Sarah and Sam Aldrich

Tied the Knot: August 9, 2019

Sarah Aldrich, 26, is originally from Reno, Nevada; following family tradition, she attended Oklahoma State University, graduating with a degree in marketing and management. She works at a large Kansas City company as a program specialist for their new hire orientation. 

Sam Aldrich, 27, grew up in Mission, Kansas, and moved back after graduating from Oklahoma State University in 2015 with a management information systems degree. He works at FanThreeSixty, a local data analytics company. 

In June 2017, during a sale at Beauty Brands, Sam’s parents spotted Sarah wearing an Oklahoma State shirt. “Of course, they had to tell this girl that their son went to OSU as well!” Sarah laughs. “But alas, we had never met. I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was a special meeting. I found Sam on Facebook and saw we had mutual friends; when I asked about Sam, he suggested a happy hour for us all to hang out. The first opportunity to meet was unfortunately a miss. However, the second opportunity proved to be the one that wrote our history. We all met at the Well in Waldo for drinks and apps, and we have been together ever since.” 

“It was a gray and rainy day on our one-year anniversary of dating, but I already decided this was the day to propose,” Sam recounts. “The photographer was lined up, the after party with friends was scheduled, and I was going for it! We started the day with late breakfast on the Plaza, and I took Sarah to the Nelson-Atkins Art Gallery for the first time. The plan was to go outside to a more private area and propose, and miraculously, the rain stopped for 30 minutes and allowed for me to go out and propose. She kept saying, ‘Are you serious?’, which eventually translated to ‘Yes!’ Afterward, we celebrated with our closest friends at Boulevard Brewing Co.”

The blissful couple tied the knot August 9, 2019, accompanied by a wedding party of eight bridesmaids and eight groomsmen. “The vision for our wedding was timeless, minimal and romantic,” Sarah describes. “We kept colors simple; with navy blue suits, splashes of green in the florals, and white bridesmaid dresses that created an elegant and romantic look and went along with my Royal Wedding theme. My bouquet was modeled after Kate Middleton’s bouquet, filled with dainty white flowers and greenery.” 

For a true Kansas City feel, the couple chose barbecue and, instead of wedding cake, a bourbon-soaked cherry bread pudding, which was a crowd favorite. “It was important to me that it wasn’t entirely traditional. We didn’t do a bouquet toss, garter toss, or speeches, and we had a sweetheart table so we could have a private moment to enjoy our first dinner as a married couple. All in all, our goal was to have a wedding that was truly a party with minimal disruptions,” Sarah notes. 

“Our favorite moment of the reception was when Pistol Pete, our school’s mascot, made a surprise entrance during our alma mater’s fight song; talk about epic. We never thought Pistol Pete would come to KC because of the distance, and it was a total surprise that our parents pulled off.” 

Sarah and Sam honeymooned in London, the Swiss Alps and Zurich, Switzerland. ■

Bridal Gown
Fabulous Frocks Bridal

Bridesmaids’ Gowns
Azazie

Groom’s Suit/Tux
Todd’s Clothiers & Tailor Shop

Groomsmen Suits/Tuxes
Todd’s Clothiers & Tailor Shop

Hair Styling
Joanna Freisner, Sopra Salon and Spa  

Florist
Good Earth Floral Design Studio 

Videography
Beau Vaughn  

DJ
DJ Max James through DJ Alex Reed

Caterer
Blind Box BBQ

Ceremony Venue
Redeemer Fellowship

Reception Venue
Magnolia Venue & Urban Garden 

Jeweler
Meierotto Jewelers

Wedding Coordinator
High Cotton Events 

Bartenders        
Tom’s Travelers