Beautiful. I realize I over use that word but that’s all I’ve got to say about this wedding. Ok maybe not ALL I have to say since I tend to be overly wordy and chatty all the time. Laura and Peter met at Hanneke’s Grocery Store during lunch and talked for the first time over a bag of Oreo Cookies that Laura offered to share. That could be the cutest “how I met my spouse” story ever. So of course we had to swing by there for a few photos! It was an evening ceremony so we didn’t have much time or light to work with but we got a few before the ceremony and a couple after for about 5 minutes after before the sun left the sky for good. And we did it all in the church parking lot but you would never know! The reception was at Oliva on the Hill – one of my favorite St. Louis reception spots – and it was a beautiful November evening so they had guests outside for cocktail hour with the lights up and the fire pit going strong. The perfect brisk fall night! The flowers may be the most beautiful fall bouquets I have ever seen. They were more “antique” fall colors than bright and vivid and set the tone of the day. That classic feel encouraged me to use more of my “old school” antiqued effects than usual and it looks exactly as I would hope to represent this evening. Enjoy the photos and congrats Laura and Peter! Have a very merry first Christmas as husband and wife!

For the sake of getting to the photos I will save you all from my usual lengthy ramblings this time around! Here are some basics…Kelsey and Andy were married at Sacred Heart church in Crystal City followed by a beautiful reception at the Ninth Street Abbey in Soulard. I can’t help but tell everyone that the Abbey was my next door neighbor in Soulard for 3.5 years. It’s so strange to look over at my old apartment and just say “Hi apartment! Long time no see!” And I think about how crazy it made me to have to park 4 or 5 blocks away if I came home while an event was going on at the Abbey so we have a bit of a love hate relationship. But it is such an awesomely beautiful place!

We shot at a beautiful park, traintracks, made room for a custard stop and spent a few minutes down on the landing for photos. And the little doggie that made it into one of these preview shots is Milo. It is questionable whether Kelsey loves Milo or Andy more – you should see how her face lights up around both of them! Andy – you’ve got your work cut out for you if you’re going to keep favorite status. (wink!) You two looked gorgeous! Enjoy!

Here is more of the precious little girl that gave me my perfect pose a couple weeks ago! Too cute for words, so on with the photos…

This one was a request of Grandpa. I must admit, touching the deer skin freaked me out, but it is awfully cute.

(and thank you Kristen for the pumpkin sac!)

St. Louis Children’s Photography.