A Relaxed Spring Wedding at Knotting Hills | Amy & Donovan

Amy and Donovan’s spring wedding at Knotting Hills was such a fun one to photograph. These two are incredibly laid-back. Which ended up being especially helpful when the rain decided to change up their plans for the day! They originally planned to get married outside in the garden. But moved everything indoors and truly didn’t let it faze them. Between the soft greens, all the spring greenery around Knotting Hills, Amy’s incredible dress, and a reception that turned into such a good party, there was a lot to love about this day. We also had our full photo and video team there, so we got to capture all of it!

Getting Ready at Knotting Hills

The morning was super relaxed, which is always my favorite way for a wedding day to start. Amy hung out with her bridesmaids, popped some champagne, and had plenty of time to actually enjoy getting ready. Donovan and his guys were doing the same on their side. Although there may have been a little basketball happening in between getting dressed!

And Amy’s dress?! I loved it! The lace, the long train, the shape, it just felt like it was made for her. She kept the rest of the details really simple with white florals and touches of green, including the bridesmaid dresses. With how green Knotting Hills is during the spring, the whole color palette made so much sense for the venue without feeling overly themed.

A Rainy Spring Wedding at Knotting Hills

The original plan was to have the ceremony out in the garden, but the rain had other ideas. That meant moving everything into the main venue space, and Amy and Donovan handled the change so well. Instead of stressing over something they couldn’t control. They went with the new plan and got married surrounded by all of their favorite people!

The indoor ceremony space still gave us plenty of natural light from the big windows, and I loved how warm the wood throughout the space felt. It also gave us the chance to really focus on everyone’s reactions throughout the ceremony. Those are always some of my favorite photos from this part of the day because there is so much happening beyond just the two people standing at the front.

Wedding Party & Couple Portraits Around Knotting Hills

Luckily, the weather gave us a break after the ceremony, so we still got outside! We photographed Amy and Donovan with their wedding party around the property and then made our way into the gardens for their couple portraits. Everything was so green, and the soft green bridesmaid dresses, white florals, and Amy’s dress looked so good against it.

For Amy and Donovan’s portraits. We kept things relaxed and let them move around and be themselves instead of spending forever posing. We also used some of the darker indoor spaces for a completely different look. I love getting that kind of variety in a wedding gallery, some classic portraits, a few that feel more editorial, and plenty of candid moments mixed in so everything still feels like the two of you.

Why I Love a Spring Wedding at Knotting Hills

If you’re considering a spring wedding at Knotting Hills. April and May are two of my favorite months to photograph here. There isn’t a ton of shade throughout the outdoor spaces, so I personally love spring when the sun isn’t quite as harsh. October and November are also so good for the same reason. The softer light makes it easier to really take advantage of all the outdoor areas around the venue.

Amy and Donovan’s wedding is also a great example of why having a venue with a good backup plan matters. They may not have gotten their original garden ceremony. But they still had a beautiful ceremony inside and then got to head into the gardens for photos once the rain let up. Sometimes you just have to work with what the day gives you!

A Reception Made for Documentary Photo & Video

Once the reception started, we pretty much got to step back and document everything as it happened. Amy and Donovan kept the tables simple with white flowers, candles, and touches of green, and then everyone got straight to celebrating. There were people all over the dance floor, kids joining in, late-night snacks, and so many little interactions happening around the room. Basically, exactly the kind of reception where documentary-style coverage is the most fun.

I was also really excited that Amy and Donovan booked us for both photo and video. I truly think having both gives you such a complete documentation of your wedding day. Photos catch all of those little split-second moments, while video brings back the voices, movement, and energy of the day in a completely different way. Having my full team at Knotting Hills meant we could capture both without Amy and Donovan having to spend their entire wedding thinking about the cameras.

Planning Your Own Wedding at Knotting Hills? Would Love To Chat!

Sarah Kellie | St. Louis & Destination Wedding Photographer

If you’re planning a wedding at Knotting Hills and want your day documented in a way that actually feels like you, I’d love to be there! My approach to both photo and video is all about capturing what’s really happening, the people you love, the moments you didn’t plan, and all the little things happening in between. You get to enjoy your wedding without feeling like you’re spending the entire day taking photos, and we’ll take care of documenting the rest. If you want to learn more about me and what I do, click here. Can’t wait to hear from you!

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Vendors

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Coordinator: @thedayof.stl
Florals: @blissfulbloombybecky
Dj: @mattbaermedia
HMU: @kaylaelainebeauty
Photo Booth: @kruu_usa
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Bar: @champagne_wishes_stl