Maggie + Ryan // Innsbrook, MO Rustic Lakeside Wedding Photography

I'm excited to finally be sharing this gorgeous Innsbrook Wedding with you!

Maggie & Ryan have been together something like 8 years & you can tell they are best friends.  They have stayed together through many years of school & jobs in separate cities & finally committed to stick together forever on this beautiful September day...it was perfect!  Literally one of those days, if I wasn't shooting a wedding, I would say "what a perfect day for a wedding"...so glad I actually had an outdoor wedding on such a day! haha

I love when all the girls can be a part of the bride getting ready - such a special & perfect way to start the day.  I mean, just look at Maggie beaming with all her closest girls surrounding her with excitement. 

mmmmmm...their first look was so sweet. 

This wedding party was so fun!

Thanks again for allowing us to capture this perfect & memorable day for you Maggie & Ryan!
We loved every minute of it!

Andrew + Stephanie // Immaculate Conception Dardenne // St. Charles Wedding Photography

I am so happy to be sharing this beautiful & spunky summer wedding with you today!  Do you remember Stephanie & Andrew's Engagement photos?  These two are so sweet & fun together - when they look at each other, you can tell how much love & affection they share - I knew their wedding would be a perfect representation of their fun-loving spirits!

You know it's going to be a great day when:
A. The Bride & Groom don't seem a bit flustered or freaked out by the fact that it was raining cats & dogs outside
B. The Bride does a little happy, high-kick dance after she puts on her garters
C. It's the Priest's first wedding ever (he did a pretty darn good job too)

I love this one of them alone in the chapel...so sweet & peaceful.

Prayer works people!  That rain stopped just long enough for all of their fun wedding party portraits & came right back during the reception after everyone arrived.  Thank you Jesus!

That rain really did us some good...the colors were all so rich & beautiful for their photos!

Congratulations again Stephanie & Andrew!!

Jason + Bethany // Vintage Inspired Backyard St. Louis Wedding Photography

Happy Thanksgiving y'all!  I hope you had a lot of fun giving thanks & enjoying delicious food with your friends & family..we have so much to be thankful for!

I have been looking forward to sharing this wedding for over a year now!  I shot it last November, but didn't have my new website/blog together yet & by the time I did, I decided to wait until Autumn to share it (since it's just loaded with beautiful, creative, & sweet fall details)...I hope you enjoy looking through these as much as I do!

Jason & Bethany had a very sweet & intimate ceremony on the deck of her sister's home on the loveliest day last November.  They Exchanged their strong vows & beautiful rings in the presence of their loving & supportive family...it was so precious & refreshing!  

All of the details were in some way, shape, or form created by Bethany.  She & Jason have a huge variety of beautiful vintage finds which added the perfect touches to their wedding day.  After the ceremony they shared a colorful & delicious family-style brunch together around a large table...seriously it was like a dream! 

Seriously Bethany & Jason...John Paul & I were so honored to celebrate with you on this beautiful day God set aside for you two to become one!  Praying for overflowing blessings & health on you & your family!  
love & hugs, Gertie

Josey + Kevin // Backyard Wedding Photography

I've been excited about sharing this wedding with y'all since the day I shot it earlier in the spring!  haha I have a bad habit of getting photos ready to post after I finish editing them & then I proceed to get busy with the projects currently on my plate & forget to come back, put the actual post together & PUBLISH them!  Not really sure what to do to make that better, but for now I'll just keep sharing at this random pace & hope y'all just enjoy the treats when they come.  ;)

Kevin & Josey were SO MUCH FUN to work with!!  They are both so colorful, full of life, & easy to be around.  They have the sweetest love story & it was such a pleasure to capture this beautiful piece of it for them.  

That umbrella isn't just for show people...it was raining...reeeeeeeally raining!

Everyone was a good sport about the weather - even when I had them raise their umbrellas to get the light on their faces.  haha One of the ushers even cleaned off all of our shoes after we piled them up at the door to move the photo party inside.  
It was so nice that Kevin & Josey didn't fret when the rain kept coming & going on their wedding day (even when the tornado sirens were going off) - they just kept a positive attitude & enjoyed the day for what it was - they day they would say "i do" to forever with one another . . . my oh my it was sweet.

They even had a beautiful little rainbow come & brighten things up a bit.

& what do ya know, the sun even made an appearance for their beautiful backyard ceremony & reception.

Even though the ground was just a big muddy mess, no one seemed to mind because it was such a perfectly  memorable & sweet occasion. 

How creative & awesome is this bench guestbook?!  I wish I had thought to do something as cool as this!

