Kurt and Tori both grew up in O’Fallon Missouri and attended high school together. Although, they did not know one another, other than just a few passing smiles in the hallways. They went their separate ways for college, Kurt attended University of Missouri- Columbia, and Tori attended Southeast Missouri State University. Both graduated in May 2014, Kurt with a degree in Chemical Engineering, and Tori with a degree in Communication Science & Disorders. Kurt returned to their hometown to start his career as an Engineer. Tori went on to pursue a Doctorate in Audiology at the University of Memphis. It was during that time the two officially met again through a mutual friend at a Christmas party! They quickly connected and fell in love from there. Fast forward about two years later. Kurt told Tori he would be out of town for the weekend. Little did she know, he had been planning a special surprise. It was on October 15, 2017 that Kurt got down on one knee, and Tori said yes!
Jump forward again and For Tori and Kurt, the most important part of their wedding day was being together. For us, their day was absolutely one of the most beautiful weddings we ever shot.
The big day started downtown at the Union Station Hotel. We made sure to collect and document all of Tori’s perfect little details while also spending some time photographing Kurt getting ready and hanging out with his best friends. From there we moved on to Forest Park with the entire party. After getting some super fun shots them, it was on to The Muny. The St. Louis Municipal Opera Theatre has been in operation since the early 1900’s and its unique architecture always makes for beautiful wedding portraits. And Tori and Kurt looked like they were stepping right off the stage posing underneath its famous chandelier.
The vows took place at one of the best ceremony venues in Missouri. The Jewel Box is a greenhouse in Forest Park, St. Louis and truly looks like something from a fairy tale. Known for its art deco style architecture and impressive floral displays, The Jewel Box might be our favorite place to shoot in St. Louis. With the room full of their closest family and friends, Tori and Kurt stood under the palms and declared their lifelong love for one another.
When the vows were complete, we headed back downtown to The Lumen, capturing the very important details as we entered the venue. Like all the other locations of the day, The Lumen was incredibly classy. The old hardwood floors, white columns, and large windows create the perfect atmosphere for not only celebrating in style, but making sure your ceremony photos look as good as you do.
As the night progressed and the cake was cut, we realized we were witnessing such a sweet love story. Tori and Kurt put each other above everything else on their day. They made time for sunset photos outside and made it a priority to spend some alone time together before they hit the dance floor for an intimate first dance. They were truly glowing with love. The rest of the night was spent dancing and soaking in the wonderful feeling of being with the ones you love. And before we even left, we knew we had captured one of our best weddings ever. Tori and Kurt, we hope your first year of marriage has been just as beautiful as not only your wedding day, but the day you fell in love.
- xo, The Marions
