The Ultimate Guide To Planning Your St. Louis Wedding
Congratulations on your engagement! Planning a wedding in St. Louis is an exciting journey, offering a plethora of options to suit every style and budget. Whether you dream of a quaint poolside gathering or a grand fall wedding, St. Louis has it all. In this guide, we’ll walk you through every step of planning your perfect St. Louis wedding!
How To Set A Budget For Your St. Louis Wedding:
Budgeting is the first and most crucial step in wedding planning. Determine your budget and prioritize the top three aspects most important to you – be it the venue, flowers, or videography. Remember, beautiful weddings come in all sizes and budgets! Estimate your guest count early to decide whether you want an intimate gathering or a grand celebration.
How Do You Want Your Wedding Day To Feel?
Visualize your wedding day for me – what emotions and ambiance do you want to evoke? Moodboarding can help crystallize your vision in terms of colors, mood, and scale. Whether it’s a close-knit family affair or a large-scale event, understanding the feel of your wedding is crucial in planning. It will also help you immensely when it’s time to book vendors since you’ll be able to find ones that align with your style and vision. It’s difficult to give direction when you don’t have a clear vision!
Contemplating Hiring A Wedding Planner?
A wedding planner can be one of the most valuable assets during this journey.. Your vision, whether detailed or broad, will guide your planner in bringing your dream wedding to life. St. Louis offers various planners experienced in different wedding styles, helping you navigate the local wedding landscape efficiently. I’ll be leaving my personal recommendations down below!
Finding The Perfect Venue For Your St. Louis Wedding:
St. Louis is home to a diverse range of venues, from chic urban spots to rustic barns. Traditional venues usually require booking 12-18 months in advance, but nontraditional venues like rooftop restaurants or boats offer flexibility for shorter engagements. I have an entire blog post showcasing my favorite artistic wedding venues in St. Louis, so check that out after you finish this one!
Additional Recommendations:
Westwind Hills: Just 40 minutes from downtown St. Louis, Westwind Hills is a luxurious venue with two indoor spaces and a multi-use veranda overlooking Missouri’s rolling hills. The venue’s design caters to both logistics and photography, featuring a two-level lofted bridal suite with stunning architectural details.
Bogey Hills Country Club: Offering a tranquil outdoor pavilion with stunning views and a rushing waterfall, Bogey Hills in St. Charles, MO, is perfect for both outdoor and indoor ceremonies. The Grand Ballroom can accommodate up to 350 guests, making it ideal for more lavish celebrations.
The Noble: In the heart of St. Louis, The Noble exudes Art Deco charm and historic beauty, perfect for both ceremonies and receptions. They offer full-service wedding packages in collaboration with local caterers, ensuring a memorable culinary experience for you and your guests – perfect if that’s one of your top priorities.
Ritz-Carlton Solarium: This venue features a unique indoor/outdoor space with a latticed ceiling and removable glass panels. The Solarium is adaptable for intimate and large events, and it can transform into a casual space with fire tables for receptions!
World’s Fair Pavilion: This venue, sitting atop Government Hill in Forest Park, offers a breathtaking view that encapsulates the beauty and history of St. Louis. It includes a covered floor area that can comfortably seat around 500 guests, and the catering area at the west end provides ample space for caterers, along with dimmer switches for the lighting to create the perfect ambiance for any event!
Intimate Wedding Venues in STL:
A.casa: This venue is all about embracing the beauty and personalization of your special day. It offers a sophisticated setting with well-appointed tables, chairs, and finishes, making it the ideal starting point for a wedding that reflects your unique style. The venue encourages creativity and promises an experience that caters to your wildest dreams, all within the charming ambiance of its location.
Haue Valley: Haue Valley, located near St. Charles and St. Louis, provides a stunning indoor/outdoor setting for weddings. This venue is perfect for couples seeking a venue that combines the comfort of modern amenities with the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. Known for being both awe-inspiring and affordable, Haue Valley offers a picturesque backdrop for your wedding day, fulfilling the dream of having beautiful photos (and video!) to share after the event.
Piper Palm House: Nestled in the heart of Tower Grove Park, the Piper Palm House stands out with its unique conservatory design, complete with stately windows, soaring ceilings, and towering palm trees. This venue is versatile enough to host both indoor and outdoor wedding ceremonies, rehearsal dinners, and receptions. It provides various packages to suit different needs, including options for ceremony and reception setups.
