It made me a little nervous since I’d only brought two umbrellas (for the bride and groom. Y’know, the ones who paid me). I was definitely holding my breath. But the first look between Sarah and Zach at the Hillside location was cinematic. I urged, “whenever you’re ready,” to Sarah, and for fuck’s sake she really took that seriously. I’m JOKING! Kinda. She did take her time, but it made us revel in the sweetness even more. They opted for private vows instead of doing them during the ceremony. They cozied up in a corner of the courtyard, held each other’s shaky hands, and quietly promised, professed, and vowed forever to one another. You could feel the calm, coolness of their love, even in the humidity. For a non-traditional wedding photographer like moi, those sweet, emotional peaks are what I live for.

The ceremony was quick and to the point. Officiating, we had Sarah’s Aunt Julie who did a BANG UP job. Could we all have done without the 3 prayers to a god we don’t believe in? Sure, but that’s just Aunt Julie’s way of showing up for Zach and Sarah and showering them with love, respect, and good fortune. Sarah’s niece, Wilder, was the flower girl, but I won’t be posting any photos of her because there are freaks on the internet. Just know she looked awesome and did a great job tossin’ petals. And then of course, Moose the ring bearer trotted happily down the aisle while Zach’s mom’s tears started to already make an appearance. All of them and Sarah walked down the aisle to quite possibly the dopest string quartet I’ve ever had the privilege of witnessing.

The happy couple did a soil-mixing-thing. I’ve seen cool trends of togetherness crop up in weddings, and I think that’s because sooo much of our generation is kind of over the generic religious bullshit that has been shoved down our throats so much. I shot a wedding last year that did a “hand-fasting” ceremony, where they tied their hands together all cool and impressive. ANYWAY, Zach and Sarah had the cutest little potted succulent and they both sprinkled some soil in it. A testament to how their love will flourish and grow, as long as you water it and give it plenty of sunlight.

Bouquets, Bites, & Booze

The first kiss as a married couple? Epic.

The dip and kiss at the end of the aisle? Based.

But the decorations, food, and drinks during cocktail hour? GOATED.

• Wildflowers from Frizzle Farms: Sarah’s cousin, Kim, whipped up the most gorgeous, fresh, colorful, unrestrained blossoms for Sarah’s bouquet and all the centerpieces. Every table felt like a meadow. Don’t even get me started on how the tables were numbered. Okay, I’m started: for each table number, Sarah included photos of her and Zach from those ages (so table 1 had photos of them when they were 1 and so on, all the way to age 9).
• Custom drinks: an old fashioned station for him, and for the lady, perhaps a martini? The drinks were shaken, stirred, poured, popped by one of my friends (also named Sarah) at the open bar (drinks were on Frank, the Schmidtke’s cat).
• Charcuterie & Prairie Pie dessert: a Midwesterner’s dream: meat, cheese, pie. Pie just feels like home. Especially when it’s good as fuck. Thanks, Prairie Pie!!

Live Events Missouri DJ’d through the cocktail hour and into the reception. They honestly dropped banger after banger, and just like that, wouldn’t ya know it, I was sore for two days from dancing and taking photos. (If you book me, I will dance with you even as I’m behind the camera).

Energy, Intimacy, & Zero Stress

You know a wedding is all-in when nothing actually goes wrong. No meltdowns, no freakouts over potential rain, no lost rings (because, again, Moose brought ‘em down the aisle with the utmost professionalism and enthusiasm). This wedding just felt INSANELY pure and electric. No tension. Just 100%, absolute delight. I watched Sarah (once again, my best fucking friend) glow as she changed into a lacy mini dress, sneaking in impromptu dance routines behind guests’ backs. She looked like she stepped off a bridal runway at Juniper Gardens. It was playful, cunt, and totally her.

Anyway

Okay, blah blah, Chelsea, we get it you’re obsessed with this couple and their photos. Okay, yes. But here’s why this wedding matters in this world that often feels like it’s burning:

1. Dis is love for the long haul, baby: Sarah told me she and Zach cried when they got their marriage license because it felt real. Like: “Ohhh fuck, we’re doing this forever.” And then they lived it out on June 28th. Genuine, unbridled giddiness for not only the wedding day but the weeks, months, and years that follow.
2. Portraits with Soul: From the post-ceremony couple shots in the drizzle to the dancefloor mishaps, we captured personality and energy over perfection. During their gallery reveal, Sarah exclaimed, “GOD, it’s like you can just feel the energy of these moments.” Duh, babe. You didn’t hire some schmuck!!!!!
3. Unfiltered, Sincere Joy: Real, sweaty, exuberant fun. That’s the kind of wedding photography I burn for.
4. Community & Trust: I’m friends with the bride. She trusted me entirely. That’s why I build relationships with my couples before I even shoot their wedding. Everybody deserves to feel like their bestie is documenting their day so they can completely relax.

Photographer Tips for a Spunky, Rainy-Day Wedding at Juniper Gardens

If you’re planning a wedding at Juniper Gardens or any Midwest ceremony, here’s this weird ass photographer’s take on how to make it smooth and memorable:

• Obviously, my number one: Expect rain; plan intelligently. Have an indoor-ceremony-setup backup plan. Juniper Gardens has beautiful covered areas and indoor-to-outdoor flow.
• Celebrate humidity. Just accept it for a swampy summer wedding. Choose breathable fabrics (Sarah’s mini dress was a lifesaver) and embrace the heat. It’s our unfortunate reality, but we can work with it.
• Flower power for daaaaays. Frizzle Farms’ wildflowers added color without being fussy, which was perfect for tables and the bouquet. If you’re on a budget and want a variety of colors: WILDFLOWERS!!!
• Don’t regurgitate a Pinterest board. Personal touches matter. Moose walked the aisle. The string quartet played music from Lord of the Rings. Guests sipped martinis and old fashioneds. These small details anchor big emotions and make awesome memories.
• Plan moments intentionally. First look, a quick outfit change between cocktail and reception. These little transitions build momentum and emotional arcs. Unforgettable wedding who?

Final Thoughts

To Sarah and Zach, thank you for trusting me to capture you. You gave your love fully, danced your asses off, and let me literally take a photo of you while you were pissing pre-ceremony. That is TRUST, baby!

And to everyone else that has made it this far: if you want wedding photos that feel like your freaky, beautiful, unapologetically-you love story, hi. I’m Chelsea, your local (and hopefully new favorite and future) Springfield, MO wedding photographer for the energetic, the weirdos, and the ones who put love above the noise.

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