Crossing paths leads to happily ever after
Throughout the span of a lifetime, countless paths cross and people come in and out of your life. Some are only brief encounters, there and gone. Others end up being so impactful that you know your life will never be the same again.
Kayla was in college at Missouri State, studying to be an elementary school teacher. She spun in the color guard and was involved in a campus ministry. Then she met Phil, a fellow student at MSU, who was studying to be an accountant. Phil played the Baritone in the marching band, and was involved in the same campus ministry.
“Our paths crossed in the fall of 2019 due to our heavy involvement in both activities [marching band and the campus ministry],” Kayla said. “Phil was interested in me right away, but it took me a little bit to decide if I was or not. We started hanging out almost every week after our campus ministry services, and after spending so much time together, I decided that I was very interested in him!”
After having hung out in groups for a few months, Phil worked up the courage to ask Kayla out, and they began officially dating in early December.
Over the next two years, Kayla and Phil continued dating, learning more about one another. They talked many times about the future, even as they enjoyed where they were in the present. With each passing month, though, it became clearer that this was more than a brief encounter.
“Phil knew that I was the one before I knew,” Kayla remembered. “Once I decided that I was ready to take the next step, the process was on, and we got engaged quickly after!”
On a Thursday night in August, Phil took Kayla to Finley Farms in Ozark. After eating a wonderful dinner at the Ozark Mill, they lingered awhile longer, talking a walk around the picturesque property.
“We stood out on the bridge for a few minutes before walking out to the middle together where Phil proposed,” Kayla shared. “One of our friends was there taking pictures of the whole thing!”
When Kayla said yes, they didn’t have to celebrate alone. Their friends had planned a surprise engagement party for the newly engaged couple and were there to help them celebrate their exciting news.
“It was the perfect night,” Kayla said.
With their future together spread out before them like a blank canvas, and certain they had found the one they wanted to marry, they knew they didn’t want to wait long to start their life as husband and wife.
“Phil and I knew we wanted a short engagement,” Kayla explained. “When we first found the Venue at Shadow Rock's website and saw all of the beautiful pictures, we immediately fell in love! The website was so detailed, and we could already tell we were going to love the Venue before ever even visiting. When we toured, we immediately knew that this was the place we wanted to get married. The Venue at Shadow Rock was actually the only venue we toured, because we both knew we loved it so much! The views out of the big windows in the ceremony space are beautiful, and we both loved the clean, modern look throughout the venue.”
They booked November 19 for their wedding day, and with the big day only three months away, got busy planning.
“With our wedding being in November, we knew we wanted fall colors and a fall theme,” Kayla said. “We went with a bohemian style mixed with the modern feel of the venue.”
When the day of their wedding came, they filled the venue with beautiful Pampas grass arrangements, neutral vases and heavy glass jugs. Creamy neutrals were accented with wood beads and little pops of burnt orange, absolutely bringing home their fall, boho theme.
Photos by Courtney Paige Photography
“We planned our wedding in just three short months,” Kayla said. “It was busy and at times a bit stressful, but I would recommend a shorter engagement! Planning a wedding this quickly is definitely manageable!”
After a beautiful indoor ceremony, Kayla and Phil walked down the Pampas grass-lined aisle and out through a joyous bubble send-off as husband and wife, on their way to take wedding photos.
After pictures, they came back in for a wonderful dinner, cake, and dancing. In the reception space, Kayla (now a teacher) involved her students in their big day by framing their artwork and answers to questions about what love and marriage is. The framed artwork made adorable and personal centerpieces for their reception tables, where guests could enjoy them.
“We are both so excited to enjoy this life with each other and continue to serve God together,” Kayla said.
When asked what advice they have for future couples, Kayla encouraged, “Make sure to take time for each other during all of the craziness of wedding planning. Wedding planning can be stressful, but it is so important to take some time away from the planning process to go on a date and spend intentional time together.”
After two years of dating, three months of being engaged, and one joyous wedding day, it is obvious that Kayla and Phil’s connection on the MSU campus is one that changed the course of their lives, setting the stage for their very own fairytale ending – a life lived side by side, sharing all the highs and lows, partnering, building, and enjoying together.
