June 14th Wedding

I am convinced Silver Oaks has the best couples ever, though sometimes I can’t forget a pair. Almost two years later and I think about this wedding a lot. It was a beautiful day in early summer but there was a humidity in the air that meant rain was coming. Elizabeth and Scott shared a first look and were able to capture amazing photos before their ceremony, but spending time together beforehand gave them that release of pre-wedding jitters that, believe me, are all too real.

About 30 minutes before the ceremony, rain hit. And not like a playful drizzle… we are talking a downpour. Guests were starting to arrive and we had to make a decision, quick. When Todd and I (you all know Todd by now, right?) realized the rain would let up about 5 minutes after the ceremony was set to start, we knew we could make it happen, albeit late. We gave ourselves a 5-10 minute window to dry off every chair and get the guests out and seated so we could still have the outdoor ceremony the couple dreamed of. Still, I’m sure “late” isn’t what you want to hear on your wedding day.

I remember being so nervous to tell the bride and groom that, if they wanted to keep the ceremony outside, we would be running a good 15 minutes behind. I had never had this happen before. I first approached Scott, who was just happy as can be while he chatted with guests and waited for his ceremony. I stumbled over my words as I let him know the plan…and he never stopped smiling. “Sounds good!”

Wow. Okay. I still had to tell the bride… Let me just tell you, that you never want to knock on the bride’s door 30 minutes before her wedding ceremony to tell her it was now raining and we needed to throw together a plan. Oh, and start 15 minutes late.

Elizabeth didn’t bat an eye. She was just happy. A happy gal 30 minutes out from being a Mrs. She already got to see Scott and feel all the feels. All the people she loved were arriving to celebrate her and her new husband. She was about to spend a night celebrating and having the time of her life. What could be wrong with that?

And it happened. Guests were seated and wedding was underway about 15 minutes after the start time. But no one noticed. The guests were happy to wait as long as it took to witness such a gorgeous and emotional ceremony.

The day had just gotten started, and with it came more reasons to think back to this day. The PHOTOS that came out of this day are just unbelievable. We all know overcast can make for some amazing photos but these will take your breath away. Further, the colors, the florals, the cake, and all of the little details were so reminiscent of how fun and loving these two are. The little details are sure to inspire you. Oh, and if you were considering getting uplighting, this might seal the deal for you.

Caterer: Sugarfire Catering

Photographer: Bryson Buehrer Photography

Florist: Always In Bloom

DJ (Ceremony and reception) and Uplighting: COMPLETE Weddings and Events

Cake: Celebrating Life Cake Boutique

Chalkboard: RSVPeas

October 30th Wedding

Sometimes I start writing a blog and realize about halfway through that it has a theme. It normally doesn’t start with one…but when I sat down to write this blog the theme was simple and clear: family.

If you’ve been married, are to be married, or have even stepped foot inside of Silver Oaks there’s probably a point in time we’ve referred to you as “family.” At this point, most of you know that Silver Oaks Chateau was built from the ground up by husband and wife team Ron and Sandi Tate. Their vision was a space and customer service that felt like a second home for your family for the day. Their daughter, Andrea, works here part time. Ron and Sandi make a point to treat the two full timers, Todd and myself, like family too.

When Ron and Sandi’s niece Kaitlyn was engaged, the entire day was a no brainer. It was finally time to have real family spend the day at Silver Oaks Chateau.

Last year had its rough points for many and our Silver Oaks family was no exception. You all know that brides and grooms, I’m sure Kaitlyn as no exception, had added stressors associated with the pandemic during their wedding planning. You may also know that venue owners and other small business owners shared their most challenging year. What you do not know, is that this particular family experienced the passing of several loved family members amidst everything else. Ron and Sandi each dealt with the passing of a parent through the year. Through it, they held family a little tighter and celebrated every moment they had with family. Kaitlyn’s grandma, and Sandi’s mother, was actually able to make it to Kaitlyn’s wedding and I am sure the entire family will treasure the memories of Kaitlyn and Blake’s wedding a little extra because of it.

There are so many more details I want to go into about Kaitlyn and Blake’s perfect - literally perfect - day, but I could write for hours and I’m afraid I’ll lose you. Unsurprisingly, Ashley Fisher does it again and captures more in these photos than I could possibly put into words, so maybe I’ll let her tell the whole story. Just make sure you scroll ALL the way through to catch the fun Chiefs details, cozy cocktail hour, greenery galore, and endless treats on treats on treats!

