I LOVED Kelly’s shoes – though I have no clue how she even walked in them…

Kelly’s parents were very emotional before the ceremony. I love these kinds of moments.

The guys were enjoying some sunshine before the wedding began.

Stealing a moment to themselves right after the ceremony.

Portraits were scheduled at the perfect time with some golden light out at Tower Grove Park.

Then we took the wedding party downtown for an urban feel.

Photographer: Nicole Welch Photography

Ceremony: Messiah Lutheran Church

Reception: F15teen

Florist: Sisters Flowers

Bakery: Cravings

Natalie and Kevin were my first wedding on 2012! Despite the nasty weather on St. Patrick’s Day? Yeah, that’s what we had to deal with. But they had smiles on their faces the entire day, and it was an amazingly beautiful wedding.

Natalie and Kevin’s son, Mason, is SO adorable…

Where was sweet Mason during the ceremony? Asleep in the last pew.

Kerri + Adam’s Vendors:
Ceremony – Four Seasons
Reception – Windows on Washington
Photographer – Nicole Welch Photography
DJ – First Class Weddings
Florist – Kirkwood Florist
Bakery – The Cup (Seriously the best cupcake I have ever eaten in my life. No lie.

Love, love, love the colors and tangerine theme. Gorgeous + unique!

How beautiful does she look in her dress?! I love how happy she is. And I love her veil. So pretty.

Meghan, you are so lovely!

Waiting for his bride…

Got me!

Meghan and Joel’s Vendors:

Ceremony: Mount Pleasant Estates
Reception: Mount Pleasant Estates
Photographer: Nicole Welch Photography
Florist: Hillerman Nursery + Florist
Bakery: Whipt Cream

Her gown was amazing. I hope this shot does it a little bit of justice.

Allie + her mom were just adorable together.

How cute is this flowergirl in her wagon?!

Such a beautiful venue at Norwood Hills Country Club, and the light was just amazing. We were so lucky.

Celebrating when everything was signed. Officially married.

More yummy light out at Lafayette Park.

Allie works at a vet’s office, and her love for animals was apparent at her wedding. She and Jon had a picture of a dog who needed to be adopted as part of their centerpieces at every table. They also had a little story about each dog. Isn’t that such an amazing idea?! I hope more people will do this. It’s brilliant and such a good cause.

Soooo in love. *swoon*

Allie and her dad have such a fun relationship, which was obvious from their father-daughter dance. They both have some sweet moves. SO FUN.

Allie + Jon’s Vendors:

Ceremony: Norwood Hills Country Club

Reception: Soulard Preservation Hall

Photographer: Nicole Welch Photography

Videographer: Milestone Pro Films

Bakery: The Cup

Florist: Troy Florist

DJ: TKO

Salon: Vida Verde Studio Salon

Allie + Jon’s Engagement Session: http://nicolewelchphotography.com/blog/2011/07/22/allie-jon-tower-grove-engagement-session/

I LOVE her dress. So elegant.

After the 20 minutes of portraits, we headed to the church, where the girls took a little breather.

I caught a quick shot of her mom before the ceremony. Mmmmm pretty light.

The cake was so gorgeous!

And so were the rings. Love.

Thank you, Jamie and Leslee, for sharing your beautiful day with me! Thanks to Paula Bathon for sharing her talent with me.

Ceremony: Bethel Lutheran Church

Reception: Norwood Hills Country Club

Photographer: Nicole Welch Photography

Barkery: Sugaree Baking Co.

DJ: TKO

Laura was surrounded by love as she got ready for the wedding at her parents’ house where she grew up. Her sisters, friends, and parents were all there, and let me tell you, it was an extremely joyous, emotional time for everyone. And I am so lucky I was there to capture that beauty. Best job in the world, I tell ya.

Laura’s mom getting a first look at her daughter in her wedding gown. Love this one.

And dad’s turn…The look on his face – priceless.

Kevin’s parents were just as thrilled as Laura’s.

What do you do when there’s a festival with a billion people all over Old Town St. Charles where you planned to do your wedding party pictures? Hit up a park just next door to your reception site. Major win. Much more their speed, I happen to believe.

Beautiful light, perfectly scripted for a beautiful bride.

The florals were magnificent.

Kevin is a musican, and he performed a song he wrote for Laura at their reception. There was not a dry eye in sight after the song. Major props to Kevin!

Congratulations, you two! It was truly an amazing day to be a part of. Thank you!

Ceremony: All Saints Catholic Church
Reception: St. Peters Cultural Arts Centre
Photographer: Nicole Welch Photography
Caterer: Catering by Georgianna
Bride’s gown: Alfred Angelo
Bridesmaids gowns: Alfred Angelo

If you have never been to the 9th Street Abbey, you are seriously missing out. The outdoor space is like a fairytale, which is why Christina + Justin had their first look out there.

Isn’t it just an amazing venue?

