When Brit of The Landlocked Bride submitted this wedding to us it was a total no brainer. Not only is she an expert in midwest weddings but she’s got her own event design company too! So we are pretty much thrilled to be sharing the details of her day, captured by the talented Lisa Hessel, with all of you! This modern, eco friendly couple decided to nix the flowers on their big day, with the exception of Brit’s bouquet, to minimize the carbon footprint of their wedding. And I’m totally loving their flower-free fete! For even more modern, midwest goodness, check out the full gallery!
Click here to see entire image gallery!
Don’t miss out on this beyond beautiful video by Kevin Von Qualen!
From the second we got engaged, I knew I wanted to take a different route with our wedding. While we still had many of the same elements, we also carefully thought about the others and how they tied into our personalities and values. I mean, we got engaged while in full ski / snowboard gear before heading down a run at Keystone. Not exactly “normal” by any means. And, while we were not going for offbeat, we were aiming to plan a soiree that was modern, fun and left our guests with a good feeling.
I planned the day in a way that left everyone feeling calm. No rushing. I was a calm and collective bride, cracking jokes and tending to my maid of honor, who was coming down with the flu. I pulled in details that meant something to me – my TOMS shoes (which I wore to the reception) and the DKNY Pure perfume. Instead of bouquets, my bridesmaids carried clutches I had made specifically for that day. The groomsmen wore light tan suits, with bold pops from their ties and argyle socks.
While the Jewel Box is a popular wedding venue in town, we knew we wanted to hold our ceremony there because of our love for the city and Forest Park. It really is this “gem” in the heart of one of the largest urban parks in the country. An actual green house filled with flowers, the Jewel Box is filled with natural light and made a beautiful backdrop as we read the vows we had written for each other. We had my Aunt become ordained and had dear friends read quirky poems.
At the time we were planning our wedding, many of the newer venues in town were not yet complete. But, we knew we wanted something modern. The exposed brick and loft-y feel of the 8th Floor at Windows on Washington fit the bill. We wanted to really work with the space, rather than fight it. We hired a great event production team in town to incorporate red and amber lighting and the red drapery over the dancefloor. And, we had them hang paper lanterns directly over a few of the guest tables as an alternative to traditional centerpieces. String balls and glass balls covered the other guest tables.
We opted against flowers (other than my bouquet) in an effort to stay true to our goal to reduce our wedding carbon footprint. A decision that baffled some at first, but left guests and friends appreciative of our goal. All of the paper goods were printed on 100% recycled paper, including the envelopes and labels for the invitations. And, while we could not completely account for everything, we offset our wedding by purchasing carbon credits through Terrapass.
To keep guests entertained, we shared over 60 (yes, 60) wedding photos that family and friends shared with us. They were scattered all over the room – on the bar, on tables, by the gifts. A local surprise in the form of the St. Louis Cardinals’ mascot, Fred Bird, paid a visit; mingling with guests and keeping the smiles on everyone’s faces. The photobooth provided for hours of entertainment. Literally. The line for the booth was never ending. AND, we provided our guests with a late night snack, featuring pretzels from a local favorite pretzel shop (and St. Louis tradition), Gus’ Pretzels. To top it off? A nacho cheese fountain. Of which nearly every one of our guests had never seen before.
We ended the evening the exact same way we started the party, with me and Brady dancing to our “first dance” song, “The Way I Am” by Ingrid Michelson. What made the entire day so absolutely enchanting is the fact that, not only were we married and totally happy, but our families and friends had a wonderful time. It warms our hearts every time we think about it.
Photography: Lisa Hessel Photography / Ceremony Venue: The Jewel Box in Forest Park / Videographer: Kevin Von Qualen / Cake: Whipt Cream / Nacho Cheese Fountain: Chocolate Falls / Late-night Snack: Gus’ Pretzels / Photobooth: CI Photobooth / Lighting: Exclusive Events Inc. / Stationery: Brit Stewart Weddings / Custom Map: SWOONOVERIT / Wedding Planner and Event Design: Brit Stewart Weddings
