Cristo Rey Kansas City’s 15th Annual Dancing with the Kansas City Stars was held on June 26th. Kathleen Couchonnal and Melissa Skeens were the co-chairmen, and Kristi and Larkin O’Keefe served as the honorary chairmen. Guests enjoyed an all-star dance competition that featured Nick Durand, Phil Glynn, Mike Jackson, Mary Haggerty Kroening, Kate O’Keefe, Julie […]

Bradette Groves and Lisa Tucker were the co-chairmen for Family Health Care’s 10th Anniversary Tacos & Beer on the Boulevard on June 10th. The sold-out event was hosted by Boulevard Brewing Company. Guests enjoyed the musical stylings of DJ Billy Santoro, as well as a silent auction and a raffle. Proceeds support Family Health Care, […]

Deer Creek Golf Club was the site for the Folly Golf Classic, which was held on June 18th. Alex Solorio served as the chairman.       Also featured in the August 7, 2021 issue of The Independent Photo credit: Markline Tournament Photography

We recently returned from a fabulous trip to Napa Valley where we sipped wine and soaked up the sunshine while learning to appreciate the art of winemaking. We listened to many winemakers’ success stories of growing the grapes, and I loved hearing each unique journey to where they are today. The wine drinking wasn’t half […]

Dr. and Mrs. Douglas L. Nelson of Mission Hills, Kansas, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Kristen Adele Nelson, to Ryan Matthew Turner, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Michael Turner of Tacoma, Washington. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Mrs. H. D. Hale of Overland Park, Kansas, and the late […]

A bouncing baby boy named Wyatt Timothy Sorenson was born on April 2nd to Alexandra and Christopher Sorenson of Prairie Village, Kansas. Wyatt has blue eyes and black hair. He weighed eight pounds, two ounces, and was 21 and one-half inches long. Wyatt’s delighted grandparents are Christie Geier-Pratt and Timothy Pratt and Susan and Mark […]

Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City held its Legacy Invitational on May 24th at Loch Lloyd and June 14th at The National. When not on the links, guests enjoyed a variety of amenities, including hot towel shaves, chair massages, a cigar emporium, and a gift salon, in addition to a gourmet breakfast and hospitality tents […]

June 7th was the date for the C&C Group Alphapointe Pro-Am, which was held at Loch Lloyd Country Club. More than 100 golfers from around the country participated in the event. Proceeds are earmarked for youth programming at the organization, which offers comprehensive rehabilitation services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Also featured […]

Katasha Kumar has a deep passion and commitment to philanthropy that developed early in her childhood. Growing up in Chicago, Katasha’s family introduced her to volunteerism and community engagement, not as something to do, but as a way to demonstrate their long-held family values. From her time in Girl Scouts to volunteering at senior centers, […]

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Ray Jones of Mission Hills, Kansas, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Caroline Anne Jones, to Spencer Patrick Yohn, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Dean Yohn of Overland Park, Kansas. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Lawrence Hansen and the […]

The KidsTLC Open was held on June 7th at Shadow Glen Golf Course. Libations and food stations, along with games, added to everyone’s enjoyment of the day. KidsTLC provides services for children who are facing challenges with mental and behavioral health, developmental trauma, and autism.   Kristen Tyson, Lauren Roberts, Matt Mayer, and Dan Novascone, event […]

Another piece to the perfect day is having guests come from near and far to celebrate the love of two people they care about. Whether you’re thanking guests when they arrive at their table seat, or surprising out-of-towners with a gift in their hotel room, acknowledging their presence is important. Megan Pence, gifting guru of […]

Wedding season is back, and it is better than ever! The celebrations are elevated, and the guests are elated to be part of the party. With so much love and thought poured into a wedding day, family and friends play a key role in determining the details. Gifts of gratitude and love should be exchanged […]

My favorite part of my wedding was having my absolute favorite people around me for an entire day. It really is a rare treat to have the most important people in your life all together to celebrate you. As a bride or groom, it’s important to select a gift that is not only unique, but […]

Wedding season has officially returned! After the quiet of last year, the summer weather has arrived and brought with it an extremely full calendar of ceremonies, showers, and parties. Weddings can certainly bring out the best and the worst in us: family drama, seating charts, food choices, and fancy locations. Here are a few books […]

Lauren and Brennan Burns were finally able to celebrate their marriage with family and friends on May 22nd at Indian Hills Country Club. Having had an intimate ceremony in August of 2020, the happy couple was feted with a beautiful reception to commemorate the union. The stunning wedding party included Amy Cosgrove, maid of honor; […]

“We’ve only just begun to live / White lace and promises…”  If the words you’re hearing in your head are, “A kiss for luck and we’re on our way…”  – well then, dear reader, you’re probably as shocked as we are to realize that Karen Carpenter’s vocals were gracing wedding receptions more than 50 years […]

Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Allen Girman of Beaufort, South Carolina, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Claire Alexis Girman, to Nelson Andrew Costello, the son of Mr. and Mrs. David William Costello of Mission Hills, Kansas. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Lynne Evans of Westfield, Indiana, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Evans […]

Ever wondered what the traditions are in other countries when it comes to weddings? Do others revere wedding cake as much as we do? What would you serve if you wanted to incorporate some delicacies from other parts of the world? We’ve put together a summary of sorts for sumptuous samples and tasty traditions from […]

Having a wedding photographer is a must, even today when everything is digital. A wedding video is also nice, although the bride’s memory of the event might just be more magical without the reminder that her hair wasn’t perfect by hour five. There are also drones, GoPros, and photo booths. But, the most imaginative way […]

Elizabeth Phillips Starr and Captain Edward James Gallagher will meet at the altar on December 30th at Country Club Christian Church in Kansas City, Missouri. The bride-to-be is the daughter of Alicia Noonan Starr of Our Town and the late Mr. John Robert Starr. Elizabeth is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Cleaver Noonan […]