A summer wedding in St. Louis is almost guaranteed to be humid, hot, and bright. But if ever there’s a couple ready to turn a hot Midwest day to their advantage, it’s Alayna and Paddy.
When it started raining during their engagement shoot, they immediately embraced it. I was so excited since I’ve never had a couple willing to roll with rainy weather! That shoot quickly became one of my all time favorite sessions.
And when you give this beautiful couple a day that’s a hundred degrees and humid? They’ll make magic.
Getting Ready at The Marriott St. Louis Grand
Alayna found me through The Catholic Bridal Collective. This organization connects couples with Catholic vendors equipped to make their day unforgettable while remaining true to the beauty and goodness of the Catholic Church. After having such a fun time with Alayna and Paddy during their engagement shoot, I knew their wedding would be incredible.
The entire wedding party started their day at the Marriott St. Louis Grand. I love when both the bride’s and groom’s parties start in the same place. It allows me to organically capture moments throughout the morning, and it gives the schedule a little room to breathe.
If the bridal party needs more time, I can pop over to the groomsmen to photograph them getting ready. Once the groomsmen’s photos are done, I can hop back over to the bridal party to finish their photos up. Each group can go at their own pace, and I’m right there to document the memories.
For Alayna and Paddy’s wedding, I started with the bridesmaids. I captured some super fun moments of the bride and the women closest to her having a pillow fight and a dance party before everyone started getting ready. Once Alayna was ready, we did first looks with the women, followed by bridal portraits. There’s so much to love about photographing weddings, but seeing everyone’s reaction to the bride for the first time is one of my favorites.
And wow, Alayna looked stunning. Her ball gown had multiple layers of tulle with amazing volume and movement, and her veil was simple yet gorgeous.
Then it was off to the groom’s room to photograph the men. Paddy made a classic and handsome groom in his tux. We used the simple and dramatic lighting from his hotel room to catch some groom portraits. I prefer to keep the groom’s photos simple and strong, and I love to let light and shadows do a lot of the heavy lifting.
Photographing the Ceremony at St. Anthony of Padua in St. Louis
To travel between our destinations, Alayna and Paddy commissioned an adorable wooden trolley from St. Louis Trolley. It carried us to St. Anthony of Padua, where the wedding ceremony would take place.
As a photographer, I’m always evaluating the light. Since I mainly shoot Catholic weddings, I’m pretty used to dark or dimly lit churches. These are great for a beautiful atmosphere but tough for photographing, especially since most churches have an incredibly bright altar and a barely lit nave. Thankfully, St. Anthony was none of these things! It was beautifully lit with both natural and incandescent light that blended wonderfully and made my job really easy.
But one of my favorite features of the church was something I’ve never seen anywhere else. Mounted on the walls throughout the sanctuary were these round light bulbs. They had a vintage feel, almost like they belonged on the sign of an old-time movie theater, but they still fit the church perfectly. St. Anthony already made an incredible backdrop to this wedding, but the light bulbs gave it the seamless blend of character and class.
The brightness of the church complemented the bride’s color scheme, and the expansive space showcased the string quartet and the cantor’s voice. After the ceremony, Alayna and Paddy made their exit under a shower of pink and white flower petals thrown by their guests. Yet another example of the couple’s style: timeless and lovely.
Wedding Photos at Forest Park
Is there an outdoor space in St. Louis as iconic as Forest Park?
Once we finished with family formals inside St. Anthony’s, we loaded up the trolley and went out to the World’s Fair Pavilion in Forest Park. Luckily, the Pavilion kept us in the shade and warded off the worst of the heat. The bridesmaids had beautiful handheld fans to use both in some cute photos and to keep cool.
The groomsmen bore the heat bravely in their dark colored suit jackets. We all worked together to finish photos as quickly as possible so the wedding party could retreat back to the air-conditioned trolley.
Thankfully, Alayna and Paddy were troopers in the crazy heat and knew it would be worth it in the end for their bride and groom photos. We went out into the direct sun onto a grassy field in front of the World’s Fair Pavilion. A garden borders the field, and the flowers created a perfect background to play with.
I had so much fun working with Alayna to highlight the movement and shape of her dress. The layers of tulle gave us boundless possibilities. We captured a combination of active and romantic shots – a few of Alayna and Paddy in motion and some still frames with the couple, Alayna’s dress spread dreamily around her on the bright grass.
A Homebase and a Destination: The Reception at the Marriott St. Louis Grand
The reception was in the Crystal Ballroom at the Marriott St. Louis Grand, which was the same hotel that both wedding parties had gotten ready at. This isn’t always an option for couples, but when it is, everyone is so grateful. It makes everything easier on the timeline, easier on the guests, and most importantly, easier for the bride and groom.
Alayna and Paddy took advantage of the location to completely refresh between photos and their reception. It was a brilliant plan, especially on a hot, steamy day like this one. Alayna recurled and touched up her hair, Paddy hopped in the shower, and by the time they entered the reception, you never would have guessed that they had just spent an hour taking photos in the one hundred degree heat.
During the cocktail hour, I took advantage of the space to take detail shots. The Crystal Ballroom is a gorgeous reception venue, featuring lofty ceilings, massive circular chandeliers, tall windows overlooking St. Louis, and carved pillars between the windows. Throughout the evening, the guests watched the sun set over the city. I played with the dramatic drapes on the windows for a really cool effect.
Though the chandeliers had a more modern look, the overall effect of the room was a vintage, classic feel, which was a hallmark of Alayna and Paddy’s entire wedding. The chandeliers helped create a special ambiance for the dancing as well.
As the lights dimmed, the chandeliers glowed a warm orange that set the mood as the sun set. And once the open dance started, no one was holding back – all the bride and groom’s friends swept out to the dance floor. The children were some of the most enthusiastic dancers!
I really can’t say enough about how helpful the staff at the Marriott Grand was throughout the day. They were on top of everything, especially when it came to my photography. They ensured we had everything we needed on hand, and it truly made my job so much easier.
Tips and Tricks for a Midsummer Wedding
This summer wedding in St. Louis was the perfect model for how to deal with the heat on your big day.
Whenever you spend time outdoors, seek out shade! Alayna had her first look with her dad and grandpa in the courtyard of St. Anthony of Padua, and there was some shade there that we definitely took advantage of. While taking wedding photos in Forest Park, the wedding party used shade as much as they could to keep cool.
Embrace the accessories! I loved the fans that bridesmaids incorporated into the photos. The floral fans matched the bridesmaids’ dresses, and the whole bridal party had a blast taking pictures with them.
And maybe most importantly, build in time for refreshing. Alayna and Paddy wisely budgeted time in the schedule to freshen up between photos and the reception. Even if the weather isn’t hot, having some time to themselves can be such a relief for the couple! It gives them an opportunity not just to rest, but to soak in the joy of the day.
