From the moment I met Amy & Neal, I knew they were a perfect match. Amy brings light and love wherever she is and Neal comes out of his shell with her. Their day was full of so much love and emotion. It was one of the most touching and heartfelt weddings I've had the honor of witnessing in quite some time. From day one, they both expressed the importance of making sure everyone felt welcome and included. They did their absolute best to honor both families throughout the whole day, with special prayers, wardrobe changes and jewelry. Amy and Neal put so much thought and effort in to their wedding and it was breathtaking. They even added in a few of their own special touches, such as the live painter. It was such a cool experience watching the artist work from start to finish and capture such a perfect moment so beautifully on canvas. I love the originality of this wedding. As a St. Louis Wedding Photographer, this is the stuff my dreams are made of! Congratulations Amy and Neal! I hope you have a long and happy marriage!
As always, Hermann Hill Weddings is a pleasure to work with. The staff is top notch and does such an amazing job taking care of the clients and vendors. 
​
Vendors: Wedding Coordinators | Becki & Teckla
Venue: Hermann Hill Weddings
Live Painter | Cindy Scott Artistry
Florals | Terraflora Weddings
Cake | Frostings Handmade Treats
Hair & Makeup | Eye Do STL - onsite makeup and hair
Ceremony Dress | An Elegant Affair Bridal

Okay okay okay. There is a LOT more to that story.  (We also snuck in to the members only cigar lounge for a few pics.) We did break in to a room.... BUT it was open and the cleaning lady told us it was okay.... after we scared her half to death. As for the luggage cart, we did ask the bellhop for that one and he was so kind. (shout out Terry!)  Listen. my theory is if you show up to the Ritz in that dress & act like you belong, they will basically let you do whatever you want. 
As a St. Louis Wedding Photographer, Peri & Andrew are client goals! They had style for days. Peri knew exactly what she wanted. She had a very stylized vision and I think we nailed it! They had so much fun with their session and we literally just ran around the hotel on a total adventure. It was the best 2 hours I have had in quite a while. Thank you to the Ritz Carlton STL for being so accommodating. Now, check out their STUNNING vogue inspired session! 

Spring brings with it a sense of starting fresh. So with that, we are getting the blog back up and revamping the site! Time to hit all our goals for 2024, right?! 

I wanted this first blog to be a stunning tribute to my 2023. Thanks to all of YOU, our year was full of so much beauty, love, laughter and GORGEOUS light. I travelled to several states for sessions & weddings, I celebrated with long time friends as they welcomed new babies to their families, and as they celebrated their love and said "I do". I had lots of you return as repeat clients and I saw lots of new clients join the Elegant Illusions family! It was truly a remarkable year and I'm so lucky to be on this journey with you. As a St. Louis Wedding and Portrait Photographer, this is the stuff dreams are made of. Without further ado, Please enjoy the highlights from our year! 

Kathy & Michael are truly two of the kindest, genuine, most down to earth people. It was such an honor getting to know them, even if most of our time was over zoom. After covid forced them in to postponing their nuptials by a year, they were finally able to seal the deal! Kathy & Michael decided to celebrate their big day here in Kathy's home town of St. Louis. They were surrounded by so many of their family and friends from Chicago, which just goes to show how much love and support these two beautiful humans have in their lives. 
I was in love with the style they chose for their attire. Kathy was drop dead gorgeous in her elegant gown and those red lips and classic hair gave off true Old Hollywood vibes. Michael's white tux accented it perfectly! Their whole day was absolutely stunning. 
Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Less! 
Vendors
Dress: BHLDN
Tuxes: The Black Tux
Hair: Emily Miller Hair and Make Up
Desserts: Sweet Mandy B's & Russells
Venue: Oliva on the Hill & La Verona at the Marketplace
Florist: Affair to Remember
DJ: Dre Thomas
Wedding Coordination: Victoria Burrows

​​Elegant Illusions Photography is an award winning St. Louis MO Wedding & Portrait Photographer, specializing in St. Louis Wedding, Engagement, & Portrait Photography, serving St. Louis, Franklin County, and surrounding areas.  
Destination Wedding Packages available.

