Welcome to the inaugural edition of “Vows That Wow”! At Wed Society | St. Louis, we are privileged to receive submissions of truly gorgeous weddings from across the St. Louis area. Each celebration is made possible by our immensely talented vendor community and the wonderful couples who generously share their day with us. Every month, our editorial team selects one wedding that stands out for its beauty and uniqueness to be the subject of this exclusive feature.
For our very first “Vows That Wow,” we are thrilled to share Kara and Will’s sophisticated family-focused wedding at Knotting Hills, a day that beautifully blended tradition and modern elegance, perfectly reflecting their style and love story!
How the Couple Met
Kara and Will first crossed paths in college at Missouri State University. They ran in the same friend groups since their Freshman year, but the sparks didn’t truly fly until their Junior year. They officially started dating in 2018, and the rest is history! Will is a St. Louis native, while Kara relocated to the area after college for work, planting their roots right here in the local community.
The Wedding Day
Kara and Will had a wedding weekend full of romance and meaningful moments. A beautiful day of two distinct ceremonies, blending intimate tradition with a grand celebration. The day started with the couple and their immediate families getting ready in the gorgeous bridal suite and groom’s quarters at Knotting Hills Venue and Resort.
They then shuttled to Our Lady of Lourdes for an intimate, family-only first ceremony. This Catholic ceremony was held under unique and angelic conditions, lit only by candles, as the church’s power was out due to a tornado that had hit St. Louis the night before.
Following this, the couple took stunning photos at the Central Library in St. Louis before heading back to their main venue. That afternoon, the couple held a second “public” ceremony for their 200 guests at The Lake at Knotting Hills, where they exchanged personalized vows. The couple chose to keep their wedding party simple, with only their parents, siblings, niece, and in-laws walking down the aisle, ensuring the day was truly focused on them and their forever family.
The timeless and classic feel of the day started with the elegant paper goods created by Designs by P. From the invitations that set the formal tone for the event to the tasteful signage, Designs by P‘s work ensured every detail was cohesive and beautifully curated. The cocktail hour was held outside against the breathtaking backdrop of the Lake at Knotting Hills. The reception space was decorated with classic white roses and a black-and-white checkered dance floor.
Unique elements and personal touches were sprinkled throughout the reception: the cake topper on the vintage-style cake was from Kara’s grandparents’ wedding in 1966, the “table cloth” on the sweetheart table is the train of Kara’s mom’s wedding gown, and Kara’s second look reception dress was her mom’s repurposed wedding gown.
Capturing the Memories
Trent Broglin delivered his signature elegant and timeless style, documenting a day that was both detailed and heartfelt. As Kara mentioned, “his work is timeless, and he captures the perfect mix of classic and candid.” The couple also noted that Trent made them feel comfortable throughout the entire process, from engagement photos to the wedding, and truly took their vision far beyond what they could have imagined.
Kara and Will’s Favorite Moment
“If we had to pick a standout moment, it would be our private Catholic wedding ceremony that we did with just our immediate family early in the day. The electricity in the church was still out from the tornado the night before, so we had to improvise and light candles and keep the doors open for light. It was such a magical, ethereal feeling having that intimate moment between us and our family in that setting.”