We did all the portraits before the ceremony so the guests didn’t have to wait between the ceremony and reception, which were both held at the 9th Street Abbey.

I was so thankful for this wall. It pretty much rocked.

Leave it to a little boy to make a bouquet into a gun. Reminds me of my little 4-year-old.

Great shot by my wonderful second shooter, Paula. Love their expressions.

My second shooter, Paula, grabbed this beautiful balcony shot.

How adorable are these 2? They had an audience while they were dancing the night away.

Love this shot of the bridesmaids that my second shooter, Paula grabbed.

VENDORS
Ceremony: 9th Street Abbey
Reception: 9th Street Abbey
Photographer: Nicole Welch Photography
Bakery: McArthurs

Pounding rain greeted me as I exited my car and ran into the hotel where Lauren was getting her hair and makeup done. Not exactly how a bride wants to start her day, especially when she’s supposed to be getting married at a beautiful vineyard in the picturesque Washington, MO. We all kept our fingers crossed that the clouds would part and the sun would make an appearance, but it was not to be. It was easy to see that Lauren was a little disappointed, but at the end of the day, she was marrying Dave, and the joy on their faces as they walked down that aisle after the ceremony was all the mattered. And lucky for us, during the reception, the skies took pity upon us and gave us a little of that glorious sunshine, and we were able to sneak out for a few portraits in the vineyard.

I love these next 2 shots. They put a smile on my face.

Lauren’s bouquet from Four Seasons Florist was spectacular!

There was such joy in their faces after they were married. I hope they love this shot as much as I do. They couldn’t stop looking at one another.

We ran outside for a few shots in the drizzling rain…We weren’t sure we’d get back outside, and Lauren really wanted some outdoor shots of the 2 of them.

Love this cake, especially the cake topper! Looks just like them.

This kid had some MOVES!

And so did this one.

And look who was also at Lauren and Dave’s wedding!!! Katie + Jonathan! I shot their wedding last year, and it’s just about their 1 year anniversary. Happy early anniversary, you guys. Much love.

This was a fun group for sure.

And this is where the sun came out, and we ran out for a few minutes for portraits of just the 2 of them. It was sticky. It was hot. But we were all happy.

The end. Congratulations again, Lauren + Dave! It was such a joy to be a  part of your day.

Lauren + Dave’s Vendors:
Ceremony: The Vineyard at Riverbend Chapel

Reception: The Vineyard at Riverbend Chapel

Bakery:Exquisite Cakes

Florist: Four Seasons Florist

Photographer: Nicole Welch Photography

Makeup: Emily Miller with Delicately Bold

Hair: Hair by Chrissy

What are sisters for?! Steaming wedding dresses.

The guys have it WAY too easy on their wedding day.

The location…breath-taking.

I couldn’t resist grabbing this shot as I waited for the ceremony to begin.

Lauren’s brothers…They were fantastic!

So the flower girl didn’t quite make it up the aisle…She made her own way.

And everyone loved it. (Look at that gorgeous light!!!)

Best groom reaction. EVER. Seeing Lauren for the first time.

I love that even the groomsmen have the BIGGEST smiles on their faces.

No matter how many times I shoot at The Vineyard at Riverbend, I never get tired of it. This is why.

Lauren + Dan had a pretty rockin’ candy table for their guests.

They showed a very touching slideshow at the reception.

Lauren’s little brother celebrated his birthday on her wedding day…It wasn’t complete without a birthday cake!

VENDORS:
Photography: Nicole Welch Photography

Ceremony: The Vineyard at Riverbend

Reception: The Vineyard at Riverbend

Florist: For Seasons Florist

Bakery: Wedding Wonderland

Videographer: Photo Video Image Productions

Her gown suited her perfectly.

Even the carpet at Moonrise Hotel was fabulously modern.

She was so calm and happy as she prepared for her wedding day.

Leslie’s dad seeing her for the first time.

I see you!

Success! The dress is on!

They decided to do a first-look at the hotel, which I thought was a great idea. Even better was that they did it in the privacy of the amazing suite in which Leslie got ready that day – wasn’t that brilliant?! I thought so.

Peter gave her a gorgeous pearl necklace for a wedding gift. I think she was just a little happy.

It was despicably hot that day, so Leslie + Peter decided to completely forgo outdoor pictures that day, which was ok by me! We ended up shooting at Union Station, and let me tell you, that was the FASTEST bit of shooting I have probably ever done in my life. We did family, wedding party pictures and their portraits in such a small amount of time, I could barely see straight. I wish I had timed it, but I know it wasn’t much! Not even an hour. Everyone was amazing and cooperative though, and we survived!

Leslie and Peter were great as I barked orders around and shot all their portraits in about 15 minutes (if that). They didn’t even blink when I made them ride the escalator.

We actually found some great light in Union Station.

I don’t think I’ve ever shot so many verticals at any wedding in my life. Just a strange observation.

Fave.

I love this completely candid shot of them waiting for a ride to their ceremony.

Peter built the altar completely by himself. I was impressed. It turned out beautifully.

Ok, another amazing detail. I don’t think I’ve ever loved a wedding detail more than this one. These are photographs of Peter asking Leslie to marry him. The entire process documented. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! It’s amazing to see the emotion, second by second, on their faces.

I’m sorry to keep blabbing on this blog entry, but I have so much to say! Originally, Leslie and Peter didn’t have a second shooter included in their wedding day coverage. A couple of weeks before the wedding, they asked if they could add a second photographer. I called my main second shooter, Paula, and was thrilled she was available. Why do I bring this up now? Because when I shoot alone, it’s impossible for me to get those last-minute images of a bride waiting to walk down the aisle. And if they hadn’t added a second shooter, we wouldn’t have this image. And I love this image. Absolutely love it. Just a quiet moment before she marries the love of her life. Thank you Paula!

The Third Degree Glass Factory is such a unique space to have a wedding. Love it!

Thanks to Paula for this rockin’ shot, too!

Leslie’s sister brought her sweet 6-week-old baby girl to her first wedding ever.

So. Much. Sugar. YUM!

Cookies and milk for the guests as they departed the wedding. Great touch.

I don’t usually include many dancing pictures, but as I was culling through about 700 images from their wedding, this one kept cracking me up so I had to include it.

Flowers: MCK Designs

Gown: Mori Lee

Hotel for getting ready: Moonrise Hotel

Ceremony + Reception: Third Degree Glass Factory

Bakery: The Cakery

Band: The Gallexy

Caterer: Entre

Hair + Makeup: Fusajiro

Thanks for visiting!

Love the hanger that Shawna made. So creative!

A lil bubbly!

The flower girls were ADORABLE. I couldn’t stop photographing them.

One of my favorites of the day.

Shawna was so emotional when she opened the card + gift from Reid.

Inside the little blue Tiffany’s box was probably the sweetest, most thoughtful gift ever. A locket with a picture of each of them from their engagement session. LOVE IT, REID! What a good man.

Told ya they were uber cute.

Thanks to my second shooter Paula for capturing the guys getting ready!

I love the look on Shawna’s face and the look on her mom’s face. So much beautiful emotion.

St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Brentwood is an absolutely stunning church.

A moment of pure joy from Reid.

They scouted their locations all by themselves, and they did a MAGNIFICENT job.

Doesn’t get better than this!

Paula’s view. (Which I totally adore, and I love that it shows how beautiful the back of her hair was!)

My view. This picture makes me happy. How could it not?!

During the reception, we snuck out for about 10 minutes and captured a few pictures in some yummy golden light. Dear brides + grooms: please do this. You won’t regret it! Promise.

Their cocktail hour at the St. Louis Zoo during their reception included a visit from some pretty cool friends.

How cute is this guy?

Just a little embarrassed during the best man’s speech.

Shawna and Reid’s wedding had some great details. Shawna made all of these seat numbers herself.

I Shawna’s dress and the fact that it had SO much movement, especially during their first dance. Thanks to Paula for these fabulous shots showing it off!

And Reid’s visit with an old friend….

The end! Thanks again for sharing the story of Reid and Shawna’s wedding!

Couples like Grace and Kent make my line of work incredible. They are why I do what I do. They are madly in love, and you could just see it on their faces the entire day. The joy they experienced on their wedding day was infectious, and I love that. It makes every click of my shutter so rewarding, and it makes me smile when I’m sitting at my computer for hours into the wee morning while I’m sifting through images that tell the story of their day. It doesn’t get any better than that. Thanks for visiting.

You know it’s going to be a good day when you start with a beautiful, colorful pair of shoes!

Checking for rain…But it held off.

Such a happy bride.

Why are these beautiful bridesmaids laughing?!

Check out the broken shoe. Poor girl! She found a replacement before she had to walk down the aisle.

One of my favorites…

This image is courtesy of my second shooter, Brian Kramer. LOVE the perspective.

Grace’s mom was so emotional after the ceremony. I love this image.

Kent is quite the gentleman.

Forget the cake and cupcakes, Grace and Kent went with DOUGHNUTS! Yum.

The Third Degree Glass Factory is such a unique, beautiful space for a reception. I couldn’t resist photographing some of the beautiful glass creations…

And their beautiful exit….

And if you didn’t already see it, Grace and Kent’s sparkler exit made it on Moment Junkie last week.

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This sign was one of my favorites. So sweet. And true. Because regardless of what went wrong, all the important things went right, and it indeed was a happy day. Hope you enjoy their story.

Love this one of Kate. Isn’t she beautiful?!

Kate’s bouquet was incredible.

First looks are so fun.

A mini Kate and Chris. LOVE.

I had never seen this until their wedding. Love this idea!

One of my favorites of the day.

This kid stole the show! What moves!!!

Such a fun crowd!