Local Love: Madalyn + Chase

The year was 2017 and I had just moved to Kansas City after college hoping for a new beginning. To my dismay, the job market for my field of work was not hot and after months of applying for jobs in the Kansas City area, I reluctantly decided to apply for jobs elsewhere, which landed me back in Columbia, MO with no plan and nowhere to live.

I finally sublet a room at a duplex some friends were renting and one winter night, without me even realizing, in walked my future husband. He was friends with my roommates, visiting for the weekend and we hit it off almost instantly. Despite growing up just 20 minutes from each other, our paths had never crossed until that winter in Columbia.

After a year of long distance, and making the drive back to Palmyra every weekend to work on our house, we finally moved into our first home. After 4 years if dating, Chase popped the question on the top deck of a boat under the New Year’s Eve fireworks in Chicago. If you would have told 2017 me that all of my perceived misfortune would lead me exactly where I needed to be, I wouldn’t have believed you, but here we are.

The year was 2017 and I had just moved to Kansas City after college hoping for a new beginning. To my dismay, the job market for my field of work was not hot and after months of applying for jobs in the Kansas City area, I reluctantly decided to apply for jobs elsewhere, which landed me back in Columbia, MO with no plan and nowhere to live.

I finally sublet a room at a duplex some friends were renting and one winter night, without me even realizing, in walked my future husband. He was friends with my roommates, visiting for the weekend and we hit it off almost instantly. Despite growing up just 20 minutes from each other, our paths had never crossed until that winter in Columbia.

After a year of long distance, and making the drive back to Palmyra every weekend to work on our house, we finally moved into our first home. After 4 years if dating, Chase popped the question on the top deck of a boat under the New Year’s Eve fireworks in Chicago. If you would have told 2017 me that all of my perceived misfortune would lead me exactly where I needed to be, I wouldn’t have believed you, but here we are.

We were married in my family church on September 17, 2022  followed by a reception under white tents and twinkling lights in my childhood backyard, my dream wedding venue since I was just a kid. Although our guest list was full of sworn rivals from Palmyra and Monroe City, two communities came together as one that day. Cocktail hour was held on my parent’s pool deck, paired with live music from a very talented family friend followed by a night of champagne toasts and barefoot feet on the dance floor.

As our reception came to an end, Chase and I finished the night by jumping into the swimming pool, designer ball gown and all. Followed by some of our wedding party and several guests. Despite the chilly September evening air, we splashed and laughed for an hour. With no professional cameras or videos around, we were truly living in the moment. Soaking in all the wonderful emotions that we will cherish in our memory for the rest of our life. A downpour of rain started just as our reception came to a close, adding to the movie-like atmosphere that was present throughout our entire day.

Our wedding was nothing short of an absolute dream made possible by some great family and friends as well as some amazing vendors.

Photography: Madaline Paige Photography
Makeup: Lauren Lee Beauty
Hair: H&CO Salon
Rentals: Celebrations Party & Event Rental
Floral: Applebee Tree Flowers