Joey + Shelley Hinckley

06.30.18

Serious outdoor wedding envy! Joey + Shelley’s Manhattan, Kansas wedding day is one of my favorites to grace the blog. It’s full of lush greenery, personal details + obviously, Shelley rocked a stunning Robert Bullock Bride crepe gown with a killer open back + accented it with a statement Kendra Scott earrings. All of the gorgeousness was captured by Neal Dieker Photography + he definitely did the Hinckley’s all of the justice in the world. The best part? The Flint Hills in Kansas make the perfect backdrop for bridal portraits + if you think I’m being dramatic, just keep scrolling to see what I mean!

How did you decide on June 30th?

“We had only dated for 6 months when we got engaged in May of 2017, so we knew we wanted at least a year engagement since our relationship had been such a whirlwind so far. We immediately started searching for venues in Kansas City, but we struggled to find a place that felt like "us." After looking at venues for a month, we decided to switch our search to Manhattan, Kansas. I am from a small town in Western Kansas + Joey is from Wichita - so Manhattan felt like a good halfway point. I also attended Kansas State University as well as many members of my family, so Manhattan has a special place in our hearts! When we visited Prairiewood, I immediately felt like it was the perfect spot for us. Luckily, they had one more day available to book for the following Summer - June 30th! We jumped on it + it ended up being such a beautiful time of the year to get married.”

How did the two of you meet?

“Joey + I met through our roommates. My roommate, Kathleen, was dating Joey's roommate, Joe. Kathleen + Joe started a sand volleyball team + invited both Joey + I to be on it. I had just moved to KC + was immersed in a new job + new friends + didn't even notice Joey for a while! One night, a few months after we first met, Kathleen + I were over at the boys' house for a football game. Joey caught my attention during the party + I remember saying to Kathleen, "When did Joey get so cute?!" Within the next few weeks we agreed to go out for drinks + we were inseparable from that moment on. People had always told me "you will know when you meet the right one," + they were definitely right!”

What was your favorite part of wedding planning?

“My favorite wedding planning task was gathering our decor. We have the best family + friends + everyone jumped in to help! My mom, Joey's mom + all of my aunts gathered the gold candelabras for the reception tables. My dad made our wooden picture stand from a photo I showed him on Pinterest. The art teacher at the school I teach at painted our monogram backdrop. A good family friend did the calligraphy on our meadow sign. My matron of honor wrote all the signs for the cheesecake table. Joey + I made our polaroid guest book backdrop. It really made every little detail of our day special to us.”

What was your favorite moment from your wedding day?

“I think my favorite memory from the day was the moment before my dad + I walked down the aisle. We were standing at the top of the hill, watching the bridal party walk into the meadow through an opening in the trees + I was overcome with emotion looking down at all of our family + friends who had shown up to be there with us. I had been really nervous up until that moment, but after seeing it all come together so beautifully I was just beyond thankful we had made it to the finish line + I could not wait to get to the end of the aisle to be with my soon to be husband!”

What advice would you give to other brides in regard to dress shopping?

“First of all, go see the girls at Something White! I felt so comfortable from the minute I walked in. The shop is small + they really focus on giving you a lot of individual attention. The day I bought my dress was their sample sale day, so they had warned me ahead of time that it might be busier than usual - but my consultant did a phenomenal job of focusing all of her energy on me + my appointment while I was there. Secondly, try not to focus on trends or what other brides are wearing - go with what makes YOU feel beautiful! Try on different styles because you might end up with something you did not expect. Lastly, take a small group of people so that there are not too many opinions floating around. Your opinion is the most important!”

Robert Bullock Bride Gowns in Kansas City

Open Back Wedding Dress_Kansas City Bride

Something White Bridal Boutique Kansas City

Did you have a specific theme in mind while planning?

“I wanted our wedding to feel classic yet relaxed. Once we knew our ceremony would be held outdoors, I tried to pick colors + flowers that fit the natural color palette of the Flint Hills - where our venue was located. I also tried to add lots of greenery + wood elements to tie our indoor reception to the outdoors.”