Years before there was a wedding, there was a kayak, a water lily, and a high school boy willing to climb out into the lake to get it for a girl. Luke’s romantic gesture was something Reagan never forgot. And this summer, that one small, thoughtful gesture became the heart of their wedding day at The Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel in Omaha.
We documented the whole weekend in photo and video, from the rehearsal through the morning-after brunch. We loved every minute of it, and we were so excited to see it featured in Wed Society Nebraska as one of their Vows That Wow weddings.
Rehearsal at Upstream and a welcome party at The Cottonwood
The weekend kicked off with a classic rehearsal dinner at Upstream Brewing with red roses and keepsake wine bottles on every table. After dinner, everyone hopped in the limo back to the bar at The Cottonwood for a welcome party. The excitement of anticipation was buzzing all evening, with lots of smiles, hugs, and toasts between family and friends. That is one of our favorite parts of covering the full weekend. Plus, by the time the wedding day arrives, we already know the faces, the inside jokes, and who’s going to be first on the dance floor.
A Swan Lake-inspired Kimpton Cottonwood wedding
The water lily showed up everywhere, in the best way. Sarah with Styled in White built a garden-inspired design in soft pink, white, blue, and lavender, with lush florals and elegant swan details that felt romantic without ever feeling fussy. Nicole Reher Creative carried the story into the paper suite and custom-builds, so every detail tied back to that day on the water.
First look, private vows, and the ceremony
Reagan and Luke spent the morning getting ready with their wedding party — well, the guys played Topgolf while the girls were starting hair and makeup, but they still got ready in time 🙂 Reagan and Luke saw each other for the first time and shared private vows. It was just the two of them, unhurried and peaceful, among the florals and candlelight.
The ceremony took place in the historic Schimmel Ballroom, one of the most iconic spaces in Omaha, and the light in that room is something we’ll never get tired of. As guests stepped off the elevator into the ballroom’s foyer, they were greeted by an elegant floral display that was a preview of the ceremony room, Luke and Reagan’s mothers’ wedding dresses on display (which was a surprise to them!), and large photos from their engagement session by weeping willows decorated the walls. The clouds moved in that afternoon, so guests entered a serene space lit by candlelight with an aisle runner reminiscent of water.
Cocktail hour in watercolor
After the ceremony, the wedding party popped a bottle of champagne while guests went downstairs for cocktail hour. The room embodied watercolor — Monet-inspired bar and seating chart (with swans), pastel lounge seating, and a live watercolor artist. A saxophonist from The Downtown Collective played through cocktail hour, setting a relaxed, elegant tone as guests mingled.
Dinner and a meaningful tribute
Guests were wowed when the doors opened to the Gold Coast Ballroom for a formal dinner. Abundant florals, romantic candlelight, and a live pianist set the tone. Guests were greeted with a champagne tower on the way to their seats. After entering, the Mieskas cut a cake that was an exact replica of Reagan’s parents’ cake from their wedding day. Her father passed away in 2020, so this had extra special meaning. One of my favorite moments to witness was Reagan’s mom seeing the cake for the first time, then Luke’s mom joining her and realizing the meaning behind it. The intentional decisions couples make don’t go unnoticed.
An evening reception in the Schimmel Ballroom
After dinner, guests headed back up to the Schimmel Ballroom for a lively evening reception. They were surprised with a transformed space that was a contrast to the rest of the day — moody and vibey, yet elegant. There was a personalized cocktail lounge, a drink menu in honor of their dog, Cleo, an ice sculpture, and a classic checkerboard dance floor. The Downtown Collective kept the party going until the last dance. We also brought our modern photo booth, and designed the photo strips to match the design of the day. We pulled the colors from the wedding signage for the print layout and added a little swan icon to tie it back to the theme. Guests took home prints that looked like they belonged with the invitations. Between band sets, guests helped themselves to another cocktail and a fry and pizza bar. At the end of the reception, Luke and Reagan shared an emotional last dance that truly embodied the feeling of the day and the love that these two share for each other.
A slow morning in the Tea Room
The next morning, the couple’s family and wedding party gathered for a day-after brunch in the Tea Room at The Cottonwood. It was a slower, sun-filled goodbye: coffee, tea, recaps of the night before, and the newlyweds getting one more round of hugs before everyone headed home.
Bridal portraits and the album reveal
But the brunch goodbye wasn’t the last time we got to see Luke and Reagan. A few weeks later, we found a sunny evening for bridal portraits at two beautiful Omaha locations. Bridal sessions are perfect for couples who want lots of photos but don’t want to feel rushed on their wedding day. Reagan and Luke mentioned how relaxed the evening felt and how glad they were that they decided to do it.
After all their images and films were complete, we got together one final time for their gallery and film reveal. We sat, reminisced on the day, chatted about their favorite moments, and designed their wedding album. The heirloom album encompasses their entire wedding weekend, and it will be something their children and grandchildren look at one day.
I always feel a little sad after delivering an album. We get so close to our couples between the initial consultation, engagement session, wedding planning, wedding weekend, and reveal. Reagan and Luke were no exception, especially because we had the additional touchpoints of a photoshoot with their puppy, Cleo, and the bridal session. They are such a wonderful couple, and I’m so so grateful Shayne and I got the honor of working with them.
Vendor team
- Planning & Design: Styled in White Events
- Venue, Accommodations & Catering: The Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel
- Photography, Videography & Photo Booth: The Cuongs Co.
- Stationery & Design: Nicole Reher Creative
- Live Guest Portraits: Art by Emerald
- Entertainment: The Downtown Collective
- Florals: Bouquet Omaha
- Rentals: Catalyst Event Rentals, 402 Events, United Rent-All Omaha, Honeyman RENT-ALL, Luxe Linen, BBJ La Tavola, Kontempo Omaha
- Cake: The Cake Gallery
- Attire: Galia Lahav, Bella Bianca Bridal, Kailee P. Wedding Shoes, Skeffington’s Formal Wear, The Dessy Group, Swarovski
- Makeup: RP Artistry KC
- Hair: Salon for Women
- Music: Kim Meyer Harpist, Keyboard Kastle
- Additional Vendors: Bill’s Ice Sculptures, Barb Gallaher Designs, Elite Party Buses, Extreme Limousine Inc., Ryne Bessmer, Broc Hempel
- Rehearsal: Upstream Brewing
Planning a wedding at The Kimpton Cottonwood, or somewhere else in the world? We’d love to hear your story — the little details are our favorite part. Let’s chat.
+ COMMENTS
add a comment