Beautiful vintage pair of t-straps. Caught on film (yes, film)!
For more Tuesday Shoesday goodness, hop over to Simply & Forever, Heart Love Weddings, Life in the Super Burbs, Brancoprata, Postcards and Pretties, Magnolia Rouge, and Marry You Me!
A wedding shoe with character is my favorite kind. As much as a simple stiletto is pretty, so is a pair with straps or laces or color.
For more Tuesday Shoesday goodness, hop over to Simply & Forever, Heart Love Weddings, Life in the Super Burbs, Brancoprata, Postcards and Pretties, Magnolia Rouge, and Marry You Me!
From the Bride:
Our moms were huge helps in planning the wedding. Mark’s mom is crafty, loves hospitality and planned his sister’s wedding a few years ago. My mom has been a wedding coordinator for various high-end hotels and can do this stuff in her sleep. I worked in catering at one of those hotels (The American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin) as a high school and college student–so I’ve seen a lot of wedding receptions and know what I like and don’t like–what’s worth the effort and cost and what’s not. When it came to our vendors, it was important to us to use as many St. Louis City Vendors as possible.
My mom was all over a lot of details: special table linens, room layout, lighting, special decoration, and the candy favor table. Mark’s mom and my aunt (who brought all the orchids from her home in Hawaii) did a lot of the paper elements from invites, to programs, to menu cards, to candy favor boxes, to table numbers, etc. My mom sewed the one-of-a-kind flowergirl dress–ivory with a pink sash, pink trim along the bottom of the skirt and a black accent flower on the sash–she was so cute!
The flowers from Soulard florist were perfect for our wintry wedding! And Jeanie came in under budget! Just as I wanted–and even better. The fun accent flower of black-centered anemones just capped off my excitement. I was excited she could get them in February!
The day was lovely, the ceremony was perfect and worshipful, the gathering of friends and family was such a wonderful embrace of love, and the reception was just plain fun! Good food, great drinks (we special ordered the local micro-brewer Schlafly’s APA and Oatmeal Stout), and lots of dancing and socializing!
To view more photos from Stacey and Mark’s wedding day, be sure to check out their gallery.
Photography: Megan Thiele Studios | Ceremony: Graham Chapel | Reception Venue: Windows on Washington, 6th floor | Florist: Soulard Florist; Bride’s Aunt (stem orchids) | Videographer: Lifetime Media | Ceremony Musicians: Ilex Quartet, Russ Mohr (leading vocals and guitar) | Reception Entertainment: Elite Pro DJ | Wedding Cake: The Cakery | Wedding Gown: Clarice’s Bridal | Bridesmaid Dresses: Clarice’s Bridal | Hair and Make-up: Show-Me-Stylz Salon | Suits / Tux Rental: Men’s Warehouse
From The Bride:
We decided on getting married in St. Louis, a halfway point for most of our family and where both Mark and I currently live. (Originally I’m from Milwaukee, went to University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Mark is from Oklahoma, went to Kansas State University, but had most recently lived in Chicago for grad school.) I guess the fact that we grew up and/or lived in cold places and both enjoy snow and cold weather–meant we weren’t afraid of a winter wedding.
We wanted a city/urban wedding too–because we are both passionate about the city and its residents. We wanted older buildings, exposed brick walls, antique wood, etc. Mark lived in Soulard–in an old cool apartment–and I lived in South City–in a 1930 “gingerbread” brick home with all the old dark wood, stained glass windows and other fun details.
Sadly, the terrible snow and ice storm the week of the wedding (seriously, the news was calling it the biggest storm in two decades) did keep a number of family and friends from Kansas and Oklahoma from making the drive to St. Louis. That was our biggest disappointment. Both sets of Mark’s grandparents, who live in Kansas, couldn’t attend the wedding weekend because they didn’t feel comfortable and able to drive all the way to St. Louis. But, a number of other people rearranged travel plans to make it to St. Louis safely and for that we were grateful.
On wedding day, we woke up to fresh snow–which was a surprise and made getting to the salon for morning hair and make-up appointments a bit difficult, but by noon, the roads were plowed clean and the sun was shining. For the ceremony, the sun was shining beautifully through the stained glass windows at the chapel. And, the sun lasted for our outdoor photos outside the chapel on the Wash U. campus. The beautiful fresh, white blanket of snow made everything just beautiful!
Photography: Megan Thiele Studios | Ceremony: Graham Chapel | Reception Venue: Windows on Washington, 6th floor | Florist: Soulard Florist; Bride’s Aunt (stem orchids) | Videographer: Lifetime Media | Ceremony Musicians: Ilex Quartet, Russ Mohr (leading vocals and guitar) | Reception Entertainment: Elite Pro DJ | Wedding Cake: The Cakery | Wedding Gown: Clarice’s Bridal | Bridesmaid Dresses: Clarice’s Bridal | Hair and Make-up: Show-Me-Stylz Salon | Suits / Tux Rental: Men’s Warehouse
There is nothing I love more than a bride with colored shoes. Other than a bride with a fun and funky pair of colored shoes.
For more Tuesday Shoesday goodness, hop over to Swatchbook Weddings, Simply & Forever, SWOONOVERIT, Meant to be Sent, Life in the Super Burbs, Brancoprata, Postcards and Pretties, Magnolia Rouge, Jan Schill, and The Demoiselle!
We’ve all seen the standard round reception table. And, the occasional square table. But if you are looking for a way to really transform a space easily – go for long banquet-style tables. It can make an otherwise large reception feel more intimate, and help to re-shape the space.
The World’s Fair Pavilion is a great space in St. Louis. And, more often than not, receptions use the round tables time after time. With a little switch of the table shape, the Pavilion was transformed into a different space, with a more dramatic effect.
Photos courtesy of Megan Thiele Studios
Sometimes the smallest of change can make the biggest impact.
So, you’re not sure how to dress your ‘maids. You could go the traditional route, and have them all wear the same thing (I did). Or, you could have them coordinate a monochromatic look. Or, you can have all of them wear the same thing, except the maid of honor. Of which, I am a fan of when it is executed beautifully.
Case in point: Bridesmaids in a neutral, Maid of Honor in a bold wedding color. Two words: Le Swoon.
Photos courtesy of Megan Thiele Studios
Photos courtesy of Megan Thiele Studios
Image courtesy of Megan Thiele Studios
Yes, that’s right.
It’s hot outside (well, at least in the Midwest). So, why not cool off, right?
Christ and Bo had planned a little fun for their wedding guests after their sweet and intimate ceremony in downtown St. Louis. A little fun in the form of a water balloon fight. And, I cannot get over how fantastic these images are, not to mention how gorgeous the light is.
Images courtesy of Megan Thiele Studios
Obviously, not every bride is going to be game for launching water balloons back and forth with her groom, but you cannot deny that the idea is definitely a fun one!