You know when you see a couple and you think to yourself, man they really have it. That's exactly what I thought when I first met Ashley and Jake. They just have it. First of all, they're gorgeous, but it's much more than that. They are so genuinely sweet and down to earth and caring. They have so many of the same interests and hobbies love to share them with each other. 
Ashley is one of the most detailed people I've ever met and she didn't leave anything out on her wedding day. It was perfect. It always makes my photographer heart skip a beat when all the little details are so beautifully put together. 
I don't think there was a dry eye in the place when Ashley shared her dance with her mom, while the reserved chair for her daddy took a special place on the floor nearby. I love that she chose such a special way to honor his memory while sharing her special relationship with her mom as well. This whole day was nothing short of magic. 
Jake & Ashley, I wish you all the happiness. Congratulations! 
Vendors: 
Dress David’s Bridal
Suits - Men's Warehouse
Hair - Kara Wortmann
Makeup - Kayla Savoie
Venus - Saint Paul’s knights of Columbus
Florist - Weddings by Nettie
Dj- High Class DJ's Dawson and Chris
Video- B. Cannon photo + film

​Elegant Illusions Photography is an award winning St. Louis MO Wedding & Portrait Photographer, specializing in St. Louis Wedding, Engagement, & Portrait Photography, serving St. Louis, Franklin County, and surrounding areas.  
Destination Wedding Packages available.

Clare & Theo are one of the sweetest and most adoring couples I've worked with. There love has spanned across the continent for the past year as Theo had moved back to California for work while Clare stayed here to finish things up. That didn't slow them down though. The way their family & friends speak about them just shows how genuine and deep their love flows. As a St. Louis Wedding Photographer, those are the stories that warm my heart. 
Clare and Theo set one of my records as having the rainiest/wettest weddings, but it sure as heck didn't dampen their spirits. They embraced it 1000% In life, you will have showers and storms. The trick is learning how to navigate that and knowing how let go and just dance in the rain. That they did! It was magical! 
Congratulations Mr & Mrs Wisniewski! I know you will have a long and blessed marriage. 

Vendors: 
Venue: Piper Palm House
Dress: David's Bridal
Suit: Men's Warehouse
Hair: Layne Paubel & Marie Condellire
Makeup: Bridesmaid Erica
Cake: Bridesmaid Madelyn
Videography & DJ: Endy Events

​​Elegant Illusions Photography is an award winning St. Louis MO Wedding & Portrait Photographer, specializing in St. Louis Wedding, Engagement, & Portrait Photography, serving St. Louis, Franklin County, and surrounding areas.  
Destination Wedding Packages available.

Edward & Jourdin endured so many hurdles to make this day happen. Their first wedding date was cancelled just weeks before it was set to happen due to the first mandatory shut downs in 2020. So they rescheduled for later in the year. Then there was a 2nd set of mandatory shut downs shortly before their 2nd date. They didn't let any of that get them down. They welcomed a beautiful baby boy in to the world. They moved across country for work. They planned a new (3rd) wedding date from out of town, all with a big smile on their face. I love their tenacity and their soft spoken but powerful spirit. These two have so much love for each other and so much love for their family and they weren't going to let anything stop them from celebrating their love with all of the people closest to them. Bro, did we celebrate. This reception was wild! Probably the most fun I've had. The rest of my clients better step up and bring their best dance moves, because the Jenkins party was definitely top of the charts. 
Congratulations to Edward & JoJo! I'm so happy the two of you got the ceremony of your dreams surrounded by all your loved ones! You deserve all the happiness. 
Vendors: 
Dress - Clarice's Bridal
Suits - Savvi Formal Wear
Hair - Rosalind Thomas
Makeup - Blush on the Blvd
Cake - Wedding Wonderland
DJ - Climate

​Elegant Illusions Photography is an award winning St. Louis MO Wedding & Portrait Photographer, specializing in St. Louis Wedding, Engagement, & Portrait Photography, serving St. Louis, Franklin County, and surrounding areas.  
Destination Wedding Packages available.

From the moment I first heard Grace & Connor's "How we met" story, I just knew we would be a perfect fit to work together. Simply put, I adore them. I adore their whole family. These two have so much support and love from every single family member. Connor met Grace on their first day of college. He came home that first week and told his mom he met the girl he was going to marry. WOW. 
Girls, find you a man that KNOWS he's gonna marry you... and boys, find you a girl that looks at you like you have hung the moon and the stars and the planets and the sun and everything else in the entire world because that is exactly how Grace looks at Connor. These two are a made for each other. 
The whole family was so involved and you can see just how much love surrounds this beautiful young couple. Grace's grandparent's (the owners of The London Tea Room) brought some DIVINE scones and cakes and pastries for us to brunch on. I even broke my "no carb" diet for those goodies. 
There is always something at a wedding that gets me right in the feels. Sometimes it's a first look, or the sweet words during a toast. This time though. This time had me full blown almost ugly crying. Thank goodness I had my camera to hide my face. Grace is super close with her mom and decided to surprise her and do a "first dance" with her. OH MY MAMA HEART could not handle it. Her relationship with Jodi is so similar to the relationship I share with my own baby girl and it just got me. WHEW. I don't think there was a dry eye in the building. 
The two finished their Sunday wedding with a ribbon and bubble send off. It was the sweetest wedding. I can't wait to see where their lives take them! 
CONGRATULATIONS MR. & MRS. McGUIRE! ​
Brookdale Farms, as always, was beautiful and so wonderful to work with. I absolutely love every chance I get to work with them. The staff is so amazing and it's one of my favorite venue's to team up with. 
Vendors: 
Venue: Brookdale Farms
Dress: Clarice's Bridal
Suits: Savvi Formalwear
Florist: Laura Winn - Field & Flower
DJ: Dre Thomas DJ Services

​​Elegant Illusions Photography is an award winning St. Louis MO Wedding & Portrait Photographer, specializing in St. Louis Wedding, Engagement, & Portrait Photography, serving St. Louis, Franklin County, and surrounding areas.  
Destination Wedding Packages available.

Kaitlyn and Andrew's wedding day was one I will surely never forget. They had the most fun I think I've ever seen at a wedding and it was full of some of the most memorable moments. I mean, never before have I had a groom get a golf cart stuck in the mud and then have the bride and bridesmaids wench him out with a side by side. There is always a first time for everything.
Kaitlyn and Andrew were also surrounded by an immense amount of love. I firmly believe that laughter and love are the building blocks to a long and happy marriage, so I know these two are blessed. 
I always get excited when I get a chance to work with A Pocket Full of Sunshine Wedding Venue in Mount Vernon Illinois. Their owner, Talia, and all of the staff are so amazing to work with. Seriously some of the best around.  As a St Louis Wedding Photographer, it makes my job so much better when I am able to work with amazing vendors. 
With that being said, Thank you to all the amazing vendors who made the Crawford's day go off without a hitch. 
Venue: A Pocket Full of Sunshine, LLC
Dress: Ella Park Bridal 
HMU: Natalie Joseph's Salon
Florist: Flower Girls
Cake: Cakes by Ally
DJ: Music in Motion
Videography: Southern Illinois Wedding Videography

​Elegant Illusions Photography is an award winning St. Louis MO Wedding & Portrait Photographer, specializing in St. Louis Wedding, Engagement, & Portrait Photography, serving St. Louis, Franklin County, and surrounding areas.  
Destination Wedding Packages available.

What an honor it was to work with Jessica and Brett on their wedding day! It was an absolute joy getting to know the two of them over the last year. They are truly a remarkable couple. Their wedding was so beautiful but chill, which is perfectly them. Their family and friends surrounded them with so much love and support, it was a beautiful sight to witness. 
Silver Oaks Chateau was the perfect spot for their spring wedding. All the blooms created a beautiful backdrop. Thank you Mr. & Mrs. Johnson, for allowing me to capture your love story! May you have a long and blessed marriage! 
Vendors:
Venue: Silver Oaks Chateau
MUA: Noelle Glam MUA
Dress: Robins Bridal Boutique (no longer open)
Suits: Men’s Wearhouse 
Florist: Carol Ehlke
DJ: DJ Franco of Show Me Sounds
Videography: Daniel Thompson Film 

​Elegant Illusions Photography is an award winning St. Louis MO Wedding & Portrait Photographer, specializing in St. Louis Wedding, Engagement, & Portrait Photography, serving St. Louis, Franklin County, and surrounding areas.  
Destination Wedding Packages available.