Some of the best moments are the unexpected, don’t you think? The un-planned, un-fussed-over, perfectly imperfect moments. Case in point? This sweet Groom had to change his proposal plan direction because his lovely Bride had plans to surprise him with an anniversary weekend away. Basically, they love each other to bits and are the cutest duo ever. And their wedding from Shelli Alred and MNC Photography is utter gorgeousness. Get your pretty self over to the gallery for more!
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From Mike Cassimatis MNC Photography…Hello and thank you for taking some time to look at Lauren and Matt’s beautiful summer wedding. I absolutely loved working with this couple. Even though it was 100+ degrees outside for this August wedding, everyone was in good sprits and looking their best. Lauren and Matt chose two classic St. Louis venues for their wedding, St. Abrose on “the hill” and the classic, Chase Park Plaza. One of my favorite moments of the day was when Lauren opened a package from Matt containing all of the cards and letters she had ever given him.
From the beautiful Bride…Matt and I met in February 2009 during our sophomore year at Mizzou. I spent much of that summer in Eastern Europe, unfortunately, without much communication but Matt and I were able to reconnect when I returned to the States and officially started dating August 22, 2009.
August 22 is a significant date for us. Not only because it is when we started dating but it is also the same date we got engaged 4 years later on August 22, 2013. Matts 25th birthday was at the end of July that year and, as a surprise, I planned a trip to New York City. Matts sister in law’s due date for his niece, Maeve, was a day after his birthday so I decided to plan the trip afterwards so we wouldn’t miss Maeve being born! As a result, I chose the weekend of our dating anniversary! I started planning the trip in February that year and Conspired with my step mom to tell Matt we’d be going on a trip to Florida with my family so that he’d ask off work well in advance. A couple weeks before the trip Matt took my dad out to lunch, unbeknownst to me, to ask for my hand in marriage. Matt said he’d like to propose with family around on our trip to Florida (YAY! but yikes!) This put my parents in quite the predicament as it would just be Matt and I in New York City and was supposed to be a surprise! They decided they couldn’t ruin my excitement for what I’d planned for so long and decided they’d just have to let Matt improvise (poor guy!). When we got to the airport, Matt went from really excited to competely nervous in one fall swoop when he found out we were going to NYC (which now makes sense in hindsight). On August 22, 2013 I planned reservations at buddakan restaurant and tickets to Jersey Boys on Broadway for our anniversary. Matt had a gift he was determined to give me at “the right moment” but was so disoriented by all my “surprise” plans that he decidedly/randomly gave it to me in the middle of Times Square (which was so random to me at the time to be opening a present in the middle of the street). The gift was a photo album of all of our “moments”: funny, family, college, etc. and the last page declared there was one more “moment” he wanted to share and I looked up and he was on one knee proposing! We were so excited and called our family and friends and then went to see, the show, Jersey Boys, which is worth mentioning because we picked a song from that show to be our first dance song: ‘you’re just too good to be true’ by the Four Seasons.
The wedding date was immediately set to be the Saturday of the next year: August, 23, 2014. My family is Italian so there was no question I wanted to be married anywhere other than St. Ambrose Catholic Church on the hill. I knew the chase park plaza was where I wanted to have the reception immediately When we visited The Khorassan ballroom; it took my breath away! So, needless to say, when it was set up the day of our wedding it brought tears to my eyes because it was so wonderful and beautiful. Our favorite part of the wedding was my dad’s sentimental speech and also the surprise he planned in arranging Mizzous fight song to be our wedding party’s reception entrance song and having Mizzous mascot, Truman the Tiger, to come out with us! We were shocked when we had Truman escorting us out and everyone at their tables waving black and gold Pom poms, cheering for us! My favorite details were the curtains that dramatically opened to welcome everyone into the reception, the bar that exclusive events brought in, the MOST beautiful flower arrangements I’ll ever lay eyes on-randy did such an amazing job, and the band because the dance floor was packed until the end. I’ll never forget the last song that played when the groomsmen and I sang ‘we are young’ by FUN on stage while our guests took the flowers from Our head table flower hedging and threw them onstage like a concert encore. I never wanted it to end. It was a night that will live in infamy and on replay in my mind forever.
Photography: Mike Cassimatis Photography | Cinematography: Jason Gibson Films | Event Design: Exclusive Events, Inc | Event Planning: Alred Wedding Consultants | Floral Design: Artistry Florists | Wedding Dress: Clarice's Bridal | Ceremony Venue: St. Ambrose Catholic Church | Reception Venue: Chase Park Plaza | Bride's Shoes: Kate Spade | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Donna Karan | Makeup: DanielleStyle | Hair: Melanie Rauschenbach | Band: Galaxy | Groom's Attire: Savvi Formalwear | Graphic Design: M. Haley Design