Thanks again for inviting me to share in this special day for you Kevin & Josey!  
Here's to your very happily ever after together!

Kyle + Tricia // St. Louis Backyard Wedding Photography

These two have been together for 10 years & after they settled into their beautiful Tower Grove home they decided it was time exchange vows & commit forever to one another in a very intimate & sweet backyard wedding.  There may have been a storm looming before the ceremony...okay, so the thunder was rolling through the whole ceremony & the dark clouds looked a bit threatening...but once that spring storm passed we had a gorgeous few hours for their ceremony, family photos & a little session just for the two of them in Tower Grove Park.

I love Tower Grove Park - I always feel like I'm in another world, in a good way.  & it looked so rich & colorful after the rain.  Kyle & Tricia live close enough to walk, run, or ride their bikes to this beautiful park on a regular basis, so it was a special place for this season of their lives.

I hope you enjoy this little glimpse into their perfectly sweet wedding day!

Two of the brides close friends got ordained so they could share the special task of officiating their wedding...it was perfect!

Thanks again for inviting me to share in & capture this very special day for you Kyle & Tricia!

Robert + Leia Wilhelm // St. Louis Wedding Photography

Early this Spring I had the privilege of spending a few hours with Rob & Leia as they exchanged  vows in one of their favorite St. Louis Beer Gardens (Urban Chestnut Brewing Company) & celebrated afterwards with close friends & family at Plush.  
It was such a relaxed & intimate affair...& it fit their personalities perfectly!  

They may have been on a tight budget, but you would never know!  
Their venues were fantastic & needed very little decorations.  They were also within walking distance of each other, so there was no need for a bus to get everyone around town.  Leia hand-made all of the bouquets, boutonnieres, & centerpieces - which were very creative & fitting for their day.  They didn't hire a DJ - just put a friend in charge of an ipod playlist they created for the reception.  Her gorgeous dress was even purchased on craigslist!  

They did such a great job putting together a wedding day that was fit just for them!

We even made a quick stop off at The Fountain on Locust for some fun photos & a milkshake!

Thanks again for inviting me to share in celebrating this chapter in your story Rob & Leia - I loved every minute of it!

Kevin + Christy // University of Missouri St. Louis Wedding Photography

I just loved every minute of this colorful, sweet, & oh so fun March wedding!

Christy was the maid of honor in a wedding I did a long time ago (back when I was just getting into wedding photography)...she has encouraged several of other brides to use me between then & now & I was thrilled when she contacted me to finally capture her big day!  

Their wedding was full of so many sweet details & suited them perfectly!

UMSL Chapel is so unique & beautiful!  The surrounding campus area has so many cool nooks & old details that make it kinda dreamy to photograph too!

Thanks again for inviting me to share in your celebration Kevin & Christy!  
I loved every minute of it & I know you'll cherish these moments forever!

Daniel + Jordyn // Vineyard at Riverbend Chapel // Washington, MO Wedding Photography

Oh this wedding.  sigh.  It just makes me so happy every time I look at the images from Daniel & Jordyn's beautiful, romantic, winter wedding!  These two sweethearts were so much fun to work with!  I'm pretty sure I was giddy the whole time we were together...everything was so perfectly sweet & intimate, how could I not be?  ha ha

The Vineyard at Riverbend Chapel is a beautiful venue!  Since this wedding was in January, I can officially say I've shot a wedding there in every season - & I've loved it every time! This particular time was a little different though & had a few extra perks because Jordyn's mom actually runs the venue & her family lives on the property.  Because of this we were able to shoot inside the beautiful old estate house they live in on the property - which was a great refuge from the cold night air after the ceremony.  Then, of course, there was a beautiful, vintage limo that a friend of the Daniel's family owns & let them use for their photos too!

Jordyn wanted to do a little first look for her brothers - I just love their excited reactions!

The deep & genuine excitement these two had about getting married was so precious! Even though they weren't going to see each other until the ceremony, they still had a few sweet moments together beforehand.   They knew deep down that God brought them together & in this quiet moment before all the wedding festivities began they took time to keep Him at the center & pray together...what a great start to their life as husband & wife. 

Jordyn's father passed away a few years ago, so her two older brothers walked her down the aisle & then her whole family gave her away - I'm inspired by this strong & beautiful family.

Coffee Bar at a Wedding?  Yes, Please!

Daniel & Jordyn it was an honor to capture your special day & the love you share for each other!  Thank you so much for inviting me to be a part of it!  You two make a great team & I know God has great things in store for the two you!