St. Louis wedding photographer Nicole Welch

Tag Archives: St. Louis

Katy + Steve: Oakland House Wedding

06.16.10

Katy + Steve’s wedding was a complete 180 from their modern engagement session. It was a small, beautiful wedding that took place last weekend at the Oakland House in Afton. The dress, the location, the couple…everything was perfect. Except the weather.

Katy chose a beautiful vintage gown. It went with her skin tone perfectly. Amazing choice!

Katy chose to wear a flower in her hair instead of a veil. Great choice for a garden wedding!

Checking out the weather. It went from rainy to sunny and back again about 10 times.

This was the cutest first look ever.

Surprise!

Isn’t she stunning?

Again, checking out the weather and hoping for the best…

But this is what she and her brother saw out that window…And so they moved the ceremony inside.

Loved the programs (fans) they made for the ceremony that was supposed to be outside in the St. Louis June heat.

But Katy handled the change with utter grace and a smile on her face. The ceremony was still beautiful, as well as emotional. Katy’s brother walked her down the aisle.

Enjoying a moment to themselves after the ceremony.

Love me some bald babies!

Checking out the rings.

And out came the sun…I was thrilled…Even though it was only for about 5 minutes. Then the rain returned.

And then it stopped. Whew, it was hard to keep up with all the weather changes that day. I love this shot of Katy and Steve. I love the romance of it.

But they still know how to have a great time, and they didn’t mind running in their wedding attire!

The end. Thanks for looking!

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Katy + Steve: Engagement (St. Louis wedding photography)

04.20.10

Originally, Katy, Steve and I had planned to meet at a great outdoor location for their engagement session. But mother nature had different plans. Luckily, here in St. Louis, there are plenty of great indoor locations for engagement shoots! Katy + Steve picked the City Museum in downtown St. Louis, and what a great choice it was. There are SO many unique areas to photograph, and I probably could have shot there all day! I highly recommend it for a great indoor shoot! Plus, you can always take a break from shooting and head down the 3-story slide, and that is really freakin cool.

st. louis wedding photography at the city museum by nicole welch

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Brrrrrrr

11.21.08

I’ve been dreaming of cooler weather from the time I moved to Texas more than 5 years ago. Now that we’ve moved back to St. Louis, I’m getting what I asked for it! I couldn’t believe how freezing it was outside today. I suppose I should dig my coat out of storage if the temp is going to be in the teens…Eh?

So Aidan had his second haircut of his life. Let me tell you it was a MUCH better experience the second time around. I’m not sure if it was the bubbles, the jeep chair he got to sit in, or the Thomas the Tank Engine show they had on the tv, but he sat just there happy as could be. Now, if you’ll recall, during his first haircut back in May, he screamed and had a fierce grip on Mama. It was awful, and he kept saying “All done! All done!” What a relief this time. Now our child won’t be sporting mullets. We can go to the barber more often. Yay Aidan! I totally give props to the crew at the Hairy Elephant in O’Fallon. They were sooo fast and really great with Aidan.

Nighttime is slooooooowly getting better. He’s still waking more times than a newborn in the night, but actually getting him to go to sleep is getting better. We started by converting his crib to a daybed of sorts. That didn’t work because it didn’t have a guard rail, and it was too high. Then we tried this cheapo Elmo bed from Toys R Us. Hated it! It looked so cheesy and totally didn’t match. So I had Dan take it apart – he’s SUCH an understanding husband. Then we bought a cheepish white toddler bed from Wal-Mart. The thing was such a piece of junk that the pieces really didn’t even fit together. Rather than fight about it, we just stopped and took that back. Tonight we made a trip to Babies R Us and found a nice toddler bed made by the same company that made the crib. Let me tell you how relieved I was when I got it together in about 30 minutes. I was so excited, as were the Welch boys.

Now Aidan walks around the house saying “New New Bed!?” He’s very excited. And he told his crib bye bye. I told him it was for babies. Since he’s “tall and strong” (some of his favorite words) he needs a big boy bed. He’s so proud! And best of all, it has a guard rail. Hopefully I’m not jinxing myself by saying this, but I have high hopes that he’ll sleep through the night tonight. Please cross your fingers, too. The 3 of us desperately need SLEEP!

And…If you’re a client or a potential client, I plan on having a post in the next few days that will show pictures of some of the products I offer. It’s about time, right?! So stay tuned. And, I’m in the process of ordering a new flush-mount album that will serve as a sample. Can’t wait to show you guys everything I’ve been working on. It’s going to be gorgeous!

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Gretchen + Lenny: Sneak Peek (St. Louis wedding photographers)

10.13.08

One of my oldest and dearest friends, Gretchen, and her boyfriend, Lenny, allowed me the pleasure of photographing them in a mock “engagement” session recently. A gorgeous couple, pretty light and fabulous locations – what else could a photographer ask for? I had such a great time. Hope you like your sneak peek, you two!

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Grant’s Farm

09.24.08

Here they are – a bazillion shots from Aidan’s first trip to Grant’s Farm. We had so much fun! If you haven’t been – check it out. I think they close at the end of October, and they’re only open on the weekends now. I know they’re also having some Halloween fun nights though.

Not sure what this look was for – we were riding the train!

Aidan wondering if he should touch the little creatures.

Ok, I’ll just feed them myself, Dad.

Ba Ba?!

One of Aidan’s favorites – horses! “Hor Hor”

I know he’s thinking – “Mom, what the heck is that thing and why is it looking at me!?”

Mmmm. Who doesn’t love Dippin Dots?

Various Dippin Dots colors running down the little guy’s chin.

Elephants kissing?!

“Bir Bir!”

Please bite someone else.

And, as much as Aidan adores horses, we couldn’t let Aidan leave without his very own Clydesdale. He’s already sleeping with the thing, and he gives it kisses all the time.

