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BRENDAN + SOPHIE // baseball + STL-inspired wedding at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery

Alright, let’s go ahead and get this out of way now so I don’t end up saying it in every single paragraph of this post; this was hands down one of the most FUN weddings I have ever been to! There, I said it. I will try to say “fun” no more than 1000 more times in this post. From start to finish, Brendan and Sophie’s wedding was the perfect mix of easy-going and a super fun high-energy. Not sure how that particular balance is even possible together, but these two definitely achieved it. Not to mention, their stellar atmosphere was also infused with special meaning at every turn.

Brendan and Sophie started their day separately in hotel rooms at The Westin overlooking Busch Stadium. While they had intentionally booked this hotel for it’s proximity to Busch, they were both ecstatic when they discovered they were given stadium-facing rooms. For them, baseball isn’t just a pastime, it’s a way of life. Baseball is their childhood, the origin of their relationship, and even their careers. So of course it had to be weaved into their wedding day!

After a private first look, we ventured a block over to the stadium with their combined wedding crew for some windy photo fun. We made sure to get a few shots of just Brendan and Sophie in front of the ticket windows for an extra personalized touch. This was as a nod to where they had first met, working in the ticket office of a local baseball team. It was the perfect start to the day for these two lifelong baseball lovers.

From there we bopped over to the Lager Room at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery for an intimate ceremony with a just family and close friends. Brendan and Sophie’s mutual friend Kyle served as their officiant with equal parts humor and love. There was laughter, tears and, to end the ceremony, a room-wide toast to send off the newlyweds! It was truly such a fun moment that fit these two so perfectly. And is there any better way to end a brewery wedding? After their private vows, a larger reception was held just outside in the biergarten.

Hot tip alert for all you future brides and grooms – These two did something cool I’d never seen before: an entirely private dinner. As all of their ceremony, and new reception guests, came flooding into cocktail hour, Brendan and Sophie snuck away to share their first married meal fully present together. I love this because I hear so many couples who reflect on their wedding and say something like, “The day when by so fast, it felt like I didn’t get to spend any time with just my new husband/wife.” A private dinner seems to me like the perfect remedy: an hour alone with the person you have just committed your life to, with plenty of time to get back and party with everyone you love! Just ask Brendan and Sophie – when we met up after their dinner, they said it was their absolute favorite part of the day; “10 out of 10 would recommend to any couple!!” And even better? Since they ate dinner before their guests they were able to treat their buffet as a receiving line and greer each of their guests individually as they picked up their plate for dinner.

Planning Tip:

If a private dinner appeals to you, be sure to loop in your planner, photographer, venue contact, and caterer as soon as possible to see what’s feasible. While rewarding, a private dinner requires some special logistics (such as securing a private room, preparing one-off meals early, etc.) that need to be accounted for.

Brendan and Sophie’s quiet candlelit dinner was quickly replaced by one of the most lively dance floors I have experienced. Their guests came ready to party and fully embraced another unique wedding touch I’ve never seen before: Inflatable instruments. Chatting with their friend as I took a break from the dance floor, I learned the sweet meaning behind the fun blow ups. They were a staple at the karaoke bar where Sophie and her friends spent their college days (and the place she realized Brendan was ‘the one’).

In a day full of special moments it’s hard to pick a favorite, but I think the most surprising moment of the night was when the Mother of the groom organized for Fredbird to surprise Brendan and Sophie on the dance floor. You HAVE to scroll down and check out the reaction photos because their faces were simply priceless! They were SHOCKED (in the best way!) and their guests were equally thrilled. For a couple who lives for baseball and beer, they simply couldn’t have planned a better day.

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Sophie and Brendan – Thank you both for inviting me to capture this special, special day. I hope that the fun you had on your wedding day is the start of a continued trend of laughter, love, and baseball! Cheers to you both, and GO CARDS!