The weather this spring has been TOUGH. Very few of our wedding days have been warm and sunny so far this year, but this one was certainly bright in more ways than one! Seemed like a good day to share it given the rain and dreariness going on out there today.

Natalie and Mark were married in Tower Grove Park among the beautiful blooms of April! Their ceremony took place outside of the Piper Palm House by the perfectly sculpted ruins followed by the reception inside the Palm House. I absolutely love the way these too look at each other. Between stories, toasts and general comments in passing, it was just obvious how completely into each other they are. I think you will agree!

Seriously, these shoes…I’m nearly speechless.  Which rarely (if ever) happens.  I get it from my mom.  And I did kiss that darn Blarney Stone years ago.

Sisters helping mama get into her pretty beaded dress.

Friends getting ready to help Natalie into her wedding gown.

I personally think that Natalie could be a model.  Anyone else?!

I shared this one in black and white on my facebook page a few weeks ago.  I love it.  This room was so dark that I did not have to do anything to create the blackness enveloping her.  For the record, I do not recommend dark rooms for getting ready!  But, if given a dark room, I will still do my best to work with the situation.  And I love this shot.

So pretty!

I just got a few quick moments with Mark before getting him in place for their first look…

Gotta love this face.

I just love first looks in general.  It’s such a neat and personal time where just the two of you (well, besides me of course!) can interact, hug, laugh, kiss and have a few quiet moments together amidst the madness of the wedding day.

I haven’t mentioned it yet, but the beautiful flowers you are about to see throughout this post are by the talented crew at Wildflowers!

I think this should be in the next ad for the restaurant Scape to market their event spaces.  :)

We started on a walkway in this next flowery tree-lined spot.  It may have been soggy (and I mean SWAMP type soggy – as in there was a duck swimming in his own private little grassy pond the day before) but Natalie threw on some flip flops and braved it!  It was worth it for the photos in my humble opinion.

And off to the Palm house!  This little one was adorable.

Here comes the bride!

One of my favorites…I love that look.

Married!  Time to have a cocktail…

These could be the prettiest dahlias I have ever seen.

Signature cocktail done right!  This is a real family drink not just a fun cocktail to have a cocktail.  Not all of us have such a cool tradition.

Touching (and hilarious) toasts…I’ve had a lot of best men and maids of honor really getting this right lately!

Dancing like no one is watching…

Thrilled to have been a part of this wedding day and to have had the chance to work with some amazing people.  Congratulations Natalie and Mark!  With love, liz

VENDOR LOVE

Hair :  Leila Al-Bori at Chase Park Plaza Salon

Makeup : Makeup Artistry by A & C

Gown : Ultimate Bride Dress by Mikaella

Ceremony & Reception : Piper Palm House

Catering : Butler’s Pantry

Flowers : Wildflowers

Cake : Sarah’s Cake Shop

Stationery : Anne Handley-Fierce

Photobooth : Mandi Picture

Officiant : Mark Roberts

DJ : Millennium Productions

String quartet : Rosewood Ensemble

L Photographie St. Louis Wedding Photographers