I will say, you have to take note of the backdrop. The leaves dropped earlier than normal this year so we were almost worried the color wouldn’t be perfect. Of course, Silver Oaks property showed up for Kaitlyn and Blake. Pro tip for you Missouri brides: if you want COLOR, the very end of October and first week or two of November is when to book your wedding. You cannot go wrong!

Caterer: Ces and Judy’s Catering

Photographer: Ashley Fisher Photographer

Florist: Walter Knoll

DJ (Ceremony and reception): Millennium Productions

Chalkboard: Jenna Jordan

September 20th

Timeless. Classic. And an absolute blast. Mr. and Mrs. Lumpa sure know how to have a good time while showing off their love for one another.

I have a newfound appreciation for the color black and an island breeze theme - Polly and Jayden’s details included black bridesmaids dresses that were the epitome of elegance. Along with having whicker and leafy green decor around the whole venue that gave off a sense of freshness. All of this tied in so well together with the overall welcoming atmosphere of the day!

This was another wedding where the ceremony was one of the highlights to me. Getting to see the first look between the two and then going into the ceremony really just exemplified the genuine love Polly and Jayden share. Giving each other fully to one another and allowing for their emotions to flood out really made my allergies act up.. And once the ceremony concluded with a kiss you knew we were all in for a fun rehearsal.

The rest of the night just flowed so well and made for a memorable evening. From the first dance, to the absolutely beautiful speeches, to the cake scene and all-night dance party. Talk about a lively bunch, in such a crazy good way!

The night ended with guests holding string lights above the happy couple for a stunning photo opt - And Polly was seriously serving a look with her Mrs. Lumpa denim jacket!

Without a doubt, a wonderfully charming couple and their personalities truly spoke for themselves with the way they turned our venue into such an aesthetically pleasing breath of fresh air. We wish nothing but the best for these two and hope to continue welcoming in such authentic warmth and love!

Vendors:

Caterer Contact: Callier's Catering - Abby Schlotz - abby@callierscatering.com

Photographer/Videographer Contact: Jenna Loomis - jennaloomis0@gmail.com

Florist Contact: Walter Knoll - Sue Lueken - sue@walterknoll.com

Officiant Contact: Mike Hansen - mhansen@fca.org

Cake/Dessert Contact: Cake House Design - Lyndsay O'Neil - lyndsay@cakehousedesign.net

Décor/Additional Rentals Contact: An Affair to Remember - Jody Cox - events@aatrstl.com

Chalkboard Contact: Kari Bland - kari@rsvpeas.com

August 24th Wedding

Here I am, finally getting around to posting this very special wedding blog.. One of our own, the one who keeps our ship afloat, the wedding of Scott and Alyssa Ringkamp!

When I think of beautiful, genuine couples I think of Alyssa and Scott. 

Alyssa and Scott did not do a first look because they wanted the raw emotion and true shock value of meeting eyes for the first time at the aisle. “We planned for an hour and a half cocktail hour for photos and our photographer did an amazing job working through that time with us,” said Alyssa. If you want ALL the photos, a first look is a must.  

The ceremony was easily the most memorable part of the wedding day. Alyssa said, “As soon as I saw Scott, I could not stop, it's like everything else faded away. We smiled and laughed throughout the ceremony. It was the first time that day that I felt truly present, taking in every word from our priest and each other.” The ceremony can sadly become an afterthought sometimes.. Don’t let that happen! Take advantage of the quiet, take a deep breath, let yourself laugh and be present. 

One of the highlights of the evening that I’ll never get over is Alyssa surprising Scott with their dogs for the precessional. (Backstory: Scott had initially wanted the dogs in the ceremony, but Alyssa talked him out of it and devised her secret surprise plan.) Thinking of the look on his face when those pups came down the aisle is making me smile like a fool while writing this blog post!

When it comes to decoration and color schemes, I am here to tell you- no exaggeration- nothing, and I mean NOTHING looks “bad” here. You cannot go wrong. You can play off of the natural wooden textures for a more rustic feel, or you can play into the timeless, romantic Chateau features. We’ve had modern, we’ve had themes.. We’ve had it all. Making design decisions was so difficult for Alyssa because she wanted to take something from every wedding!

Silver Oaks works with some incredible pretty caterers, and Scott and Alyssa chose Sugarfire Catering for their wedding. She was determined to have an elaborate charcuterie board, which was not on their menu at the time. “I gave them some design inspiration and they totally ran with it! It was intricate, delicious, and a beautiful focal point,” said Alyssa. I am here to tell you that I think about that elegant grazing station often! 

