BUCKLE UP, because this ride is a long and wild one. This boho intimate wedding is why the Ozarks need to be on your wedding radar.
Who else besides me is a fan of the hit Netflix show Ozark? Now although the plot line is a pretty serious one, I know a lot of people swoon over the natural beauty and allure of the region displayed in the series. Fun fact: One of my previous brides actually worked the set design on the show since most of it was filmed in North Georgia, which I thought was pretty freaking rad.
Traveling out to Missouri to photograph this awesome Ozarks intimate wedding came out of sheer luck. Sarah and Kyle already had me booked for their destination wedding which was set to take place out at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in western Colorado, when she called me one day to say that their plans had changed (thanks, Covid!). Dogwood Canyon Nature Park is where they had gotten engaged and it just so happened to be easier for their family in Chicago to travel by car down to Missouri rather than fly out to remote Colorado at that time, which made total sense to me.
We met that day in early June for Sarah and Kyle’s intimate wedding at Dogwood Canyon where they have getting ready suites on site for couples looking to get married at the park. I can’t say enough great things about Dogwood Canyon; it’s a lush nature preserve not far from popular Branson, Missouri. Dogwood Canyon is a legit outdoor playground—it has everything from waterfalls to horseback rides and hiking trails to huge treehouses for some playful traversing.
Sarah and Kyle got married in Dogwood Canyon at the on-site wedding chapel which features a beautiful secluded patio space overlooking the creek and one of the canyon’s many waterfalls, providing the perfect backdrop for an intimate wedding with the feel of being in a forest setting without the hike, perfect for all of your guests young and old.
After their ceremony, all of the guests returned back to nearby Tribesman Resort on Table Rock Lake, where they were staying, to decorate for the reception to be held there later, while Sarah, Kyle and myself stayed at the canyon and ventured around, exploring the different beautiful settings the park has to offer. We saw SO MANY WATERFALLS. And y’all know I’m a sucker for waterfalls.
When we left Dogwood Canyon and arrived at Tribesman Resort, we got to see the effort their families put in to decorating the space for a cozy family gathering. It was so sweet! Although the food and the fellowship was wonderful, what came after we even more awesome. Sarah and Kyle hopped in one golf cart while I hopped in another driven by a family member and we proceeded over to the resort’s marina. LOVED taking some rolling shots of the two of those kiddos just having a ball driving that thing around hahaha.
Don’t skip out on the end of this blog; I know it’s a long one but we saved the best for last!! Sarah and Kyle decided to jump into the lake with their wedding attire on and I created a few GIFs of it for them. SO DANG COOL!
It was such a wicked honor to be a part of their day and capturing these moments for S+K and their families to cherish for years to come.
What do you think of this Ozarks intimate wedding? I’d love to know your thoughts in the comment section below!
Feeling inspired to plan your own destination wedding?
Contact me today and let’s get this adventure started!
I’m a firm believer that you deserve the best, most unforgettable wedding that focuses on your love and this amazing commitment that you two are about to make to one another.
I’m not only your photographer, but I’m also your guide to your wildly different photography experience that’s adventurous, intimate, and completely yours.
You deserve unique and beautiful memories to carry with you forever. And I’d love to help bring your dreams to reality.