City Cottage on Chouteau: City Cottage on Chateau, a century-old venue with a French-inspired design, is located in the Midtown area of St. Louis. This venue offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern elegance, featuring hardwood floors, exposed wooden trusses, and a cozy fireplace. The outdoor terrace provides a lovely setting for ceremonies!
Boo Cat Club: The Boo Cat Club is an adaptable event space ideal for hosting full weekend celebrations, from rehearsal dinners to the main wedding event. This venue boasts a range of amenities that cater to various wedding needs. From its stage and bridal room to the mezzanine lounge and bar staff, the Boo Cat Club ensures every detail is taken care of. The venue’s versatile spaces and offerings, coupled with its team’s commitment to accommodating your needs, make it a memorable choice for your St. Louis wedding.
Booking Your St. Louis Wedding Photographer & Videographer:
After securing your venue, it’s time to book your photographer and videographer! Consider hiring a team that handles both for a cohesive style and approach. Most St. Louis photographers book client’s weddings 12-18 months out from the respective wedding date, while local videographers typically book 8-10 months out. Having a team that does both photo and video is the best-case scenario – here’s a blog post explaining why!
Building Your Vendor Team:
Assemble your dream team, including a day coordinator, DJ/band, florist, hair and makeup artists, attire, caterers, rental services, and transportation. St. Louis offers a rich selection of vendors to cater to every need and style! To help you out, here are our personal recommendations:
Our St. Louis Wedding Vendor Recommendations:
Wedding Day Coordinator/Planner:
DJ:
Florist:
Hair and Makeup:
The Artist Edit – Tayler, Joy, Hannah & Noelle
Wedding Dress Salons:
Suits in St. Louis:
Catering:
Rentals/Design:
Transportation:
Photobooth:
Cake/Bakery:
Sending Out ‘Save the Dates’:
After your vendors are booked, it’s a good time to send out ‘Save the Dates,’ which are typically sent out 8-10 months before your wedding so your guests have plenty of time to mark their calendars. Then, formal invitations are sent 3 months from your wedding date.
These can be physical stationary (from Minted, Canva, or even handmade if you’re an artsy couple) or digital invitations from popular wedding websites. Or you can invest in stationary suites from wedding stationary artists to pull your wedding theme into the invite to begin introducing your guests to the vibes they can expect from your wedding celebration!
Still With Me?
Listen, I know this is quite a bit of information, but I promise that hiring a wedding planner makes this process much easier. If a wedding planner is not in the budget, hiring a team of vendors you can trust will help make this process smoother!
The best part is that you do not have to make your wedding day as intricate as the “norm.” We embrace all types of weddings over here! If you’re looking for an alternative to a large, traditional wedding, courthouse weddings or intimate elopements are beautiful and can be less stressful for people who do not want to be at the center of attention. As long as you’re planning your wedding in a way that’s true to you, you’re golden!
Now, The Fun Part Begins!
Now that your vendors are booked and the vibes are vibing, it’s time for the fun part: to ENJOY as your friends and family celebrate YOU with showers and parties leading up to the big day! Lean on your expert team of vendors for any questions you have as you meet with them leading up to your wedding. Remember that they have years of knowledge and experience under their belt, so utilize them to the fullest extent to help you plan your wedding!
Have Your Venue & Date Picked Out Already?
Great! It’s now time to book your photographer and videographer! Of course, that’s where my team and I come in. Although, we’re not just a photo/video team – I act as the all-encompassing creative director for your wedding day. If you want your day preserved as a masterpiece of memories, I would love to chat with you! To get in touch, you can fill out my contact form and I will personally get back to you within 48 hours.
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I'm Sarah, the soul behind Sarah Kellie Photo & Film.
Whether it's through photos that resemble oil paintings or films that make you feel like the star of your own movie, my aim is to offer an effortless and worry-free experience. So, go ahead and explore the blog, and if you feel a connection to our work and philosophy, we’d love to be part of your adventure.
Feel free to dig into the archive and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need personalized guidance. We're here to make your journey towards 'I do' as magical as possible!
Since 2018, I’ve dedicated myself to capturing couples at their most genuine, telling love stories with a lens.
