Stephanie and David
June 23, 2001
St. Louis, Missouri

ABOUT THE BRIDE: Stephanie is a physician training in anesthesiology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver.

ABOUT THE GROOM: David teaches seventh and eighth grade social studies and religion in the Denver Archdiocese. He recently completed his Masters in secondary social studies education.

HOW WE MET: David and Stephanie are both native St. Louisians. The couple met at a party celebrating the end of their freshman year in high school -- only to find out later that they had originally met at summer day camp when they were only eight years old! They dated on and off through high school and college, remaining best friends across thousands of miles. After a five year hiatus, David moved to Cincinnati where Stephanie was attending medical school and the couple has been together since.

ENGAGEMENT: David had lived in Cincinnati for nearly four months when the couple realized that this time around was going to be forever. Driving home from a Super Bowl party (when the Rams won!) they decided that a wedding was definitely in their future. David and Stephanie found a ring sometime the next month, though the official engagement did not take place until March of 2000, after David had asked formal permission from Stephanie's parents.

PLANNING: Stephanie and David picked June 23, 2001 -- the tenth anniversary of their first date -- for their wedding. Most of the planning for the St. Louis wedding took place from Cincinnati and Denver. Stephanie opted to do most of the planning herself, relying heavily on advice from Arina and Wedding-Club.com.

ATTIRE: Stephanie wore a white silk strapless sheath by Jim Hjelm Couture. She wore a mid-back length veil and a tiara made of Swarovski crystals by the bride herself. The bridesmaids wore floor-length skirts in sage and periwinkle with ivory sleeveless shells by Simple Silhouettes. The maid of honor wore a halter style wrap-around top that matched her skirt. The groom wore a three button tuxedo with a platinum four-in-hand tie. The groomsmen wore similar tuxedos with ties to match the maids' skirts.

THE CEREMONY: The late morning ceremony took place at St. Vincent's Catholic Church in Soulard. The quartet opened the ceremony with their rendition of "St. Louis Blues". Stephanie decorated the church herself with some help from Mary, her florist. The pews were adorned with single sunflowers hung with alternating sage and periwinkle bows. Loose delphiniums in aluminum florist buckets graced the altar.

THE RECEPTION: A cocktail and hors d'oeuvres reception was held at Lynch Street Bistro following the ceremony. Stephanie and David provided the music from their own extensive collection of jazz CD's. The cake was a traditional Italian creme wedding cake from a bakery in St. Charles.

HOW WE PERSONALIZED THE WEDDING: We invited both of our Godmothers and David's cousin to read the readings and prayers. Friends from high school presented the gifts. Our florist had been the same florist that arranged the flowers David gave to Stephanie for proms and other high school dances.

THINGS WE LOVED: It was great seeing friends from both near and far that we hadn't seen in quite some time. It was also wonderful that, after all of the time we have spent as a couple and as friends, that we were finally joined as man and wife!

Photography by Tina Halturin

If you have questions or comments for Stephanie and David please e-mail them at ophelia_naiad@yahoo.com