Jennifer & Kyle | Wedding Interview

Jun 18
6 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/bcffb9_4e29e3096a2e4810958bf19e225cc3e5/720p/mp4/file.mp4

THE TWO OF YOU

Tell us how you met.

Crazy how we basically knew of each other our whole lives but never actually crossed paths. My mom worked for his parents at Hendel’s; I was even at his parents’ wedding, and we had a million mutual friends. Then finally in 2018 at his cousin’s graduation party, we actually met. He got my number, asked my friend Adriana how to ask me out lol, bought a whole new outfit for our first date, and was super nervous. Meanwhile, I came running out late as usual, putting my shoes on in his car. We went to Picasso’s and talked nonstop all night. I thought he was trying to escape the date because he kept saying he had to leave early... Turns out he had a huge interview at Florissant Valley Fire Protection, where my grandpa had just retired from.Safe to say after that night, we were inseparable.

How long were you together before getting engaged? What did those years look like?

Well, even crazier story. We were together all through Covid, and that ended up with me moving in pretty quick. We got together in 2018. Then when Covid happened around 2019-2021, we lived together. Then that ended up with me getting pregnant in 2022, having our first baby. In November of 2022, we got married at the courthouse and did not tell anyone. Then comes March of 2024, when I found out I was pregnant with our second baby and finally got proposed to. It was a crazy time because we went from a normal dating life in one year into 3 years of the whole world being turned upside down and shut down. We were together 3 1⁄2 years before we got pregnant, got married, and all while trying to figure out the new world.

How did the proposal happen?

After finding out I was pregnant with our second baby (while still being married, just no ring), we finally got around to looking at rings. Well, it didn’t take him long from when we looked to buying it that week. I had no idea when it was coming until one night before he went to work for 2 days. He randomly said he was going to Costco at 4 p.m... I thought it was kind of weird because it was sudden and he didn’t ask if I wanted to go. Well, a little while goes by, and I see his location is turned off at Shane Co., where we picked my ring out. I laughed, and as soon as he got home, he went straight to the safe. Lucky for him, he was gone for 2 days, but I knew I wanted my kids to be a part of the proposal, so I went and got my nails done and said I wanted to go to the Botanical Gardens on his 4 days off. So on March 23 2024, we got “engaged” while I was also keeping a secret that I was 6 weeks pregnant!!

How would you describe each other?

They say opposites attract, and that couldn’t describe Kyle and I better. He’s quiet, strong-willed, and just the right amount of quirky, while I’m loud, bold, and always trying to make people laugh. I never mind being the center of attention, and Kyle is the perfect balance — always supporting me, cheering me on, and letting me be fully myself. He’s truly a jack of all trades, always picking up new hobbies and somehow mastering every single one.

What does a normal weekend look like for you two?

Juggling our hectic schedules while taking care of our 2 beautiful boys. We have a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old, and they keep us on our toes. If we aren’t in the backyard looking for bugs or kicking the soccer ball, we are on the golf cart going to all the parks and riding bikes. Since both of our families live within blocks of us, we like to call our lives a Hallmark movie. From walking to his aunt's coffee shop to walking to lunch at his parents' restaurant!

THE BASICS

Why did you choose your venue?

We chose Hendel’s because it felt like the ultimate full circle moment for us. Not only is it 2.5 seconds from Sacred Heart where we got married, but it’s also his parents’ restaurant — the same place they got married 24 years ago in September 2001. It’s where Kyle grew up, and in a way, where I grew up too since my mom worked there while she was pregnant with me. Getting married in the heart of Old Town Florissant, surrounded by so much history and community, made it feel extra special... honestly kind of like our own little royal wedding.

How many guests did you have? What did you want the room to feel like — intimate, full, somewhere in between?

We invited 311 guests and ended up with exactly 250, which made the room feel like the perfect balance — full of love and energy while still feeling intimate. We really wanted the vibe to feel like elegant meets small-town wedding, and it turned out exactly how we imagined.

What was your budget approach — did you splurge anywhere or keep it simple?

I wouldn’t say there was a budget because I was a very laid-back bride and had so many family and friends with great connections to help me make my vision come to life. I wanted to keep everything very simple black-and-white. And have my guests stand out in their formal attire.

Walk us through your wedding day look.

I truly don’t think I will ever feel as beautiful as I did on my wedding day. My dress was the perfect description of vintage elegance meets modern romance. From the lace sleeves to the silk corset. To top it off, I had a cathedral Vale that was everything!! So I wanted to keep my hair in a simple low bun and my makeup very contoured and bronzed.

THE PLANNING

What was the most important thing to you both when planning?

That we stayed on the same team and remembered that this day was more than just the planning; it was about us committing the sacrament of marriage to each other.

Were there any details that were non-negotiable?

The DJ!! That I picked the DJ and the playlist. Ever since I was in high school, people called me Speaker Jen, and I always had the aux.

Was there anything you chose to leave out that felt freeing?

A Photo Booth. I can’t say I regret it, but I don’t think it’s a make it or break it at a wedding!

THE DAY

What moment from the day do you keep coming back to?

The moment I come back to is when those doors opened, and I saw Kyle. We did a first look, and it helped with the nerves, but nothing will compare to the feeling of just us two in a room walking down the aisle. It’s a moment in time I will never forget.

Was there anything that surprised you?

When people say the day goes by quickly and that wedding blues is a real thing. I didn’t want the day or night to end.

What did the energy feel like — ceremony, reception, all of it?

If I could use all the words in the dictionary that describe electric, love, happiness, and joy. That would be it. To hear it from others

LOOKING BACK

What would you tell couples who are just starting to plan?

To enjoy every minute of it and remember you two are on the same team. When you are out on the dance floor, you will not have a single care in the world what cocktail napkin you picked out. To embrace and live in the moment of planning and celebrating!

Any vendors you want to shout out and why?

Everyone that helped us make our day truly the best day of our life!

Dress: Mia Grace Bridal
Photography/video: my girl Grace Rolfes
Dessert: Made By Lia.
Hair and Makeup: Emily Miller Makeup, but specifically Mary Bradbury
v. DJ: High Class DJ

What do you want people to feel when they look through your photos and film?

I want people to feel exactly what we felt that day. A love that was genuine, effortless, and overflowing with happiness. We want our photos and film to capture not just how everything looked, but how it felt: the excitement, the emotion, the laughter, and all the little moments in between. More than anything, we hope people can feel the deep love surrounding us from our family, friends, and each other, and relive the joy and magic of the day right alongside us.

Love,

Jen + Kyle