All of Your Dreams, Without all the Drama

Engagement season is going strong, meaning starry-eyed, soon-to-be brides and grooms are scouring online resources, childhood scrapbooks and their wildest dreams to plan what is sure to be the most perfect of all wedding days. Of course getting to that day is not without its bumps in the road, as any event planner (or perhaps any married person!) can tell you.

That is why we welcome you to explore Innsbrook – with our ready-for-anything staff, flexible venues and stunning setting. Our goal, from the first walk-through to the final teary-eyed toast, is to take away as much stress as possible to create a truly magical experience for all involved from your intended to your in-laws.

“I love helping brides plan their dream wedding in this naturally beautiful location at Innsbrook,” said wedding coordinator Ciarra Bilyeu. “My goal is to make the entire planning process easy and smooth with no stress. This is your big day – you should be overjoyed and excited about the process, not stressed! I help plan your event from start-to-finish, then execute the event to make sure everything is flawless and exceeds your expectations.”

Innsbrook specializes in worry-free weddings and effortless, impeccable events. If you’re still searching for your ideal “I Do” destination, experience Innsbrook for yourself! In fact, you can start checking off items on your to-do list on Sunday, March 5 at Innsbrook’s free Bridal Showcase from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Forget fighting giant crowds and lines – attendees will enjoy personal attention and a relaxed atmosphere at this exclusive event.

At the Innsbrook Bridal Showcase, you can explore all the options for commemorating your special day. Do you want video of the festivities? How about a fun photo booth to remember your guest’s goofiest “good lucks”?

We’re giving our lucky blog readers a small taste of the wedding talent and expert advice they will find at the showcase, along with some of the exclusive offers that will be available for those who attend!

Inspired Photography

PHOTOGRAPHY

Strike a Pose Photography

About us: “To us photography is about people being real and then letting us paint a picture of that moment to remember it forever. This is the story that matters most: real people, real stories, real moments. To sum up our photography style, we blend a little photojournalism, add a dash of posed photos and a shake of informal formals.”

Advice: “Any couples who feel nervous, shy and even uncomfortable taking pictures shouldn’t have to worry when hiring Strike a Pose! Our team makes sure that every moment of your day is laid back and that your wedding day is one you’ll talk about for years to come.”

Trotter Photo of St. Louis

About us: “We have been providing service as a locally-owned-and-operated business for more than 45 years, specializing in journalistic style, candid and traditional wedding photography.”

Advice: “Weddings are a large part of what we do on a regular basis – it’s not expected of the bride and groom to be fluent in the ways of a wedding. What we want most from you is to be natural, be yourself and let the rest just fall into place. If you focus on being in the moment with your loved ones rather than on the camera, it becomes much easier to relax for your photos!”

Amanda Tindall Photography

About us: “We don’t say we’re in the wedding photography business – we’re in the business of storytelling. From the very beginning, we take our time to really get to know you and your soon-to-be. Our passion for detail allows us to capture not only photographs, but memories that will be shared again and again for lifetimes to come.”

Advice: “Growing up in Missouri or Illinois, you probably didn’t have a Hollywood camera flashing in your face, so the thought of an entire day with personal paparazzi following you around may not be that appealing. We have three pieces of advice that we give all of our couples. First: It’s OK to feel nervous. The truth is, most people don’t enjoy having their picture taken, especially repeatedly. Second: Find a photographer that you are comfortable with ‘off-camera’ and that you can relate to. Third: Allow your photographer to capture your story, not your photograph.”

THE LOOK

Belleza Bridal and Hair Salon

About us: “Belleza focuses on the full guest experience for the bride and her party. Not only can we host the party in our salon, but we can also travel to any location. We have a new barbering area in the salon and licensed barbers on staff can make sure the groom and groomsmen look picture perfect. We love our brides and find that many become our favorite guests long after they say “I do”!

Advice: “We always recommend hair trials! We see everything from brides who want a very specific look to ‘What do you think?’ Our suggestion is to always take some time on Pinterest and look for hair and makeup inspiration pictures. Then, at the trial, the bride will fill out a questionnaire that will help the stylist understand the look they are wanting to achieve. The stylist will be able to advise what style will look best and work well with the bride’s hair- and skin-type.”

DESSERTS

From sheet cakes to stackable sweets and superheroes to Star Wars, wedding treats have reached a new level of imagination! Here are a couple of vendors you can visit with at the Innsbrook Bridal Showcase.

Candy Buffet STL 

About us: “People of all ages love my candy buffets. I add décor to the buffet table that fits in line with the bride’s theme. The bride chooses the colors of candy as well. Themes can go from whimsical to elegant to rustic. A big plus to having a candy buffet I create is that they get guests interacting that might not otherwise.”

Cold Stone Creamery

About us: “At Cold Stone Creamery, we make our super premium ice cream fresh in our stores every day! My favorite is serving the ‘portable stone’ at events. We mix an ice cream creation for every guest on the Cold Stone – it’s very fun and unique! I meet each couple for a complimentary tasting and I help with the different options/flavors they are looking for.”

SPECIAL OFFERS from vendors at the show will include: $200 off; complimentary photo booth with any photo/video package; chance to win a free engagement session; favor bag filled with candy; 20 percent off a bridal candy buffet; chance to win a free bridal hair trial; $50 off dessert delivery/set up.

Plus, attend and enter to win a romantic weekend getaway from Innsbrook!

Find out more about the Innsbrook Bridal Showcase and RSVP at www.innsbrook-resort.com/bridal-showcase to receive your complimentary bridal goodie bag at the show.