Jessica and Michael came back to Jessica’s hometown of St. Louis for their wedding. (Jessica wanted to make sure her grandmother was there for her wedding.) Their Fort Zumwalt Park wedding was short, but sweet. The park is in O’Fallon, Missouri, and just their families and closest friends were present. The ceremony location was changed at the last minute due to a frisbee tournament, and ended up taking place at the top of a hill next to the Darius Heald Home. The shaded front porch of the home became the perfect backdrop for not only the formal family photos, but a few of the newly weds as well.
Though it’s been a cool summer so far, Jessica and Michael’s wedding day ended up being a scorcher. The two were troopers, though, and we ended up getting some amazing shots around the park and by Lake Whetsel.
Jessica got ready in a nearby hotel with her bridesmaids.
The outdoor ceremony was warm, but absolutely beautiful! Michael, Jessica, and their wedding party stood in the shade, at the top of a hill overlooking the War of 1812 fort site.
The heat made it a little difficult to get the rings on!
Though the ceremony was brief, Michael and Jessica had a sand ceremony with red and purple sand.
The gigantic tree in front of the Darius Heald Home was the perfect spot for bridal portraits.
I love the curve in the branch of this giant old tree.
It was brutally hot, but you’d never be able to tell from these photos! So gorgeous!
The old brick home made a perfect backdrop for pictures
The light on this side of the house made for breathtaking portraits of Michael and Jessica!
Lake Whetsel is a tiny little lake with a fountain in the middle
I love when I get the opportunity to shoot with just the bride and groom- the energy completely changes, and the bride and groom instantly become more relaxed.
The big old shade trees all over the park make for perfect light
We headed to the porch of the old home to cool off, where I snapped these candids of Michael and Jessica.
All I can say is: Exquisite!
The shaded porch of the old home was an amazing combination of lush green surroundings, gorgeous old brick, and perfect light!
I love Jessica’s shoes! They were so cute! And we had to get a shot of Michael’s dog-tag, which was Jessica’s “first” engagement ring.
Didn’t Jessica make the most beautiful bride? Just look at her smile!
Michael and Jessica were just so happy! I love when my brides and grooms can see past the stress of the day and just enjoy each other.
Fort Zumwalt Park is a historic area in St. Charles county. In addition to the Darius Heald Home, the park has a gorgeous lake, a picturesque stone chimney remaining from the Spanish territorial days, and a War of 1812 fort site.
Jaimie Nicole Krause is a St. Louis wedding photographer. Call or email to book your wedding or portrait session.
