Kempker's Back 40 Barn Wedding Venue in southern MO

Bret and Brandon first contacted us about photographing both their engagement session and Kempker’s Back 40 barn wedding last spring. After chatting, I knew our style of photography would be a perfect fit with their vision! Bret said that she loved natural colors mixed with the green hues of nature. She carried this theme seamlessly throughout the wedding, and the result was magazine-worthy. From the woven macrame hanging backdrop for the ceremony, to the draped greenery everywhere, this rustic barn wedding had us swooning.

This was our first time photographing a Kempker’s Back 40 barn wedding, and we felt so grateful to Bret and Brandon for introducing us to such a magical place! Scroll down to see some of our favorite documentary photos from their big day. Congrats to these newlyweds and welcome back from your Dominican Republic honeymoon!

Bride and groom pose on a grassy hill outside of the Kempker's Back 40 barn wedding venue in Westphalia, MO.

Bride and groom pose in the creek bed outside of the Kempker's Back 40 wedding venue with fields of wildflowers.

This country wedding venue at the Kempker's Back 40 barn in Westphalia is beautiful.

Woven macrame wedding ceremony backdrop hanging in the barn doorway as a beautiful backdrop for this Kempker's Back 40 wedding.

View of the dinner tables set up in the covered pavilion at this barn wedding venue at Kempker's Back 40 in southern MO.

Live potted plants as centerpieces at this barn wedding in the country at Kempker's Back 40.

These woven macrame table runners were perfect for this barn wedding in the country at Kempker's Back 40.

These rustic wedding invitations and candid photo save the date cards were perfect for a barn wedding in MO.

These unique antique silo bars at the Kempker's Back 40 barn venue in MO were the coolest drink stations ever!

The groom is followed by his groomsmen in charcoal grey suits with blue ties at this barn wedding.

Candid photo of the groom hugging his mother in law before the outdoor ceremony at this barn wedding in southern MO.

Bride looking out the barn window at the rustic Kempker's Back 40 barn venue in Missouri.

Adorable photo of the ring bearer pulling the flower girl baby in a red radio flyer wagon before this country wedding in Missouri.

The bride and her father walk into the wedding ceremony while she is emotional about seeing the groom for the first time!

Emotional photos of the groom crying when he sees his bride for the first time at this barn wedding in MO.

The bride and groom exchange vows in front of this white woven macrame backdrop in the barn doorway at Kempker's Back 40.

View of the outdoor ceremony in front of the reception barn at Kempker's Back 40, a rustic wedding venue in Westphalia.

The happy bride looks at her groom during this natural wedding photo of the outdoor ceremony.

Documentary photos of the wedding ceremony guests watching the bride and groom at this barn wedding venue in MO.

The bride and groom kiss in front of the crocheted macrame backdrop in the barn at Kempker's Back 40.

The bride and groom have a colorful wedding ceremony exit walk as the guests throw dried wildflower petals at them at this barn wedding.

Fine art wedding photography at this country wedding of the wildflower petals covered the ceremony aisle after couple exits.

Candid wedding photography of the bride picking wildflowers out of the groom's hair after their outdoor ceremony in the country of southern MO.

Such a happy photo of the bride and groom's friends congratulating them after the wedding ceremony at Kempker's.

Emotional photo of the bride and her mom hugging after the barn ceremony.

Love this bright and colorful photo of the groom smiling as friends hug him after the barn ceremony in southern MO.

Nature wedding photography of the wedding party at Kempker's Back 40 barn wedding venue in MO.

Natural wedding photography of the bride and her wedding party in the creek at Kempker's Back 40.

Wedding party poses in the rocky creekbed at this rustic barn wedding venue in Westphalia.

Natural and anthropologie style wedding photography of the bridesmaids at Kempker's Back 40.

Funny photo of the groomsmen in the creek at this country wedding in MO.

Romantic ethereal wedding photo of the bride and groom walking through a field of wildflowers at Kempker's Back 40 barn wedding venue.

