Amanda + Lucas | An Editorial City Wedding at The Last Hotel in Saint Louis
“Terra literally took care of everything and no one and I mean no one from the bride, groom, parents, grandparents, bridal party had to do or think of anything. She went through the entire hotel making sure people were where they needed to be.”
Amanda and Lucas met while the two attend Ole Miss. The couple had mutual friends who introduced them, and needless to say, the hit it off right away. Their first date included beer and wings, and as Amanda told us, “The rest is history!”
When thinking about the perfect Saint Louis wedding venue, Amanda knew she wanted to look at hotels. She knew that it would be easier for everyone if the entire celebration was held at one venue. The Last Hotel, a 4-star boutique hotel located in the heart of downtown St. Louis, provided the couple with a “cool” vibe. They knew that the roof top would be an amazing spot for portraits, too. This was seriously what I would called an editorial city wedding.
We asked Amanda, “What made you choose to work with Plan it Terra? Why did that matter to you?”
“You were very structured knew exactly what was needed and weren’t to concerned if we didn’t have an answer right away. You were very responsive and up front if you were going to be away for a couple days. You respected the Bride and grooms decisions but gave input which was helpful. You knew how to navigate multiple options with ease.”
Amanda and Lucas both got ready at the hotel, with the ladies getting ready on the same floor as the ceremony and reception. The getting ready space provided abundant natural light and plenty of stations for the girls to get their hair and makeup styled. Of course, getting ready is never complete without a mimosa bar and plenty of light treats to munch on.
While everyone got ready, Jennifer Klink Photography arrived to capture all of the little wedding details, including the wedding rings and a stunning Mikado bridal gown. Amanda’s bridal gown had to be one of my favorites from 2022. Jennifer’s second shooter took Lucas and his groomsmen down to the hotel’s lobby for some getting ready images, and I helped pin boutonnieres on all of the men.
Before long, it was time for the bride to make her appearance. Amanda is very close to her father and her brother, so she requested to do first looks with both of them separately. We took several breaks between shots; there were so many joyful tears! While we encourage and recommend to make first looks as private as possible, the maids popped their heads around the corner so they could witness these heartfelt moments. Afterwards, Lucas saw Amanda for the first time, where the two took several portraits around The Last Hotel. These are some of my most favorite portraits of a bride and groom!
The rest of the afternoon was spent taking portraits around the property, and of course, there was much joy and lots of laughter to be had by the bride, groom, and their wedding party. It was important to the couple to take family photos prior to the ceremony, so our team closed off the ceremony space to allow the families some privacy to take these photos.
An Affair to Remember designed and styled this wedding, and they did such a fabulous job. The bride selected smoke ghost chairs, lush white florals, and lots of candles for the ceremony. The design was a huge endeavor, and An Affair to Remember really created a beautiful, luxurious space.
Before we knew it, it was time to get everyone lined up for the ceremony. Everyone was absolutely glowing, and there was a lot of laughter and a lot of tears during the ceremony. Lucas’ father officiated the ceremony, and he did amazing. I tell you what, their ceremony was one of the most personal, well-thought out ceremonies I’ve ever witnessed. Lucas and Amanda exchanged personal vows during the ceremony, and it was so evident that these two were (and are) madly in love.
After the ceremony, our team worked hand-in-hand with An Affair to Remember and the Last Hotel staff to flip the ceremony space into a reception. This was a lot of work, but it paid off ten-fold. In order to be economical, lots of the decor used from the ceremony was repurposed for the reception such as the ceremony arbor and candles. Jennifer Klink Photography came through the reception at the very end to photograph this stunning wedding reception setup.
The couple made their grand entrance into the reception, where they immediately took their first dance as husband and wife. Afterwards, the two cut their cake and listened to a speech given by Amanda’s father. Once seated, The Last Hotel began dinner service, which included plated salad, yummy entrees, passed dessert, and poured champagne. The rest of the celebration included other special dances, speeches, and a lively dance floor. It was truly a fantastic marriage celebration.
We provided Event Management services, which included a variety of planning meetings, timeline development, a venue walkthrough, assistance with the layout, confirming final details with vendors, facilitating the rehearsal, managing their wedding day, and so much more.
We asked Amanda, “What would you say to a couple who is thinking about booking us?”
“Terra has it together. She checks all the boxes and more. She is great and you do not have to think about anything day of. She takes over the process and handles everything. Always there for you with answers.”
If you’re looking for a luxury wedding planner based in Missouri that is focused on heart-centered and personalized services, please contact me and my team- we would love to work with you! Check out our blog to get a better sense of our approach to wedding planning & our style, and follow us on Instagram! We love to exceed any expectations you have for your day.
Venue: The Last Hotel || Month of Coordination: Plan it Terra led by Terra || Event & Floral Designer + Rentals: An Affair to Remember || Photography: Jennifer Klink Photography || Bridal Beauty: Looks by Lisa || Baker: Sugar and Slice Bakery on Main || Band: The Charles Glenn + Contemporary Productions
Hey, I’m Terra!
Born and raised in Missouri, I’m a grateful wife and dog mom to my rescue pups, Hildi & Lola. I’m a true believer in the pursuit of bold dreams, learning from mistakes, and staying curious.
I'm a girl that lives in her Chacos during the summer, and I'm typically always wearing lipstick. Yes, red is my preference! When I'm not helping engaged couples plan weddings, you'll find me on stage teaching Jazzercise classes. Needless to say, creating engaging experiences that leave people feeling good afterwards is my passion. Seriously!
I’ve created this blog and my wedding packages to empower you to plan an awesome wedding day and put all of the stress and obligations straight into the dumpster! Now that sounds like a party.
