Ceremony Location: Historic Firehouse

Reception Location: Historic Firehouse

Caterer: Metropolitan Grill 

Entertainment: DJ Imperial 

Florist: Avery Mack

Photographer: D Coleman Photography

Wedding Cake: June’s Cakery

Hair and Make- up:Hair-Austin Fischer  Make-up- Nikki Smith

How did the two of you meet?

Working at Metropolitan Grill

Describe the proposal.

He got down on one knee in the middle of the Brooklyn Bridge in NYC

Favorite detail of the wedding?

My flowers

Favorite moment during the day?

Walking down the aisle and seeing my husband to be, and all of our friends and family.

Worse moment of the day?

Speeches!

Finding the dress…

 It was the one that made my sister cry.

Biggest challenge you had with planning the wedding?

Planning it long distance was hard

Words of wisdom to future brides.

Enjoy your engagement and take it all in stride.. when it comes to the big day, the little things don’t really matter at all.

Any unexpected funny moments?

We ended up double-dutch jump roping with boas on the dance floor.

How was your wedding day? Everything and more?

It was the most wonderful day of my life. Everyone helped set-up and took charge so that we didn’t have to worry about anything. The venue was beautiful, the flowers were gorgeous, and my groom was so damn handsome! Being surrounded by all the people I love most in the world was the best feeling ever. We had one hell of a good party! I would relive it again in a heart beat. It was more perfect then I ever could have imagined.

Ceremony Location: Jewel Box

Reception Location: Moto Museum

Caterer: Moto Musuem

Entertainment: Jason Clyde of Millennium Productions

Florist: Elegance By Design – Jackie Davis

Photographer: Beautiful Mess Photography

Wedding Cake: McArthur’s Bakery

Wedding Gown: Amore Today’s Bridal

Wedding Planner:  Day of Coordination by Elegance By Design – Jackie Davis

Invitations: Sarah Struttmann

Hair and Make- up: Hair- Salon St. Louis, Make-Up – Delicately Bold – Emily Miller

How did the two of you meet?

We first crossed paths in Political Science class at St. Louis University.  It took Jeff exactly one class to put into place his brilliant plan to sit close to me.  After officially meeting a fraternity brother's party, Jeff starting walking me across campus for my next class.  With some encouragement from friends and after a few thwarted chances to ask me out (usually because I was oblivious to Jeff's plans), Jeff asked me out despite his total inability to read my emotions behind her mirrored aviator sunglasses.  I quickly said yes.  

Describe the proposal.

After I botched the possibility of Valentine's plans by accepting an invitation from a work friend that weekend, Jeff set up a mid-week get away to celebrate our almost 6 years together.  Despite the aforementioned 6 years, I had no clue that Jeff had an ulterior motive behind the thoughtful idea to take some time away from work together in Hermann, MO.  

While I was driving down to Hermann preoccupied with where we were going to dinner, Jeff was furiously revising, practicing and then scrapping his proposal speech.  When we arrived in Hermann I immediately set about trying to figure out our plans for the evening while Jeff, tie firmly knotted all the way up to the neck in an effort to mimic what he'd seen of "adult men," decided to get down to the business of proposing.

I was trying to figure out the appropriate dinner attire for central Missouri when Jeff darted down on one knee (I would later describe the move as a "lunge;" Jeff prefers the more traditional "knelt") and rushed and stammered through the most important question of his life.  I was so surprised I blurted out ‘Are you sure?’ (he was), then I agreed.  

Theme of the wedding?

We never set out to have a theme but the DIY projects that made the cut were all graphic, modern and bright.  We started down that direction primarily because apple green bridesmaid dresses are virtually impossible to find and black seemed like a way to tie all the apple green details together as well as provide a masculine element for Jeffrey.  Wedding blogs and Pinterest really helped me nail down my inspiration to end up at an unconventional, heartfelt and incredibly fun day. 

Favorite detail of the wedding? 

I just loved all the pops of green- my shoes, the ties, the flowers, the drink flags, ribbon streamers and bridesmaid’s shoe clips. 

Favorite moment during the day?

Our first dance felt like the culmination of the warmth and excitement we felt all day, so for us it was our favorite moment.  Concerned that our dance skills would land us squarely in the 4 minute swaying set, we took dance lessons and chose a song that was special to us even though it was a bit unconventional.  Our practice must have paid off as our guests were cheering, whooping and clapping throughout.  It really made us feel so loved. 

Worse moment of the day?

The four chalky pepto tablets I thought I needed in a futile attempt to settle my stomach – which suddenly felt just fine right after our ceremony.

Finding the dress… 

After listening to my married friends, I knew when I went to the third store that I needed to find something I was happy with and stop looking or I would end up confused and then increasing my budget to find something that felt different.  When Rita brought out my one shouldered Pronovias dress, I didn’t ‘know’ and I didn’t cry.  I just lingered and I found myself swaying a bit.  I knew I really liked it and after trying on a few more I wanted to put it back on.  Once I did I knew I would be happy with it.  Rita gave me a discount for buying that weekend and I never looked back.    

Biggest challenge you had with planning the wedding?

Expectations – real or imagined.  The best advice I found was from Megan Keene’s book, “ A Practical Wedding (…),” in which she stressed the importance of the marriage and discussed the history of weddings as a guidepost for the things we think we have to do.  No matter your budget there will always be something that makes you think it’s not big enough or something about your plans that is not good enough - so I found a voice of reason within the pages of Meg’s book and through the many times Jeffrey reminded me what was important.  Wherever you find your voice of reason, it’s good to return to it, because at the end of the day your guests are there for you not the favors, fillings in the cake, late night snacks, or anything else you think your guests will think you need.

Words of wisdom to future brides.

Take advantage of your married friends – their experience is a great sounding board for your planning.  And if you are lucky enough to be engaged at the same time as a friend, get together and shamelessly talk only about wedding planning – it is such a release and a huge help to have a friend going through it too.  And if that’s not enough, listen to your vendors.  My florist not only provided beautiful flowers, she lent me her paper lanterns clued me in the décor services arm of our DJ company who hung them, and provided a referral sheet 3 pages long to help me find preferred vendors.  Oh, and don’t forget to Pinterest – it is simply the best site for organizing your inspiration.

Any unexpected funny moments?

We seemed to have the most trouble at our ceremony.  The aisle runner was not rolling evenly because I had painted it and rolled it up imperfectly - it just kept catching on the cord.  I couldn’t see this struggle going on and just kept wondering what our musician was waiting on.  I didn’t realize we we’re having an all hands on deck moment as the groomsmen lunged over there to get it fixed.   

How was your wedding day? Everything and more?

Our wedding day perfect for us.  Was it perfect?  Absolutely not.  We were surrounded by our friends and family, spaces that appealed to us, hosting a ceremony that we put together (with help from some great books) and listening to our favorite music all day.  So many of our guests commented on how much the day felt like us – which was exactly what we were going for – and precisely why we loved it so much!