Meg & Billy's Wedding Album

I love absolutely EVERYTHING about Meg & Billy AND their wedding day.   Their wedding album was no different!!  They chose the 11x14 Premium, Flush-Mount album.  The rectangular sizes are always my FAVORITE!!  Especially on the pages where the image goes top to bottom.   Nothing like seeing that Pnina Tornai dress on a full spread!   BAM!     Finding the perfect wedding album company was sooooo very important to us.   We wanted quality and the type of album that was going to become a family heirloom.    Every single time I receive the finished product from Madera, I have been blown away.    Thank you once again Madera for making such a beautiful piece of art for me to share with my bride and groom!!   :)

And just in case you missed their wedding, HERE is their full blog.   Click on it, you will be happy you  did.   :)  I swear, this day came straight out of a storybook.

Meg chose the premium leather Camel color for her cover.   We also chose her favorite pic from the Newlywed session as the cover photo.   This album is so custom and special to the two of them, especially because of the Faith, Hope, & Love imprinting (which is their special verse that was featured all throughout their wedding) on the cover along with the wedding date.

Meg also added special imprinting down the spine of her wedding album.    

The cover page (with zoey sneaking in the background)

I absolutely LOVE the impact that one image across an entire spread makes!!!   

Save the Date: Meg & Billy

Save the Date, because it's going to be an event you are NOT going to want to miss!!!    Meg had me design her save the date to match the style, colors and theme of her wedding which will be taking place at my most favorite spot in this city.....The Four Seasons.  :)   You can catch me there pretty much all summer long on their rooftop which overlooks the entire city.   Their wedding is one I can NOT wait to shoot!!!     

Billy & Meg: Engaged

The gentle giant.  We have all heard of him.  Well I would like to introduce you to him.   Better known to me as Billy.  I met Billy when I was looking for a personal trainer at my gym.  Billy was brave enough to train me and my sister....at the same time.   We kept him laughing and he kept us straight workin on our fitness, he's our witness....sorry, had to break out into a little Fergie there.   I met Billy before his entire life changed.   This life changing day was the day Meg entered his life.  I saw true happiness in this boys eyes.  He was planning romantic dates and any and every way that he could sweep this little lady off of her feet.  Let me give you a better picture of this couple: Billy is 6'5" Meg is probably about 5'4" give or take a few inches (sorry if I am so off on your height, Meg!!)  :)   Billy towers over Meg.   He is a personal trainer, totally buff, and is probably the last guy in a lineup that you would want to be thrown in a fight with....but the thing is, he is as sweet, kind, and gentle as can be when it comes to taking care of his lady, Meg.  He opens doors, picks her up, makes sure he can do everything in his power to keep her beaming that beauty queen-esque smile of hers.  He truly cherishes everything that she encompasses.   

This is one wedding that I am BEYOND excited for.  Vintage, Soft, Classy Theme.  And the reception will be hosted at none other than my fav. spot, The Four Seasons.   Oh....ANDDDD Meg owns Meka Boutique.  Ladies, if you have never shopped here, may I suggest that you get there and ask for Meg!  She will be your personal stylist and send you home with some fall pieces that will make you wonder how you lived with out. 

We decided to do a fall engagement session and go to some of their favorite spots.  We headed to Kirkwood so we could start at Kaldi's, which happens to be one of their favorite places to just kick back and relax on the Sundays they have off together. 

If you are loving these boots like I am loving these boots, they are Gringos, which you can find at Meka!  :) 

I have always been a fan of cute and clever T's.   So you know I was loving this set.....

And finishing up our Sunday Session at the same place where Meg and Billy had their first date....Coldstone Creamery.   "That's how I roll." You know I had to get a shot of that!

 Check out Meg and Billy's slideshow right HERE.

Christie and Tony's Winter Wonderland Wedding

On a blistering cold day in Saint Louis while others were staying inside to keep warm, the weather was the last thing on Christie and Tony's mind. This was their day, and they were ready. Upon first impressions, Tony may seem like a dudes kind of dude. He loves football, bbq, and hanging out with the boys. Not one bit of this takes away from the way he loves Christie. As a certified people watcher, I love sitting back and observing. On this chilly day I saw how he looked at Christie as if she were the only girl in the room, I saw the concern and care he demonstrated. I saw the way he cared about her family, and the way they cared about him. I could see how proud they were to have him join their family. I saw the raw honesty in his eyes as he looked into hers and they made their lifelong vows. There was no one-sidedness here....Christie had that same adoration for Tony. He makes her laugh, and I can see the way he makes her feel loved.

Christie and Tony....from the moment we met you, there was a connection as if we had been long lost family members. We were lucky to have been chosen by the two of you. Your hearts, the love you share, and your friendship to us makes us feel blessed yet again. TWITA!!!!!!! :o*
The first time Alicea and I met Christie, she shared with us that Tony had lost his brother, and that as a surprise she had these special cufflinks made for Tony. As she shared her plans for Tony's gift, I could see the compassion and genuine love she had for her fiance. As two sisters who have lost a brother, it only added to that immediate connection we felt with these two.
I love this one of Christie and her dad!



