Erin and Brad’s St. Louis wedding is a purple-lover’s dream. Fucshia, magenta, merlot, hot pink, aubergine and plum—all the colors are represented in the spectacular, textured florals by Les Bouquets. It was the perfect, punchy choice for the casual-elegance of the day which was captured beautifully by Carretto Studio.
From the Bride:
Brad and I met our Freshman year of college at the University of Missouri. I fell in love with the cutest redhead, and we have been together ever since! We love our old college stomping grounds, and return as often as possible. Brad calls them our “mini-vacations.” In December of 2014, I surprised Brad with tickets to a Jenny Lewis concert in Columbia, and he surprised me with an engagement ring! Nothing is more special than celebrating your upcoming marriage in the place where it all started.
We started planning almost immediately! We knew we wanted a fall wedding in downtown St. Louis. I have seen my fair share of venues as a wedding photographer, and as soon as we walked into NEO on Locust, we knew that’s where we should marry.
We both loved the loft style and industrial feel. The openness of the reception hall gives you the freedom to design your wedding from the ground up.
We strove for a casual elegance. Exclusive Events strung bistro lights from the vaulted ceiling to give the large space a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Our floral designer, Melinda, put three different types of centerpieces on each table using mixed metal vases. My personal favorite was our feast table with gold elevated vases overflowing with flowers. I loved the eucalyptus garland across the table and around our chairs with the Mr. and Mrs. signs.
As a girl who has a crazy sweet tooth, the dessert table was another favorite! We opted for a donut and cupcake bar with a one tier cake in the middle. I absolutely had to have a cake so I could use the cake topper from my Aunt’s wedding in the 1960s. That wasn’t the only something old! I tried to incorporate as many family heirlooms as possible. Brad and I cut our cake with the server my grandma and grandpa used in their wedding 63 years ago, and my aunt made my veil using the lace from my mother’s wedding dress.
November 6 was the best day ever, and it simply went by too quickly. Some of my favorite memories are our first look and the special dances with both Brad and my Dad. The love and joy was almost overwhelming, and I’m so lucky to have beautiful photographs to remember all the special moments.
Photography: Carretto Studio // Floral Design: Les Bouquets // Coordination: Mr. & Mrs. Wedding Events // Wedding Dress Designer: Judd Waddell // Wedding Dress Store: Fleur De Lis Bridal // Stationery: Poppies Design Studio // Bridesmaids’ Dresses: David’s Bridal // Catering: Pappy’s Smokehouse // Makeup Artist: Emily Miller // Cake: The Cakery Bakery // Food Truck: Cha Cha Chow // Venue: NEO on Locust