landlocked bride™ | midwest + mountain west wedding inspiration

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landlocked bride real wedding

Why, hello Chuck! (Not that Chuck)

Best wedding jumping photo ever. And, see the guy to the left of the groom, Todd? That’s the best man – Todd’s Dad. Kudos to another groom for asking his dad to stand up for him (Kate‘s husband did the same).

Whitley placed her dog’s collar tags on her bouquet in memory of her, as she recently passed away from lymphoma. Talk about pulling at your heart strings.

The cupcakes. Did I not warn you about these cupcakes? The bride happens to work at Molly’s Cupcakes in Chicago, and made these herself! And, how can you not love the retro Nintendo cake. Score.



Photos courtesy of SjMacky Photography

landlocked bride real wedding

I can’t help but love a wedding with a lot of character. And funk. And fun. And, really really ridiculously good looking cupcakes (stay tuned for part two).


For the record, I’m dying over these shoes.







Photos courtesy of SjMacky Photography

Yes cake. Oh, boy I can barely contain myself here.


Photo courtesy of SjMacky Photography

Now, whether this cake actually takes like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup is beyond me, but a girl can dream, right?

landlocked bride real wedding

The Reception:









Images courtesy of SjMacky Photography

Wedding Coordinator: Yara Holt, Bridal Horizons | Photographer: Sara McDermott, SjMacky Photography | Ceremony: The Jewel Box in Forest Park | Reception/Catering: Trolley Room, Forest Park Visitors Center, Catering St. Louis | Wedding Dress: Justin Alexander, Normans Bridal and Jewelry | Cake: Encore Baking Company | Invitations/Paper Goods: Self-designed and made | DJ: Michael McDurmont

landlocked bride real wedding

The Couple:







Images courtesy of SjMacky Photography

From the Bride:
Most of the details that mattered to me on my wedding day were heirlooms or traditions and I can’t compare them to one another. I wore my mother’s wedding shoes down the aisle when mine broke and wore the same pin that sixty of the women in her family have worn on their wedding day (pictured in Part One). I used my grandmother’s cake server and sobbed into her handkerchief during my vows. My grandfather married us. My mother surprised us with a trombone quartet playing “All you need is love” as our recessional. I loved our grooms cake, our regular cake, our centerpieces, our buffet, the lighting in the room, my bridesmaid’s outfits, my vows, Colin’s vows…and I could go on and on. Am I allowed to say that I loved everything?

The one thing I will always remember is turning the corner to walk down the aisle. I just remember feeling like the whole world shrunk down to just me, my dad and Colin. I know that some girls say the walk down the aisle goes by quickly but I feel like I remember every step.

The best advice I can offer is to not sweat the details. They’re important, but you really should asses WHO they’re important to before you let them take over your day. Will your guests mind if your napkins aren’t monogrammed? Probably not, and neither should you. The best planning decision I made was to hand the reigns over to my mom near the end. She tied up all the loose ends, made all of the decisions about the little details (where should the votive candles be placed? What will our recessional music be? Etc etc) and on the wedding day, I literally didn’t know enough information to be upset about anything that went astray. It was wonderful.

Wedding Coordinator: Yara Holt, Bridal Horizons | Photographer: Sara McDermott, SjMacky Photography | Ceremony: The Jewel Box in Forest Park | Reception/Catering: Trolley Room, Forest Park Visitors Center, Catering St. Louis | Wedding Dress: Justin Alexander, Normans Bridal and Jewelry | Cake: Encore Baking Company | Invitations/Paper Goods: Self-designed and made | DJ: Michael McDurmont

landlocked bride real wedding

Kate not only happens to be a wonderful friend of mine (and bridesmaid), but is also a local photographer. I was thrilled to be able to attend her wedding, and am even more excited to share her wedding with you.

Kate grew up in South Carolina and move to St. Louis a few years ago. Her husband happened to be the Pilot’s college roommate, but grew up in Osh Kosh, WI. Since many of their guests would have to travel no matter where they held their wedding, they decided to host it in St. Louis, the city in which they call home. Kate (and her mother) did a fantastic job of really making the wedding about tradition and meaningful details with modern touches here and there.

Getting Ready:





The Ceremony:






Images courtesy of SjMacky Photography

Wedding Coordinator: Yara Holt, Bridal Horizons | Photographer: Sara McDermott, SjMacky Photography | Ceremony: The Jewel Box in Forest Park | Reception/Catering: Trolley Room, Forest Park Visitors Center, Catering St. Louis | Wedding Dress: Justin Alexander, Normans Bridal and Jewelry | Cake: Encore Baking Company | Invitations/Paper Goods: Self-designed and made | DJ: Michael McDurmont

Nearly two months ago, a good friend of mine (and bridesmaid) tied the knot with the Pilot’s old college roommate.  Kate happens to be a photographer here in St. Louis, but she is originally from South Carolina.  From the day I met her, I fell in love with her honesty and Southern charm.  And, while I was beyond thrilled to share her special day with her, I was just as excited that she chose a wedding gown that truly fit her personality to a “T.”





Images courtesy of SjMacky Photography

Kate and her husband happen to be on their honeymoon this week – so I hope the two of them are living it up in Hawaii for the week.

It’s cold outside, but that does not mean your winter engagement photos have to be boring.  This, my friends, is how you have fun with your e-pics in the winter.  And, thankfully, we have a few outdoor skating rinks in town during winter!

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What is fantastic about the idea of doing something for your engagement session, is that the photographer is truly able to capture real moments of interaction, as Sara mentions on her blog.

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Images courtesy of SjMacky Photography