As a surprise, they hired a bagpiper to close out the ceremony.....
Introducing the new Mr. and Mrs Vatterott!
TWITA! Looking fab Christie!
Not so bad yourself, Tony!!! :) GQ
Warning: Picture appears warmer than it was in reality..... Thanks for braving the cold winds!!! :)

Movie star.

The reception was insane with details. I am not even exaggerating. It was at the Point of View downtown, and as soon as we arrived to begin documenting the details...we were like kids in a candy store!! When Christie arrived to check out all of the hard work she put into the day, I could see her eyes fill with tears. She was genuinely thankful and amazed by how it all came together. Our favorite detail....the candy buffet bar. I have never seen anything like it!! Full candy bars, white chocolate dipped fortune cookies, gumballs, mentos, tic tacs, chocolate covered pretzels.....seriously, you name it, it was there!

Their first dance was incredible. In a full room, they were the only two that each other could see. It showed..... Beautiful.

View Christie and Tony's Slideshow HERE.

Kelly ♥ Terry : Wedding

Girl meets Boy. Boy sweeps girl off feet. Girl Finds dress. Boy pops the question. You may think that this seems a little out of order. For anyone who knows Kelly, you know that this is not the case. She is so full of life, and her energy can have an effect on an entire room. She is spunky, hilarious, and passionate. When I received the phone call that she was looking for a perfect wedding dress, I demanded to know the engagement details. Then she explained, "No he hasn't proposed yet, but Ashley, I know he is the one. I just know it. I am marrying this man." You could feel the sincerity and absolute certainty in her voice as she told me this. Two days later, Terry proposed. The wedding that is documented below, was all Kelly's doings. Once again, Kelly and Terry's fabulous-ness has shown through. All of our love to you, Kelly and Terry (and Amelia!!)!!! :)

And this is the famous dress that she found the 1st day of shopping for one (before the proposal)....


I love this shot.....

The green shoes....love em...

Kelly's mama....She was the proudest mom ever! She was fighting back the tears all day. It made me tear up (but I am known to do that...) :)

WOW!!!! SERIOUSLY!!?!?!? You are beyond beautiful!!!!

Hair done by Changes Salon and make-up done by Lancome Artist, Joan Nassis. Kelly also is an AWESOME hairstylist at Changes Salon!!!


What a good looking family!!!


And we had so many great shots of Kelly. Let's not forget about the oh-so-handsome groom, Terry!

Good Job, Kel! ;)


Their wedding was on a Friday. This means there is not much time for that beautiful natural light in-between the Ceremony and Reception. Kelly and Terry instead opted for the 1st Meet. This is a chance for the bride and groom to have a special intimate moment before the ceremony. After they see each other, and the giddiness slightly subsides, we sneak the bride and groom away for some romantics! I can not stress how much I love the 1st meets! It leaves no rush in-between the Ceremony and the reception (more time to enjoy your day), you are completely fresh with hair/makeup, and did i mention there is no rushing!! And trust me, that moment walking down the aisle is still breathtaking! :)


So much anticipation!!!



This was once we snuck away....All they could see was each other. It puts the biggest smile on my face...


You guys look GOOD!


This is my favorite....I have to admit, when I started looking thru all of the pics from the day, these ones really made me choke up.


Then we stepped out on the rooftop terrace. It was a little chilly and pretty windy, but we worked it!!

Still working that wind....

Had to post another Bridal portrait. Stunning.


There were also super cute kiddos at this wedding.

Here is the beautiful,wonderful flowergirl, Amelia. She looks just like Kelly...


The we were off to the ceremony at St. Raymond's Cathedral.



The Reception was at the Cedars and it was filled with personalized details. Kelly is Lebanese, so to celebrate her heritage there were Lebanese appetizers (YUM YUM), and she also works as a Platform Artist and Regional Educational Manager for Big Sexy Hair, so everyone received Big Sexy Hairspray, what is not to love about that!!!!

Her Maid of Honors' ♥felt speech.

Then it was big brothers' turn for a speech. It was such a great tribute to Kelly and her father's love for her.



After the 1st dance, the bride and groom were serenaded by Amelia. She sang "Love Story" by Taylor Swift and the pride was beaming in Kelly and Terry's eyes.

If you do know Kelly's family, you know that they are the life of the party. The dance floor was packed all the way until the last song (also thanks to the wonderful band, The Rhythm Rockers). It is tradition in the Hurley family to serenade the bride and groom in their gold togas to "We are Family".


Kelly and Terry: We want to thank you for including us on the start of your lives together. Not only would I have been there supporting you two 100%, but I was also blessed to be chosen by you to document the love that is shared and shines between the two of you. All my Love!!! (And let's work on the Miller Lite and Cubs thing....) ♥♥♥