landlocked bride® | midwest + mountain west wedding inspiration

If you’re reading this, the world didn’t end (those damn, Mayans). Which is a good thing, because I love this engagement session from Lisa Dolan.

From the Bride-to-Be:
All through college, I worked at a little restaurant in St. Louis. It was a great place to work, but pretty much the same scene everyday. Then one day, in the summer of 2006, everything changed. Sam moved into an apartment above the place, and had come down to the bar to hang out one day. I’ll never forget the first time I saw him – I literally did a double take and (very loudly) said to myself, “Wow, he is really cute!” and proceeded to stare at him until the bartender finished making my drinks. Every time I worked I hoped he would come in to hang out, and would point him out to my coworkers and we’d talk about how cute he was. Turns out, he had been watching me as well, and had even pointed me out to his mom and brother while they were there visiting him. Finally, after a few weeks, we talked. And it was all over from there. We have been together for over 6 years now, and have never been happier. I have since finished my degree in Interior Design, and Sam received his Paramedic Certification and then went through the Fire Academy. Since then we have been busy establishing our careers and working extra jobs – we like to stay busy! In addition to my interior design position, I am a contributor for the blog, Design for Mankind, where I author the column Artistic Apparel. Last January, Sam and I took a spontaneous weekend trip to Chicago to get a way for a few days. Sam proposed, and it was one of the sweetest moments I have ever experienced. Our wedding is in March of 2013, and we have been having a blast planning all of the details for the day. We are also planning on taking a month-long honeymoon traveling around Asia. Although I hate to wish these next few months away, 2013 just can’t get here fast enough.

I had my eye on this wedding the first time I saw Heather and Aaron share it on their blog. I’m not sure what I loved more – the character in every detail or the fact that this suave NYC / model-esque couple (well, the groom is a model) tied the knot it little ‘ole Kansas City. Regardless, it’s a pretty sweet soiree.

From the Photographer:
Bas and Courtney traveled half way around the world to throw their gorgeous wedding in Kansas City. Literally. This couple met in New York, but Amsterdam, Bas’ home city, became their base of operations to allow him model more in Europe. After reading that last sentence, it’s probably not surprising that their Hilton President wedding and reception was uber stylish. From the one of a kind gown and bridesmaids dressed designed by bridesmaid and fashion designer Joy Cioci to the fairytale-esque ballroom, this day oozed cool style. Plus this adventurous couple was totally down with shooting around and in an abandoned and graffitied castle for their portraits.

This isn’t the regular “real wedding” you’d expect to see here on LLB.  Why, you ask?  Simple. Today is my anniversary.  Two years ago today, I married a wonderful man.  A man who forces me to be the best me, helps me see the side of things I sometimes refuse to pay attention to, and makes me laugh when I need it most.

Today’s is a trip to memory lane — a few of my favorite photos from our wedding day and my forever favorite video from Kevin.

Super 8 Wedding Film – St. Louis, Missouri from Kevin Von Qualen on Vimeo.

I love a beautiful wedding photo. I don’t know what wedding blogger doesn’t. But, what makes that photo so much more beautiful (and memorable) is the story behind them.

Amanda’s stunning bridal portraits took place at her family home – but the lighting and blank canvas of the white walls and furniture were the perfect backdrop. And, she had the women in her family there to support and enjoy this time with her.

Some of my favorite photos of my own wedding day are the bridal portraits my photographer captured in our hotel room. It’s not very often you get to have photos of just yourself snapped, but when you do, they’re a great way to capture the joy and love in your eyes (and heart).

From the Photographer:
I hadn’t met Amanda in person until the day of her bridal shoot, but we meshed well in all of our phone conversations. We had to reschedule due to the extreme heat and her reaction to her bone marrow transplant. She is a survivor and is loved by so many, and I felt that energy the minute I walked in the door. Again, due to the weather and her low energy levels, we moved the shoot to her family home, which I was loving due to all the white floors and white carpets. It was so lovely and bright! Amanda was in great spirits and completely comfortable in her own surroundings, so we got to work capturing the essence of her spirit, the beauty of her gown, and all the details we wouldn’t have time to capture on her wedding day. As her mother, grandmother, and aunt watched, we did an entire bridal session in under an hour. Amanda was comfortable and relaxed, and I left feeling closer to her and her family for the wedding day. And as it turns out, we didn’t have any time for detail shots of the dress hanging or her jewelry on her actual wedding day. I’m so glad we did the bridal session (instead of a traditional engagement session). She has these lovely images to cherish forever, and she surprised her husband with a large print at the reception.

This wedding has somewhat of an air of vintage to it – but I’m clearly not talking burlap or retro.  It has that sort of classic 1940s appeal.  Sara’s gown sets the stage, and each of the details – the cake, her jewelry, the flowers, are reminiscent of a beautiful party table scape – but it a timeless way.

And, don’t forget to check out their video – also captured by Matt at One Tree Photo+Cinema. I secretly love when I also have a video to share, as it always helps the couple’s story come to life even more.

Sara + Tyler Wedding Highlights from One Tree Photography on Vimeo.

I’m a sucker for navy blue. But, that’s not the only thing that drew me in to Beth and Ryan’s wedding. Photo after photo showed them smiling, and I could totally see it in their eyes. One of those genuine, joyful smiles. The ones that warm your heart the instant you spot it. Allison of Allison Marie Photography captured that joy so well.

Allison Marie Photography

From the Bride:
Our theme was classic modern. We wanted to look back at our pictures with no regrets or wonder why selected a color, dress, or style. And, we knew it had to be Kansas City, the city where our journey together started, and a perfect place to take our vows for “forever and ever, Amen.” We had the ceremony at my old neighborhood church in which my sister once dreamt of being married. My uncle who has helped guide me during earlier years was able to share with both of us the keys to growing together in marriage. And, we wanted the rest of our family and friends to be a part of the ceremony by taking a vow to love and support us in our marriage. It was so impactful to turn and see everyone standing in front of us taking this vow. Amazing.

What says Kansas City more than the great sky line and an outdoor terrace our guests could enjoy during cocktails and hors d’oeuvres?! That’s exactly why we chose the Terrace on Grand. Our goal was to bring the right people into our wedding day that had an eye for detail to take the pressure off on the days prior. All of our vendors did an outstanding job, but there was one that stood out above the rest, our photographer. She couldn’t have been better capturing the moments and details. When we think back on what made our day so special, it is hands down the ceremony. It was our time to focus on each other and what the day truly means. It’s not about the details but about the “forever and ever, Amen.” The perfect weather with brilliant sunshine also helped make it a wonderful day, forever to be cherished.

Ceremony Venue: Old Mission Methodist Church | Reception Venue: Terrace on Grand | Caterer: Taste Catering | Photographer: Allison Marie Photography | Floral Designer: Luminosity Design | Dress Designer: Lis Simon, Jim Hjelm | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Tuxedo and Mens Attire: Tuxedo Butler

Oh, this wedding. It’s fun and pretty. It’s classic and beautiful. Not to mention Fred Bird makes an appearance (a wedding guest I’m always fond of). But, just reading Lindsey’s recap of their big day should be a reminder to anyone planning a wedding that simple and personal can make such a huge statement. Plus, Anne Martin does a fabulous job of capturing their joy and love – something they’ll get to keep with them forever.

Anne Martin

From the Bride:
Ryan and I met when we were in college, I was a waitress at a popular restaurant/bar on the campus of St. Louis University, and he was the nice red-headed boy who liked to throw darts with his buddies during happy hour. I never knew that 6 years later we would happen to run into one another, and my thoughts about that nice red-headed boy would change forever. After a couple of hours of chatting about anything and everything, I knew this was something special.

Throughout the next couple of years, Ryan and I fell in love while having an amazing time traveling with great friends, and spending time with our amazing families. Ryan proposed in Denver, CO, on July 8th, 2010 on the balcony of our friends’ loft, overlooking downtown Denver. I was completely surprised and overwhelmed with happiness and excitement. And, the ring! The boy did a good job!

I was anxious to begin planning our big day and relied on the help of my mom and girlfriends to make it the best day ever. We chose to have our ceremony at the lovely Samuel Church in Clayton and celebrated at Point of View, on the 30th floor of the Laclede Gas Building in downtown St. Louis. I knew I wanted a simple, yet elegant wedding, with romantic touches throughout. My bridesmaids and I carried bouquets of blush and ivory roses, black candelabras decorated with roses served as table centerpieces, and sparkling votives lined the dance floor, creating an intimate setting, along with the lights of the city. To add personal touches with a vintage feel, we displayed old photos of our family members’ weddings, had guests write messages on postcards to fill a vintage suitcase, and sent our loved ones home with olive oil & balsamic vinegar favors. Oh, and I can’t forget the special guest…Fred Bird! Ryan’s mom arranged for the Cardinals mascot to make an appearance! He was a hit and such an awesome surprise! We spent the rest of the evening taking goofy pictures in a photo booth and dancing with all of our favorite people. Every girl dreams of her wedding day, and mine couldn’t have been any better. Not only did the day go off without a hitch, it was just the beginning to a life full of love and happiness.

Ceremony Venue: Samuel Church | Reception Venue: Point of View | Photography: Anne Martin | DJ: Tom Rotter with Block Rockin Beats | Caterer: Patty Long | Cake: Lubeley’s | Florist: Memory Lane | Transportation: Central State Trailways | Wedding Gown: Amore | Bridesmaids Dresses: Clarice’s Bridal | Groomsmen Attire: Savvi Formalwear

Mike and Amanda’s wedding takes me back to my own wedding. Mostly because of the joy on their faces and the fact that they partied the night at the same venue (and same floor) as my husband and I. Something about the loft set-up that just fit our style perfectly.

Laura Ann Miller Photography

From the Bride:
Five years ago I came across a photo that changed the way I thought about wedding photography. The photo bared the stark contrast between the light-hearted, beautifully clad bride and groom and the bleak backdrop of a dirty, graffiti laden city stairwell. I can’t really describe what attracted me so much to this particular image, maybe it was the juxtaposition of love in an unloved place, or the flowing white dress against the harsh lines of dark concrete walls. Either way, I knew someday this photo would be the inspiration for my own wedding. And sure enough, when it was my turn to start planning, I knew simple elegance meshed with an urban edge would play synonymously throughout my wedding. Lucky for me, my groom loved this idea as much as me.

We first chose the venue. It was a loft-like space, with exposed brick and beams, large windows that captured the unique architecture of a downtown cityscape, perfectly spaced white columns that ran floor to ceiling, and a huge bar made out of old wood doors from the historical area of Soulard. It was the first place we visited in a long line of appointments. At first, we were apprehensive. Not about the space itself, but what the cost must be for such a unique place. Fortunately, however, our lucky streak was just warming up. We got a fabulous deal, and I immediately cancelled all 7 of our other appointments (setup for that very day) and booked the 8th floor at Windows on Washington.

As for the dress, I chose a romantic, a-line gown with lace, jewels and couture-looking layers. I knew the second I saw it that it had to be my dress. Unfortunately though, there was a major disagreement between the price tag and my budget. My dream dress was out of reach. But only for a moment – thanks to my mounting luck. When the owner Barb saw me in the dress, she immediately knew it was ‘the one’ as well. She announced she would work with me on the price and adjusted it to a range I could afford. I was so happy with the final result; I couldn’t help but think ‘how could this all be working out so wonderfully?’

But it gets better. My husband and I hit the jackpot when we met Laura Miller, of Laura Ann Miller Photography. Not only was she very reasonably priced, but the work she showed us was absolutely beautiful. This girl knew what she was doing. And I knew she would be able to capture the essence of my simple, elegant style with an urban flair. Oh, and she was wonderfully nice to boot!

Obviously the backdrop of our wedding photography was imperative in creating the elegant/urban feel. I had suggested a couple places downtown by the river, but when Laura visited the locations during the time of day we would be shooting for the wedding, she found them to be over crowded and not quite what we were looking for. Instead, she found the PERFECT location. I mean, EXACTLY what I had imagined – old, industrial part of town that was altogether unloved and totally forgotten. Well until we found it. It was the perfect contrast we were looking for, and we could not be happier. Laura is incredibly gifted, and we cannot thank her enough for capturing these incredible photographs of our big day!

Photography: Laura Ann Miller Photography | Ceremony / Reception Venue: Windows Off Washington | Cake: Lubeley’s Bakery | DJ: Complete Music | Wedding Gown: Kirkwood Bridal Boutique | Tuxes: Kirkwood Bridal Boutique | Bridesmaids Dresses: David’s Bridal

This wedding is filled with so much warmth and character. From the vintage, peacock decor to the “hunting” backdrop. It’s one of those weddings that really keeps your eyes interested from the beginning – an attention grabber, but in the absolute most beautiful way. And, in the obvious way, where the photos tell the true story of a real and genuine love. Aaron and Heather have this eye for capturing the moments and things not everyone sees – and it’s why I love the weddings they shoot. It’s that angle you never thought of that always catches that moment you know the couple will cherish forever.

Hawes Photography

From the Photographers:

Melissa will be the first to admit that the perfect location for a vintage, peacock inspired wedding is probably not a hunting lodge. But considering the hunting preserve is owned by Kevin’s family, it seemed like the perfect place to invite their friends and family for an evening of celebration. And they truly made it work, hosting a beautiful lakeside ceremony and decking out the reception hall with sweet touches like mason jar glasses and cloth napkins.

And as photographers, we’ll always take a dynamic rustic background for our portraits. The preserve is probably the most gorgeous single piece of land we’ve ever seen in Missouri. We took advantage of the fiery fall colors and the super deep lakes (made from strip mining coal) in order to capture Kevin and Melissa’s perfect styling.

Photography: Hawes Photography  |  Cermeony / Reception Venue: Trophy Country Ranch  |  Florist: My Secret Garden  |  Caterer: Catering by Corey  |  DJ: Complete DJ  |  Wedding Gown: Provisions Amore  |  Suits: J.Crew