Anthropologie wedding photography at this country wedding at the Kempker's Back 40 barn venue in MO.

Loved these photos of the bride and groom standing in a field of wildflowers behind the barn at Kempker's in Westphalia.

The bride and groom in a sexy kiss at this country wedding in a field of flowers at their Kempker's Back 40 barn wedding.

The groom wears a royal blue bowtie for his country wedding in southern MO.

Simple tiffanys figure 8 necklace for this country wedding at the Kempker's Back 40 wedding barn venue.

A field of colorful wildflowers behind the barn wedding venue at Kempker's Back 40 in southern MO.

Ethereal photo of the bride and groom in a natural creek bed at Kempker's Back 40.

Happy wedding photo of the bride and groom at this barn venue in MO.

View of the country barn wedding venue with macrame and lace in southern MO.

Great documentary wedding photo of the grandmother smiling with her granddaughter after dinner in the covered pavilion at this country wedding venue.

Candid wedding photography of the wedding guests at cocktail hour at Kempker's Back 40 in southern MO.

The bride and groom have their first dance outside under a canopy of twinkle lights at this barn wedding venue in Westphalia, MO.

The bride and groom have a romantic first dance during their country barn wedding at the Kempker's Back 40 venue.

Great documentary photo of the groom dipping the bride outside of a barn on the outdoor patio of Kempker's.

The maid of honor gives a speech while the bride and groom laugh under the covered pavilion for dinner.

Naked wedding cakes on display with romantic lace and twinkle lights at this barn wedding at Kempker's Back 40 in southern MO.

This Kempker's Back 40 Barn wedding in the country had the most beautiful outdoor dancing patio with string lights above and silos as outdoor bars for drinks.

Parent dances outside on the patio at Kempker's Back 40.

Twinkle lights and an antler chandelier at this country wedding venue in southern MO made for amazing wedding photos!

Wedding reception guests laugh and chat under the twilight at Kempker's Back 40.

Great photos of the bride and groom cake smash at the barn at Kempker's in southern MO.

Wedding guests form a conga line on the outdoor dance patio at this barn venue in MO.

Funny photo of a little toddler girl on the dance floor at Kempker's Back 40 barn venue in southern MO.

Dancing on the outdoor patio for this wedding reception at Kempker's.

Bride and groom kiss under a twinkle light arch during twilight blue light sky in southern MO.

Outdoor dance floor with pink lights at Kempker's Back 40 barn in MO.

Groomsmen do shots on the dance floor at this outdoor wedding in MO.

Hilarious photos of faces after doing alcohol shots at the silo bar at this country wedding in MO.

Wedding guests dance on the outdoor patio at Kempker's Back 40 barn venue in Westphalia.

Outdoor dance floor at this country barn wedding venue in southern MO at Kempker's Back 40 barn.

Romantic wedding barn venue in the country at Kempker's Back 40 in Westphalia, MO.

More about this Kempker’s Back 40 summer wedding:

As wedding photographers who specialize in outdoor and rustic weddings, we couldn’t believe that this was our first time at the Kempker’s Back 40 venue. This venue is nestled in the Ozarks area of southern MO. It felt like a hidden gem, and is one most perfectly laid out wedding venues we’ve seen in the Midwest. From the outdoor ceremony space in front of the barn to the covered pavilion with family style picnic tables set up, everything was in one place and created a seamless flow to the day. After the ceremony, Bret and Brandon had their first dance on the outdoor patio under a canopy of string cafe lights. There’s nothing more romantic than dancing under the stars at a wedding!

Bret had so many amazing ideas for her wedding. One of our favorites was the handmade macrame curtain that hung behind their ceremony. There were also handwoven macrame table runners that added a super romantic touch to the head dinner table. Lace was draped and hanging throughout the barns and we loved the vintage Mr. and Mrs. chairs. In addition to the picturesque barns, this venue also had a huge field planted with colorful wildflowers. It was the perfect place for sunset portraits of this happy bride and groom.