Visit Martha Stewart Weddings Weddings Wedding Ceremony & Reception Wedding Décor & Details Wedding Themes A Lemon-Themed Wedding Celebration in St. Louis By Martha Stewart Editors Martha Stewart Editors Facebook Instagram Twitter Website An article attributed to "Martha Stewart Editors" indicates when several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The Martha Stewart team aims to teach and inspire readers daily with tested-until-perfected recipes, creative DIY projects, and elevated home and entertaining ideas. They are experts in their fields who research, create, and test the best ways to help readers design the life they want. The joy is in the doing. Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 27, 2018 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Bryan Gardner From the start, Erin Engelhardt and Ryan Orf felt that rules were made to be broken. In July 2010, at the urging of mutual pals, the St. Louis area natives met up at a Cardinals baseball game. "My best friend has a rule that you should never be available to go out two nights in a row," says Erin, a pediatric resident physician. But she and Ryan hit it off so well, they made dinner plans for the very next day. Date two turned into date three ... and nearly four years later, at the stadium where they first met, Ryan, a farming-sales representative, dropped to one knee and asked Erin to marry him. Saying yes was the easy part. When the pair started planning, though, they were torn. "We wanted both a small ceremony with our closest family and friends and a big celebration with everyone we love," says Erin. Their solution: Buck tradition and have two receptions—intimate nuptials in Florida, where Erin's parents have a home, and a big blowout in St. Louis. To make things easier and more cohesive, the pair used the same florist, stationer, caterer, photographer, and videographer for both events, and throughout, they showcased the same cheery motif: lemons. "I've always loved them," says Erin. On April 25, 2015, at sunset, 59 of the couple's nearest and dearest came to the Cutlass Cove Beach Club in Naples, Florida, to witness their vows, exchanged according to the Catholic tradition, before dinner and dancing. Six weeks later, on June 6, Erin and Ryan welcomed 300 guests to her childhood home in St. Louis for The Wedding, Part Two. The sequel included a raw bar at cocktail hour, a seated steak dinner, and an outdoor "sit-in" movie theater showing a video of the Florida nuptials. Playing the taped vows meant that everyone could see the ceremony, and it left the bride and groom free to focus on fun. "It was great being able to celebrate, stress-free," says Ryan. "Everything was exactly how we wanted it"—which pretty much ruled. 01 of 21 A Fun Save-the-Date Bryan Gardner Save-the-dates by St. Louis's Cheree Berry Paper came in a series of graduated envelopes. 02 of 21 The Invitations Bryan Gardner Cheree Berry Paper also designed the bright yellow-and-green invitation suite, which included custom illustrations and gold foiling, a die-cut lemon reply card, and a playful mini "Dos and Don'ts" handbook ("DO join us for a welcome dinner," "DON'T worry about driving home"). 03 of 21 A Celebration at Home Bryan Gardner Erin (in a Monique Lhuillier gown) and Ryan (in a suit by Jos. A. Bank) stand beneath a custom-built pergola at the entrance to their St. Louis, Missouri reception at her parents' home. A life-size illustration of their dog, Minnie, by stationer Cheree Berry, stands at attention. 04 of 21 Puppy Love Bryan Gardner The pair's dog, Minnie, was dressed for the occasion in yellow roses and striped ribbons. 05 of 21 Lace and Loveliness Bryan Gardner Erin wore the dress from her Florida ceremony and carried a bouquet of yellow and white garden roses, sweet pea, ivy, hyacinth, and ranunculus. After cocktail hour, she changed into a shorter dress, also by Monique Lhuillier. 06 of 21 The Oyster Bar Bryan Gardner The bride sampled the raw bar, which featured sashimi, ceviche, and four types of East Coast oysters. 