There are SO many details when it comes to a wedding. When asked if there was anything that she would have changed Aylssa said, “In hindsight, I was a bit overly confident in my pre planning abilities and assumed all that preparedness would manifest itself into taking care of other UNplanned details that may arise. Something I’ve come to realize is that I internalize much of my “communication” of details. If this is you, I suggest either hiring additional assistance on the day of the wedding or finding a friend who is willing and able to help be your second set of eyes in making sure nothing is looked over.” When something pops up, this go-to person can speak on your behalf with your previously noted desires, comments, and taste in mind!  

This day is a reflection of the two of you. Don’t worry about what is “traditional” or what “most people do.” First of all, that is not a thing and second of all, so what? “Most people” aren’t going to celebrate your 50thanniversary with you and look back on the fact you walked down the aisle alone. If that’s how you’d like to do it, do it!  

Ceremony and Reception Location: Silver Oaks Chateau 

Caterer: Sugarfire Catering

Florist: Wildflowers 

Bride’s Dress: Hayley Paige ~ Maiden Voyage Salon 

Groom’s Attire: Vera Wang ~ Men’s Wearhouse 

Bride’s Hair & Makeup: Belleza Salon 

Bridesmaid’s Hair & Makeup: Belleza Salon 

Bridesmaid Dresses: ALL Hayley Paige ~ Maiden Voyage Salon 

Cake: Sarah’s Cake Shop 

Ceremony Music: Landolfi Quartet 

Reception DJ: COMPLETE Weddings & Events 

Specialty Lighting and Décor: Uplighting- COMPLETE Weddings & Events 

Specialty Vendors: WedPets STL for the dogs!

April 28th Wedding

I know I recently posted a blog from an April wedding… but I cannot help it. All of these spring wedding galleries are ready and we are overjoyed! The new leaves and fresh blooms make the most exciting backdrop as the landscape finally readies itself for a new season. This particular morning was pretty brisk.. and I think we could all use more April posts after the recent heat!

We have more and more inquiries for Sunday brunch weddings and we understand why! If a long, fast paced wedding day isn’t your style, why not opt for a truly relaxing alternative? We’ve been hearing it more and more - everyone is choosing a Sunday wedding! It’s a vibe all its own and this wedding is a great example.

An outdoor reception, live music, great food, and close family. Even the catering staff got in on the fun! Check out this gorgeous wedding, complete with these perfect vendors:

23 City Blocks

Les Bouquets

Kelly Park Photography

Silo Coffee Co

Ezekiel and Stearns

New Day Cafe

April 6th Wedding

So here is the thing about Missouri weather… you have no idea what it is until you literally walk outside and feel it for yourself. Within a week it has been as low as 40 degrees and as high as 90 degrees. We’ve switched from winter to summer a number of times already and it is only May. That said, I have several blogs in the works- I thought a nice throwback to a gorgeous December wedding would be nice, then thought maybe a more recent wedding that happened to have very warm weather would fit more appropriately. So back and forth I went until I came across this lovely gallery from a wedding we had on April 6th; the weather, the scenery, the theme, all came together to form this perfect sweet spot right in the middle. We were just starting to get blooms on the trees as the temperature hovered over the mid 60’s. With bright, full florals by Poppies Design Studio and soft lavender wedding colors, this day is just so easy to feature.

I remember meeting Jessica at her first bridal meeting, and being impressed at her level of detail. Everything was filled out, extra documents were prepared, every duck was in a row. (Of course, I’m sure she still felt the weight of this day on her shoulders!) I remember thinking right then and there that this would easily be the day it turned out to be. Everything- from the incredible dessert display to surprising Stephen with their dog as part of the wedding procession- was tasteful and well planned.

If you don’t have time to check out every picture…at least scroll to the end, and let me know if you’ve ever seen a more beautiful sunset!

Photographer: Aloha Kelly Photography

Caterer: Sugarfire Catering

Dessert: Sugarbelle Cakery

DJ & Uplighting: Millenium Productions

Hair and Makeup: Emily Miller Makeup and Hair LLC

Dress: Mia Grace Bridal

Suits: Men’s Wearhouse

Silver Oaks Chateau is neutral enough that there isn’t a color palette you may choose that looks “bad.” Given the building’s french elegance, however, purple tones always seem to look extra beautiful in the space!

December 15th Wedding

At Silver Oaks Chateau we are passionate about the little details. Whether it is the lighting in the bridal suite or the cleanliness of the restrooms, we try to cover it all. What a compliment it is when someone notices how clean the building is during a tour, or notes just how thought out the construction of the building itself really is. I like to think the experience our couples have originate from thinking through those details; without it their experiences just wouldn’t be the same.

Likewise, I appreciate the little elements of wedding planning that quickly add up to create a huge impact. This December wedding is an example! Timeless calligraphy by RSVPeas, striking floral arrangements by Roses and Mint, and Courtney Smith photography to capture all the little moments, nothing was missed!

We are frequently asked “Do I need to hire a wedding planner?” Of course there is no easy answer as every couple is different.. BUT I can say this: If you desire to have your day meticulously planned out.. and even color-coded (like I said, details!) then Allyssa Elaine Events did not miss a beat. Vendors, decor, timing, and other things you may not immediately think of while planning a wedding, were effortless. (It doesn’t hurt that bride and groom Katie and Chris were absolutely wonderful to work with!)

Catering: Hollyberry

Band: Vote for Pedro

Cake: Sarah’s Cake Shop

Hair and Makeup: Danielle Style

Dress: White Traditions Bridal

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again- there is NOTHING missed by having a December wedding. Look at this lighting! The backdrop is still just as breathtaking.

September 15th Wedding

Does this weather have anyone else dreaming of warmer days? Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing like a winter wedding…though we hear we may have 50+ degree weather on Saturday? We’ll take it!

An Affair to Remember will be setting up on Saturday and after the beauty that was Ally and Nick’s September 15th wedding, I cannot wait!

Ally and Nick’s amazing wedding day and An Affair to Remember… WOW. Holy floral halo! You’ve seen them on Pinterest, ladies, but this one takes the cake. Speaking of cake… this couple chose to have a small cake centerpiece from Pint Sized Bakery at EVERY table. Pair that with adorable personalized doggy picture napkins made by On Three Designs, and you can see how this was a fun gallery to steal blog pictures from.

Beauty. Laughter. Class. Sentiment. Some incredible vendors came together to create the most picture perfect day…and for such a fun couple! (Oh, and just when you think the dogs Zoe and Tod have stolen the show… check out Nick’s expression when he sees Ally!)

Alright, I’m done. I think Hannah Shea’s photography will speak for itself.

June 3rd Wedding

It has officially cooled off here in St. Louis! You know what that means…. romantic fall colors, Pumpkin Spice Lattes, cozy sweaters. Best of all? It means the holidays are right around the corner. Which brings me to the inspiration behind today’s blog post.

I’d like to start off by referencing Season 2 Episode 10 of The Office, a.k.a., the Christmas Party Episode. For those who are unaware, I’ll make it quick. In this episode quirky paper salesman Jim expresses his adoration for secretary Pam by buying her a simple blue teapot for their office holiday party. Not only has she had her eye on the kettle, but he has it filled with silly inside joke-themed memoriabilia from their friendship together. Anyone who knows the show knows that in this episode one of TV’s favorite couples is formed and so begins a beautiful love story. In short, Jim and Pam are absolutely made for each other.

Likewise, I present to you Chris and Victoria. Fun, caring, passionate people who are absolutely made for each other. Though this wedding was indeed in the summer, I trust you’ll still get the reference. Ashley Fisher creates yet another masterpiece by capturing the essence of this day.

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry… you’ll be in awe at the fireworks display. You’ll feel the warmness of love radiating through the power of prayer. You’ll start up Netflix and wish you had some cake (Mizzou fans…this is your warning)

Ladies and Gentlemen…. June 3rd, 2018.

Sugarfire Catering

Complete DJ

Are you grabbing the remote or a tissue? Both?

Schnucks Florist for the win!

Can we talk about these bridesmaid dresses!?

June 29th Wedding

We could not have picked a better summer day for Shawn and Kelsey's wedding! Where do we start? The two piece gown? The doughnut wall? The cameo by their dog? Let's talk about it all!!

Kelsey's dress was nothing short of beautiful. We loved the uniqueness of the two pieces, and it looked like one when she put it on! Feminine, delicate, modern and traditional, it had a bit of everything.

We can't decide which part is sweeter---the doughnut wall with the dessert table or Kelsey and Shawn's pup getting an invite to shower the couple with congratulatory kisses after the ceremony. In the end, the sweetness of the whole day blew us away!

Check out the photos by Jessica Lauren Photography.