Christyna C., owner of Living Moments
My Why:
I started Living Moments after leaving a career in nursing. I loved caring for people, and I still do. I just found a different way to do it. Every event I plan is another chance to support someone through a season that matters to them, the same instinct that drew me to nursing in the first place.
I also started this business for my children. I want them to see that you can build something of your own through hard work, even when it means walking away from the safe, expected path. None of this would have happened without my family behind me, especially my partner Steve, who has supported every version of this dream from day one.
Our Name:
The name “Living Moments” isn't an accident. I wanted every client to walk away understanding what it actually means to live in a moment, not just photograph it.
Think about the last wedding you attended. How many guests spent it staring at their phones, angling for the perfect shot instead of watching the vows? How often have you sat across from someone at dinner while they scrolled instead of talked? The last few years reminded all of us that time isn't guaranteed. Living Moments exists to protect the one thing no photo can capture: actually being there.
What Makes Us Different:
Most wedding and event planners will tell you they got into this work because they love events. That's true here too, but it's not the whole story.
What sets Living Moments apart is training and follow-through. I've completed coursework through the Institute of Wedding and Event Design in event design, floral design, and budgeting, so the support I offer goes beyond taste and vision. It includes real financial planning, helping you protect your budget now so you're not starting your future together already behind on it.
I also genuinely love the events other planners shy away from: Harry Potter-themed weddings, or a laid-back elopement built around a paintball match instead of a sit-down dinner. If your vision doesn't look like anyone else's, that's exactly the kind of event I want to help build.
Where We Serve:
Living Moments is based in Mid-Missouri and works with couples and clients throughout the region. We also travel to Wisconsin, Illinois, and Florida, and honestly, if your event is somewhere else entirely, ask us anyway. We'll go where the celebration is.
Steve Sandbothe
Mikayla Schmidt
Meet The Team
Every person on the Living Moments team shares one thing in common: a genuine passion for helping people and bringing wedding dreams to life. Between us, we've worn more hats than we can count over the years, and we're not slowing down anytime soon.
We're part family, part therapist, part calming presence, part wedding fairy. What you won't find with our Mid-Missouri wedding planning team is a cookie-cutter approach. We think outside the box on purpose, because you and your guests deserve a day full of unforgettable moments, not a template.
Don't be surprised if you catch Christyna out on the dance floor with your guests, or Mikayla running the photo booth and pulling ridiculous faces out of people who swore they'd never do a photo booth. Steve's usually the one checking in with the band between sets, making sure the energy in the room never dips, and whoever's on your day-of team will absolutely be hyping up your bridal party before the bouquet toss.
Our Promise to You:
I can't promise your event will be perfect. Hiccups happen. I'm a planner, not a miracle worker. But I can promise you this: my heart, my professional support, and my attention to detail go into every single client I work with.
Whatever you're celebrating, it deserves to be a time of joy, connection, family, and love. So let me and my team handle the hustle and the logistics. You just enjoy the days leading up to your event, knowing you're in good hands.