I want to become a society lady Rockin' a new rock?!

‘Tis the season of PINK PEONIES EVERYWHERE!!! Obviously, we are pretty pumped about it and Kristin and Michael’s classic Saint Louis wedding celebration is the perfect way to share our love of the giant, pink romantic blooms. Alred Weddings designed the traditional celebration with a stunning ceremony at St. Francis Xavier College Church followed by a dinner and dancing at the historic St. Louis Union StationOn Three Designs set the tone with gorgeous invitations and Artistry Florist and Event Design stole the show with the explosion of peonies throughout the day. Lucky for us, the always-amazing Mike Cassimatis Photography was on hand to capture all the beautiful moments of the day.

What made the wedding special and unique?

Michael and I met when we were in college at Saint Louis University. Neither of us grew up in St. Louis, but it is where our story started and is special to both of us. As soon as we were engaged, the first and most obvious decision was that we would be married at the church on our college campus. Since we would have a lot of out of town guests, we both knew we wanted to hold our reception in a unique, historic location. When we walked into the Grand Hall at St. Louis Union Station we knew we had found the perfect place. It spoke for itself.

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it! 

Since our wedding was taking place in St. Louis, it was only fitting that I went shopping for my dress in the town that I grew up in – Carmel, Indiana.  I ended up finding the most beautiful gown at a bridal boutique just down the road from my parents’ house. I loved its simplicity, illusion details, and the way I felt when I put it on…confident, comfortable, and beautiful. It was perfect.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

It was so much fun incorporating little details that made our wedding reflect us and our relationship. One of the most exciting and memorable parts of our day was the Beatles light show that was shown on the ceiling of the Grand Hall. The Beatles were a big part of Michael’s life growing up, so this was a perfect way to incorporate something that was meaningful to him. It was a surprise to our guests and they loved it… there were even a handful of people laying in the middle of the dance floor to ensure the best view possible! Another special touch was the band that we chose. We both had so many memories of them playing at a bar near campus and knew that our friends would love that blast from the past! Finally, we had two of our favorite local spots bring pizza and ice cream for a late night snack. Who doesn’t love pizza and ice cream?!

What was the most memorable part of the day?

Besides getting to marry Michael, my favorite moment of the day was sitting on the altar watching all of our friends and family come up to receive Communion. I had a smile on my face the whole time. It was such a great opportunity to take everything in. I was really able to appreciate the moment and all of the people who had come together to celebrate our marriage. Another element that was a favorite of mine was the same-day edit video that was shown at our reception. It was so special to be able to relive our whole day, from getting ready to our first dance, with everyone there celebrating with us. I don’t know how they did it, but we will forever cherish that video.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

After a couple years of navigating a long distance relationship, Michael proposed to me at a intimate restaurant in St. Louis where we went on our first date. Our waitress came to the table with a cake surrounded by rose petals that read “Will you Marry me?” and a bottle of champagne as Michael got down on one knee. I was completely surprised and completely overwhelmed with happiness. Michael had secretly arranged that our families and close friends be in town for the occasion, and after dinner we met everyone at a nearby hotel to celebrate. Being surrounded by all of that love and support was the perfect ending to our night!

 

Kristin + Michael [Same Day Edit] from ParkLife on Vimeo.

Photography: Mike Cassimatis Photography // Planning: Alred Weddings // Floral Design: Artistry Florist and Event Design // Paper Goods & Calligraphy: On Three Designs // Ceremony Venue: St. Francis Xavier College Church // Reception Venue: St. Louis Union Station // Videography: Park Life Films // MUAH: Danielle Style // Dress: The Wedding Studio // Cake: Made by Lia // Shoes: Stuart Weitzman // Groom’s Attire: The Brass Horn // Ice Cream: Clementine’s Creamery // Pizza: Pi Pizza // Film Lab: Indie Film Lab // Band: Griffin and the Gargoyles