recent awards + publications
MEHUL + AMISHA
The couple had a Hindu wedding with Western twists. Both sides of the family were involved in planning several ceremonies leading up to the marriage, such as the sangeet, a pre-wedding party. Roses, greenery, and lanterns adorned the altar at the main ceremony. Reception guests were treated to musical performances by the couple and family members. Whereas traditional Indian weddings welcome the bride into the groom’s home, the couple celebrated welcoming Amisha to all of St. Louis.
TOMMY + ZACH
Gay Weddings and Marriage Magazine goes beyond wedding day tips to address the needs of LGBTQ families and marriage. Advice from wedding coordinators experienced in LGBTQ ceremonies are mingled with tools from marriage counselors to make a relationship successful. GWM also addresses the family planning needs of so many LGBTQ couples with columns regarding adoption, foster care, surrogacy, and more.
CASSIDY + LESLIE
Leslie and Cassidy were married at the Jewel Box in Forest Park, an iconic greenhouse in St. Louis, Missouri. They were both walked down the aisle by their fathers and had photos and video done at The Muny and at Four Hands Brewery, since they love craft beer. The reception took place at Neo on Locust, a rustic and industrial wedding venue. Guests enjoyed making tacos at the taco bar catered by Mission Taco. Their wedding party wore different sets of Arch Apparel shirts, a local indie St. Louis clothing brand.
BROOKE + MARCUS
Love & Lavender presents a balanced view on wedding planning & style through the eyes of seasoned husband and wife bloggers, Meredith and Andrew. The digital nomad couple strive to showcase epic bridal experiences from around the world to help brides, grooms and vendors alike. As a leading voice in the wedding industry, the blog focuses on unique how-to guides, product reviews, and roundup lists on topics such as bridal fashion, jewelry, decor ideas, wedding stationery & honeymoons.
8 BEST PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHERS IN ST. LOUIS
St. Louis, also known as the Gateway to the West, has a storied past and rich modern culture. St. Louis isn’t known for tons of internationally acclaimed galleries, but its arts scene thrives nonetheless. Local hotspots like Venice Cafe and Citygarden showcase work by up-and-coming creatives and professionals alike. And the Gateway Arch is, of course, a must-visit to have your photo taken while in the area. But instead of settling for a selfie, why not work with a local portrait photographer? Check out our list of the best St. Louis portrait photographers.
ASHLEY + MATT
On average, there are 2.5 million weddings in the United States each year. That is 2.5 million different ways to celebrate love with factors such as location, religion and culture playing a big part in what we as guests and loved ones see. Of course, there’s always the photographer to consider, as they will be the deciding factor on how your wedding day is remembered for years to come. When all of these decisions come together in the photographs, we have chosen to display them on our Real Weddings page.
CASSIDY + LESLIE
The Offbeat Bride website launched on January 1st, 2007 to support the release of Seattle author Ariel Meadow Stallings’ book, Offbeat Bride: Creative Alternatives for Independent Brides. What initially began as a book promotional project slowly grew into a completely different beast — a publication with a small staff of editors who update daily with tons of “wedding porn” (photos from real people’s really offbeat weddings), advice, and inspiration for couples who are working their asses off to create authentic weddings full of intention and personality.