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Dad + son

08.23.08

I’m not sure how I forgot this one when I posted pics from our trip to the lake the other day, especially since it was one of my favorites!

Oh, and I suppose I should warn everyone I will not be posting many pictures because my favorite camera and lens are being repaired – thanks to the little Aidan who shoved it off my desk.

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Adventurer

07.30.08

If I had one word to describe my son, that’s probably the word I would pick. He’s fearless, always exploring, and loves to get everywhere quickly. So here’s a simple shot of him on an adventure in the woods. He loved walking on this log…

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Happy Birthday to my Grandma!

07.25.08

She recently celebrated her 75th, so we all headed down to my grandparent’s farm to celebrate. Happy BDay to a fabulous woman! Love you, Grandma.

Warning: There are a bazillion photos from our day. Thanks for looking!

And after a long, hard day of activity, this was the end. He gave up. Sat down. Then just laid down. Poor tired Aidan. How many times have I seen him stop like that? Maybe 3. Usually he is GO – GO – GO. No time for a rest. I was shocked!

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I Shoot People Tour

07.23.08

No, not with a gun, with a camera. The I Shoot People Tour is a wedding photography seminar that I attended with my friend/photography Ashley (you can visit her blog here). I learned a lot from JB and DeEtte, owners of Sallee Photography. If you’re a wedding photographer, you should definitely check them out.

Anyway, before the seminar, Ashley and I took photos of each other. Here she is. (Hope she doesn’t kill me, but I think she looks so cute in this pic!) I’ll be posting mine soon, too.

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St. Louis favorites: Part 2

07.21.08

Ok, so I’m a little late posting the final 5 of my list, but here they are. And stay tuned, I have many, many Aidan photos to post later. # 6 Cahokia Mounds

ancient Native American city near Collinsville, IL. It is home to many giant man-made mounds. If you’re up for a good workout, try running up the steps leading to Monk Mound. That should burn a few bazillion calories. Admission is free of charge, though they do accept donations.

# 7 Soulard Farmer’s Market
Soulard is by far one of the best neighborhoods in the city, and it is home to one of the best farmer’s market around. Definitely check it out. Wish we lived closer so we could go more often. It is open Wednesday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday 6 a.m.-5 p.m.

# 8 Cecil Whittaker’s Pizza
If you haven’t tasted this pizza, you are completely and totally missing out. I’m not even normally a fan of thin-crust pizza, but Cecil Whittaker’s is in a league of it’s own. And I think it’s because of the cheeze. It’s oohy, gooey goodness that just melts in your mouth. They have plenty of locations in the St. Louis metro area, but my favorite location is in the Central West End, but I guess that’s just because it’s my favorite neighborhood in the city. Go get some pizza now!

# 9 Kangaroo Kids
If you are a mom, you will love this store. It’s my favorite place for all things child-related. It’s not just a resale and maternity support center. They have lactation consultant, nursing mother’s group, a great selection of new strollers (and the newest jogging strollers around), a play area and a coffee shop. It’s just brilliant to have everything in one location – super convenient.

# 10 Blueberry Hill If you’re looking for a quirky place for dinner, this is it. Blueberry Hill is located in University City on the Loop. It’s filled with hundreds of pieces of pop culture memorabilia, and live music is a huge factor in it’s popularity. You may even see legendary St. Louisan Chuck Berry while you’re there. While you’re waiting for a table, or after your meal, you can play darts, video games and pinball. I’d say Blueberry Hill is a must if you’re visiting the Lou.
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10 favorites places in St. Louis, MO

07.17.08

Aidan, Dan and I went to Forest Park the other day, and we had a great time on Art Hill.

I was born and (for the most part) raised in Missouri, and I love St. Louis – the city. I thought I would use a recent family trip to the city as an inspiration for my top 10 list of favorite things to see in St. Louis. If you’re a Missourian, you should check them out. If you’re not – well, then you need to come for a visit! Today I will list five for you to check out. Check back tomorrow for the rest!

Here they are, in no particular order…

#1 The Jewel Box

I adore the Jewel Box not only because it is home to hundreds of amazing flowers, but because my husband and I were married there. Admission is just a buck, and you really can’t beat that. They have various shows throughout the year, and you can plan special events there, too. Of course, it’s perfect for weddings and receptions as well.

#2 Missouri Botanical Gardens

The MO Botanical Gardens are another great place to take the family. They have plenty of events happening this summer, such as the Niki in the Garden exhibit. My sister Tanya and I took Aidan there a few months ago, and we had so much fun. They even have a little maze for children. And yes, it’s another fabulous wedding location.

#3 Coffee Cartel

Located in the Central West End (my absolutely favorite neighborhood in the city), this 24-hour coffee shop may not make a great wedding location, but it’s perfect for just about anything else! They have life music every Thursday, free Wi-Fi for customers, and they make a mean iced chai latte. Mmmmmm.

#4 The Katy Trail

My husband, Dan, and I are really into running. I guess the Army made us that way. But the fact is that we really enjoy it, so we often spend our mornings by putting Aidan in his jogging stroller and going for a little run. (We actually been crazy enough to contemplate running a 1/2 marathon sometime in the spring, but more on that later.) The trail is 225 miles long and stretches across the state. We usually just run a few miles near Old Town St. Charles, but we’re planning to rent some bikes out in Matson and spend the day out there.

#5 Grant’s Farm

With the whole Anheuseur-Busch drama, who knows how long Grant’s Farm will be around, but it’s the perfect place to take children. I have many fond memories of going with my mom when I was a child. I still haven’t taken Aidan there, but it’s on my to-do list for the summer. Admission is free, and there are so many fun things to do. My favorite was always feeding the baby goats from a bottle. The little ones always get a kick out of that.

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