07 of 21 Witty Napkins Bryan Gardner Raw-bar napkins were chic and tongue-in-cheek—a second one read, "What the Shuck?" 08 of 21 Raw Bar Treats Bryan Gardner Citrusy ceviche, in compostable bamboo dishes, was a favorite among the raw-bar offerings. 09 of 21 Fruity Escort Cards Bryan Gardner Digitally calligraphed paper lemons made refreshing escort cards. 10 of 21 The Bridesmaids Bryan Gardner At both events, bridesmaids wore different styles of Amsale gowns in blush pink and dove gray. Their custom white-gold necklaces from A. Blase Designs and Kate Spade clutches were gifts from the bride. There were 20 bridesmaids and groomsmen total. "We didn't care if it looked funny that most of the people attending [our Florida wedding] were up there by our side," Erin says. 11 of 21 Lively Music Bryan Gardner The Marion Miller Trio entertained guests at cocktail hour. 12 of 21 The Tables Bryan Gardner Black and white stripes provided a graphic contrast to the centerpieces of lemons, yellow roses, white hydrangeas, kale, chamomile, ivy, and dusty miller alongside floating candles in forged-iron pedestals. 13 of 21 All Together Now Bryan Gardner Attendants at one of the two head tables cheered the happy pair. 14 of 21 Roll the Footage Bryan Gardner A "sit-in" movie theater—complete with candy, popcorn, and lawn pillows for guests—played a video of the couple's Naples, Florida, nuptials shot by Lucky Lemon Films. "Screening the video of our vows was my favorite part of the reception," Erin says. "It was just a perfect representation of our wedding and the genuine feeling of love between us. And it was such a relief to already be married at that point!" 15 of 21 A Hidden Message Bryan Gardner The bride's nephew, Carl, who served as ring bearer at the Florida nuptials, poses with a paper cardinal (one of 42—the amount of days the couple had been married as of the St. Louis reception—hidden around the property). The cardinals were a fit, considering the couple got engaged at the end of a Cardinals baseball game. 16 of 21 A Refreshing Treat Bryan Gardner A custom-designed cart offered limoncello "snow cups." 17 of 21 A Photo "Swing" Bryan Gardner Minnie poses on the photo swing, a creative twist on the ever-popular photo booth. The swing was decked out with striped cushions, lemon-shaped pillows, and other pillows spelling out #LUV. 18 of 21 Sweet Favors Bryan Gardner Favors included lemon sugar cookies made by family friend Candis Theodoro of CT Cookie Treats. 19 of 21 Safety First Bryan Gardner A key-drop board encouraged attendees to leave their cars at the end of the night and hop a shuttle home. 20 of 21 The Morning After Bryan Gardner Guests received lemon-lavender doughnuts and a cup of coffee when they returned for their cars on the morning after the reception. 21 of 21 Sources Bryan Gardner Event planning and design, Cosmopolitan Events Catering, Annie Gunn'sFlowers, Connie Cissell of CC BlumenPhotography, Westrich PhotographyVideography, Lucky Lemon FilmsStationery and event design, Cheree Berry PaperCocktail-hour music, Marion Miller Trio, 314-839-2480Reception music, GalaxyRed; Angela WinbushRentals, Premier Rentals; Traube Tents and Structures; BBJ LinenDécor and rentals, Parties & Props, Ltd.Bride's gown, sash, and reception dress, Monique LhuillierBride's shoes, Dolce & GabbanaBride's earrings, Irene NeuwirthBride's bracelet, Vinciguerra JewelersBride's wedding ring, Gabriel & Co.Bride's hair, Ken Scott JohnsonBride's makeup and bridesmaids' hair and makeup, DaniellestyleBridesmaids' dresses, Amsale, from Bella BridesmaidsBridesmaids' necklaces, A. Blase DesignsGroom's suit and shirt, Jos. A. BankGroom's belt, Johnston & MurphyGroom's shoes, SperryGroom's wedding ring, Vinciguerra JewelersGroom's monogrammed handkerchief, Leontine LinensLighting, Alobar's Lighting and SoundTransportation, Best Transportation; M&M Golf CarsCookies, CT Cookie TreatsDonuts, Vincent Van DoughnutPhoto booth, GoodEye Photo-ShareRestrooms, R & R SanitationValet, August Evenings Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit